Woodlands Fit Winter Coaches
| Full BluGrn | Full Yellow | Full Red | Full Purple | Half BluGrn | Half Yellow | Half Red | Half Purple |
| Click on a color group above to see the list of coaches for that group. | |||||||
| About the Organizer | ||
| Rachael Peters rachael.d.peters@gmail.com | ||
| W Full Marathon Blue/Green (9 min or less) | ||
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Derek Bailey derek.bailey@hotmail.com Head Coach I am fixing to start my second year with Woodlands Fit. I originally took up running to stay in shape when some coache(s) from previous years got me hooked on the idea of 50 state marathoning. I'm not sure what I was thinking or if I was thinking. I'm currently training for my 9th marathon and 7th state. I’m a true redneck from the promised land in the hills over the Red River, banished to Texas for sins I must have committed while living in Oklahoma . I’m married to the most incredible girl ever (Christie) of three years. We have one dog and a kiddo on the way. My dear wife would be the first to tell you I’m not as crazy as you’d think, but much worse. I’ve met a lot of great friends and contacts since joining the group and am looking forward to a great season of running. I promise you'll have a blast running with our group and who knows. Maybe you'll be running all 50 states too some day! | |
 | Andy Brock abrock34@sbcglobal.net Assistant Coach Hi runners. I ran my first marathon without the benefit of a running group; so glad I’ll never have to do that again. I’ve been with Woodlands Fit since 2004 and coached since 2006. I have run over 21 races of at least marathon distance which includes five 50K ultra trail marathons. Amber (Yellow Coach) and I cherish the friendships we have built in this group. Meet new friends and Run a marathon, what a way to be in shape!! | |
 | Kate Looney kate.l.looney@gmail.com Assistant Coach Never in a million years did I ever think I would actually enjoy running!! I started running at the encouragement of friends who were participating in the 2010 Conoco Phillips 5k Rodeo Run. I found a couch-to-5k running program online, ran the race, and was hooked from there. Running became an outlet for fitness, stress relief, and goal-setting. I joined Woodlands Fit that following May to train for the Rock-N-Roll San Antonio half marathon and ended up making some wonderful friends in the process who taught me how to be a stronger and smarter runner (Go Team Cool!). Ultimately though, my goal was to complete a marathon. After running another half marathon in January of 2011, I finally got my wish by finishing the Austin Marathon in February of 2011. If I can do it, you can too! For 2011-2012, I’ll be training to run the Houston and Woodlands Marathons. When I’m not running outdoors, my husband Bob and I are running after our two little ones Jack (4) and Anna (2). If you’d like to tackle a long-distance run, don’t slog through a training program in the humid summer months of Houston alone, come join Woodlands Fit! The miles go by much faster with friends to encourage you along the way! | |
 | Sabina Lorca sabina_lorca_m@hotmail.com Assistant Coach Hello everybody! I’m Sabina, I’m originally from Santiago de Chile, and arrived about 10 years ago to the States. I was always active in High School, played soccer, tennis and field hockey. I began running in college just to stay in shape, never really thought about running marathons at all, I wasn’t even aware about the ridiculous amount of races that go on in Texas and the world every month. It was because of a family member that talked about running the Houston Half in 2008 that I began running more intensively. I thought, “hmmm maybe I can do that too….why not.” This is going to be my third year running with WF, I’m really glad I joined the team because since then I’ve been learning so much about techniques and new ways to improve my running. I have done one full marathon and six half marathons so far. The first time I ran a race, I ran the Houston Half Marathon, I didn’t train well because I didn’t have any running buddies to guide me, and so besides not having a good time during the race, my finishing time was deplorable. After that race I found out about WF and joined the team, thank goodness!!! From that point on I got more efficient, and have been having lots of fun meeting and running with new people every year. Let’s face it, running is hard, why not make it easier by running with buddies that can keep your mind busy while your heart and body do the rest. | |
| W Full Marathon Yellow (9-10 min) | ||
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Ruth Fields fieldshouse@earthlink.net Head Coach (RRCA Certified Coach) I ran my first race, a half marathon, when I was a freshman at Texas A&M and have been running ever since. After training with Woodlands Fit for the first time seven years ago, I finally fulfilled the lifelong goal of running a full marathon. I have now "streaked" seven Houston Marathons, have run five others for a total of 12 and have run 15 half marathons. I have also been the team captain of a Texas Independence Relay team, The Raging Aging, for four years. This year, in my third season as head coach, I’m anxious to share what I learned when I took the class to become a RRCA certified coach. In my other life, I have been married almost 29 years to an Aggie classmate and fellow runner. We have three kids who are grown and almost grown. They sometimes think I am a little crazy, but I am continually thankful for the blessing of being able to run. "There will come a day when I can no longer run 26.2 miles. Today is not that day." | |
 | Bob Bailey bobbailey1010@mac.com Assistant Coach My wife started this running obsession. Back in 97’ she would run about 5 miles a day. One day she came home and told me she was going to run a marathon. Of course if she was going to do it I was going to do it too. Eight years later, I ran my first marathon. (She had run seven). My wife and I trained on our own until 2008 when we joined Woodlands Fit. We met so many people with the same interests and had a blast. I have completed twelve marathons since 2005. As of the Dallas marathon in April, my entire family has run at least one marathon. I think we are hooked. I was the Reds’ head coach for the last two years. I am finally going to try and run with the yellows this year. Let’s get out there, run and have coffee!!!! | |
 | Colleen Sager cebrown2524@yahoo.com Assistant Coach This is going to be my 3rd year running with the woodlands fit program and I couldn’t be more excited to get started! I took up running in college as a way to stay in shape, and ran my first marathon before graduating my senior year. After graduating college and moving to Houston I continued running as a way to stay in shape, and after a few years away from racing got an itch to run another marathon. So two years I decided to join woodlands fit, and since joining I have completed 5 marathons 4 ½ marathons and 3 triathlons. I have enjoyed being a part of Woodlands fit over the past two years and look forward to another great season in 2011! | |
 | Richard Yarp ryarp@yahoo.com Assistant Coach This will be my 8th season running with Woodlands Fit and second year as Assistant Coach. I started the inaugural year of 2002 and have only missed two seasons (2005 & 2006). I started with the Red group back in 2002 and joined the Yellow group the following year. Over the years I have completed 6 marathons and 2 half marathons, completing the Waco Marathon and Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon this past season. I also ran with Ruth Fields’ Raging Aging Team in the Texas Independence Relay for three years, having some of the most fun I have ever had running. I am looking forward to this new season and the opportunity to share what I have learned with those of you new to marathon training. | |
| W Full Marathon Red (10-12 min) | ||
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Doug Hanson dhanson97@yahoo.com Head Coach This will be my third season with Woodlands Fit and second year as coach. I really got into running when I decided I would attempt the Houston Half Marathon in 2007 and have run 4 full, 30+ half marathons and countless “other” runs since then. Chicago Marathon in October is next! I grew up in Spring and moved to the Woodlands a couple years ago and I love the vast number of trails to run throughout. Day job is serving as CFO for a naval architecture and construction company. Looking forward to meeting everyone and a great season of running. | |
 | Christine O'Hagan crissi23@hotmail.com Assistant Coach I am THRILLED to be assistant coaching this season!! I started running about 12 years ago as a way to lose the baby weight after my first daughter was born. I trained with Houston Fit NW for the San Fransisco Marathon and fiished the race in 4:30 . After that I burned out and stopped running for years. After my second child was born I went back to school for my Masters Degree and visited my first athletic love, boxing. I began competing and training for bouts and started running 3 miles a day again and realized how much I missed distance running. I stopped fighting once I completed school and went back to work again full time and became inactive yet again. At that time a condition I had been diagnosed with after my second child was born began to take a serious turn and I knew I would have to work harder to stay healthy. I joined Woodlands Fit that year and with Bob Bailey and Beth Whitehead as my coaches (along with my supportive running friends, Tom, Cory, Luke and Michelle) I managed to run though dialysis and chemo treatments to finish another marathon (Houston) in 5:43. I never missed a training run because the best medicine for me was my friends and the pavement. I didn't hesitate to join the following year and ran Austin with my fiance (also a runner, though in the Blue/Green group) David. The marathon inspired me yet again when I noticed a couple running the race had veared off course to get married and finished together as husband and wife. This year, David and I will be getting married at The Woodlands Marathon and I have vowed to try and return to my 10 minute mile pace, treatment or no treatment, so he doesn't have to wait so long for me to get to our ceremony area at about mile 22. I figure as an assistant coach I have no choice but to be accountable for my goal and in that, hopefully inspire others to accomplish their own as my coaches have done for me the past two years. I refer to myself as the 'Red Caboose' on the training team and can't wait to meet all of my fellow choo-choos on the course this year. Here's to a wonderful training season!! | |
 | Jerry Reimer jerryreimer@att.net Assistant Coach This is my fourth training program with Woodlands Fit, and my first with the full marathon group. For me, the best part of coaching is seeing runners improve, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals. There are not any small victories; they are all a reason for celebration. Through personal experience, I know the USA Fit training program can help ordinary people, even those chosen last in gym class, become endurance athletes. I am often inspired by John Bingham: "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." My hope is that you have the courage to start, and the dedication to train the athlete within you, in order to complete your first or next marathon. | |
 | Richard Zainfield Richard.Zainfeld@hp.com Assistant Coach This is my 9th year with Woodlands Fit. I had never run over 6 miles before joining Woodlands Fit. It is a great way to train. The long runs are so much better when you are running with friends. I ran my 1st Houston marathon in 2004 and have run every one since . I have also run Austin, Big Sur, Lake Tahoe, San Antonio, Dallas, Seabrook, and one marathon in Korea as well as two ultras. I run marathons because it is gives me a goal, is good exercise, and is an accomplishment that not everyone does. I love the camaraderie and support of the people in Woodlands Fit and the whole running community. I have always followed the Jeff Galloway run/walk method. I run 9 minutes then walk 1 minute. This has worked well for me and I am happy to discuss the pros and cons with anyone. I also play Ultimate Frisbee. Let me know if anyone ever wants to play Ultimate. I have a wonderful wife of 32 years this October, 4 great kids (29, 26, 24, and 22), and two grandkids (5 and 4). Grand parenting is the best! My wife and I and all of our kids graduated from UT. I look forward to another rewarding season with Woodlands Fit and getting to meet some new people. Please let me know if you have any questions and I will be happy to share all that I know. | |
| W Full Marathon Purple (Walkers) | ||
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TBD
Head Coach | ||
| W Half Marathon Blue/Green (9 min or less) | ||
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Marti Dobbs craig.martidobbs@sbcglobal.net Head Coach Hi my name is Marti Dobbs and I am the Half Marathon Head Coach. I work at Lukes Locker in The Woodlands. My love of running started in high school with cross country. It continued in the Marine Corps; whether on the beaches of San Diego or off road terrain in the California hills. I have been running for 34 years and hope to run for the rest of my life! In the last year I have participated in the Austin half marathon and the Zooma Bastrop/Austin half marathon. I am looking forward to having a great season with Woodlands Fit and I can't wait to meet all of you! | |
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Robert Martinez Head Coach This will be my 4th season with Woodlands Fit and 2nd year as assistant coach. I really started running when I was diagnosed as borderline diabetic. Diabetes has killed many of my friends and relatives and I am trying to break the cycle. In 2005 I joined a running team at work and since then have completed numerous 5k’s, 10k’s and my first half marathon in 2008. I joined Woodlands Fit to complete my first marathon in 2009 and have also completed another 6 half marathons. I am blessed with a wonderful wife of 17 years and 5 children (all boys), so I keep running to keep up with their activities and to lead by example. I look forward to meeting more wonderful runners, helping you get to the finish line and on to a healthier life. Please feel free to contact me with questions. | |
| W Half Marathon Yellow (9-10 min) | ||
|
TBD
Head Coach | ||
 | Liz Brown edkuitu@gmail.com Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Hey fellow runners! This will be my second year to coach with Woodlands fit and I couldn't be more excited. I flirted with running throughout high school and college and did it mainly to "stay in shape." I moved to The Woodlands after college and discovered that this place is overflowing with good places to run! When I met my fiance (husband by the time you read this) he was training for his first marathon and we began doing his "long" Saturday runs together...this increased my distance and we were both subsequently hooked. As time passed we have met several dear friends who share this passion. Not only is running a great time for me to catch up with my peeps, but I also enjoy my solo runs when the chaos of the work week is raining down! I participate in local races when I can (be it trails or concrete), and I have done 3 half marathons plus a variety of other distances. I am looking forward to another year of training and good times - let's get sweaty! | |
 | Nick Brown nmbrown82@gmail.com Assistant Coach "Hey kids! This is my 2nd season coaching Woodlands Fit with my fabulous fiance/wife (pictured above). We timed our wedding to get hitched the weekend before Woodlands Fit started so we wouldn't miss any of those awesome weekends out on the pavement. I have run several half marathons, 10K's, 5K's, and the Houston Full. Like everyone else, I have made a lot of friends along the way and I'm also proud that one of *our* runners is now coaching too!!! So for you runners that are going to be a part of Team Win (yea, that's us!), lets get runnin'!" | |
 | Oscar Cortez ocortez@comcast.net Assistant Coach I originally started running with Woodlands Fit in 2004. I stopped running with the group for a few years and started back with Woodlands Fit in 2009. After many years of wanting to run a marathon, I finally completed my first last year. I have run several half marathons and 10K’s. I use to dread running especially anything more than a couple of miles. Now I look forward to getting up and going for a run. I enjoy running with the group especially on those long runs when I would much rather get some extra sleep. It’s much easier for me and a lot less likely that I won’t blow off a run, if I know others will be there running too. So let’s have some fun training together. | |
| W Half Marathon Red (10-12 min) | ||
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TBD
Head Coach | ||
 | Ali Yarborough alicia.yarborough@exxonmobil.com Assistant Coach Hi! I’m Alicia Yarborough, but everyone calls me Ali. This is my second year as an assistant coach with Woodlands Fit and unlike some of the other coaches, I didn’t start running until 4 years ago. It took me a while, but I finally started to enjoy running and have gone from not being able to run a mile to running half-marathons. My husband has been my biggest motivator and inspiration and now you can usually find us running the trails in The Woodlands together while pushing our son in his jogging stroller. I am really looking forward helping others discover the joys of running and achieving their goals while making new friends along the way. | |
 | Allison Saladino alisaladino@yahoo.com Assistant Coach This is my second year with Woodlands Fit and fourth year of running. I have ran one full marathon, three half marathons, and many other local races. I’ve always been active, but started running after I was diagnosed with celiac disease, and I now keep my body healthy by sticking to a gluten free diet and staying fit. When I’m not running, I’m practicing yoga, starting to cross train with swimming (triathlon in my future???), and currently studying to become a certified personal trainer. My husband Dee and I live in Spring, with my favorite running buddy, our yellow lab Molly. Woodlands Fit is full of great people who love to share their tips and tricks to help you have a fun and healthy training season and race day. Looking forward to meeting everyone and hitting the trails! | |
 | Charline Townsend charline1@charter.net Assistant Coach Hi Everyone! This is my 5th year of association with The Woodlands Fit program, but my first year as a coach. I am originally from New Mexico, but after 10 plus years in The Woodlands area, Texas is now home. Over the past few years I have completed 12 half marathons and 1 full marathon. As you can probably tell, the half marathon is my favorite!! I am really excited about coaching this year and look forward to meeting everyone. | |
 | Ruth Edens Assistant Coach Hello all, I sure don’t consider myself a runner. I would actually say that I’m not a big fan of running, so why am I running a half-marathon? Blame it on my girlfriends and too much wine. I am a huge fan of fitness though and have been a gym rat for many years including weight training, yoga, aerobics and cardiovascular training on machines. (I love the stair mill.) I will say that I have really enjoyed the first few weeks with Woodlands Fit. (Ask me again when we are running 8 and 10 miles.) It is enjoyable running with a group of people and I don’t notice the pain nearly as much! The running schedule has been great too. It makes the training so much easier when someone else is telling me what to do and when. I just have to do it! I would like to also add that I am a huge fan of dietary fitness. Last year I was diagnosed with various food allergies. (It really helps weight loss when you can’t eat anything.) This summer I was diagnosed with intestinal issues so my diet became even more restrictive (if I could stay away from said girlfriends that like to drink wine and talk me into half-marathon runs.) My point is that I have become pretty knowledgeable about various dietary and cooking options and love to talk about such stuff….I LOVE TO COOK! Having this various issues is really tough for me so anyone wanting to talk, see me! I am originally from Tennessee, (go Volunteers!), but have lived in the Woodlands now for almost 8 years. My undergraduate is from Tennessee but my Masters is from the University of Wyoming, (go Cowboys! I wish I could have just one winning team to supportL) I have been married to Jere for almost 12 years now. We have two boys: Samuel, who is 8 going on 15; and William who is 7 going on 8. They are very active in soccer which keeps us busy in the fall and spring. I am a fulltime domestic engineer and juvenile maintenance manager. It is much more than a 40 hour a week job so making the time to run is hard sometimes. Glad I have my girlfriends to make sure I do, yes, the same ones that got me into this mess to begin with. I am looking forward to getting to know my fellow runners and see you on the paths! | |
| W Half Marathon Purple (Walkers) | ||
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TBD
Head Coach | ||
 | Mona Draper consensusstrategies@comcast.net Assistant Coach I am Mona Draper and I have been a member and assistant coach for the Purple walking group for the past 7 years. Our group of dedicated walkers are looking for other like-minded individuals to join us for our wonderful walks on Saturday morning and become part of our community. We have had several walkers who started in our purple group and moved up to running . Woodlands Fiiot is great for couples for you join the pace group that is right for you and your significant other can do the same! Last year my husband Ken joined Woodlands Fit and was placed in the half marathon blue/green group(brag moment). Walking/running is becoming an epidemic in my family. This year my daughter Kae decided she is doing cross country in Junior High and is now in a conditioning course this summer. Join us and experience the epidemic! | |
