Our coaches consist of individuals who either have completed official certification programs or have years of experience and knowledge in running.
Claire GuppyRRCA Certified / UK Athletics Certified Claire started running 24 years ago to improve her overall fitness level but quickly succumbed to the race world and was soon pursuing race goals and medals. Advocating for middle- and back-of-the-pack runners, she started sharing her belief that running is for people of all paces in 2008 when she first qualified as a running coach with UK Athletics, and started coaching Couch to 5K and a half marathon team at a female-only running club. Claire coaches Tuesday and Thursday evening track and hill sessions for the Striders. She is a certified RRCA Coach and is active in the running community. | |
Miriam KitchenEmail: gvrz211@yahoo.com Miriam started running for fitness over 20 years ago and became a serious runner in 2000. She ran her first marathon in Houston, 2001 and has completed 14 Houston marathons in total (13 consecutively). She has also run, New York, Chicago, New Orleans and Boston totaling 20 marathons. She’s been a long time Strider serving on the board as President, Vice President and as Director. She has also has been a SMART coach since the inception of the program leading workouts on the Westside of town to include track sessions, hill workouts, boot camp and Iron Strength. She loves to hurt you real good so go checkout one of her workouts if you live near the Terry Hershey Park and/or City Centre area. | |
Bob SchamusUSATF Certified Email: schamus@kw.com A six-time Ironman finisher, Bob has been running with the Striders since 2009 and has been coerced into being the club's president. He shares a love for running and co-leads the Track Tuesday sessions, which are themselves preludes to our group watermelon feasts. You can find him either on the track, at the Memorial Park trail, or one of his frequent "race-cations" | |
Garrett RychlikEmail: garrett.r.rychlik@conocophillips.com Garrett has been running for over 20 years. He has completed 39 marathons, including 16 Houston marathons and 7 Boston marathons, numerous other races from 5K to marathon distance, and also has competed in numerous triathlons up to half Ironman. Garrett organizes Saturday long runs with various distances depending on training at a pace of 8 minutes/mile and faster. | |
Laura Craig Email: laura.craig12@gmail.com | |
Dean Donckels Email: dean.donckels@gmail.com | |
Ben Skidmore Email: beskidmore@gmail.com |