Meet Coach Riley

We are thrilled to be welcoming Riley Berg to our coaching staff. Read her welcome letter below to learn a little more about her!

Let's go Rise community! Thank you all for the warm welcomes throughout my first week here. This blog will let you know more about me and why I'm passionate about fitness and health.

I grew up in Pelican Rapids, MN with my parents and older sister. We lived on a small hobby farm with dogs, cats, horses, and at one point I had a rabbit and two hamsters. I love animals. I'm a new momma to a 3 month old piranha, I mean corgi, named Klein. If you look closely at my ankles you can see bite marks from him herding me around. My boyfriend Gavin and I are learning great patience with him as he is potty and kennel training. I played volleyball and high jumped for track in high school. During the winter offseason I worked closely with our athletic trainer in the weight room trying to get stronger and jump higher. I have always loved the feeling of accomplishment after finishing a hard workout, and knowing I am strong and capable. 

I graduated high school in the class of 2020. One day in March I left school early to catch a flight for spring break in Florida with my family, not knowing that was my last day of high school. My plan was to attend Hamline University in St. Paul and continue my track career, but COVID threw a wrench in those plans too. So I stayed home, got a job at Caribou Coffee, and finished my generals online through MState. This was the first year I didn't have sports to keep me active, so I got into the gym more and really fell in love with lifting weights. I got certified as a personal trainer shortly after, and then decided to continue studying exercise science at MSUM.

I started interning in the weight room with the strength and conditioning coaches, which eventually lead to being hired as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach. The past two years I'd been coaching the swim & dive and track & field teams, and assisting with the volleyball and football teams. I enjoyed my time working with athletes, but I was constantly questioning if I was training my athletes the best way. There is no one way to program for athlete performance. However, there is only one way to program for health and longevity. Let me tell you guys, it's the Rise way. The keys for health and longevity is consistency, healthy habits, and a positive mindset. 

If I had to pick one word to describe my first week at Rise it would be inspired. I'm truly inspired by how strong our members are, and how they move. Ask Katie how many times I've looked at her with my jaw dropped. I'm also inspired by all the coaches, and how much they care and pour into their people. I know I'm going to be challenged to grow in many areas of life here, and I'm excited for it. This is a place where nobody stands still, every step is made diligently toward a better life. 

I'm fired up to be here. I look forward to continue developing relationships with you all. 

- Riley