USA Fit Champions Coaches
| Purple | Blue | Red | Yellow | Green |
| Click on a color group above to see the list of coaches for that group. | ||||
| About the Organizer | ||
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Stan Hatch coach_stan@championsfit.netWELCOME TO CHAMPIONS FIT! I ran my first race in 1984. I ran mostly 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons for 20 years. The one time I tried to train for a marathon, I didn't know how to go about it. So I ran too many long runs, hurt my knee, and forgot about marathoning for several years. In 2004, my wife Teri (see below) and I joined Champions Fit. We followed the training schedule and completed our first marathon (me) and first half marathon (Teri) in 2005. The unexpected part was how much fun we've had with Champions Fit since then. I've run five more marathons including Boston in 2007, and one ultra-marathon. But for me, the training season with this group of people is way more fun than running a marathon. The other coaches and I are here to keep it enjoyable and to help you achieve your goals. Then you can write your own success stories, one step at a time. | |
| Purple Group (Walkers) | ||
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Teri Hatch coach_teri@championsfit.net Head Coach My husband Stan (see above) and I joined Champions Fit in 2004. This will be my seventh year as head coach for the walkers. It still amazes me to realize that I have medals from 13 half marathons! Along with my husband, my three grown kids and their spouses all run half marathons and marathons. Evidently it runs in the family! Runners are a great group of people and are very supportive of the walkers. It is very satisfying to have a new member join our group and see their sense of accomplishment as they complete their first half marathon. Plus we make friends and have fun training every Saturday morning! Go Purple!!! | |
 | Cynthia Lehman cynthialehman@netscape.net Assistant Coach | |
| Half Marathon (All Levels) | ||
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Dave Kreiner bluecoachdave@gmail.com Head Coach | |
 | Brent Craige brent_craige@hotmail.com Assistant Coach Having retired from playing competitive hockey due to injuries and a shocking overall lack of talent, I began looking for an activity that would allow me to compete against myself and others, improve my fitness levels and provide me some sanctuary out of the house I share with my wife and 3 daughters. An activity where one could enjoy cold “refreshments” after pushing oneself to the limit in pursuit of a goal. Then I found Champions Fit. Not sure it meets the full criteria of what I am seeking but a year later and a handful of races later I guess it is as close as I could hope for. Actually I am only in it for the social aspects, that whole running to keep in shape part is a bit of a nuisance! Running with Champions Fit certainly provides the camaraderie I was looking for and the support of the entire team is truly inspiring. I promise you will have a lot of laughs throughout the training season and beyond. Welcome aboard!! Now, where did I put my hockey stick? | |
 | Drew Wasson Bluecoach.championsfit@gmail.com Assistant Coach | |
 | Janice Chretien janice.chretien@yahoo.com Assistant Coach I joined a running club a few years back and I never felt accepted by the coaches and I became discouraged. A friend of mine suggested I give Champions Fit a try. I immediately made new friends who share my love of running. I enjoy the group philosophy and people so much that I drive 30 minutes out of my way to train with them, often more than once per week. When Coach Dave asked me to become an Assistant Coach I made a vow to myself to never let a new member feel the way I did with my first running club. Many people are apprehensive to join a new group and meet new people or are anxious to begin a new training program. I promise Champions Fit will make you feel at home! | |
 | Pam Stout coach_pam@championsfit.net Assistant Coach | |
 | Simba Bouligny simbabouligny@gmail.com Assistant Coach I've been a member of CF for more than 10 years (back when it was Houston Fit NW). I've completed three half marathons, one marathon relay (Big Sur is a must for the scenery alone) and countless 5 & 10k races. Along the way I've made some of the best friends ever. CF will help you find your inner athlete in a supportive environment. I don't believe in four letter words "slow" because any "time on your feet" counts toward being a more fit you. | |
 | Sonny Mims sonny.mims@comcast.net Assistant Coach Welcome to Champions Fit, I have been running off and on for 23 years. I started running because my sister told me to, but she never told me when I can stop! I joined Champions Fit in 1998 and over the many years have participated in runs ranging from 5K's to Ultra Marathons and one 203 mile Relay Race.. It has been a lot of fun and have met a lot of very nice and interesting people along the way and that is why I still do it. Over the past few years I've been the on the coaching team of the half marathon group because I enjoy helping others who never thought they could run a 5K let alone accomplish a half marathon goal. To me our running group is about setting a goal, making new friends, having fun and crossing the finish line! Looking forward to running with you. | |
| Red Group (10+ min/mile) | ||
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Mitchell Garcia coach_mitchell@championsfit.net Head Coach “WELCOME” to Champions Fit!!! This is my 22nd year with USAFIT (9 yrs. with Champions Fit) and have completed more marathons and endurance runs than I care to remember. I continue to return to this great organization not only for the running support that it provides, but for the people and friendship that comes with running with those who feel and suffer with you during the training season. I hope you enjoy your experience with Champions Fit; we are here to support, assist and encourage you during your training. We will see at the start line and cheer you at every turn. It begins with you one step at a time and remember…we see RED people. | |
 | Allison Hughes allisonhughes24@yahoo.com Assistant Coach Running has not always been my friend I can happily say. I grew up playing sports and stayed as far away from running as I could. After my oldest daughter was born I needed to find a way to get into better shape, but I couldn't bring myself to run. I had a friend invite me to join this cool group she found out about called Champions Fit and we would train for a Half Marathon. I thought it sounded a little crazy considering my past thoughts of running but I was up for the challenge. In January 2009 I ran my first Half Marathon and have never looked back. I have created some life long friendships through running and I feel so lost when I don't run with my girls for a few days. Running helps me stay in shape, keeps me healthy, and is really something I love to do now. I ran my first Marathon in January 2011. I really look forward to training for the Houston Marathon this season and all of the wonderful friendships that I will make along the way. When I am not running I enjoy reading, ministering at The Met with my husband, and spending time with my two little girls. | |
 | Jennifer Pratt coach_jpratt@championsfit.net Assistant Coach I’m Jennifer Pratt and I've been running with Champions Fit for three years. In that time, I've been welcomed and encouraged by such wonderful coaches and members and I hope to do the same. I ran the USA FIT Marathon last January and look forward to running Houston in next year! I'm blessed with three awesome kids and a wonderful husband who encourage me and make me laugh. I truly believe everyone should belly laugh at least once a day! I've lived on both the east and west coasts, and in Fort Worth, but originally hail from Abbeville, Louisiana. (I'm a Tulane grad, so you won’t find any purple and gold on me!) I'm a big reader, yet happy to admit that I love watching TV. You'll find me near the back of the pack, running and chatting, laughing and occasionally, totally caught up in a really intense conversation. That's what long runs are for! It will be amazing to set such a long term goal together and to make it happen, one mile at a time. See you on the run! | |
 | Peter Mihalik mihalikp@yahoo.com Assistant Coach I am a retired geologist, married for 48 years (to the same woman!). We have two sons and daughters-in-law, three grandkids and two grand-dogs. I started running just about six years ago, at age sixty-eight to stop gaining weight as I aged. This goal was achieved with only partial success, but I received something more valuable: good health and the friendship and camaraderie of a great group of guys and gals running with me (mostly in front of me). Since joining Champions Fit I have completed six marathons: 3 Chevrons in Houston, 2 in Portland and one (USA FIT) in Sugarland. I also ran seven half marathons, as well as quite a number of 30ks, 25Ks, and many 10Ks and 5Ks. I am currently training for the Marine Corps Marathon this October in Washington DC, and the Las Vegas and Chevron Houston Half Marathon in December and January. Three years ago I was asked to be an assistant coach for the Red Group and have thoroughly enjoyed this activity. I make it may task to help any runners that are struggling on any particular day, by running with them, or if necessary, walking them back to the start. I once again look forward to a fun running season with Champions Fit. | |
 | Vicki Nolan vickipt@yahoo.com Assistant Coach I started running with the goal of losing weight and finishing a 5K. After a year of running by myself, I found a fun group of girls to run with who were Champions Fit members. After a couple of months, I was addicted. Two years later, I finished my first marathon…..I NEVER thought I would say that! If you asked me “why” I run, I would say it is for fun, stress relief, fitness and friendship. The last marathon I ran was the USA FIT Marathon in Sugarland in January 2011. In my spare time I enjoy photography, gardening, traveling and spending time with my husband and four children. | |
| Yellow Group (8.5 - 10 min/mile) | ||
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Susan Cline smcline1557@yahoo.com Head Coach I joined Champions Fit 11 years ago with the intention of just learning how to run. Joined the Red group and figured once I got the hang of it, I'd just quit! But NO! Friends I made in the group peer-pressured me until I agreed to continue training and finish the marathon...so 6 months later, I crossed the first of many finish lines. Since then, I've been an assistant coach a couple of times, head coach running and ATP, and Organizer of the whole group for 5 years. I'll get you across that finish line, and you'll have fun training for it, I promise! | |
 | Allison Leyrer coach_allie@championsfit.net Assistant Coach | |
 | Carol Gray coach_carol@championsfit.net Assistant Coach My sister-in-law had trained with Houston Fit at Memorial Park and completed her first and only marathon in 1997. I thought if she could run a marathon, surely I could, and I decided to train the following season. Fortunately, Champions Fit started at the Cy Creek YMCA close to home and I didn't have to trek to Memorial Park. That was 13 years ago and I'm still here! Why? Running is a great source of stress relief, there is no pressure unless self-inflicted, you meet people from all walks of life with fabulous stories to tell, running gear is affordable, there is no feeling like crossing that marathon finish line, and it is fun! Through my running journey with Champions Fit, I've run and walked in every group except green (just not happening!), so there is a p(l)ace for everyone. Champions Fit meets you where you are, and you'll be amazed at all you accomplish by the end of the running program. On your mark, get set, look out January 2012, here we come! Go YELLOW!!! | |
 | Gordon Mishler gordonm@SBcglobal.net Assistant Coach | |
 | Jennifer Niesner coach_jennifer@championsfit.net Assistant Coach | |
 | Jennifer Triplett jltriplett@comcast.net Assistant Coach | |
| Green Group (8.5 & less min/mile) | ||
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David Prasse coach_dprasse@championsfit.net Head Coach Welcome to Champions Fit! This is my second year with Champions Fit. Last year was a great experience for me with Champions Fit running with the green group. About half the group was named Dave or David, including our head coach last year, David Engler. I picked running back up 5 years ago as a corporate sponsor and coach for Special Olympics. We had companies compete against each other in various sports to raise money for Special Olympics. I thought I needed to participate in an event (5K), and I used to run, so that got me lacing up the shoes and back into running. When I moved to Houston in 2007, I wanted to keep running so I was mainly doing 5Ks. After running with my work buddies, they invited me to join Champions Fit and train for the Houston marathon. The training paid off, but the best part had to be the camaraderie and stories on the trails during those long runs. As far as coaching, I spent a lot of years coaching fastpitch softball, soccer, and baseball. The one thing I learned from coaching is a little encouragement and valuing what each person contributes will bring out the best in people. We're here to help you achieve your goals and have fun in the process. Come on out, and let's go for a run! | |
 | Tony Castronovo tony.castronovo@att.net Assistant Coach | |
