Austin FIT Spring 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 Sandy
Spring Organizer (9:30 To 9:59)
Fun Facts:
- Years Running: 20+
- Years with Austin Fit: 10+
- Number of Half Marathons: 13+
- Favorite Race: Diva Race Half Marathon in VAIL
- Goal: Complete Texas Tri Series and 6 half marathons in one season
Sandy has been running off and on for over 15 years. One of the reason she loves to coach for Austin Fit is the amazing people she gets to meet year after year. Sandy thrives on the contagious enthusiasm of someone training for there very first 1/2 Marathon and watching them attain that goal. It is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.
Coach Tanner
Spring Half Marathon (9:00 min/mile pace & below)
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 Marzi
Spring Half Marathon (10:00 plus min/mile pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years with Austin Fit: 6
- Half marathon: 11
- Full marathon: 2
- Ultra: 1
- Favorite Race: Doublin Half
- 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 Laura
Spring Half Marathon (11:00 plus min/mile pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years running – Since I was 9
- Number of Marathons – 3
- Number of Half Marathons – A LOT.
- Favorite Races – Decker, Resolution Races, the Austin Marathon, etc.
- Goals – Fitness for more than just weight management.
Endorphins are important to everyone! I began running at a really young age because it helped me clear my mind. Even though I didn’t get many awards when I was running track, I was able to run further than anyone else on the team. I continued to run 5K’s and long distances, and eventually Marathons. Now I can say I have run three marathons, and I have enjoyed making new friends with my teammates. I love to hear their intentions in their races, and I look forward to getting to know more runners and their stories as well!
Coach Desirae
Spring Half Marathon (12:00 plus min/mile pace)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 25+
- Years with Austin Fit: 1.5
- 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 Torey
Spring 10k (11:00 to 13:00 min/mile 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 Jeff B.
Spring 10k (11:00 to 13:00 min/mile pace)
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 Brenda
Spring 10k Walking Coach (20:00 plus min/mile 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 Steffi
Spring 10k Walking Coach (17:00 plus min/mile 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
Spring 10k Walking Coach (16:00 plus min/mile 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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