Meet Killian Carlton | Physical Therapist, Run & Strength Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Killian Carlton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Killian, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After graduating from PT school, I started working at a large local outpatient clinic where I was disheartened to see the nature of the insurance-based system. I knew I wanted to treat athletes and give them the absolute best care possible so I made the decision to create my own solo practice.

At first I generalized in sports rehab, but soon began to become part of Nashville’s running community. As a life-long runner, this sport means a lot to me, and the more I became immersed in this community, the more I wanted to give back to them. Then I got injured. My own rehab experience only solidified my drive to provide runners support throughout their running careers. That’s when I made the decision to go all in and rebrand my practice to Runners Revival.

Through Runners Revival, I am able to treat my athletes to the very best of my ability. My goal is to make sure runners have access to someone who makes them feel seen and understood, are provided quality education, have access to simple & effective rehab, and are part of a fun and motivating environment.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Runners Revival was created by a runner for runners. I’m a physical therapist, run & strength coach. I work with injured and uninjured runners alike to help them accomplish their running goals while staying healthy. My practice was purposely constructed to be able to guide runners every step of the way- from overcoming injury to crossing the finish line.

I work with runners in one of three ways- physical therapy, strength & conditioning, and run & strength coaching.
As a physical therapist, I help runners navigate current and prior injuries to get them back to running and training without limitations.
Strength & conditioning sessions are for uninjured runners who want to increase or maintain strength and improve their running performance. I work with these clients one-on-one, in-person.
Run & strength coaching is for the runner building a base or training for a race. We work together virtually and the program is updated weekly.

Providing quality, evidence based rehab is very important to me. I believe it is vital to consider every aspect of the athlete within treatment, not just running variables. As someone who has been sidelined with prior injuries, I know how important it is for runners to have an understanding of the process that will get them back to training. These athletes deserve a well thought out plan of action to get them to their goals.

Getting to this point in business has been a long road of learning. I don’t think anyone would describe entrepreneurship as easy, but it is most definitely rewarding. It reminds me of training for a big race. You make a plan and do your best to execute it. Sometimes you make mistakes, but you learn from them. Consistency and focus propel you toward your goal. And just like racing, you make sure to lean on your support system along the way.

My mission within Runners Revival is to move the sport of running forward by promoting resilience, fostering community, and educating for the purpose of health & longevity in the sport. I’m truly most proud of the relationships I’ve been able to foster through my business- whether it’s with the athletes I serve, fellow business owners or health care providers, we have been brought together by a common goal and for that, I’m so grateful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My itinerary at 32 years old looks a lot different than it would have in my 20s, but there are some wonderful places in Nashville that I love to share with my friends.

Anytime someone visits, I try to provide them with a good split of indoor and outdoor activities. Percy Warner park is one of my favorite places to share. The views the hike offers are worth the sweat and tired legs. You can even run the trails if you’re up for a challenge.

I live in East Nashville and am spoiled with Shelby Park being so close. You can bet that we’d get a run or two in along the greenway while visiting, or even a nice long hike. My pups love this spot too. And no visit is complete without a pickleball game. There are so many courts around the city now, but I love to play at Shelby Park. I’m telling you, this place literally has it all.

An active morning is the best when followed by coffee and brunch. I have so many favorite coffee shops around town that I wouldn’t be able to visit them all. Elegy, Ugly Mugs, All People, No Free Coffee are just a few that would get a visit at some point during the week. These businesses not only have great coffee, but their staff are beyond wonderful. Nashville Biscuit House is one of my favorite breakfast spots in town. My mouth is literally watering just thinking about it.

A few other restaurants that I’d have on the itinerary are Jack Browns, Pelato (for my gluten-free friends who miss pasta), Little Hats Italian Market, Bills Sandwich Shop, and Maiz De La Vida Food Truck. Honestly, I could go on forever about food, but these places are some of my favorites.

Now we do live in Music City, so naturally most people want to catch a live performance while they’re here. There are so many venues, but my favorite is Ascend Amphitheatre. Not only do you get to go to some great shows, but the outdoor atmosphere is amazing.

Here are some of my miscellaneous favorites around town–
The Bookshop
The Golden Slipper
Nashville Soccer club
Nashville Sounds Baseball
Arrington Vineyard (quite a ways outside of Nashville- but could be a nice day trip)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who deserve a shoutout for shaping me into the person I am and supporting me throughout my journey. But the biggest shoutout goes to my family, specifically my grandma- Mary Barry. She and my grandpa have always been some of my biggest supporters. When I was young, they traveled to as many of my sporting events as they could, made it home from Florida for every single birthday, and called me often to catch up while I was at Michigan State. After undergrad, they encouraged me to pursue my doctorate degree. Despite graduation being held virtually due to covid, they called to congratulate me, told me how proud they were, and promised a celebration when we were able to see each other again.

So when I first started talking about starting my own practice, it was no surprise that my family was onboard. My grandpa had just passed away and my grandma had her mind set that she was going to help me get started. She called me one day and offered to be an “investor”, but she wanted to hear about my business plan first. After a lengthy discussion (I’d never made a business plan before), we reached an agreement. My grandma is the reason I was able to have a relatively stress-free start to my practice. Honestly, she’s a huge reason that Runners Revival even exists. Her support, encouragement, honesty, and love have helped me create a practice that I’m extremely proud of.

Website: https://www.runnersrevival.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/killiancarltondpt/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KillianCarlton

Other: Booking website: https://runnersrevival.janeapp.com/

Image Credits
Collin Nixon