Austin Marathon and Half Marathon Coaches
| Austin Blue | Austin Green | Austin Yellow | Austin Red | Austin Orange | Austin Half |
| Click on a color group above to see the list of coaches for that group. | |||||
| About the Organizer | ||
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Debra Saleny info@austinfit.comDebra is the organizer of the Austin Fit program.
Fast Facts:
Debra's advice to others: " Running becomes a lifestyle. You try to fight it at first, and then, you are hooked. Your eating habits change. You will get up earlier on a Saturday morning, than you do for work. Your friendships increase. You feel differently about yourself. You really cannot fight it. Running will become a part of your life that stays with you as long as you allow it, through tough times, easy times, and maybe even a lifetime. You meet the greatest folks on earth, and they get to meet you. Change your life? Absolutely. Enjoy the ride." "One of the first Austin Fit pre-marathon parties was actually in my home, with a tent attached to the back of the garage. What a crowd. People were everywhere, the toilets backed up, but the party continued. One of my favorite runners, helping with dirty dishes, said she really liked me because my dishwasher was full of only wine glasses and coffee cups. For some reason, that statement has stuck with me. I also have a fond memory of a pair of my running shoes, stolen from my garage, that very same evening. Having about 50 pair of old running shoes, I never missed them. About a month later, at the Beach to Bay relay marathon, a group of about 20 Austin Fit members presented me with those same stolen-from-my-garage running shoes, bronzed, with a plate that read, "We had a good time!" It was what I always told runners to say when asked what their time was at the finish of a marathon: A GOOD time! What an honor to receive that pair of shoes. It sits proudly in my home. However, the best part of Austin Fit is finding the best friends a person could ever ask for!" Debra was featured as a Wear Tester in the September 2002 issue of Runner's World. View the article here. |
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Jeff Barnett red@austinfit.com Fast Facts:
Because of how Austin Fit changed his life, through coaching he has dedicated himself to helping others attain the same goal. Jeff has since run 23 total marathons and one ultra marathon, along with many half marathons and 10K's and 5K's. Running is a big stress reliever for Jeff and provides some diversion from the hectic pace of life as a lawyer, husband and father. But running and fitness also is something he shares with his family as well. His wife, Helene, has run/walked 3 half-marathons and completed one triathalon. She is also a coach for the walking group for Austin Fit's Cap10K Training. His son, Shawn, who began coming to Austin Fit as a rider in a baby jogger at just a year old, and later rode his bike along-side "daddy" to distances as far as 15.5 miles, is now following in Jeff's footsteps -- literally and figuratively. When he was 7, he ran his first 10K (Capitol 10,000). When he was 8, he ran his first half marathon, and he did two more when he was 9. He has now run a total of 6 half marathons, almost eclipsing Dad's PR. He has run in numerous 5K's and 10K's and has placed first in the 14 and under age group at the Blue Bell 10K in Brenham, TX. Jeff's daughter, Alesha, has just also taken up running and walking and has run in two 10K (Capitol 10,000) races. |
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| Blue Group Coaches | ||
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Paul Gonzales blue@austinfit.com Head Coach Paul is the head coach of the Blue group (under 7:35 pace) - the fast runners of Austin Fit!
Paul enjoys running to meet other runners and for the health benefits. He enjoys helping people meet their goals and is an inspiration and leader to many. He enjoys running with Austin Fit (and other groups) because "Running with other runners makes the miles more enjoyable and will keep you motivated. In a group we can also share our running knowledge with each other, we can also make new friends." | |
| Phil McDuffee Assistant Coach | ||
| Green Group Coaches | ||
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Bob Gifford green@austinfit.com Head Coach Bob is the head coach of the Green Group.
Bob started running in high school as a training program for his favorite sport, cross-country skiing, in his home state of Minnesota. He skied in the winters and ran in the summers to stay in shape. After moving to Texas in 2000, he discovered the joys of winter running without wearing three layers all over. Austin Fit has helped him to run substantially farther and faster than he ever dreamed possible. His current goal is to run well in his first Boston marathon. | |
| Ed Swarthout (8:30 pace) Assistant Coach | ||
| Johnathan Hegge (7:50 - 8:00 pace) Assistant Coach | ||
| Yellow Group Coaches | ||
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Pat Burch yellow@austinfit.com Head Coach Pat Burch is the head coach of the yellow group (8:30 - 10:00 pace) and runs with the 9:05 pace group.
Pat\'s running resume includes an impressive 20 marathons, including a 50K and a 180 mile bike ride (MS-150). His goal for each race is simply to finish well, and have a good time too. As he states: "In running, saying you had a good time doesn\'t always have to include your clock time. Since attitude is 90% of running always know that any day you\'re able to run is a good day." He says his favorite racing distance is the half marathon, but having completed 20 marathons, one has to wonder! When asked what he enjoys about running, he says "I enjoy running because of the health benefits I receive, the people I meet and the simple joy that putting one foot in front of the other gives." When asked about the most inspirational event about running, "There are so many stories of inspiration I see and hear about that reciting just one doesn\'t do the others justice. For most, getting to the starting & finishing line of a marathon means that you\'ve overcome a marathon of obstacles, either of health, work or personal. That\'s why saying you\'re a marathon runner will always put a smile on your face. On the lighter side, the funniest question I\'ve ever been asked was if spitting too much meant that more hydration was needed. " In addition to being the head coach for the yellow group, Pat also leads a weekday run as well as organizing weekly long runs during the Austin Fit off season. He also coordinates an out of state fall marathon most years and is a residential Realtor in the Austin area. | |
| 8:30 Dan Marquette Assistant Coach | ||
| 8:30 James Booher Assistant Coach | ||
| 8:30 Manny Mandujano Assistant Coach | ||
| 8:45 Dean Tuel Assistant Coach | ||
| 8:45 Rafael Garcia Assistant Coach | ||
| 8:45 Tonya Green Assistant Coach | ||
| 9:00 Jason Gray Assistant Coach | ||
 | 9:00 Todd Hittner Assistant Coach Fast Facts:
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| 9:15 Becky Dumouchell Assistant Coach | ||
| 9:15 Heather Nguyen Assistant Coach | ||
| 9:15 Josh Gunnar Assistant Coach | ||
| 9:30 John Vail Assistant Coach | ||
| 9:30 John Walters Assistant Coach | ||
| 9:45 Chris Marquette Assistant Coach | ||
| 9:45 Todd Schlandt Assistant Coach | ||
| Red Group Coaches | ||
| Janice Chapman jchapman1322@gmail.com Head Coach | ||
| Orange Group Coaches | ||
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Monica Beard orange@austinfit.com Head Coach Monica Beard heads up the Orange group which covers all running paces 11:00 and higher. She also leads the 12:00 group. Fast Facts:
Monica started running about 25 years ago just for the fun of it. She really enjoys coaching others and helping them achieve the ultimate goal of completing a marathon. She started wearing her "Minnie" hat her first year as a assistant coach because Monica thought it would be a good way for my runners to find her in a crowd or on the trails. She's been through at least 4 hats since then, and unfortunately, they don't make them any more.... | |
| 11:00 Linda Brown Assistant Coach Though Linda ran track in high school and continued to run in her adult years, she never considered herself a runner. She ran her first 13.1 miles in 1997; thereafter, she ran mainly 5Ks and 10Ks. Linda started running long distances again in 2005 and has now run about 7 marathons and 5 half marathons. She should probably consider herself a runner now. Thanks Austin Fit. The distance she enjoys running most is a 10K. Her most exciting run is the 3M half marathon. Linda's most challenging runs are any runs (short or long) in warm weather. Her goal is to run a marathon or half marathon in every state. She adds, "Again, thanks Austin Fit. " | ||
| 11:00 Linsday Cordell Assistant Coach Lindsay Cordell was pretty athletic during high school between tennis, soccer, life guarding and teaching swimming. She also competed in 3 nineteen mile canoe races before she turned 17. College not so much... Following graduation from University of Illinois with a Bachelor's in Biology, Lindsay moved to Austin in 2002. Shortly after moving to Austin she obtained her certification in Massage Therapy from the Lauterstein Conway Massage School. Lindsay became involved with Sports Massage and quickly realized she needed to get back in shape. With the help of her boyfriend, Luis, the two started to run. Slowly at first in 2005 happy to finish a mile, then by 2006 5Ks. In 2007 Lindsay completed a couple sprint Triathlons including the Danskin. In 2008 Luis and Lindsay ran the Austin Half Marathon, 2009 the Austin Marathon, and now she is coaching with Austin Fit! The future looks bright with many endurance races ahead! Currently, she works at Kneadz Massage Therapy and Personal Training. Lindsay is a Licensed Massage Therapist and National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. She also is one of the main massage therapists for the University of Texas Athletic Program. Hook 'Em! | ||
| 11:15 Regina Schwartz Assistant Coach Regina joined Austin Fit in '08 to do something active and meet people. Thought she'd join the walking group, but decided to try running. Started training with the full marathon group and intended to only run the half. Finished the 18 mile benchmark and thought, what the heck, another 8 miles makes a marathon. So, she did it. WOW! In 2009 she completed the Distance Challenge. Super hard, but another WOW! Still doesn't have her jacket yet...that's another story. She's run 5Ks, 10Ks, 10 milers, 20 milers, half marathons, and 2 whole marathons. But the most crazy fun of all, are the relay marathons with incredible friends. " Joining Austin Fit...best thing I ever did for myself!" | ||
| 11:30 David Ramos Assistant Coach David started running in 2003 with one goal in mind: to lose weight. After reaching his goal and losing the weight he kept running to keep the weight down. Before he knew it, David was running six to eight miles on his own. He ran my first half marathon in 2006. It was such a great feeling of accomplishment that the following year he decided to run a full marathon. His first year with Austin Fit was in 2007. The support and camaraderie made the training and running the marathon very easy. The coaches were always there to offer tips and support during our Saturday runs. It was because of the coaches in 2007 that I decided to coach in 2008 and again in 2009. "I would like to give back what Austin Fit did for me on my first attempt at a marathon, which is support and motivation." | ||
| 11:45 Art Azua Assistant Coach Art is happily married with 2 girls and lives in Dripping Springs. "It been a honor and privilege to be a coach for Austin Fit! GO ORANGE!!!" | ||
| 11:45 Jenny Wood Assistant Coach Jenny never ever thought she'd want to do a marathon, let alone be capable of running one. In 2003 she watched a friend finish the marathon and decided that she wanted that same feeling and accomplishment. She thought it would be just something to cross off her list of things to do in her life, but here here she is training for another marathon. Each time she finishes she says, I'm never doing that again!!! Then a few days later, after the soreness has worn off, she changes her mind. After the marathon of 2010 Jenny plans to train for her first triathlon. | ||
| 12:00+ Juan Villafuerte Assistant Coach Juan has been running 5Ks and 10Ks since high school. He trained for his first half marathon with a buddy in 2005 and later joined Austin Fit and ran his first marathon in 2008. | ||
| Half Marathon Coaches | ||
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Lisa Geiger half@austinfit.com Head Coach Lisa Geiger heads up the half marathon running group which covers all running paces. She also leads the 12:00 half marathon group. Fast Facts:
When Lisa joined AF in 2000, she had no plans to run a marathon - she just wanted to know what real runners meant when they said Scenic Drive or The Dam. She did complete that marathon (with a bit of grumbling) and then returned the following fall to coach a marathon group for the next six years. Lisa joined the half marathon group in 2007 and continues to enjoy running (with a bit of grumbling), swimming, weight training and cycling. She is known for her gift of gab, which has carried many a runner through the training season. | |
| 09:00 Nathan Choe and Kathleen Choe Assistant Coach | ||
| 09:30 Velma Ellis Assistant Coach | ||
| 11:00 Dianne Webb Assistant Coach | ||
| 12:00 David Kurns Assistant Coach | ||
| 12:00 Lisa Geiger Assistant Coach | |
| 12:15 Greg Jones Assistant Coach | ||
| 12:31+ Rita Kemner-Salyer Assistant Coach | ||
