Bay Area FIT – Chapter Coaches

Bay Area FIT Coaches

Bay Area FIT coaches are ready and here for you to being your training! For any program or season, these coaches will help prepare you for any race!

Grant Bue

Co-Organizer

I love running! I have run 20 consecutive Houston Marathons, one White Rock Marathon, three Boston Marathons, one Chicago Marathon, three 50k races and one 50 miler. When I graduated college, I weighed 140 lbs. When I turned 44, I was very much overweight and had knee surgery. Because of this physical slackitude, I had developed high blood pressure and hypercholesterol, and had doubled my medication twice in two years.  I joined a fitness program at NASA and 23 months after my surgery I ran my very first marathon in 2004.  I tried training by myself the first three years.  It was a lonely experience.

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Digna Martel

Co-Organizer

I joined BAF in 2016. Since then, I have run 8 marathons with the hope of running more. My countless miles of training and multiple races haven taken place in Texas, Colorado, and Florida to name a few as well as other countries including England and El Salvador.

The relationship of BAF runners has made lifetime friendships and a family atmosphere that enabled me to become a red coach for several years and has led me to become an organizer this year. Life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan but with commitment and putting in the time, you can achieve your goal!

I am looking forward to running and having a great season with all of you!

Kimberly Etzel

Orange Group Head Coach

My running journey started some 40 years ago when I was just 13 years old in Jr. High. I loved basketball but I was terrible in track my 7th grade year. The next year my dad said to me “If you are going to do something, you might as well be good at it” and suggested I try long distance running, which during that day was only 1600m. During my 8th grade track season, I had to convince the coach to let me run the 1600m of which I started winning races.

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Ileana Sepulveda

Orange Group Assistant Coach

My first race ever was in 1986, The Crescent City Classic 10K in New Orleans. Little did I know that 26 years later I was going to start running again.  In 2012 I started running a couple of miles to stay in shape and shortly after ran a 5K with some co-workers. That was the 5K that changed my life and motivated me to join BAF in 2013.

I joined BAF just to get better at 5K’s.  I received so much encouragement and support that I finished running half marathons and in between three marathons including the New York City Marathon in 2021.  However, half marathons are my passion.  Regardless what your goals are you will find the support and motivation you need with BAF.

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Priscilla Fierro

Orange Group Assistant Coach

I had always been sporty as a kid.  I played softball and tennis, I never thought running would be in my future. As I grew older and fatter, people said I needed cardio to lose the belly so I reluctantly started running a few miles on the “dreadmill”.  I worked up to 4 miles and decided to run a 5K, The Astros Race for the Pennant in May 2004,  I finished in 37 minutes. I went on to run some 10Ks and it about killed me because I didn’t know anything about hydration, clothes, shoes, or training.  I ran the EP 5K in January 2005 at the Houston Marathon and was so proud of my little medal!  But I was amazed at all the runners finishing the marathon and half marathon.  I loved the medals, the crowds, and all the emotions. I decided right then and there that that’s what I wanted to accomplish.

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Maria Arriaga

Red Group Head Coach

I first started running in Jr. High it was more of a way to get out of regular PE where we did nothing and into athletics. I wasn’t a fast runner so I did long-distance races which back then were only a mile or two. I later joined cross country which is where I really fell in love with running. In high school, I was often the one taking 1st place at track and cross country meets for the 2-mile race of course, like I said I wasn’t fast but loved running.

After getting married and having kids my running stopped for a bit. 

In 2016 I joined a women’s kickball team and started being more active. This led to registering for a few fun runs even a half marathon with some friends. I was hooked, running had always been something I enjoyed doing. Later that same year I joined Bay Are Fit and began training for my very 1st marathon.

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Cortney Bell

Red Group Assistant Coach

I joined BAF in 2013 with no running experience other than having to run laps around the football field when we got in trouble in marching band. My husband wanted to run a half marathon and I wanted to be a supportive wife so I told him I would do it with him. We found BAF to help us train. At the time we were both teachers and once the school year began, we got so busy and stopped coming. We never signed up for a half-marathon, so we put running on the back burner. In 2014 we joined again, and this time signed up for Aramco Half Marathon at the same time. January 2015 I ran my first half-marathon!

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John Riekert

Red & Blue Group Assistant Coach

The satisfaction and joy of voluntary running were unexpected. As a young participant in team sports, I believed the reason coaches saved the conditioning for the end of practice is that we would all quit if practice started with all that running. Fast forward several years and I find the best way to start a good day, or a great weekend, is with a nice, planned run. I never saw that coming.

I especially like training with BAF. The cooperative atmosphere and peer group support has really helped me develop as a runner. Young or old, experienced or green, BAF has something to help you reach your next logical level of fitness in the 2023-24 running season.

Tonia Coronado

Blue Group Head Coach

I have always had a heart for running. I started running in middle school and kept at it through high school. For many years after, I kept running as an outlet as well as to stay fit. At one point, I just stopped. One day, I started walking as I found I could not run one minute straight without wanting to fall out. I eventually started to get reacquainted with running and ran several 5Ks and set a goal of running a half marathon. So for my first half marathon, the Houston Half, I trained solo; it was tough mentally, and I lacked both motivation and knowledge of the running world but I got out there and did my best and crossed the finish line with some nice battle scars. Running tip #1; don’t run with a cotton zippered hoodie or you’ll look like someone slashed your throat area and not to mention the severe chaffing.

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Leti Cavazos

Blue Group Assistant Coach

I started running in order to get fit, but I never, ever thought I would run a half marathon or be crazy enough to register and finish a full marathon, but I did –and you can too! I was not an active kid, or in any school sports, so being active was relatively new to me. I joined BAF in 2016 and thanks to all the support, encouragement, guidance, and training I received from Bay Area Fit (BAF) I have since completed 11 half marathons and three full marathons.

All of my races and trainings are done via intervals (run/walk segments). This will be my forth year as a BAF assistant coach and I am very excited and looking forward to our new running season!

You don’t have to go FAST, you just have to GO!

Holly Vinson

Purple Group Head Coach

My name is Holly Vinson. I’ve been a BAF member for 5 years. This is my second year as head coach for the Purple walking group. If you are looking to getting started on your walking or walk/run journey the purple group is the place for you! We train for the Houston Aramco Half Marathon but definitely can provide a schedule for a 5k or 10k. I love the community and comradery that Bay Area Fit provides. I absolutely would not be committed or disciplined enough to complete the training without the purple group team members. Looking forward to the upcoming season and meeting many new Walkers!

Janet Jones

Purple Group Assistant Coach

I’m Janet Jones and enjoy being a Fitter. I started Racewalkng 5K’s in 2009 but was SLOW so I joined Bay Area FiT nine years ago to get faster. I learned so much from the program and the coaches and improved my speed while having fun too.   Now I’ve done over 30 half marathons! I look forward to coaching and seeing you this year!

Marty Yost

CORE Coordinator

With BAF I have run or walked 20 marathons and countless other “races”. As you can see, I didn’t just add this to my bucket list at age 40 and move on.  I got hooked on the sport. I know that I could not have done this without the support of the group and all the friends I have made. I believe in this group and have made it a big part of my life. During my time with the group I have been an Organizer, head coach, assistant coach and now Core Coach.

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Craig Wobick

CORE Coordinator

I started with Bay Area Fit in 2018 having NO endurance running experience outside of what was required for gym class.  I discovered a community of people willing to push themselves and each other to new levels of health, wellness, and satisfaction! I have completed two marathons since joining, as well as many half marathons, 10ks, and 5ks and continue to enjoy the thrill of competing and working to better myself.  Marathon training is a challenge, but with a dedicated group and plan, you can do hard things!  I am pleased to coach core exercises needed to strengthen all muscle groups used in distance running and walking!  Breathe and believe!

Paula Clemens

Events Coordinator

When I was growing up, I avoided all things athletic.  I ran a few 5K’s in my 20’s, but then fitness took a back seat to balancing family and career.  At age 50, with my youngest child graduating from high school, I was able to focus on fitness again.  After losing 50 pounds, I started running to maintain my weight loss.  On a whim I ran the Turkey Day 5K in 2009, and I was hooked on running.  I trained for and ran progressively longer distances. Read More

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