Coaches
Get to Know Our Coaches!
One of our best assets is our all-star coaching staff. They have decades of experience competing at top levels and they have years of experience coaching every skill level from beginning walkers to seasoned vets. They will get you prepared physically and will also get you believing in yourselves mentally as well!
Dave Volk
Half-marathon Coach - Central
Dave has been running for over 10 years and currently competes for the Movin’ Shoes Adidas running team. In total, he has completed 15 marathons with a personal best of 2:28:20.
He started running his junior year of college in San Jose, CA when he decided to run a local marathon. He trained on his own for three subsequent marathons over the next six months! Over the five years that followed, he became well versed in his long distance based training methodology, and began coaching teams in 2002.
Since moving to San Diego, he has continued to participate extensively in the local running scene. He recently participated in the Team In Training marathon program at the recommendation of the program’s head coach who thought he should experience a charitable marathon program firsthand. Dave gained an understanding of their training methodology as well as the fundraising process. (In other words, you can ask Dave for fundraising tips while your out on the course!!)
This will be his 5th season with Team Challenge, he is looking forward to training and supporting the team as they go the extra mile for Crohn’s & Colitis, a cause near and dear to his heart!
Sean Albert
Half-marathon Coach - Central
Some call him Gumby. Some call him Fat Albert. And until we come up with something better, we’ll call him coach. The most soft spoken of the three amigos, Sean’s coaching prowess is best exhibited through his one -on-one talks. Kind and patient, but also stern and motivating, Sean has the unique ability to ease your running qualms while still kicking your butt back into gear.
Sean has experienced much success and pleasure from his running and race walking career and is dedicated to sharing this passion. In his junior career he won five national titles in race walking and as an adult he trained full time at the ARCO Olympic Training Center; making six national teams, competing around the world and winning two national race walking titles. He has also competed in several marathons and is currently gearing up for Boston next spring.
Continuing with Team Challenge for his 5th season, Sean is excited to share his knowledge and excitement for endurance training with runners and walkers of all levels and abilities. He believes that there is an athlete somewhere inside us all and is determined to see everyone reach their personal goals!
Philip Dunn
Half-marathon Coach - Central
This is Coach Philip's 3rd season with Team Challenge as our esteemed walk coach. He's is dedicated and passionate, and if you REALLY want to see what a rockstar he is please click here!
Dave Easa
Half-marathon Coach - North County
David Easa's running addiction was reborn when he toed the line at the 1998 Bay to Breakers. David has personal bests of 1:11:08 in the half marathon and 2:31:47 in the full, both from 2010. He competes with team BSK/Running Center and is known as "Big" Dave among friends. David grew up in Hawaii and started running in junior high school to cure his burnout from competitive tennis. An initial interest in cross country was displaced by water polo, which turned David into an early multisport athlete, as the sport of triathlon was entering the mainstream. David's first triathlon was an ironkids event in 1989. David continued to run track through high school and specialized in the 3200, but he fell off the wagon in college as he focused on academics and attempted to survive winter on the East coast. After landing a great job in San Francisco during the .COM boom, David knew an important part of his lifestyle was still missing. When 2 co-workers started swimming to prepare for the Escape From Alcatraz triathlon, he rediscovered the joy of fitness. The same year, he completed his first Ironman. David Easa and David Volk actually competed in a few of the same races when they both lived in San Francisco, before formally meeting after both had moved to San Diego. David makes his debut as a coach in 2011, leveraging 200+ race finishes. David's most recent accomplishment is finishing the 2011 Western States Endurance Run in just under 22 hours.
Cindy Birkett
Half-marathon Coach - North County
I started out running about 15 years ago, and transitioned into fitness walking 4 years ago.
I started walking with a friend a few years ago, and that quickly turned into the passion to compete in half marathons. My first experience in walking long distances (consistently) and fundraising was in the 2008 Komen 3 day breast cancer walk. The next year brought about some heartbreaking news that my youngest daughter had Crohn’s and Colitis. With my fitness walking and an open mind I decided to walk the Vegas 2009 half marathon in honor of my daughter Barbie. Since that time in 2009, I have participated in 3 seasons of being a mentor and 2 seasons of being an assistant walk coach to Philip Dunn.
I have a passion to teach others that by doing fitness walking you can not only reach your goals of a healthy lifestyle but surpass it. In this 5th season I am excited to be the new coach on the block and dedicate myself to helping each and everyone cross the finish line.
Skip Slade
Sprint-Triathlon Coach
Skip is a 2-time Ironman with extensive experience in coaching swimmers. He is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach (a huge accomplishment) and has done marathons, century-rides, 3-mile ocean swims, olympic distance triathlons and will be competing in Ironman Texas and Ironman Arizona this year.
Part of what makes Skip's accomplishments so amazing is that he himself has Ulcerative Colitis, a disease he's battled for 25 years, and included the surgical removal of his large intestine. He is passionate about the CCFA's work and is the perfect coach to lead us in our inaugural season of the Team Challenge Triathlon program.
If Skip can do all this, than we can dominate a sprint-triathlon!!!