Austin FIT coaches are ready and here for your training goals! For any program or season, these coaches will help prepare you for your race!
Austin FIT Summer Coaches

Coach Linda
Organizer
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 20+
- Years with Austin Fit: 13
- Ultra Marathons: 1
- Number of Marathons: 25
- Half Marathons: 10 plus
- Favorite Race: USA Fit Rockin' Resolution Race
- Goal – Help anyone willing to meet their training goals! She'd also like to run a full or half marathon in all 50 states

Coach James
Green Full Marathon Group (8:00 to 9:00)
FAST FACTS:
I started with Round Rock Fit 18 years ago, when it was founded, as a coach for the blue group. Over the years I have completed several events including: Austin Distance Challenge Series, Boston Marathons, Berlin Marathon, Half Ironman events, and others. I’m looking forward to another great season helping the blue/green group and other runners achieve their athletic goals.

Assistant Coach
Yellow Half Marathon Group (9:00 to 9:29)
FAST FACTS:
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Coach Ed
Yellow Full Marathon Coach (9:30 to 9:59)
FAST FACTS:
- Years with Austin Fit: 4
- # of half and full marathons: 6 marathons & 4 half-marathons

Coach Shawn
Orange Full Marathon Group (9:30 to 9:59)
FAST FACTS:
- Years running: 14
- Number of Marathons & Half Marathons: 1 Marathon, 7 Half Marathons, 1 Triathlon, and 1 Duathlon
- Favorite Race: Las Vegas Rock & Roll Marathon #RunTheStripAtNight
- Dream: Run a Marathon in ALL 50 states and on every continent

Coach Jeff B.
Head Coach Red/Orange Groups (11:30 to 11:59 full pace)
- Years running – 35 (first marathon in 2000)
- Number of Marathons - 37 (9 in Austin, and 28 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).
- Number of Ultra Marathons – 1 (Sunmart 50K Ultra Marathon)
- Number of Half Marathons - 16
- 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 - 50K (31 miles)
- Goals - (1) to run a marathon in each of the 50 states and all 7 continents, and (2) to break under the 4½ hour mark

Coach Jeff K.
Red Full Marathon Coach (10:00 to 10:29)

Coach Victor
Red Half Marathon Group (10:00 to 10:29)
FAST FACTS:
- Years Running: 16
- Number of Marathons- 2 Austin Full Marathon 2014 and Marine Corps Marathon 2015
- Number of Half Marathons: 18
- Favorite Races: 3M Half Marathon, Run For the Water 10 Miler and Marine Corps Marathon
- Favorite Distance: Half Marathon
- My Goal: To share my passion of running with others and help them to achieve their running goals. To run one more marathon by age 60 so I have only four more years to go ha.
I started running while serving in the Marine Corps. After a 20 year break, I took up running again in 2007 and have never looked back. . I was introduced to USA Fit Austin, by one of the coaches, Blanche Zavala Perliski and am thankful for said introduction. I feel that running for a goal should be both challenging as well as fun. It,\'s about getting it done and the camaraderie that comes with it.

Coach Jordan
Red Full Marathon Group (10:30 to 10:59)
Fast Facts:
Number of Years Running:
Number of Years with Austin Fit:
Number of Full or Half Marathons:
Favorite race:

Coach Betsy
Red Half Marathon Group (10:30 to 10:59)
FAST FACTS:
Years with Austin Fit: since 2007
# of half marathons: 18
# of full marathons: 1
3 half-Ironmans

Coach Darnell
Orange Full Marathon Group (11:00 to 11:29)
FAST FACTS:
Years running: 14
Number of Marathons: 2 Marathon and 7 Obstacle Course races
Number of Half Marathons: 10+
Favorite Race: Golden Gate Half
Dream: Run a Half in every state and run a few iconic sceneries globally

Coach Kj
Orange Half Marathon Group (11:00 to 11:29)
Kj started running in middle school to get in shape for basketball season. She lived in rural Montana at the time so the neighbors frequently stopped to ask her if she needed a ride. As time went on, she continued running and the neighbors are used to seeing her. Now when she visits Montana they wave as they drive by her, shaking their heads wondering why anyone would run when they have a perfectly good horse. She has continued running and made it a lifelong practice because she loves to be outside. She continued increasing her mileage until she had run six marathons, scores of Half Marathons and completed a Half Ironman. Running is her favorite way to explore the trails and the neighborhoods around Austin and around the world.

Coach Christine
Orange Half Marathon Group (11:30 to 11:59)
FAST FACTS:
Years with Austin Fit: over 10 years
# of Full Marathons: Numerous
# of Half Marathons: Numerous

Coach Diana
Orange Full Marathon Group (12+)
- Years Running – 10
- Years with Austin Fit – 5
- Number of Marathons – 3
- Half Marathons – more than 20
- Favorite Race – Austin 3M Half Marathon
- Goal – Wellness, peacefulness and fitness
Diana began running in her early 40s. At first, she could barely run 2 minutes at a time -- but she stuck with it and eventually ran a 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon and, finally, a full marathon. Running clicked as a way to create a deeper sense of peacefulness and fitness. After completing her first marathon in 2013, Diana has run more than 20 half-marathons and she’s now training for her fourth full marathon. She says, “No matter your pace, the main idea is to enjoy it!” When Diana isn’t running, she works as a healthcare chaplain in Austin, and she spends her leisure time appreciating the beauty of clouds and the wonders of Texas weather. Along with her husband, Dan, she is the proud parent of three young adults.

Coach Desirae
Orange Half Marathon Group (12+)
- Years Running:
- Years with Austin Fit:
- Number of Marathons:
- Half Marathons:
- Favorite Race:
- Goal:

Coach Jeff P.
Red & Orange Group Floater / Head Coach Bariatric Transition Walk Group
My name is Jeff Preston. I am the coordinator of the Bariatric Transition Walk Group for Austin Fit. In October of 2007 I had Gastric Bypass Surgery. I was born November 7, 1963 which makes me 56 years old at the time of this writing. My top weight was over 400 lbs. Prior to my surgery my weight would yoyo constantly. No matter how much I lost, I never could sustain/maintain that weight.
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Coach Michelle
Walk FIT Head Coach (14+)
FAST FACTS:
- Years with Austin Fit: 4
- Number of Half Marathons: 5
- Number of Full Marathons: 1
- Favorite Race: Queenstown New Zealand Half
- Favorite Distance:10K
- Goal: Staying fit while remaining active

Coach Lizet
Walk FIT Group (14:00 to 16:00)
Although I participated in sports off and on since high school, I didn't begin running until 13 years ago. I have run 24 marathons and half as many half marathons, and now walking, with Austin Fit pretty much ever since. I love the camaraderie and accountability to keep on moving. During the past few years, I've enjoyed running just to stay in shape. I've developed meaningful friendships while participating with Austin Fit, and I look forward to developing more. Now, let's do this!

Coach Dave
Walk FIT Group (18+)
My name is Dave and I have been walking with Austin Fit for 3 yrs. As a former NCAA Division I collegiate athlete, I have been involved in many type of exercise and athletic activities throughout by life. Swimming, diving, cycling, weightlifting, volleyball, tennis and walking are just a few.
Read MoreI was never a good runner, even when I was much younger. I resisted the idea of “walking” because I never had a good experience running. I finally gave it a chance I have fallen in love with it. As I’ve gotten older and some of the activities I used to do have become more challenging, I found walking to be something I can do easily and really embrace. If you had said to me in the beginning that I would do a half marathon, I would have laughed out loud. But, I did that this past year for the first time and it was a huge accomplishment I never expected to achieve. Walking with Austin Fit has allowed me to get out and explore areas of Austin I’ve never seen before. The walk group has an awesome and diverse team of people that make each outing a pleasure. We support each person’s journey and look forward to having you join us.

Coach Jennifer
ZERO to 10K Program
FAST FACTS:
- Years with Austin Fit: 13
- Number of Half Marathons: 15
- Favorite Race: Houston Half
- Favorite Distance:10K
The Houston Half marathon was her favorite race. Her neighbors all showed up at mile 12 to cheer her on. Jennifer likes running race across Texas. She cross trains three days a week along with yoga. Her goals are local 10k races in the Hill Country and running with her friends.