Fall Coaches


Coach Linda

Organizer - Coach

FAST FACTS:

  • Years Running – 20+
  • Years with Austin Fit – 9
  • Number of Marathons – 15
  • Half Marathons – 11
  • Favorite Race – 3M
  • Goal – Run a full or half marathon in all 50 states

Linda is a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) through NASM who enjoys the art of fitness. Linda coordinates a local boot camp in her community and is always amazed at how people become receptive to exercise by simply being exposed to it. Linda is a Personal Trainer at UT – Division of Recreational Sports and a Professor at Huston Tillotson University

[Read more…]

Coach Janice

Head Coach - Team Fit - Summer & Fall

FAST FACTS:

  • Years Running: 30+
  • Years with Austin Fit: 8
  • Number of Marathons: 23
  • Number of 50K: 3
  • Favorite Race:  Medoc Marathon – France (wine stops and costumes)
  • Years doing Triathlons: 20
  • 140.6 Ironmans:  4 and 70.3 Ironmans: 7
  • MS150 rides: 12
  • Goal:  Live a Good Story

Coach Janice enjoys sharing her training and racing experiences and stories.  She also enjoys traveling and believes the best races are those you travel to with a group of friends.  In addition to being an Austin Fit Fall Red Group Head Coach for several years, where she created many of the running routes used by Austin Fit Saturday long run groups, she has also coached triathlon training groups, and provided “Tour Guide” monologues during many Saturday long runs.  This season Janice takes over Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Feel free to ask her about stretching routines, hydration and nutrition options for a wide range of races and conditions, and about her many “destination” races.

Coach Satwinder

Head Coach - Yellow and Green Half & Full Marathon Groups

FAST FACTS:
  • Years Running:  9
  • Years with Austin Fit:  4
  • Number of marathons:  8
  • Favorite Race:  Los Angeles
  • Goal:  to see everyone in his group finish the race strong

 Satwinder has been running marathons since 2005.  Before getting into long distances, he has always enjoyed running, earlier short distances.  He has been with Austin Fit since 2010.

[Read more…]

Coach Magen

Assistant Coach - Green Group

Fun Fact: Magen, spelled this way, is Hebrew meaning “shield” as in the Magen David aka the Star, or shield, of David.

Fast Facts:
  • Years running: 20+
  • Years with Austin Fit: First year
  • Full Trail Marathon – 1
  • Several road & trail halfs
  • Spartan races: 3 (the trilogy)
  • Numerous 5K/10K/5mi/10mi/fun runs
Goal: Currently running in the Austin Distance Challenge 2017-2018. Hoping to run her first 50K race in 2018. Aspires to complete the Coastal Challenge 2019 in Costa Rica (a 6 day race down the coastline of Costa Rica). Aiming to become a certified fitness trainer in 2018.

Magen began running at age 12 and competed in cross-country and track throughout middle school and high school. Over the next decade, she only ran now and then for fun or to burn off steam. More recently, and especially since becoming an Ambassador for Run Like a Girl and an Austin Fit Coach, she is more inspired than ever to train and become the best runner she can be, while also encouraging others in their running journey. She has been a nurse since 2009 and with her skills, knowledge, and experience, she hopes to positively impact the lives and health of as many people as possible as long as she lives.

Coach John

Assistant Coach - Yellow Half Marathon Group (9:30-9:59)

FAST FACTS:

  • Years running: 9 years
  • Years with Austin Fit: 2
  • Number of Half Marathons: 4
  • Number of 10K races: 6
  • Favorite Half Marathon: Austin Half Marathon
  • Goal: To help runners safely and effectively attain their goals.

John is a native Austinite; he graduated high school in Austin, Texas and then attended Texas State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science (Pre-Physical Therapy). Currently, John is attending Texas State and will earn his second degree in 2017.

Although John started running later in life, he is an experienced runner. He has completed four half marathons, one 10-mile race, and six 10K races. Running is an important part of John’s life; he appreciates its simplicity and straight forwardness. John believes an active lifestyle can help a person live a happy and healthy life. So please stay active and keep on running.

Favorite quote: “Everyone looks good running downhill.” – Anonymous

Coach Jessica

Head Coach - Red Half & Full Marathon Groups

FAST FACTS:

  • Years Running: 20+
  • Years with Austin Fit: 9
  • Number of Marathons: 8
  • Number of Half Marathons: 17
  • Favorite Race: New York City Marathon and Vancouver BC Half
  • Goal: To be an inspiration to my daughter to live a healthy life and continue to always push yourself to the next goal. Mine is to qualify for Boston.
  • Intervals: 10/1

Jessica has been running almost her entire life playing soccer and basketball as a kid. It was in her late teens when she starting distance running. Jessica ran mostly 5ks in her 20’s, but when she turned 30 she set out to run a Marathon. Her first few attempts were derailed by injury, caused by playing contact sports. Jessica joined Austin Fit in 2008 and ran her first Austin Marathon fully in 2010. Jessica became a coach that summer.

Jessica loves coaching with Austin Fit and became the head coach of the Red group in 2011. Jessica also was one of the first coaches to bring Team Fit to Austin Fit. Jessica was the Red head coach/Team FIT coach through 2014. Jessica took a hiatus starting January  2015 when her daughter was born. Knowing she was going to be her only child she savored early morning cuddles. In the fall of 2016 – spring of 2017 Jessica completed 5 half marathons in 6 months (the 6th half was canceled due to weather). Besides running and triathlon, Jessica loves yoga and recently ventured into establishing a meditation practice. Jessica looks forward to helping all runners achieve their goals and crossing the finish line.

summer_red@austinfit.com

Coach Jeff

Assistant Coach - Red Full Marathon Group (10-10:29)

Fast Facts:

  • Years Running:  6
  • Years with Austin Fit: 2
  • Number of Marathons: 3
  • Number of Half Marathons:  6
  • Number of Ultras: 1
  • Favorite Race: The Cowtown in Ft Worth
  • Goal:  Finish each race

Jeff and his wife signed up for a running class at their gym 5 years ago.  Before the class began, he typically ran 2-3 miles a half dozen times a month.  Five months later, he ended the class with a 9-mile run.  That success prompted him to run the Cap 10K, which led to the Austin half the next year, and his first marathon that fall.  When he’s not running, Jeff teaches at Texas State University and cheers on his wife at her triathlon events.

 

Coach David

Assistant Coach - Red Full Marathon Group (10 - 10:29)

FAST FACTS:

  • Years Running – 5
  • Years with Austin Fit – 5
  • Coaching with Austin Fit -4
  • Marathons – 5
  • Half Marathons – 10 Plus
  • Triathlons- 3 years
  • Favorite Race – Austin Marathon
  • Goal – To enjoy Gods creation through running and doing triathlons

David started running five years ago after being challenged to compete in the Triple Threat in Wichita Falls.  The race consists of a Mountain Bike ride, Road Bike ride and a Half Marathon trail run.  Since then David was bitten by the Triathlon bug and plans to finish this year with two half ironman’s with the goal of doing a full next year or the year after. David loves the fellowship that running provides and always loves to find a hill to run up.  David is looking forward to stepping up from the 1030 pace group to the 940 pace group this year.

Coach Brenda

Assistant Coach - Red Full Marathon Group (10:30-10:59)

FAST FACTS:

  • Years running: 30+
  • Years with USA FIT: 4
  • Number of Marathons: 4
  • Number of Half Marathons: 10
  • Favorite Race: Cap10K, 3M Half
  • Goal: Run the 2019 Brazos Bend 50K

Brenda has been running since she was 12 years old, and was a long distance runner in middle and high school as part of the cross country and track teams. Throughout the years, running has been a constant and has seen her through the many changing seasons in her life. Finally deciding to run a marathon in 2015, she came across the USA FIT program. She looks forward to continuing to learn about herself and sharing her experiences with other runners looking to take on the challenge of running their first marathon.

Coach Janice R.

Assistant Coach - Red Half Marathon Group (10:00 - 10:30)

FAST FACTS:

  • Years Running – 7
  • Years With Austin Fit – 4
  • Marathons – 1
  • Half Marathons – 8
  • Favorite Race – Austin Half
  • Goal – Run for enjoyment, but always be working toward a goal race.

Janice started running to satisfy a health need for weight bearing exercise.  While training for her first half marathon her brother passed away and she discovered the immense opportunities to run for charities.  After meeting her charity goal for American Cancer and her race goal she was hooked on running.  Janice joined Austin Fit to train for her first marathon and again met her charity goal for American Diabetes in honor of a dear friend who had lost her son to diabetes and her race goal thanks to Austin Fit.  Janice has settled in yearly on the half marathon goal and is anxious to share the running experience with new runners!

Coach Yvette

Assistant Coach - Red Half Marathon Group (10:30- 10:59)

FAST FACTS:

  • # of Years Running: 6 years
  • # of Years with Austin Fit: 4 years
  • # of Full or Half Marathons: 3 half marathons
  • Favorite race was her first half marathon, the San Antonio Rock n’ Roll in 2012, but really, all races are her favorite! San Antonio was memorable, because it was the culmination of months of training, new friends made, and an accomplishment like no other.
  • Goal is to someday do a marathon, but just one!  She’d like to do the New York City Marathon one day with her husband.

Yvette began running as a way to supplement her exercise routine and to help her cope with a period of unemployment. After training for the 2012 Cap10K with some Austin Fit coaches, she was encouraged to try Austin Fit and to do a half marathon. Up until that point, she hadn’t run longer than 7 miles. Much to her surprise, she ran her first half marathon in 2012.  That first summer of training, Yvette made many great running friends who shared her passion.  In 2015, Yvette trained for the first time with the Austin Fit Fall group and added even more awesome people to her running circle.  After a few years of dealing with injuries, Yvette finally ran her second and third half marathons in early 2016, and is ready to do many more!  She is now an assistant coach for the Red Half Marathon group, where she first started four years ago.  Yvette is so grateful for all of the people she has met in Austin Fit and is excited to pay it forward as a coach!

Coach Cassandra

Head Coach - Orange Full Marathon Group

FAST FACTS:

  • # of Years Running:  18
  • # Years with Austin Fit: 17
  • # of Half Marathons:  12
  • # of Full marathons:  27
  • Favorite Race: Gazelle Foundation Run for the Water
  • Goal:  Run the Boston marathon, continue education, promote autism awareness, and believe in my dreams.

Cassandra Medrano is a lifetime Austin Fit coach and member. Cassandra reports that she never imagined running more than a block in her life, but in 2001 a friend of hers had a crazy idea for them to run a marathon (which she realized during the 2nd week of training that meant 26.2 miles) but she still agreed.

[Read more…]

Coach Charlotte

Assistant Coach - Orange Full Marathon Group (11:30 -11:59)

FAST FACTS:

  • Years Running – 5
  • Years with Austin Fit – 2
  • Full Marathons – 1
  • Number of Half Marathons – 3
  • Favorite Race – Galveston Half-Marathon
  • Goal – To look decent in one of those race photo! (JUST KIDDING). To continue to improve myself while motivating others to achieve their goals.

Coach Michelle

Assistant Coach - Orange Full Marathon Group (12+ )

FAST FACTS:
  • Years Running: 9
  • Years with Austin Fit: 5
  • Number of Marathons and Half Marathons: 6 Half and 1 Full
  • Favorite Race:  3M Half Marathon
  • Goal:  Keep running for the rest of my life….for my health, for a challenge, and for fun.

Michelle’s running experience started in 2007 after a friend suggested running to get through a divorce. She had never run more than around the block since grade school so the idea of running a long distance race was daunting. She accepted the challenge and joined Austin Fit for the 2007 running season as a complete newbie.

[Read more…]

Coach Monica

Head Coach - Orange Half Marathon Group

Run/Walk Interval – 4 min/1 min

FAST FACTS:

  • Years Running: 15
  • Years with Austin Fit: 11
  • Number of Half Marathons: 32 half marathons
  • Favorite Race: 3M, Decker Challenge, Disneyland Marathon and the Rome Marathon.
  • Goal: To get everyone in the pace group to the finish line injury free.

Monica has been a member of Austin Fit since 2002 and has coached for the past 7 yrs. Monica has gone from running 5k’s to a Half Ironman. Monica feels without the right training program, she would not have been able to achieve the results she has. Also, being a part of a team that is supportive and tremendously encouraging makes training much more enjoyable and often will push her to do that little extra that she would not have done on her own. She also enjoys trying to push others to do a little extra to show them that they can accomplish their own goals.

Coach Victoria

Assistant Coach - Orange Half Marathon Group (11:00 - 11:29)

FAST FACTS

  • Years Running – 8
  • Years with Austin Fit – 1
  • Marathons – 1
  • Half Marathons – 10
  • Triathlons – many sprint and Olympic distance and 2 half Ironman
  • Favorite Race – USAT Sprint Nationals
  • Goal – to continue running injury free and do a vacation/destination half marathon

Victoria was convinced to join a half marathon training program back in 2009 when she finished a 5k faster than her friend who just did the OKC half.  After a bit of persuasion, she joined the Dallas Running Club to complete that half marathon challenge.  Since then she hasn’t looked back.  After a brief break in her running career to have a baby and move to Austin in 2015 she is so happy to have found the Austin FIT family and continue her love of running with with a group.

Coach Rachel

Assistant Coach - Orange Half Marathon Group (11:30 - 11:59)

FAST FACTS:
  • Years Running: 15
  • Years with Austin Fit: 2 – many years ago
  • Number of Marathons: 3
  • Number of Half Marathons: I stopped counting. 🙂
  • Number of 50Ks: 1
  • Favorite Race:  Ironman Florida and the Texas Independence Relay (TIR)
  • Favorite Distance: Half Marathon
  • Years doing Triathlons: 15
  • 140.6 Ironmans: 2 and 70.3 Ironmans: 3
  • Goal:  I want to keep enjoying an active lifestyle.
Rachel started running because she wanted to complete the Danskin Triathlon after her son was born. She completed her first marathon by training with Austin Fit. For the last few years, Rachel has focused on trail running and using the heart rate training method. She is excited to move back to pavement running with Austin Fit.

Coach Erica

Assistant Coach - Orange Half Marathon Group (12-13:00)

FAST FACTS:

  • Years Running – 8
  • Years with Austin Fit – 6
  • Years Coaching – 4
  • Number of Half or Full Marathons –  10 Full Marathons
  • Favorite Race – Austin 10/20
  • Goal – Instill a sense of fun and keep everyone committed to training
  • Run/Walk Interval Ratio – 2/1

Erica joined Austin Fit in 2009 at the urging of a friend who encouraged her to run with her. When that friend stopped showing up after a few weeks, Erica kept running and eventually finished both the 3M and Austin Half Marathons. [Read more…]

Coach Rita

Assistant Coach - Orange Half Marathon Group (12-13:00)

Interval: 2 minutes run/1 minute walk

FAST FACTS:

  • Years running:  13
  • Years with Austin Fit:  13
  • Number of Half Marathons:  13
  • Favorite Races:  3M Half Marathon and Austin 1020
  • 2017 Goal:  To help her runners get to the start line so they can cross that finish line.

Rita started doing triathlons in 2001.  As a way to stay in shape during the winter months, she joined Austin Fit in 2004.  After finding out just how friendly Austin Fit people are, she was hooked.  The next year she started coaching.  Rita loves to help her runners prepare for their first ½ marathon or their 10th ½ marathon.  She coaches the ‘back of the pack’ group and believes that finishing the race is winning the race.

Favorite quote: “If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.” ― John Bingham