Meet Dr. Chris Herbs

Founder, Miles Ahead Physical Therapy and Performance

Sports have always been a part of my life.​

​

Growing up in upstate New York, hockey was my first love, and as I got older I became more involved in soccer and golf. It wasn’t until high school that I started running, but when I did, I was hooked. There’s something about the feeling of pushing your limits that’s kept me coming back ever since.

​

Over the years, I’ve raced everything from the mile to the marathon, including eight marathons with a current PR of 2:53:03. I’ve qualified for Boston three times and had the privilege of racing it twice. Like most runners, my journey hasn’t been without setbacks. Injuries and challenges have been part of the process. Those experiences, along with my lifelong love of sport, are what led me to a career in physical therapy and coaching.

I earned my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Upstate Medical University in 2018.

While at Upstate I also became an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and RRCA run coach, laying the groundwork for my career today. My greatest professional joy is getting to know the clients I work with deeply, understanding their goals, helping them problem-solve through injuries, and guiding them through a life of healthy, rewarding running.

​

While I am no stranger to sports related injuries, the biggest impact on my own health has come from an autoimmune disease called ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Among other issues, AS causes significant join pain and swelling. In middle school, what we now know was my first AS flare up forced me to give up hockey and other sports. While this resolved when I was younger, in 2021 I suffered a far more debilitating period of symptoms. This flare up primarily attacked my legs and feet, and for the better part of three months, I was incapacitated. While my health still is not perfect, I am now on medication to manage the disease and have been able to return to normal life, including running. This experience has deepened my empathy and commitment to supporting athletes, through not only injuries, but through the ups and downs that come with any long-term pursuit of sport.