Training

A message from Michael

Michael is a Physical Therapist and is the founder of Finish Line Physical in NYC. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the Hogeschool Enschede in the Netherlands in 1997. Michael is recognized as a Fellow of Applied Functional Science (FAFS) through the internationally acclaimed Gray Institute.

Michael is passionate about endurance sports, both as a participant and coach. He ran his first marathon in 1998 (NYC, of course). Since then, he has completed 27 marathons as well as the Lake Placid Ironman three times. He’s been a member of New York Road Runners since 1998 and has competed in countless running events and triathlons over the years.

Michael has also served as the Head Coach for the NYC chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma’s Team in Training program since 2002. Michael has trained thousands of runners, from beginners to advanced marathoners. His valuable advice and expertise have helped countless runners prevent or overcome injuries, allowing them to reach their goals of completing a half or full marathon. Michael’s experience as an accomplished athlete and coach gives him a unique perspective and understanding of how to provide the best care for both the competitive and recreational athlete.

Michael and his wife Wendy live in New Rochelle, NY with their two daughters, Avery (4) and Sienna (2).

A message from Vincent

Coach “Skinny Vinny” ran his first New York City Marathon with TFK in 2007—after losing 150 pounds.  He joined the TFK coaching staff the following year. Since then, he has completed over 22 marathons, and competed in various triathlon distances including a Half Ironman. He feels fortunate to be able to share his love of running and fitness with first-timers. When not training for his own races or coaching TFK, Corso, an accountant, is busy completing his MBA and running after his six-year-old twins. “My goal as a coach is to be able to help our team members cross what ever finish line they are training for. You made the right choice when you signed up for TFK!”

A message from Dorothy

Dorothy is an RRCA certified running coach. She has been a personal trainer and group fitness instructor in NYC for over 20 years with a background in sports nutrition. Dorothy started as a Team for Kids charity runner and served as a TFK mentor before joining the coaching team.

A message from Mary

Coach Mary ran her first marathon in 1996 and was hooked. She joined TFK in 2012 and received her coaching Certificate as an Adult Distance Running Coach in 2014. In addition to being a Team for Kids Coach, Mary is an NYRR Group Training Coach and is on staff at NYRR on the Volunteer Operations Team.  "I love running and cannot wait to share my enthusiasm and pure joy for running with our Team for Kids runners each season.  Coaching runners for our half marathons and the TCS New York City Marathon is such an honor. The most rewarding  part of coaching is watching our runners confidence develop over the season thanks to our first rate training plans”.

A message from Jennifer

Coach Jennifer is a Certified Personal Trainer, USA Track and Field Level 1, RRCA Certified Running Coach and Yoga Alliance RYT500 Yoga Teacher. She is currently an independent personal trainer, yoga teacher and health counselor in Manhattan. Hessmer integrates nutrition into her sessions and group classes. She has a certification in health coaching from Integrative Nutrition Institute and Food Therapy from the Natural Gourmet Institute. Coach Jennifer was formerly employed at Equinox Fitness Clubs as a Tier 3 Personal Trainer and The Running Center as an assistant running coach. She has run nine marathons, The New York City Marathon three times, Paris and London, Richmond, Philadelphia, Marine Corps and Chicago Marathons and numerous half marathons such as the Prague Half Marathon and Reykjavik Half-Marathon. In 2010, Hessmer competed in her first series of triathlons.

A message from Asteria

Coach Asteria had been active in a variety of sports since her childhood in Bolivia. In addition to running on both the Bolivian and Venezuelan national teams, she worked for many years as a physical education teacher. Asteria is dedicated to passing on her experience and knowledge by coaching Team for Kids runners. Like her husband Sid, Coach Asteria believes in holistic training—which includes nutrition, drills, stretches, speed work, and distance training.

Coach Asteria has completed over 15 marathons, including 10 New York City marathons, the 100th anniversary Boston Marathon, two marathons in Venezuela, one in Colombia, and World Championships in Buffalo. When Coach Asteria lived in Venezuela, she ran track and competed in the 800m, 1500m, 3k, 5k, and 10k plus the half marathon in the South American Games (Colombia). While living in Bolivia she became a National Champion in the 100m, the long jump, the 100m hurdles, and the 4?1 relay.

A message from Sid

Coach Sid started running in 1978 and has been running with the Central Park Track Club for 37 years. His storied career includes five world championships, 50 national championships, six U.S. records, five world records and eight gold world champion medals. In 2005, Coach Sid was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame. He acknowledges the role his coaches and mentors played in his development, and pays it back to aspiring runners through coaching Team for Kids.

Coach Sid’s holistic training—which includes nutrition, drills, stretches, speed work, and distance training—has made believers of TFK members with many returning to run with Team for Kids for a second year bringing friends or spouses with them. 

“We are a family of runners and we share the same goal—not just to finish the race, but to change our lives”

A message from Austin

Coach Austin is an RRCA Certified Running Coach, a Certified Baptiste Yoga Teacher, CrossFit Level One Trainer, lifelong athlete and an all-around fitness enthusiast. He found distance running through Team for Kids soon after he finished his collegiate tennis career in 2016. As a former athlete, he was looking for something to be a part of that would resemble the same team atmosphere he was used to and help him stay in shape. Not knowing what he was signing up for, Austin decided to join Team for Kids and run the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon. It wasn’t long before he fell in love with running and felt a part of the Team For Kids family thanks to his coaches, mentors and fellow athletes. By the end of the season, he knew he wanted to be a part of Team For Kids as more than a runner, and share the gift of running with as many people as possible. Since then, Austin has continued to develop as a runner and coach and has run countless races, including the 2017 NYC Marathon, several half-marathons, 10ks, and 5ks.

He has combined his background in yoga and athletics and has created workshops and yoga flows for runners to support their training and improve performance and has helped numerous yoga practitioners get into running themselves for the first time.

As a coach, his intention is to support runners by bringing the lessons of holistic training combined with the practices of mindfulness and yoga philosophy to each run. Coach Austin believes running, and the lessons we learn from it, go way beyond the races and ultimately help us transform and live better, happier and healthier lives.

A message from Dave

Coach Dave started running in 2006 and the next year ran his first New York City Marathon with Team for Kids. Since then, he has run 35 marathons (PR- 3:18) including several ultra-marathons and nearly 40 half-marathons (PR- 1:28). In 2019, Coach Dave will be running his 11th consecutive Boston Marathon!

Dave has guided disabled runners, co-led Central Park clean-up days, collected used running shoes for those in need, became a certified personal trainer, and is honored to have served as a Team for Kids Coach since 2015.

“When I signed on with Team for Kids twelve years ago, I thought it was just an easy way to get guaranteed marathon entry. Little did I know what wonders awaited me. I learned how to train, met incredible people including other TFK runners, coaches and staff, and developed a passion for running that I couldn’t have imagined.”

A message from Karina

Karina Krepp has been certified by the American Council on Exercise since 1996. She is a Certified Yoga Instructor, TRX certified, Chek Institute Integrated Movement Science, Chek Institute Holistic Lifestyle Coach and specializes in pre and post natal fitness. She is a certified running coach with Road Runners Club of America. Her passion is working with unique physical imbalances, including: Cancer survivors, MS, new joint, chronic pain, geriatric fitness and arthritis.

Karina’s fitness journey has brought her to marathons, triathlons, Spartan races, century rides, the top of the Freedom Tower, top of the Empire State Building the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro and most recently up and down in the TransRockies Ultra and trailing far behind the world record breaker in the Berlin marathon.

A message from Kim

Kim has been at the helm at inSHAPE Fitness since 2008, when she joined the company as Managing Director. She became sole partner in 2012. Founded in 1997, inSHAPE was started as a traditional private training company which focused on in home workouts for busy professionals and executives. Over the years, inSHAPE’s programming has evolved from one composed mainly of weight and resistance based circuits to that of a blend of modalities using mostly body weight, without equipment. However, our mission remains clear: to provide clients with exercise programs that meet their needs, abilities, and schedules.

Kim focuses on functional fitness that positively impacts the quality of one’s whole life. She works with clients in homes, companies, via Skype/Google Hangout, and podcasts (www.bodybyinshape.com or at iHeartRadio). She is certified as a Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and she is a certified distance running coach via the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). Having achieved certificates in nutritional counseling and pre/post natal fitness from ACE, physiology from Duke University and exercise prescription from Harvard Medical School, Kim works hard to keep her knowledge fresh and relevant. Kim is also the author of an upcoming book on the history of wellness and her philosophy of functional priorities. Darwin on the Treadmill will be out in early 2019.

Kim is also a running coach for the New York Road Runners Club charity, Team for Kids. This national team of more than 2000 novice runners trains with Kim and several other coaches in preparation for the TCS New York City Marathon in November each year. Kim has also completed seven marathons (in New York City, Paris, Bermuda, and the Hamptons) and countless half-marathons and other distances.

Kim hails from southern Virginia, attended Colorado State University for undergrad, and lives near Central Park in New York City with her daughter, Harper, a fourth grader in public school and member of the PS166 track team! In her spare time, Kim volunteers with the public school system parent leadership board, called the Community Education Council. She currently serves as the President of this board for District 3 (the Upper West Side and Lower Harlem).

A message from Glen

Glen is a lifelong runner with an undeniable passion for the sport and coaching others. He is a former collegiate runner who 25 years later turned his attention to running longer distances. Over the past ten years, Glen has run 25 marathons including Boston five times, New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Since turning 50, he has run a 3:12 marathon and a 1:29 half marathon.

Glen is a Road Runner’s Club of America and Jack Daniel’s VDOT certified coach. In 2012 he was accepted into an advanced USA Track & Field coaching program and was awarded certification as USA Track & Field Level 2 Endurance Coach. 

A lawyer by trade, Glen works as an arbitrator for New York State and is the former two-term president of the New York Flyers running club. Glen is also the founder and former director of the Flyers’ Marathon Training Program and the creator of the famous Three Bridges Marathon Training Runs. In 2009 Glen’s training program was featured in the New York Times alongside the programs of luminaries Grete Waitz, Jeff Galloway, and Greg McMillan.

Glen has been a coach with NYRR - Team For Kids for over ten years, coaching thousands of runners training for the NYC Marathon and other races. He believes that coaching is an art based on science and works closely with runners of all abilities to help them achieve goals they never thought possible.