USA Fit Kingwood Coaches
| Blue | green | yellow | red | Purple | 1/2 Marathon | 1/2 Purples | Trail | Staff |
| Click on a color group above to see the list of coaches for that group. | ||||||||
| About the Organizer | ||
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Elaine Smith elasmi@msn.comA long time ago on a nice spring day I got off the couch and went for a walk on the greenbelt. I enjoyed myself so much that I decided to do it again the next day, and the next, and the next. A few weeks after that I began walking/running up to the grocery store. If I ran more than I walked I rewarded myself with a jelly donut. After a few weeks of that, I ditched the donut and kept running past the grocery store. About a half year later, I quit smoking. A few months later I ran my first 5K. A few weeks after that my knee became sore. I was so excited-A SPORT\'S INJURY!!!. It healed and I ran my first Houston Marathon. Big journeys can start with small steps. In 2003 KingwoodFit got started and I signed on to coach the red group. Last year was my first as organizer. I\'m here to make your big journey as rewarding as mine was-let me know if there is anything I can to do help. | |
| Blue Group | ||
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Caroline Chamness dwchamness@msn.com Head Coach Hi - I\'m Caroline Chamness and I have been running seriously for 5 years now. I had been running in 2003 for exercise and ran my good friend in at the 2004 Houston Marathon and told her \"I would never do this!\" My background includes swimming competetively from the age of 6 to 22. The next year I trained for my first Houston Marathon and ran it in 4:45. I decided to put my competetive spirit into my running and managed to qualify for the 2006 Houston Marathon as one of the 25 local elite invited runners. I ran a 3:07 and won 2nd place local masters female placing 19th overall. The same year I went and ran the Boston Marathon which was my ultimate goal. 13 marathons later (be careful what you say) I am totally addicted. My career in running has included placing in several races as well as winning (and still holding the course record) the Seabrook Marathon 2 years in a row. I love using my knowledge to help other runners achieve their goals which may be qualifying for Boston, setting a PR or both. I can\'t wait for another year of great running and great friendships. Happy Trails :-) | |
 | Heather Walker heather.barnes@humble.k12.tx.us Assistant Coach Hello! I am Heather Walker(thanks to KWF!) I have run off and on since middle school and high school, but started seriously running 3.5 years ago. After moving to Kingwood, a friend/co-worker and I started running with the goal of training for a marathon and decided to join KWF the next season. That first season I not only learned how to train, ran farther than I ever imagined I would, but I also got to know Ian Walker(at Belinda\'s killer hill workout). I have run 3 marathons, several half marathons, and various other K\'s, and one 50K ultra. I look forward to many, many more. With a PR of 3:36, I have obtained my goal of qualifying for Boston. My new goal is to keep up with Pat and Caroline. | |
| Green Group | ||
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Belinda Borgers borgersbrent@yahoo.com Head Coach I have been lucky enough to a part of the KWF family for five seasons! This is an awesome organization and I feel so lucky to have found it. I have completed seven marathons. I ran my first two marathons on my own and I can truly say that the five I have run with KWF have been my best! My goal as your coach is to help you reach your goal...the start line! And most importantly, the FINISH line! The Green group, also known as the Greenies, strive to encourage and help one another through the long runs. We are all in this together. I can\'t wait to welcome you to our Greenies family!!! | |
 | Bruce Marantis maranbh@msn.com Assistant Coach I have run on and off most of my life since college, but I only became interested in the marathon in my late thirties. If any one reading this knows Steve Boone (300+ Marathons and still counting), I have Steve to thank for my interest in the great distance race. I kept “running” in to him at Atascocita Middle School track and he kept asking everyone, \"Does anyone want to run a marathon!!!\" That\'s Steve! So I started checking into it on my own, found some training schedules and trained, started and finished my first Houston Marathon in 1999. I am now a 6 time finisher of the Houston Marathon. So after 6 starts and finishes, I know all the subtle nuances of preparing for and running the Houston Marathon, including how to get hurt in training and make the smart choice and run the ˝ marathon if you are not ready (2 times)! I am also a student of the history of running. My favorite movie about running is \"Without Limits\" about Steve Prefontaine. \"Pre\" will be remembered as one of America\'s greatest distance runners, but his life was cut short by tragedy. Ironically, \"Pre\" was defeated in his greatest race, the 1972 Munich Olympics. “Pre” is distance running’s “Rock star” and will be remembered for his brash style and interesting observations about running. My favorite is his statement, \"A race is a work of art...\". My portion of the green group will shoot for a time of 3 hours 50 minutes in Houston in January. | |
 | Mihaela Mullin mik2@kingwoodcable.com Assistant Coach Welcome to the World of Running. Welcome to KingwoodFit. If you are already a runner and want to get better at it, or a jogger and think \"long distance running\", or just a true beginner to the sport and consider a half marathon/full marathon as your next goal, we, coaches at KingwoodFit, will help you achieve your dream. With 6 years of running experience and 11 marathons (Houston [5], San Antonio, San Francisco, Austin, Chicago, Boston, and Washington) I hope to bring experience, knowledge about the sport, encouragement and instill the love of running to you. Run to the Finish Line! | |
| Yellow Group | ||
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Billie Bobbit bkbobbitt@aol.com Head Coach I’m Billie Bobbitt and I’m going to be head coach for the Yellow group. I have been running since I was in High school but as an adult I didn’t pick it up marathoning till 2000. This year 2010 made my 10th consecutive Houston Marathon; I am officially a veteran of the Houston marathon. YEAH for me!!! I have always enjoyed running even with the challenges it brings sometimes. I run because I enjoy running and the company of good friends always motivates me to meet them every Saturday morning; even if it’s 5:30 in the morning. I hope I will be able to assist and encourage you through your journey this season with Kingwoodfit. | |
 | Gordan Tillman got@mindspring.com Assistant Coach This is my second season with Kingwood Fit. I had never been heavily involved with organized sports growing up. For example, I was on the golf team in high school. Great game but doesn\'t do much for your overall fitness. As I approached 50 I wanted to get in shape and took up training for a triathlon. In my enthusiasm I managed to mess up a knee and ended up having a bit of surgery. After recovering from that I decided to start training smart and so, among other things, joined Kingwood Fit. It\'s my goal as an assistant coach to help all of my team members achieve their running goals safely and have a good time doing it. | |
 | Stephen Davis Stephen.K.Davis@lonestar.edu Assistant Coach This is my sixth season with Kingwood Fit and my first to serve as an assistant coach. I could never have sustained myself as a serious runner without the foundation and encouragement provided by this organization. My efforts as a coach will be a small step toward repayment of that debt. If I can especially help new runners with advice and inspiration the way my coaches over the years aided me, my major goal will be accomplished. In my other life, I am a professor of history and chairman of the Social Sciences Department at Lone Star College---Kingwood where I have taught since its opening in 1984. | |
| Red and 5/1 Group | ||
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Todd Jordan teasipper@hotmail.com Head Coach This upcoming season will be my 3rd year with Kingwood Fit. Prior to joining Kingwood Fit, I was a member of Houston Fit and Austin Fit, each for one year respectively. Through my participation in these different USA Fit programs, I observed many similarities and some differences between the programs, but the main goal was always consistent – to put the time in to train for and complete a marathon. Prior to joining USA Fit, I had only managed to complete a few 5k runs and only one 10k run. It seemed farfetched to go much beyond these distances at the time, but USA Fit guided me into exploring the unknown and uncertainty of completing a marathon and getting to do so with the help, company, and motivation of coaches and fellow runners working toward the same goal. I presently have completed 4 marathons and am closing in on 20 half marathons. Whatever reason brings you to Kingwood Fit, whether it’s getting into better physical condition, taking on the daunting challenge of becoming a marathoner, forming new friendships and training with other members of our group, etc., I look forward to helping you achieve your goals anyway I can! | |
 | Annamarie Clark aclark@tsp-tx.com Assistant Coach I quit smoking about 10 years ago. I started walking because I had to do something to get rid of stress. Because, I walk/run, I would not call myself a runner. When someone would ask me about running, I would say, “I’m not really a runner, I’m a walker. I walk/run”. I did the Rock & Roll San Diego marathon in ’05 but I am truly a half marathoner. I love them, and usually do several a year. Last year, I decided I NEEDED to do the Houston marathon before I turn 60! I knew if I was going to finish, I needed help. With much prodding from my sister, I joined Kingwood fit. It didn’t take long for me to know KWF was a great decision, I loved it! I met new friends and finally had someone to run with. The camaraderie, training and encouragement I received were just the push I needed. I finished my marathon strong. This year, I hope to give someone that little extra push. The push that will give them the confidence to do something they weren’t sure they could, the push to say, “I am a runner”. | |
 | Chris Zukowski cp.zukowski@yahoo.com Assistant Coach This is my second year with Kingwood Fit. I have run for fitness on and off since high school but prior to joining Kingwood Fit I had never run more than 5 miles without stopping. 2 years ago my weight was out of control and I knew that I either had to lose weight or face a future of medications and declining health. I started to make the necessary changes in my diet and started walking for exercise, as I started to lose some weight I started adding running to my exercise. Running a marathon had always been kind of a bucket list thing for me so I decided to join Kingwood Fit to see if I could do it. Well with 2 marathons and 100lbs less under my belt I’m still a beginner but looking forward to the new season. I hope I will be able to help and encourage others to meet their goals with Kingwood Fit. | |
 | Steve Potlock sjpotlock@kingwoodcable.net Assistant Coach This is my second year coaching the esteemed Red group. It will also mark my 6th year with KW Fit. I have truly enjoyed running and growing with the KW fitters. The trials and tribulations of marathon training has been made easier by this dedicated, helpful, open and humorous group of friends. I hope you take the first step of joining an activity that really will change your life. More than that, I hope it becomes a way of life for you as it has for me. Happy trails. | |
 | Suresh Shah uncleshah@hotmail.com Assistant Coach A Mechanical, Electrical and Computer Engineer by profession. A Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing contractor by trade. Living in Texas since 1993. Have participated in at least 43 marathons. Have volunteered in at least 20 marathons. Volunteer of the Year 2006, Dallas Running Club. A member of Dallas Running Club from 2000 to 2007. A member of Houston Strider, 2007 and 2008. A member of Road Runners Club of America, 2007-2008. Have participated in Texas Marathon, Big D Texas Marathon, Whiterock Marathon, Houston Marathon, Philadelphia Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Waco Marathon, San Antonio Marathon, Austin Marathon, Oklahoma City Marathon, Personal Record of running longest is 32 miles, Personal record of running none stop is 7 hours. Love the Run walk program. | |
| Purple Group | ||
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Jane Carter decmjc@aol.com Head Coach Certified USAT&F Level II Racewalking Coach Walked 4 marathons, best time 6:26:30 Goal is 6:00:00. | |
 | Addie Kephart addiekephart@comcast.net Assistant Coach Addie Kephart has been with KingwoodFit since it\'s inception and a walking coach for all but the first year. She started as a Racewalker in the Senior Olympics and decided to take up the challenge of a marathon. She completed her first marathon at the age of 73 and has done many since. After a knee replacement she decided to do half marathons and has gotten first in her age group each year. She continues to compete in the Senior Games in bowling and racewalking and has qualified for Nationals in both which means first or second place in the state games. Her best finish in National Racewalking was fifth place. Look for the \"young\" gray headed gal out there and say \"Hi!\" | |
 | Bruce Melson bmelson@comcast.net Assistant Coach This is my 4th year with Kingwood Fit and my 2nd year as an assistant coach. It's a great hobby and it’s fun to meet new friends. I have always loved walking, because you can talk and be social while exercising. All of the sudden, exercise becomes fun! Also, I enjoy the camaraderie and the joy of success on the faces of those who finish after all the hard work is done. | |
 | Marylin Weakley Assistant Coach | |
| Half Marathon | ||
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Bonnie Beirne mwbeirne@msn.com Head Coach My journey started with Kingwood Fit in July 2005 when I saw the sign at the YMCA challenging people to sign up for Kingwood Fit to run the half or full marathon in Houston in January. I was over 50, needed to improve my over all fitness and work on managing my weight. I joined Kingwood Fit in July 2005 and completed my first half marathon in January 2006. I have completed 4 half marathons since joining Kingwood Fit and have continued to improve my pace. Kingwood Fit provides the coaching, support group and a proven program to help you achieve your goal to complete the half or full marathon in Houston. My journey continues. | |
 | Christina Rougerie princesa4575@hotmail.com Assistant Coach Running a marathon was never an accomplishment that I thought I could do much less think about!! It was one of the coaches, Diane Heard, that actually encouraged me to join kingwood fit in 2009 and then sign up for the half marathon. I was motivated to start because I wanted to get rid of my post pregnancy weight. After getting back to my size I realized that I do love and enjoy running. I ran a few 10k races before the marathon which really prepared me for the half marathon. This will be my second half marathon, and I am excited to say that I decided to become an assistant coach this year! Everything about Kingwood fit really helped me to become a runner. The seminars are very informative. I love running with a group, because it also makes the run more pleasant and it nice that everyone bounces off ideas and advises with one another. This is an exciting team and I look forward to running with returning and new members! | |
 | Diane Heard diane.heard@bakeroiltools.com Assistant Coach I was looking for a new way to get and stay fit. I had been an avid road cyclist completing numerous local bike rides including the MS150 for five years. Then attempted to learn to roller blade, I took a bad fall that left me flat on my back for 3 months, during which time I managed to gain a lot of weight making re-cooperation very difficult. When I finally started working out again at a local health club, I met Wendy and a group of other runners from Kingwood Fit, who convinced me I should try running. I joined Kingwood Fit and I successfully completed the ˝ Marathon this year. I am not a fast runner as a matter of fact there are walkers that are faster, but I am content in knowing that I am achieving my goals of getting and staying fit and getting to know lots of great folks that share the same goals. That is the major reasons I agreed to help Glenda out this year was to be there for others that like me are looking for that sense of accomplishment without the pressure of having to be fast. I consider running is a team sport your teammates are the friends you make along the way. | |
 | Jenny Briganti jennjh75@aol.com Assistant Coach In 2002, I was sitting at a Houston Rockets basketball game when a man handed me a flyer advertising the Rocket’s 5K Fun Run. I had not run a 5K in over 12 years. The next day I started running 5 minutes. I was so out of breath, I thought my lungs were going to burst out of my chest. Then I did it again. Slowly but surely, minute by minute, I made it the entire 3.1 miles without stopping. I was hooked. The 5K races turned into 10K races and before I knew it, I was running half marathons after training with Kingwood Fit in 2007. I am assistant coach Jenny Briganti at 34 years young, and this is my 4th season with Kingwood Fit to train for a half marathon. In 2010 alone, I have completed 5 half marathons so far and I am still am hooked on this race. The half marathon is the perfect distance for me, not too long, but still a challenge to complete. Signing up for various races is the dangling carrot that keeps me hungry for more. On top of that, the friends you meet during the season will keep you motivated long after the race is over. You will find people to match all paces, weekly running times to fit all schedules and friends to last a lifetime. Welcome to the world of running! It just may become your new passion of choice. | |
 | Jose Castellanos jcastellanos3623@msn.com Assistant Coach Hi, my name is Jose. I want to “Welcome” you to the finest running club in the Greater Houston area. This is my 7th year with Kingwood Fit. Thanks to this program, I have run 10 marathons successfully and 4 or 5 half marathons. This is a very fabulous program that it is not only challenging but also fun. I believe that this is one of the best and most successful training programs in our area. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome returning members and any new members. Our goal along with all with the Kingwood Fit organizer staff, coaches and members is to make this an unforgettable experience. We are here to support each other. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. This year, I will be your ˝ marathon under 10 minutes/mile pace coach. I will try to help you with your goals for the season. Saturdays are our long runs. Please make sure to check the weekly and full schedules of the program. There are other workout running opportunities during the week. I want to bring to your attention a few issues that will enhance your training with Kingwood Fit: 1. Please observe all the safety instructions. We will discuss more details in our pre-run meetings. Safety is our No. 1 rule. 2. Please wear your orange color tab all the time with your name and contact information. 3. It is important that you carry your own HYDRATION system. 4. Please run in a single file when crowded and alert runners on your back of oncoming runners and other road conditions. And observe all safety and traffic rules. 5. Familiarize yourself with the route and carry your own map. 6. Stretch after the runs and stay for the seminars. 7. Please check the weekly schedule and the web site for the latest news. The bulleting board also offers lots of information and a way to keep in-touch with other runners. 8. Sign up for the ˝ marathon group newsletter. Our typical meeting time is 15 minutes before the starting time. We will be sharing running tips, making announcements and addressing issues concerning our training. After the run, please stay for the seminars as they add valuable knowledge to your training. Coach Jose | |
 | Mike Martin mike@qmcompany.com Assistant Coach Hello - My name is Michael Martin and this will be my third year running with Kingwood Fit and my second year of coaching the 5-1 runners. In 2008, at my son\'s request, I joined Kingwood Fit. I did not expect to last very long in the training program because I am not built to run. The first week we ran 3 miles, failure seemed certain, out of breath and out of shape. The second week I ran with Diane\'s group and found out I could almost keep up. This is when I found out running is a team sport, the other runners were not my competitors they were teammates. They helped me to improve my running ability and encouraged me to stay with it. My running improved more than I would have ever thought possible. I have now finished two Half Marathons and am really looking forward to running my third. My experience last year as a 5-1 coach was a great experience, and I fully expect this year to be the same. I know I can be successful as a coach, encouraging other runners and getting them to believe in themselves too. I am not a talented runner or athlete by no means, but I have found that with a commitment to keep running, success is inevitable. | |
 | Richard Dalgliesh rdalglie@entouch.net Assistant Coach I am 61 years old and have been running most of my life. I ran track in middle school and high school and some when I was in the Military. When I was 25, I turned to weight lifting until age 35. I competed in college and state and national. When I turned 50, I started with Kingwood and have been running to this date. I enjoyed running the 10K, half marathon and marathon from that day forward. The people that I meet during these years have kept me focus on staying fit and in good health. I hope what I have learned over the years I can pass on to you through losing weight or just feeling good about yourself. | |
| Half Marathon Purple | ||
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Debby Currin dhcurrin@peoplepc.com Head Coach I have always loved walking because you can talk and be social while exercising. All of a sudden exercise becomes fun! It never occurred to me to be a part of an organized walking program until my father, at age 76, joined Houston Fit and completed his first marathon as a walker. I walked the final 5 miles with him on his second marathon, and that was all it took to get me hooked. I completed my first half marathon the next year. Thanks to all my training it wasn\'t difficult, and, unbelievably, nothing hurt! I told myself I would do the marathon just once, to prove to myself I could. That was five marathons ago. And I\'m not planning on quitting any time soon. Besides meeting lots of fun people, a big bonus of the practice walks is the scenery. Early morning walks by the river, or the golf course, or through the greenbelts are absolutely spectacular! Seeing the mist over the water during a sunrise is totally inspiring. Being a part of Kingwood Fit is a gift I give to myself. | |
 | Heather Burke hdburke.hb@gmail.com Assistant Coach After many years of inactivity and struggling with my weight, I finally began working toward a healthier lifestyle and was able to lose a significant amount of weight. I quickly learned, however, that maintaining weight loss is the most challenging part of the battle! To keep myself motivated, I began to look for a group fitness activity and that\'s when I heard about Kingwood Fit. I\'d never done anything like it before, and wasn\'t crazy about the early hours, but decided to give it a try anyway. When I joined the program last year, my goal was to train with the runners in order to prepare for my first half-marathon. During the training season, however, a knee injury forced me to slow things down and join the walkers for a while. What started out as a temporary fix until I was ready to return to running, quickly developed into a love for walking. It turned out that I didn\'t need to slow down for long either.... power-walking provides many of the same benefits as running with less impact to the body. Walking also allows you to socialize and enjoy your surroundings as you work out which is a definite bonus as the mileage begins to add up. Thanks to the training and support I received from Kingwood Fit, I was able to complete the Texas Half-Marathon, along with my husband, on January 1st, 2010. What an amazing experience that was! We\'re already signed up for the next one :) I\'ve made some great friends through Kingwood Fit and I look forward to meeting many more as our new season gets under way. | |
| Trail Group | ||
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Glenda Warman gswarman@embarqmail.com Head Coach Hi Guys and Girls! So glad to be able to be back running with you guys...Before last year I have been involved with KWFit with either the Red Marathoners or Half-Marathon groups from the beginning of KWFit. After going through numerous knee surgeries – three in one year – not caused from running, I am pleased to be in on the grass roots of KWFit’s trail running My history is: • 2 marathons in Houston • 7+ half marathons in Houston • Completed three MS150 (Houston to Austin ride) • Hotter than Hell 100 bike ride • 2 seasons - Texas Adventure Racing (Trail running/Mountain biking and Kayaking) • 1 25K trail race at Double Lake State Park I love all of it, but due to my knee issues I have found that trail running best suits me and now that KWFit is offering such, I can help get it started. We will be training for 25 and 50K races held in this area. Happy trails see you soon. Glenda Warman | |
| Tony Gregg Assistant Coach Up until a few years ago I had never given much thought to fitness as lifestyle. I had always done the gym thing and tried to stay in shape, but I had a hard time doing it with any consistency. I got to the point where I was 220 lbs and looking for a change. I began running with Kingwood Fit in 2008 to support my wife as she trained for the Houston Half Marathon. And in that season I lost 50 lbs, got in the best shape of my life and never looked back. In 2009 I ran my first Half Marathon. And now in 2010 I’m helping to lead the charge for the Kingwood Fit trail running group. Since 2008 I have completed several 5k and 10k races and the Houston Half Marathon. I have also since competed in at least a dozen multi-discipline Adventure Races, and other off-road running and mountain biking events. I absolutely consider Kingwood Fit to be my fitness foundation that makes all my other fitness goals possible, and I look forward to assisting as a trail running coach this year. Don’t forget the bug spray! | ||
| Staff | ||
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TBD
Head Coach | ||
 | Akilah Willery awillery@gmail.com Assistant Coach I am a former couch potato that finally decided to give up my sedentary lifestyle for a more active one about 12 years ago. As a result of a lot of sweat and dedication, I have been able to complete 8 marathons and countless half marathons. Although I cannot say I have gotten any better at the sport, I still show up for each race eager to experience the same runner’s high that brings us all back again and again. “I am a marathoner…regardless of my speed, my weight, or my age, I will cross that finish line like the best of them.” | |
