Coaches

 

Greater Los Angeles Coaching staff

Triathlon Coaching Staff

MEET COACH PAUL RUGGIERO:

Paul has been a triathlon coach for almost ten years, working with athletes of all types to accomplish their goals. He has coached hundreds of athletes across finish lines at every distance of the sport and most recently coached 80 finishers across the finish line of Ironman-series races. Athletically, he quickly rose through the ranks of the triathlon world and has now transitioned his passion from racing to coaching. (He manages to fuel his competitive fire, however, by bike racing. Along with multiple Ironman finishes, Paul races as a Cat 3 Road Cyclist.) He has cycling, triathlon, and running race wins under his belt and has qualified “accidentally” for the USAT National Competition at the Olympic distance. Paul is a member of PowerBar’s Team Elite.

Hailing from the hot-rocking, flame-throwing berg of Buffalo NY, Paul worked in the snowboard industry for 11 years, lived in 5 states and has ridden just about every mountain in North America. As a designer of footwear from snowboard boots to athletic shoes, he is an expert in running shoes, running biomechanics, running errands, running for coffee, running to the bathroom - you get the point. Paul coaches in honor of his older brother Franklin, who taught Paul that coaching is more than about building athletes, it’s about building people and character.

Half-Marathon Coaching Staff

MEET COACH MURRAY GREENBERG:

The 1985 Chicago Marathon was Murray's first foray into distance running and he has since completed nine marathons, including the 100th running of the Boston Marathon in 1996. He has trained with several coaches, including Runner's World's Jeff Galloway, and Pat Connelly, Commissioner of Athletics for the Los Angeles Marathon. He has assisted runners of various levels from beginners to advanced in their training.

Murray has also worked with several world class runners, including Cosmas Musyoka and Jonathan Ndambuki, who was the second place finisher at the Los Angeles Marathon.

He is employed by the State Bar of California in their General Investigation Unit and enjoys going to wine country, sporting events and concerts.

He is particularly excited about helping others complete their goal of completing their half or full marathons!

To contact coach Murray, email him at: lovetorun@att.net


MEET COACH DIANA:

Diana started running in 1993 when her former boss asked her to train for a marathon to keep her company. As a result she ran her first marathon in Big Sur and went on to train with the LA Leggers for years completing many marathons including LA, Sacramento, Humboldt, Las Vegas, Santa Clarita and Palos Verdes. At some point she decided to turn to the hills and began to train in the Santa Monica Mountains and joined the New Basin Blues trail running club which led to competing in many off road events such as Bull Dog 50K, American River 50 mile, Avalon 50 mile, Angeles Crest 100 mile and some 12/24 hour track runs.

At some point Diana began to train a group with Team in Training and then moved on to join Team Challenge in 2009. She really believes in the therapeutic benefits of running and has helped many beginners make it through their first marathon. This will be her third season with our team.

Orange County Coaching Staff

MEET COACH MAUREEN MIGNOSA:
Team Challenge Walk Coach

Coach Maureen was up and walking at a year and hasn’t stopped since! As youngster she always loved participating in running sports. After being inspired by her husband (Coach Bob) and their children’s athletic accomplishments Maureen decided to try taking up running for a hobby but found walking to be her passion. She walked her first half marathon in San Francisco in 2007 and has continued to walk ever since. Along with being a wife, mom of four children and grandmother of five little ones she is a registered nurse, CPR instructor and early childhood educator, at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. Maureen is driven to help in need people so feels very privileged to have the opportunity to coach for Team challenge.


MEET COACH BOB MIGNOSA:
Team Challenge Run Coach

Coach Bob started running in High School in 1964, joined the West Valley Track Club in college and has been running ever since!!! That is over 40 years of running experience! He has run everything from the 100 yard dash to a 32 miler San Francisco to Woodside race. Coach Bob ran his first marathon in 1968 and ran his 88th marathon in Boston this past April 2008. Other than Boston his proudest marathon accomplishment was finishing the Dublin City Marathon in October 2000, hand in hand with his son, who was competing in his very first marathon. Bob has coached runners and walkers of all abilities for over 7 years. He is married and has four children and is the manager of A Snail's Pace Running Shop in Fountain Valley.

updated 4/21/2011