Coaches

     Meet the Charlotte Team Challenge Coaches! 

Nadja Tapkas

By the end of 2006, after having been an engineer, recruiter and small business owner, Coach Nadja decided to join the fitness industry full time by becoming a certified spinning instructor. That turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg! Fitness has always been a part of her life, but for the past three years, she has diligently and passionately pursued this career and developed her capabilities through education and training. She is a USAT Level I Certified Triathlon Coach, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer with a specialty in Lifestyle & Weight Management as well as an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor, passionately motivating people to keep moving and pursue a healthy lifestyle. 

Coach Nadja is very proud of having successfully coached absolute beginners to score first in their respective age groups in triathlon competitions. She also inspired women of all ages, sizes, backgrounds and abilities to develop healthy lifestyles through multi-sport training, mentorship and commitment through her involvement as a mentor for Tri It For Life throughout the summer 2010 triathlon season. 

Coach Nadja has been an endurance athlete for the past ten years participating in numerous road races from 5k’s to 10 milers all along the East Coast. She joined the triathlon arena in 2008 participating in her first few sprint triathlons, but quickly advancing to the Olympic distance. 

This is her 3rd season with Team Challenge and Coach Nadja will challenge you one step at a time while also focusing on staying injury free. She believes in personal interactions and feedback to ensure that the training is going in the right direction and you can reach your athletic goal.

                                                 
Marissa Dingee                                   

Coach Marissa spent most of her youth competing in different sports. It didn't matter if it was swimming, diving or competitive cheerleading; she helped her team take the season to the fullest by placing first in national titles and undefeated records. Her active lifestyle came to a halt when her demanding career as a multi store manager and later on as a mother of three took over.

In 2010 it was time to start moving again and for the first time she tried running. Within her first year she completed a 5k, 4 miler, 8K and two half marathons with her goal time. Determined to see what she was capable of, she learned as much as she could about the sport. She spent time reading articles on the internet and magazines as well as talking with other runners and coaches on the best way to build endurance, get the proper nutrition and hydration to compete against herself and beat her best.
 

This past year she set a personal record (PR) on her past races by taking about 5 minutes off her overall 5K time, completed a 10K, half marathon and a full marathon. To date, she has raced in 11 races and placed high in her age group.

Not only did running inspire Marissa to build a healthier lifestyle, it also encouraged her friends and neighbors too. Together they plan their training plans, races and long runs because things are always more fun with friends. This past year a bunch of her friends have increased their endurance and logged more miles and longer races then they ever thought they could thanks to Marissa’s guidance.

 

Her love of the sport and healthy lifestyle has become her passion. This year she is excited to coach for Team Challenge and help others reach their goals and learn what they are capable of. In addition, Marissa will also spread her knowledge with training a boys running group at her son's elementary school this spring. Her motto is "It's never too early to start kids off on a healthy lifestyle or too late for any adult". She is planning on running and achieving a PR on a few 5K's and another half marathon this spring and another fall marathon.

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