At Plant Forward Endurance Nutrition and Wellness, we help endurance athletes and active individuals fuel smarter, perform stronger, and live healthier—without restrictive diets or food guilt.
Our approach combines evidence-based sports nutrition with a weight-inclusive, anti-diet philosophy, empowering athletes to nourish their bodies for performance, recovery, and long-term vitality. Whether you’re training for your first race, managing a chronic condition, or chasing a new personal best, we’ll help you find a sustainable, plant-forward approach that supports your health, lifestyle, and goals.
Meet Deborah Gertner, RDN
Plant-Based Sports Dietitian | USAT Level 1 Triathlon & Running Coach | Endurance Athlete | Founder of Plant Forward Endurance Nutrition and Wellness
Hi, I’m Deborah Gertner, a plant-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and USA Triathlon Level 1 Certified Coach based in Longmont, Colorado. I help athletes of all levels build stronger, healthier bodies with plant-forward nutrition that enhances performance, energy, and recovery—without obsession or restriction.
My Journey to Plant-Based Nutrition
My path to becoming a dietitian and endurance athlete started with a personal search for better health. Years ago, I struggled with GI distress that my doctors couldn’t explain. When I began to connect my diet to how I felt, everything changed.
While exploring a career in nutrition, I met with a vegan dietitian who introduced me to the research of Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Dean Ornish, and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Their findings showed that whole-food, plant-based diets can prevent and even reverse chronic diseases—many of which were common in my own family’s health history.
Inspired by this evidence, I adopted a vegan lifestyle in January 2010. It was one of the most transformative decisions of my life and continues to guide my values and my work.
A Turning Point
In December 2012, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer—a life-altering moment that could have shaken my faith in my new lifestyle. Instead, it deepened my resolve. Even though the diagnosis came after I had drastically changed my diet and began exercising regularly, it reaffirmed my belief that nutrition and lifestyle choices can influence not just disease risk, but overall resilience, recovery, and vitality.
That experience shaped my approach as a practitioner: grounded in compassion, evidence, and the understanding that every person’s health journey is deeply personal.
From Runner to Triathlete and Coach
I like to say I’m an “adult-onset athlete” because up until my mid-twenties, I was decidedly not an athlete. My first race was a half marathon as a charity runner for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation—and what started as a fundraiser became a lifelong passion for endurance sports.
Since then, I’ve completed eight marathons and more than fifteen triathlons, including four Half Ironman distances—all but that first race fueled by plants. As a USAT Level 1 Certified Coach, I work with both youth and adult runners and triathletes, helping them train with purpose, fuel with confidence, and approach sport with joy and balance.
My Philosophy
In my private practice, I use a weight-inclusive, anti-diet approach that helps athletes shift their focus from body size to body performance. I believe food should be empowering—not restrictive. My mission is to help athletes at every stage find confidence in their fueling, peace with their bodies, and energy to perform their best.
Because fueling your body shouldn’t be about perfection—it should be about strength, endurance, and the freedom to thrive.
Ready to feel your best—on and off the race course?
Work with Deborah or Contact Us
