Boston Fit Coaches
| Purple | Green | Yellow | Red | ATP | general support |
| Click on a color group above to see the list of coaches for that group. | |||||
| Half Marathon | ||
| Mark Grady half@bostonfit.net Head Coach Years Running: 7 Years Running w/ Boston Fit: 6 Running Philosophy: Take time to stop and smell the roses and appreciate the outdoors around you. Also, \"taking time to smell the roses\" is a great cover story when you\'re really just stopping to catch your breath :) Favorite Run/Race: Chicago Marathon, the crowds are great, the course is great, and I just happened to get engaged during Chicago Marathon weekend 2010, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities: Breakfast at Whole Foods after our Saturday runs. Name one thing every runner should know about: get fitted for decent shoes by a store that knows what they\'re doing. How many marathons have you run? 4 Which marathon are you training for: I\'m training for the Bay State Half Marathon in Lowell Goals for the 2011 Boston Fit Season: Trying to successfully juggle BostonFit with planning my wedding. Also, I\'m hoping to have a new personal best time in the half marathon distance. I\'m not sure if either will happen, but it\'s something to shoot for! | ||
| Heather LaPierre Assistant Coach Years Running: 3 Years Running w/ Boston Fit: This will be my fourth year with BostonFit. Running Philosophy: Running is empowering. The sense of accomplishment I feel after each half or full marathon carries over into my every day life. Favorite Run/Race: All have a place in my heart for their own reasons. BAA was my first 1/2, Boston my first full, Applefest my fastest 1/2, Chicago my most difficult race ever and so the most memorable. Also, that crazy 21/12 bikepath run of 2009 that poured, never laughed so hard in my life. Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities: Chatting during the runs. I’ve made some of my very closest friends through the conversations held on runs. Name one thing every runner should know about: Running is mental. If you think you can, you will. How many marathons have you run? Two. Boston 09, Chicago 10 Which marathon are you training for: ; ) Goals for the 2011 Boston Fit Season: To help all new BFitters enjoy this group and develop a love of running. | ||
| Green | ||
| Scott Lenox green@bostonfit.net Head Coach Years Running: 9 (since my 37 year hiatus from college) Years Running w/Boston Fit: 2 Running Philosophy: If you don\'t love running, you shouldn\'t run Favorite Run/Race: new York Marathon then Boston (it\'s close!) The crowds are great in both! Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities: The pre race pasta party at Becca\'s Name one thing every runner should know about: Listen to your body. It\'s your best coach. How many marathons have you run? 17 Which marathon are you training for: Marine corps Marathon (October 30th) Goals for the 2011 Boston Fit Season: Get everyone to the starting line healthy. Have fun while doing it. | ||
| Mark Duffield Assistant Coach Years Running: Off and on for 30 years. Seriously running for the last 14 years continuously. Years Running w/ Boston Fit: This will be my 5th season with BostonFit Running Philosophy:Have fun, stay fit, don\'t take it too seriously, and listen to your body and adjust any training plan you might be following accordingly. Run races frequently to push your own limits. Favorite Run/Race: 5 mile loop starting at my house in Brookline, around Jamaica Pond a few times, and back home along the Riverway in the early morning. Favorite race is the James Joyce Ramble. Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities: Doyles breakfasts Name one thing every runner should know about: Developing an efficient running form with 180 steps per minute, a relaxed posture, and a mid-foot strike. How many marathons have you run? 4 Which marathon are you training for: Still working that out. Goals for the 2011 Boston Fit Season: Have fun, maintain and improve my fitness level from my spring marathon training, and get a PR with my fall marathon. | ||
| Yellow | ||
| Anthony Falanga Head Coach Years Running: 6 Years Running w/ Boston Fit: 2011 is my 5th year with BostonFit Running Philosophy: Keep the simplicity of running alive. Let the reason for the run be the joy you receive from it. Favorite Run/Race: Marathon de Paris is currently the one to beat! Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities: Doyle’s breakfast before the marathon is a lot of fun. Name one thing every runner should know about: Every runner is different. You need to do what works for you, but know that runners also share the same triumphs and setbacks. How many marathons have you run: 8 Which marathon are you training for: Hartford, CT. Goals for the 2011 Boston Fit Season: Make sure everyone stays happy and healthy. | ||
| Janet Chambers Assistant Coach Years Running: 7 Years Running w/ Boston Fit: 3 Running Philosophy: Run for Fun! Favorite Run/Race: James Joyce Ramble 10k - My home town of Dedham\'s main event! Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities: I love the water stops on our long-runs! The family and friends that come out to support Boston Fit are fantastic! Name one thing every runner should know about: You CAN run a marathon. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but if you trust your training plan, you will be amazed at your progress! How many marathons have you run? 2 Which marathon are you training for: Marine Corps Goals for the 2011 Boston Fit Season: I am so excited to be an Assistant Coach and give back to a program that inspired me run my first two marathons! My goal is to help as many runners as I can to finish their marathons in 2011. Personally, I am training for \"Marine Corps in sub 4:00:00\". (There it is in black and white!) | ||
| Red | ||
| Julie Merritt red@bostonfit.net Head Coach Years Running: 6 Years Running w/ Boston Fit: 5 Running Philosophy: Be Patient. Keep a steady pace. Trust your training. Enjoy the run. Favorite Run/Race: The 21 mile training run is a huge confidence booster for me. Tuft\'s 10k is always a favorite. Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities: It\'s got to be the post marathon dinner. Everyone is so relaxed, and it\'s fun to hear all the marathon recaps and experiences. Name one thing every runner should know about: Doubt your Doubts. How many marathons have you run: 5...NYC 2007, Breakers in Newport, RI 2008, Hartford 2009, Chicago 2010, Boston 2011 Which marathon are you training for: Marine Corp. Goals for the 2011 Boston Fit Season: My goal is to make sure each member has fun training and show up to the big day healthy and confident. | ||
| Jessica Milhem Assistant Coach Years Running:,/b> 4 years Years Running w/ Boston Fit: 4 Years Running Philosophy: It is not about the fast it is about the FINISH! Favorite Run/Race: BAA Half marathon Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities:Doyles Breakfast Name one thing every runner should know about: the bad days makes the good days even sweeter ,b>How many marathons have you run? 2! Which half/full marathon are you training for: NYC 2011 Goals for 2011: Help runners achieve their goal of completing a marathon. Personal goal for this season is to get fit, be healthy, and have FUN! | ||
| Advanced Training Program | ||
| Becca Neill becneill@yahoo.com Head Coach Years Running: 25 years of running Years Running w/ Boston Fit: 6th year with Boston Fit Running Philosophy: Enjoy the process of training for your marathon. Make your own adjustsments so your training works for you and fits into your other obligations in life. Listen to your body before, during, and after runs. Run because you WANT to run, and run for those who can\'t! Favorite Run/Race: Women’s Nike Marathon – San Francisco – Hands Down! Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities: meeting after the marathon and swapping stories Name one thing every runner should know about: Tapering!! Never go to a marathon exhausted!!! How many marathons have you run? 26 Which marathon are you training for: Marine Corps Goals for the 2011 Boston Fit Season: To have fun!!! Enjoy each stride and meet new lifelong running buddies!! | ||
| Overall Program Support | ||
| Debbie Brendemuehl bostonfit@comcast.net Head Coach Years Running: 24 years. I was a couch potato growing up, then one day, a high school friend changed my life, by suggesting we go for a short “jog”. I’ll never forget running in my keds! (don’t run in keds!). My life changed again on the day of the Boston Marathon in 1993, when a coworker challenged me to run a marathon, and I took him up on it! I got the book, “the Lore of Running” (it’s like the Enclopedia Brittanica!) and trained alone for that marathon. I’ll never forget that experience, or any of the marathons I’ve run! Years Running w/ Boston Fit: 7 years Running Philosophy: Running is both a solo and a community activity. It’s a solo activity because only you can do it, and only you can take credit for what you accomplish. But running is so much more fun and easier to do with others. It’s also an activity that clears the mind and provides for great conversations on long runs! I’ve made more friends running with people than almost any other way (other than over a few beers). Favorite Run/Race: Mt Washington Auto Road Race. First, because I LOVE running uphill and really don\'t love running downhill. Second because the people who run the Mt. Washington Auto race are among the craziest on the planet, and I feel totally at home with that! (like I finally found my kindred spirits) Favorite non-running Boston Fit tradition/event/activities: I have done a lot of cheering for members at a lot of finish lines. It is rewarding and satisfying for me to watch others achieve their goals and feel good! Name one thing every runner should know about: It is in our nature to run. I truly believe it feels good to our inner soul to run. My 2 year old always runs, never ever walks or even goes slow... (unless I want him to go fast). I think this natural inclination of children to run demonstrates that we all need to respect our \"inner running child\". How many marathons have you run: 11 Which marathon are you training for: My boys and managing Boston Fit keep me busy - I\'m considering the Newport Half as a first adventure back to distance running. Goals for the 2010 Boston Fit Season: Through our fabulous coaching crew, inspire members in all groups to stick with their goals, be it a half marathon, a full marathon, their first marathon, or a triathlon. I’d like to do a little bit of running myself this season! | ||
