Austin FIT Summer Coaches
Austin FIT coaches are ready and here for you to start your training!
For any program or season, these coaches will help prepare you for your race!
Coach Linda
Organizer
Fun Facts:
- Years Running: 20+
- Years with Austin Fit: 13
- Ultra Marathons: 1
- Number of Marathons: 30
- Half Marathons: 10 plus
- Favorite Race: USA Fit Rockin’ Resolution Race
- Goal – Help anyone willing to meet their training goals! She’d also like to 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 where she enjoys working with students and assisting them in reaching their academic pursuits.
Linda ran track in high school and continued to run in her adult years, but never really considered herself a runner until joining Austin Fit. Prior to joining Austin Fit, she ran her first 13.1 miles in 1997; thereafter, Linda ran mainly 5Ks and 10Ks. She started running marathons in 2005 and has now run about 15 marathons and11 half marathons.
Linda takes much pleasure in coaching runners and helping our members get to the finish line of whatever race they desire. 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 hot weather.
Coach Hugo
Venue & Hydration Management
Fun Facts:
- Years Running: 20
- Ultra Marathons: 8
- Number of Marathons: 9
- Half Marathons: 3
- Has completed 3 Half Ironmans, 3 Full Ironmans
- Goal – To get to the finish line
Coach Satwinder
Head Coach Yellow/Red Groups (10:00 to 10:29 Pace)
Fun Facts:
- Years Running: 19+
- Years with Austin Fit: 16
- Ultra Marathons: 1
- Number of Marathons: 32
- Half Marathons: 3
- Favorite Race: Los Angeles Stadium to Sea
- Goal – Continue running as much in future as I can.
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 2008. He has run 27 marathons, mostly Austin, and in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Nashville, Sacramento, Dallas, San Antonio and Virtual London. Favorite race was Los Angeles, running with my sister, and seeing so many well known places along the course. He enjoys running with the group, and coaching along the way. Besides passing on the running enthusiasm to others, his goal is to see everyone in his group finish the race strong. He believes almost anyone who has some interest, can get trained and finish a marathon.
Coach Tanner
Yellow Full Marathon Group (9:00 to 9:59 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 15+
- Ultra Marathons: 1
- Number of Marathons: 0
- Half Marathons: 0
I am an avid triathloner, but love running. I enjoy setting seemingly unattainable goals for myself, and celebrating those micro-victories throughout the journey. I enjoy biking and running with others, discovering their goals, and helping them raise themselves up to reach those goals. I am looking forward to celebrating your victories along your journey, whether it be reaching a new pace or a distance you never thought possible. Cheers.
Coach Jordan
Red Group Half Marathon (10:00 to 10:59 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running and Walking: 20
- Years with Austin Fit: 9
- Number of Half Marathons: 4 full marathons, and she’s lost count on the half marathons
- Favorite Race: 3M is an annual favorite because of the fast course and always seeing so many running friends’ faces. And I love trail races in general because of the amazing aid stations, getting to be out in nature, and the collegial
- Goal: Complete a trail ultramarathon in 2024..
Jordan started running after college (when she no longer had a free campus gym she could use 🤣), and she completed her first marathon in 2004 with Team in Training, raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of her grandmother. She moved to Houston for law school and continued running with TNT while there, serving as a mentor for years until she finally made it back to Austin in 2012. She had the good fortune of meeting Coach Betsy during a brief foray into triathlons, who told her about Austin Fit. She joined in 2014 and has been a coach now for several seasons. Jordan is running the Honolulu marathon this December as her 5th full marathon, and she is so excited to help other people cross the finish line for their fall races!
Coach Johnny
Red Group Full Marathon (10:30 to 10:59 Pace – walk breaks as needed)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 2+
- Years with Austin Fit: 2
- Number of Half Marathons: 4
- Favorite Race: Philadelphia Half Marathon
- USA FIT Certified and RRCA RunLead Badge
- Goal – Become a stronger runner and help others achieve their running goals.
I started running because the lady I wanted to date ran marathons. She, along with my sister challenged me to do Hell’s Hills Trail run – Hell’s Hills was my first race. I now have the running bug. With 15 plus races later and a wife, I’m ready to help others reach their running goals.
Coach William
Red Group Half Marathon (10:30 to 10:59 Pace – walk breaks as needed)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 20
- Years with Austin Fit: 3
- Ultra Marathons: 2
- Marathons: 14
- Half Marathons: 5+
- Favorite Race: Marine Corps, Paris & Houston Marathon
- Goal – To create community around the joy of running
William is an avid runner who began his marathon journey in 2006 with DC Fit. He’s run numerous marathons across the United States and one in Paris, including completing the San Francisco “Worth The Hurt” double-marathon, twice. He formed a marathon training group in Washington, DC and also served as a pacer for the San Francisco Marathon training team for several years. He’s been coaching with Austin Fit since 2023 and finds joy in supporting and guiding new runners as they work towards their running goals.
Coach Jeff B.
Head Coach Orange Group (12:00 to 13:00 half pace – 2 min. run / 1 min. walk intervals)
FAST FACTS:
- Years running – 37 (first marathon in 2000)
- Number of Marathons – 39 (9 in Austin, and 30 others between San Diego (Rock N Roll), Nashville (Country Music),Phoenix (Ariz. Rock N Roll), Dallas (White Rock), San Antonio (Rock N Roll), Duluth MN (Grandma’s), Orlando FL (Disney), Houston (USA Fit), Houston (Chevron), Las Vegas, New Orleans (Rock N Roll), Little Rock, Tulsa (Williams Route 66), Anchorage Alaska (Mayor’s Midnight Sun), New York (TCS), Washington DC (Marine Corps), Joplin MO (Joplin Memorial Marathon), Mobile Alabama (First Light), and Marathon, TX (Marathon2Marathon), and Biloxi, MS (Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon).
- Number of Ultra Marathons – 2 (Sunmart 50K Ultra Marathon, Big Bend Ultra 50K)
- Number of Half Marathons – 17
- Favorite Races – (1) Disney Marathon, (2) Sunmart 50K Ultra Marathon, (3) TCS New York City Marathon, and (4)Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon (Anchorage, AK)
- Favorite Distance – half marathon
- Goals – (1) to run a marathon or half marathon in each of the 50 states and all 7 continents, and (2) to break under the4½ hour mark
Jeff started running in high school and continued during his college years at UT Austin. While at UT, he got to where he ran the Longhorn Dam loop (MoPac to Longhorn Dam and back) three times a week. It was during that time that he set the goal to “someday” run a marathon. When Jeff went off to law school in Des Moines, Iowa for three years, he stopped running for a while. “With all the ice and snow, I found it very hard to run outside for several months of the year and I despise running long distances indoors or on a track.”
Upon his return to Austin, he slowly got back into running and ultimately stumbled upon an advertisement for Austin Fit. Remembering his goal to run a marathon, he signed up. At registration, he could not even complete the 2-mile pace run. But 26 weeks later, he completed his first marathon. Because of how this experience changed his life, he decided to become a marathon coach and he since has dedicated himself to helping others attain the same goal. He has been a coach, head coach, and organizer/director for Austin Fit, and he has been an assistant coach and head coach for Team In Training. Jeff has since run 39 total marathons plus two ultra marathons, along with many half marathons and 10K’s and 5K’s.
Running is a big stress reliever for Jeff and provides a diversion from the hectic pace of life as an attorney in Austin.
Coach Laura
Orange Full Marathon Coach (11:00 to 11:59 pace – 3 to 5 min. run/1 min. walk intervals)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 20+
- Number of Marathons – 3 Austin Full Marathons
- Number of Half Marathons: 10+
- Favorite Races: Decker Half Marathon, 3M Half Marathon, Rockin’ Resolution, and Austin Marathon
- Favorite Distance: Marathon
My Goal: To get to meet other people who also enjoy the benefits from endurance. I began running very young, but after school I realised that running doesn’t have to be about speed – they can be about feeling better. The experience of others helps when preparing for races and goals. Now, I get to enjoy getting to know the people running next to me, running in different parts of Austin, and hearing their stories.
Coach Liz
Orange Half Marathon Group (11:00 to 11:59 pace 3 min. run/1 min. walk intervals)
FAST FACTS:
- Years with Austin Fit: 5
- Years with Houston Fit: 4
- Half marathon: Close to 20
- Full marathon: 5
- Ultra: Coming Soon!
- Favorite Race: New Orleans Jazz Half Marathon
- Goal: Do more trail racing.
I began running in Houston, Texas over 15 years ago and it’s changed my life for the positive. Houston Fit and Austin Fit helped me to overcome challenges and meet my goals while making new friends who can relate to my running injuries or the happiest times of finishing a race with a PR.
I love running!! My goal is to get more into trail running.
If you’re looking for a group that’s going to support and be a cheerleader but also a guiding light with additional knowledge to help you meet your goal then this is the group for you. I love helping others and I can’t wait to meet you.
Coach Desirae
Orange Full Marathon Group (12:00 to 13:00 Pace – intervals based on group consensus)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 25+
- Years with Austin Fit: 3
- Number of half-marathons: 15
- Number of full-marathons: 3
- Favorite Race: San Antonio R&R Half
- Goals: Improve full-marathon finish time and finish races feeling stronger
Desirae started running in 1993 and, after finding running buddies about ten years ago, began doing full- and half-marathons. She’s completed all of her races alongside her running tribe. It is this encouragement and support she wishes to share with her fellow Austin Fitters.
Coach Jessica
Orange Half Marathon Group (13:00 to 14:00 Pace – 1 min. walk / 1 min. run)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 5+
- Years with Austin Fit: 2
- Ultra Marathons: 0
- Number of Marathons: 0
- Half Marathons: 5
- Favorite Race: 3M
Jessica does not consider herself a natural athlete, but run/walking has worked out well for her. She’s tried running on and off throughout her life, and has returned to it in the last year, finding her place among the 13-minute+ Austin Fit half crew. Her goal with every run is to finish it without injury and with a smile on her face. So far, so good! Other than running, Jessica has been powerlifting for over a decade, used to do sprint triathlons (though that feels like another lifetime), and loves to bake when she has the time.
Coach Torey
Head Coach Jump Start / 10K (11:00 to 13:00 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years running: 30
- Years with Austin Fit: first year
- Number of Half Marathons: 1
- Favorite Race: Rock and Roll Half Marathon
- Goal: Stay fit
Coach Brenda
Walk FIT Head Coach (18 plus pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years running – 30+
- Number of Marathons – 1 Ultra Marathon and 8 Marathons
- Number of Half Marathons – 40+
- Favorite Races – Cap 10K, Alamo 13.1
Running has always been a part of Brenda’s life. She has been running since she was 12 and participated in cross country and long distance track in middle and high school. Having run too many 5Ks and 10Ks to count over the years, Brenda joined the USA FIT program in 2015 to help meet her goal of “someday running a marathon without dying.” She has been hooked on long distance races ever since.
Coach Nina
Walk Fit Coach (16 plus pace)
FAST FACTS:
- # years running/walking: 13
- # years with USA FIT: 6
- Number of Marathons: 1
- Number of Half Marathons: 14
- Favorite Races: Diva Race Half Marathon in Galveston, TX
- Goals: Stay fit, have fun and do races in other states and countries
I ran track in high school and then was on the Texaco Corporate Challenge, which included running. Then, in 2011, my neighbor introduced me to AustinFit. I don’t run anymore, but I love walking and getting to know the team every Saturday and during the races. It keeps me motivated to reach my goals.
Coach Bob
Walk FIT Coach (18 plus pace 10K)
FAST FACTS:
- Years running with Austin FIT – 11
- Years Walking: All my life
- Number of Marathons – 6
- Number of Half Marathons – 12+
- Number of DNFs: 2
- Favorite Races – Las Vegas 1/2 marathon; Revel Canyon City marathon
I joined Austin FIT because I was in another fitness program, and by word of mouth, I heard about Austin FIT. I joined to do the Austin Runners Club Distance Challenge, which I finished with Austin FIT’s help. I have made many friendships over ten years with Austin FIT and continue to grow
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