Kelly is the Training Coordinator and a Run Coach for Triangle Run Smart Training. She was formerly a Run Coach and Training Coordinator at Life Time in Cary, NC for 3 1/2 years, and is a stay at home mom to 3 young kids, who've participated in the run classes over the years. She’s a lifelong soccer player, turned into distance runner in 2005. She’s run too many half marathons to count, 2 full marathons, a 20-mile trail race twice, relay races, and many shorter distance races (road and trail). She has a passion for shorter distance speed work and trail running, though continues to try to master the longer distances, and absolutely loves coordinating anything running-related. She loves coaching and helping others reach and exceed their goals. Kelly is a certified RRCA Level I run coach. She is also CPR/First Aid certified.
Dave, a certified RRCA run coach, joined the coaching staff at PYRC after leading the Holly Springs Half and Full Marathon offsite training for Life Time Run. When not running the streets of Holly Springs or through the woods of Umstead in the early morning hours, Dave lives in Cary and works as a project manager for a healthcare IT company Allscripts. Some of his favorite running experiences have included his family who have gradually taken up running over the years and all now have completed at least one marathon. Whether running with his wife Marguerite in Richmond and around Shelly Lake, or accompanying his son Adam on his first marathon through Umstead in preparation for climbing Mt. Kilmanjaro, or crossing the Peak to Creek finish line with his daughter Anna on her first marathon, Dave knows that running is an important factor enhancing healthspan and maintaining a higher quality of life longer.
John is certified by the US Track & Field Association since 2018. He ran his first marathon in 1997 – the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC. Completely dissatisfied with his performance, he returned to the same marathon in 1998, followed by the Lasalle Banks Chicago Marathon(s) in 1999 & 2000. John’s journey began with those four marathons followed by 20+ marathons, a number of half-marathons, 10Ks, and 5Ks. He ran and finished his final marathon – the 120th Boston Marathon – in 2016.
John’s passion for running and now coaching is about profiling and understanding his athletes and to build the best plan that helps each maximize his/her efforts on race day through Speed, Endurance, and Recovery. He has coached over 40 runners who’ve run personal bests at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, Anthem Richmond Marathon/Half-Marathon, City of Oaks Half Marathon, Tobacco Road Half Marathon, plus others.
John’s Favorite Quote: “The lesson of running is to train well, and then have full faith in your training and show the proof in the race.” Eliud Kipchoge.
Patti Tiernan is a certified Run Coach, Personal Trainer and owner of PT’s Training where she has individual, small groups and virtual training sessions to meet the needs of every athlete. She enjoys and thrives on watching her runners achieve their goals through her individualized running plans. She has been running and competing in events for the past 25 years from 5Ks to Ultramarathons and Sprint Triathlons to Full Iron Distance…BUT her passion is running (usually long!) and helping other to experience the pure BLISS in it as well!
Coach Holly, a USATF and RRCA certified Running Coach, wants to share her joy of running with everyone she meets. Since 2012 Holly has been coaching athletes of all levels and ages, from Boston qualifying adults to 6-year-old children. Holly started the Apex Youth Run club with her colleague in 2015, volunteered as the lead coach for the Olive Chapel run club and built a Facebook community of adult runners aptly named the “Happy Runners”. Holly is also a 6th grade PE/School Success teacher at Grace Christian School.
Coach Holly is married and has 2 daughters. With the support of her family, she has raced numerous marathons including the Boston Marathon (2013 and 2019). Holly has also raced several ½ marathons and in 2019 she joined an ultra-team to run the Tuna 200-mile relay. Although a road marathon is her favorite race, recently Holly has found success with local single-track trail races.
As a coach, Holly strives to plan every run so athletes finish feeling strong, successful and happy. She knows from personal experience that being physically fit produces a positive outlook that will manifest itself into all areas of life. Her number one goal with our youth athletes is to make running fun.
Balaji is an RRCA certified run coach, with 3 + years of coaching experience with mostly kids / youth runners (beginners (couch to 5k) to those competing in school cross country races etc.). He is an active outdoor lover as far as he can remember, having played various sports since his school days. He is a cross-fit enthusiast and active long distance (Half / Full Marathons) runner for over 7 years now - having participated in over 50+ Half and Full Marathons (besides 5ks, 10ks & Spartan Hurdle races) and still counting :-). He does indulge in some Tennis (but not as much as he used to), having played USTA leagues (4.0 Singles) until he discovered his true love with long distance running. He trains both adults and kids, but enjoys working with middle school kids that are new to running and see them transform to healthy life habits.
Tara Wind is a long-time NC resident having been here almost 44 years. She has been running or participating in another sport such as triathlons or obstacle course racing for most of them. Tara has definitely found her comfortable spot in distance events, but ultimately just enjoys being active and chasing her 7 nieces and nephews. Outside of running, Tara is ECU faculty teaching in the Department of Nutrition Science, which pairs nicely with her love of running.
Nilesh is a dedicated and experienced running coach who has achieved great success in his own running journey. He has completed 4 full marathons and over 25 half marathons since he started running in 2012. After finishing his second marathon, Nilesh decided to become a certified coach through the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) coaching program so he could help other runners achieve their big goals. Over the past 2 years, Nilesh has successfully trained over 30 runners from RTPMM for 10Ks, half marathons, and full marathons. His coaching philosophy emphasizes building a strong foundation of fitness, setting achievable goals, and gradually increasing intensity and mileage. Nilesh's commitment to the "Runner 4D" principle of Desire, Determination, Dedication, and Discipline has helped him achieve great success in his own running journey and has also helped his clients develop valuable life skills.
Mary Petersen has been volunteering as a TRS kids running coach since 2022 and officially joined the coaching staff of TRS after leading the Kids Conditioning Class in the fall of 2023 in Apex. She previously coached a local elementary school’s running club with Coach Holly! Mary started running in elementary school and continued to race through college where she was a member of her school’s cross country team. Today you will catch her running her weekly miles as a training partner, supporting other runners while they tackle their running goals.
Joseph lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife, Miriam, and their dog, Riley. Long walks, coffee shop hopping, and exploring new hiking trails with Riley are their go to activities. Joseph is a physical therapist by trade and an RRCA: Level II Certified Adult Distance Running Coach. He has coached individuals since 2021, leading 12 athletes to 7 PRs and several first-time finishers at distances from the 5K to the 50K. He was also the Head Coach of Eastern Christian M.S.’s T&F and XC programs from 2021-2023 while living in NJ. Joseph's philosophy in coaching is consistency over perfection. And having fun with what you're doing!
Joseph started running as a D-III athlete for the NY Institute of Technology XC team. Post-college, he started road running, completing 19 marathons over 11 years. His highlights include running 2:59 at the Philadelphia marathon in 2022 and fulfilling a long-time dream of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, running his personal best at the 2023 edition in 2:52.
Fun fact: Joseph was born in Egypt and his mom and grandma brought him to the U.S. when he was just a few months old. He became a U.S. citizen at 7 years old and still has the flag that he proudly waved that day.
Kaleel is a dedicated and experienced running enthusiast who has achieved remarkable milestones in the world of distance running. Having successfully completed the grueling 100-mile ultra Umstead race twice, Kaleel exemplifies a passion for pushing boundaries and exploring the limits of endurance. With 22 marathons completed across the United States, Kaleel is well on the way to achieving the prestigious 50 state marathon goal, showcasing a commitment to both personal achievement and the exploration of new running experiences.
In addition to marathons, Kaleel has conquered an impressive 38 half marathons locally, demonstrating a consistent dedication to the sport and a love for long-distance challenges. Beyond personal accomplishments, Kaleel finds joy in sharing the journey of running with others, particularly by pacing friends who are embarking on their first marathon or half marathon endeavors. This dedication to supporting fellow runners reflects Kaleel's belief in the transformative power of running and the importance of community within the sport.
Kaleel's love for long-distance and ultra-distance running not only fuels personal achievements but also serves as an inspiration to others, highlighting the boundless possibilities that lie ahead for those willing to embrace the challenge.
Venu embarked on a fitness journey with CrossFit and took up running in 2019. A passion for running ignited during the first marathon training with Coach Kelly and Lifetime Run. Over the last five years, being an integral part of various training classes has fostered a great sense of community with local running community. With dedicated training and robust community support, Venu swiftly transitioned into racing, completing over 30 marathons and more than 10 ultra-marathons. The zeal for running thrives when joining numerous running groups that share this passion, and Venu finds joy in guiding newcomers with accumulated wisdom.
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