Coaches

    

Meet our awesome coaches who are ready to help you cross the finish line:

Our Stellar Coaches: 

Coach Lisa:  
    Lisa was a participant in the first Team Challenge DC program and has stayed on with the program the past few seasons as a mentor and most recently as a coach for the past three seasons. Having raised over $15,000 for CCFA and completed several 1/2 marathons with TC, we are happy to have her back for the Virginia 2012 season as our head coach!  
    Lisa has been running for over 12 years, but did not make the leap to long distance running until the Team Challenge Miami season in 2008/2009. Since then, she has completed over half a dozen 1/2 marathon and 10 mile races and is currently training for a 200 mile team relay in September.
    Lisa recently wrote in her blog, "My passion is inspiring and pushing participants to meet both their fund raising and training goals." Inspire she does. Lisa is so passionate about the program, in part because she was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease over four years ago and realizes the struggles participants face in living healthy and active lives while dealing with an inflammatory bowel disease. 
    When Lisa is not working out, she is volunteering in Arlington through Community Volunteer Network or at work as an interior designer. 
 
Coach Mary:
    Mary first participated in Team Challenge with the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon in July 2009. Since then, she has mentored and run in The Las Vegas Rock and Roll Half Marathons in 2009 and 2010, and has been with Team Challenge as a coach for the past two seasons. During her time with Team Challenge, she has raised over $12,000 for the CCFA. 
    Although a competitive NCAA Div. I collegiate diver, she did not start running or endurance events until several years after graduation. Dedication and perseverance through proper training paid off and she has successfully completed one 13K and five half marathons.
    Supporting the CCFA, especially through Team Challenge, is very important to her as it has affected many of those she loves. She ran her initial race in memory of her mother who passed away in 2008 after long battle with Crohn’s Disease. She continues as a part of Team Challenge to support her sister with Crohn’s Disease and boyfriend with Ulcerative Colitis, as well multiple other family members afflicted with these diseases. 
    Professionally, Mary is a physical therapist in Northern Virginia, and she is excited to help all our participants achieve their personal fitness and half marathon goals!

Coaches Steve and Andrea Smith:    
    Steve has been involved with Team Challenge for three seasons, including twice running the Las Vegas Half Marathon, and serving as a mentor and volunteer for the past two season. All told he has raised over $11,000 for CCFA!
    Having been a competitive swimmer through high school, Steve didn’t start running on a regular basis until after college and being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. After subsequently enduring surgery that successfully resolved his colitis, Steve found running to be a therapeutic part of his recovery. In the 20+ years since then he was steadily worked is way up from 5Ks and 10Ks to 10 Milers and Half Marathons. Steve enjoys swimming as well as strength and resistance training as part of his cross-training routine.
    Steve’s commitment to Team Challenge flows from his desire to meet and connect with other IBD patients and survivors. He greatly enjoys the unique sense of ‘community’ that results from training together and frequently organizes coffee and bagel outings after long runs. He is also motivated by his desire to keep up with his wife, Andrea.
    Andrea has been a runner virtually her entire life, starting as a middle distance runner in high school, and has continued to make running a part of her life ever since. She also has keen interests in nutrition and exercise. In addition to running, Andrea likes to swim and regularly participates in a strength and resistance training program at her gym.
    Andrea became involved with Team Challenge when Steve first joined. Drawn by Team Challenge’s sense of camaraderie, she has continued to stay involved.
    Steve and Andrea have three children, the oldest two of whom followed their footsteps to Virginia Tech. They especially enjoy the fact that the orange clothes they wear for Team Challenge outings can serve double duty at Virginia Tech events . . . Go Hokies!