Austin FIT Fall 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/Coach
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 20+
- Years with Austin Fit: 13
- Ultra Marathons: 1
- Number of Marathons: 25
- Half Marathons: 10 plus
- Favorite Race: USA Fit 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 Marzi
Yellow-Red Group Head Coach (Full Marathon 10:00 to 10:29 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years with Austin Fit: 8
- Half marathon: 15
- Full marathon: 4
- Ultra: 1
- Favorite Race: Big Sur Marathon
- Goal: Do a race ( either half or full) in every state.
Marzi’s story begins with a challenge from a friend ….1000 mile in a year …challenge accepted !! She did that in 2016! She also joined Austin Fit in 2016 and haven’t stopped since! Marzi maintains, she’s now addicted.
Coach Nakisa
Yellow Group Full Marathon (9:30 to 9:59)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 10+
- Years with Austin Fit: 4
- Number of Marathons: 1
- Half Marathons: 8
- Favorite Race: San Francisco Half
- Goal – Run more races
Excited to join the team!
Coach Brett
Yellow Group Half Marathon (9:00 to 9:59)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 20+
- Years with Austin Fit: 9
- # Marathons = 1; # Half Marathons = 15
- Favorite Race: 3M
- Goal: Have fun, keep in shape as I get older and help others to experience and enjoy running!
Brett has coached for seven years with Austin Fit and has been running much of his life. He ran cross country and track in high school and loved the camaraderie and sense of team accomplishment. Brett’s father, Jon, is his running inspiration and a long-time cross-country coach. Running with his dad, Brett completed his first marathon in Wichita, KS. Since that time, he has completed several half marathons and has fallen in love with that distance. After a couple years off, Brett is excited to be back coaching.
Coach Roy
Red Group Full Marathon (10:30 to 10:59 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years with Austin Fit: 4
- Half marathon: 15
- Full marathon: 3
- Favorite Race: Tokyo Marathon
- Goal: Continue run and help others improve
Roy is driven by a deep passion for running and the sense of accomplishment it brings. Starting at the age of 50, he discovered the transformative power of running, not just for physical health but also for mental well-being. The thrill of crossing finish lines, the camaraderie of the running community, and the continuous pursuit of personal bests keep him motivated. Since starting to run, he has completed over 15 half marathons and 3 full marathons. His commitment for the sport were highlighted when he placed 3rd in his age group at the 2015 Austin Distance Challenge. Roy’s late start in running has not hindered his success; instead, it has fueled his determination to inspire and guide others in their own running endeavors. Additionally, Roy finds immense joy in helping others to take up running, proving that it’s never too late to start and achieve great things.
Coach Bhanchand
Red Group Half Marathon (10:00 to 10:29 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 21
- Years with Austin Fit: 16
- Number of Half Marathons: 4
- Favorite Race: Twin Rivers
- Goal for this season: To support my fellow runners as a first time coach.
I’ve been running since 2003 and started with Austin FIT around 2008. Part of why I love Austin FIT is the community it fosters. My favorite race is the Twin Rivers, which I was fortunate to run with my daughter, Nina. The race route was beautiful and scenic-truly unforgettable! Outside of running, I like to travel and enjoy hiking in nature.
Coach Amy C.
Red Group Half Marathon (10:30 to 10:59 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 13
- Years with Austin Fit: 12
- Number of Marathons: 1
- Number of Half Marathons: 15
- Favorite Race: Run for the Water (10 miles) and 3M (half)
- Goal for this season: In general, run for life! Specifically, be consistent about my training year round and run a few races a year–one half marathon and a few shorter races. Balance my running with other physical activity, like weight training and walking. Share what I’ve learned over the years with other runners through coaching to help them reach their personal running goals.
Amy first caught the running bug 13 years ago and joined Austin Fit as a way to train for her first half marathon. She first started running because she wanted a personal challenge, and has never stopped running because running never stops being a challenge! She has also kept running because of the great Austin Fit program and running community. She believes in trusting the training to get across the finish line, and enjoying the process along the way as much as possible. In addition to running, Amy strength trains several days a week and walks every day.
Coach William
Orange Group Head Coach (Full Marathon 11:00 to 11:59)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 20
- Years with Austin Fit: 3
- Number of 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 Meagan
Orange Group Half Marathon (11:00 to 11:29)
FAST FACTS:
- Years running: 13
- Number of Half Marathons: 6
- Number of Full Marathons: 6
- Favorite Race: Rock N Roll New Orleans Full Marathon
- Goals: To continue my running journey
Meagan started running in her twenties to create a healthier lifestyle and make friends that like to play outside. Her first race was a turkey trot with friends, three months later she ran a 15k, and within the same year decided to train for a half and then a full marathon. She helped coach in 2015 and is super excited to join the coaching team again this year.
Coach Tori
Orange Group Half Marathon (11:30 to 11:59)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 11
- Number of half-marathons: 3
- Favorite Race: 3M Half Marathon
- Favorite Distance: Half Marathon & 10K
- Goals: Tori wants to help others reach their fitness goals and to feel comfortable in their own bodies.
Tori started running addictively when she turned 18 and couldn’t stop. After college she began running races around Texas starting with 5ks and moving into half marathons. Every medal she get feels like an accomplishment and makes her excited for the next race. Tori has a deep passion for fitness and enjoy many different fitness routines in her weekly lineup including boxing, pilates, HIIT, cycling & more. Tori is excited to work with Austin Fit and inspire others to get their medals while being a part of a supportive community.
Coach Amy M.
Orange Group Full Marathon (12:00 to 13:00)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 10
- Years with Austin Fit: 6
- Number of Marathons: 2
- Half Marathons: 8
- Favorite Race: Marathon to Marathon
- Goal: Conquering The Grand Canyon Rim to Rim with some friends this October.
Amy is passionate about sports and fitness, and found a new love for running when she moved to Austin in 2013. With the support of friends/fellow Austin Fit members, she slowly started signing up for races. Most of all, she embraced the supportive and uplifting community of AustinFit while making lifelong friends and unforgettable memories.
Coach Valorie
Orange Group Half Marathon (12:00 to 13:00 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running or Walking: 17
- Years with Austin Fit: 2
- # of Marathons or Half Marathons: 7 Full Marathons and 50+ Half Marathons
- Favorite Race: LA Marathon
- Goal (can be coaching or personal exercise related): Feel better and stronger 💪
Valorie picked up running after college. Her and a co-worker at the time, signed up for a 5k and it was that race that sparked her passion for it. The two of them decided the next day to sign up for a half marathon.
Then came the training and the runners highs followed suit. After 20+ half’s Valorie decided it was time to try a full. She loved the finish line adrenaline and sense of accomplishment that came with these events. She’s since gotten married, had two children, and now has decided that she IS going to be a runner again. 2021 is when she joined AustnFit and now she feels like this community is the perfect motivation to stay active and build long runner relationships with.
Coach Torey
Jump Start & Walk Fit Head Coach (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
Excited to join the team
Coach Steffi
Walking Half Marathon (16:00 to 18:00 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running– 20+
- Number of half marathons–8
- Favorite Races-Cap 10K, Run for the Water, 3M Half, Austin Half
- I have run over 100 races from 5K to half marathon
I started running regularly when in college to stay in shape while playing on the Ultimate Frisbee team. While I didn’t continue frisbee, I have been running ever since. I got started running distance races in Northern Virginia. Seven years ago I moved to Austin, found Austin Fit, and I’ve been a Saturday morning regular ever since, both running and walking.
Coach Paula
Walking 10k (18:00 to 20:00 Pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Half Marathons 16
- Austin 10/20 (10 mile) 5
- Distance Challenge 5
- Goals: Keep walking and make new friends
I began walking with AustinFit in 2009. I wanted to get moving by walking with a group and train for the Austin Half Marathon. Through the walking program, I became more fit and made some lifelong friends. We met each Saturday morning and planned social activities as well. Austin Fit makes it easier to walk the long distances because I know my walking friends will be there for me each Saturday.
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