Michigan

Al Durham has been an athlete since he was child.  Thanks to his father he was introduced to distance running and has been hooked ever since.  After a family friend was diagnosed with leukemia he joined Team In Training and completed his first marathon, the Detroit Free Press Marathon, as a TNT participant.  Since then he has been dedicated to the cause and completed a total of seven marathon events with TNT and has also served as a TNT Mentor.  You can usually find Al on the trails and roads of metro Detroit training for his next ultramarathon.  He hopes to spread his passion for running to others and help lead team members to achieving their goals.

Ted Varkas completed his first marathon shortly after graduating from Michigan State University in 1992.  Ted has been a runner ever since.  Ted has competed in over a hundred races at various distances and remains competitive in his age group.  After completing his first event with Team In Training and seeing firsthand the powerful impact it has on the lives of those affected by blood cancers, he was hooked.  Ted's active lifestyle also includes triathlons, skiing, and chasing after after his little girl.

West Michigan

Doug Suchecki began with Team In Training in the fall of 2000 shortly after his father passed away from lymphoma.  He completed the Chicago Marathon in 2001, 2002 and the famous Chicago Marathon of 2007. He also completed the Detroit Free Press Marathon in 2003 and the Walt Disney World Marathon in 2004.  Doug loves playing a part in training runners and looks forward to helping people accomplish their goals, especially first timers.  He believes that completing an event for the first time is something that cannot be replicated. Doug's best advice is to always remember the three P's. Patience, Persistence and Practice.  If you remember the three P's, Performance will come easy.

Lansing

Bruce Howard has been a TNT coach since 2002.  Since 1980 he has completed over 600 road races and is a fixture at Mid Michigan events.  He has completed 9 marathons including the prestigious Boston Marathon.  Bruce is a believer in the Chi Running Method which some think is a more efficient method that produces fewer injuries.  Bruce believe the world is a better place with more runners in it, and likes to see TNT alumni continue to run after their event.

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Walk

East Michigan

Veronica Buege is a Team In Training alumni member. After a co-worker's daughter was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia) in 2003, it really hit home for her because her daughter was the same age and she realized it could happen to anyone.  She kept hearing about TNT and felt this was a sign.  Her first marathon was the Nike 26.2, A Marathon For Women in San Francisco, CA, in 2004.  This year she was a TNT mentor and participant in her second year as a walker in the Nike Women's Marathon on October 23, 2005.  When people ask how can you run that far, she tells them she's not, she's walking, it's the new running.  Veronica is very honored to be part of the coaching staff and eager to pass on her knowledge and experience.

Michelle Heider became involved with Team in Training in 2001, when she completed her first half marathon with a good friend.  Since then, she has gone on to complete 3 full marathons with TNT while mentoring two of those seasons.  Now she is eager to share her knowledge and experience in a coaching capacity.  She is here to tell you that completing a marathon (or half marathon) can be done!  She will help give you the tools you need to stay motivated, stay healthy, and reach your goals.  "You won't regret your experience with Team in Training.  It is truly a life changing event!"

West Michigan

Linda VanSteinvoorn had been a runner and cyclist in her youth, but athletics and fitness took a backseat when her three children were small.  After donating a kidney to a friend in early 2006 she began to see physical health in a new light, joined Team in Training and completed the Walt Disney World Triathlon later that year. She returned in 2008 as a mentor and participant and finished the Nike Women's Marathon. She plans to one day finish a Century Ride with Team in Training and earn her Triple Crown. "I've had several relatives with different kinds of cancers. I've learned that The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society researchers believe if a cure for blood cancers can be found, then cures for all cancers would follow.  It is that goal that keeps me passionate about Team in Trainining." she says. 

Lansing

Lynnae Jess began with Team In Training in 1997 when she walked the Mayor's Midnight Sun marathon in Anchorage. Since then she has completed the Mayor's Midnight Sun marathon again in 2000, the Dublin marathon in 2002 and the PF Chang's marathon in Phoenix in 2007. In January of 2004 when she was given the chance to become the walking coach for the Lansing area, she jumped at the opportunity. Coaching has been her opportunity to help others realize their dreams of completing a half or full marathon, while at the same time raise much needed funds to help find new ways to treat these blood cancers and ultimately find a cure. She believes that anyone who is physically capable and has the determination to train can and will complete a half or full marathon. Once you cross that finish line you will realize there isn't anything you can't do if you put your mind to it.

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Run/Walk

Ann Arbor Area

Mary Beth Sheehan is a lifelong multisport athlete - basketball, soccer, gymnastics, swimming - whatever season it happened to be! She came to love running for fitness and fun.  Mary Beth has competed in every distance from the 2 mile to the marathon.  Her first TNT experience at the Vancouver Half Marathon opened the door to a whole new world.  She is dedicated to helping others complete marathons and half marathons, while forwarding the Society's mission.  Mary Beth is a firm believer that you're never too old to try something new, and just completed her first triathlon. A snowshoe race is the next adventure on the horizon.  In addition to coaching, she is a wife, mother of two children, certified personal trainer and adventure runner.

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Cycle 

East Michigan

Ken McLaughlin has been with the TNT program for two years and is a TNT alumnus.   His first event with TNT was the Gulf Coast 70.3 half-Ironman Triathlon.  Since then, Ken has been hooked and has completed four 70.3 Ironman races.  He is currently training for a Full Ironman which will take place in July 2009.  He got into doing Triathlons because of his cycling background.  Of course he started riding a bike at a very young age, but really took up riding serious about 7 or 8 years ago.  He started riding in numerous fun events as well as charity events and started doing century rides, then back to back century rides, and logs considerable miles every year.  Last year he completed the ODRAM (One-Day-Ride-Across-Michigan) which is 152 miles from Muskegon to Bay City State park.   He also recently completed the Detroit Free Press Marathon.

Kirk Siefker started riding bikes as a youngster just like most other kids.  As an adult, he spent most of his saddle time mountain biking until he was introduced to road biking by a friend in 2004.  He has been involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a supportive husband to a marathon participant (2004), participant in America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride (2005-7), team mentor (2006-7), and now as a cycling coach.  He's excited to have the opportunity to help you reach your cycling goals.

West Michigan

Jean Dangler, Grand Rapids Cycle coach, lives outside of the Grand Rapids area in the town of Cascade.  She's happily married to Ron and has three children Becky, Cory, Bethany and her daughter-in-law, Sarah.  Cycling has been an obsession of hers for over 15 years.  She started out by helping her church high school youth group with their annual summer bike trips--which have taken them all over the U.S.  In 2006, she had the pleasure of cycling the perimeter of Michigan (1,300 miles) with two very good friends. S he really enjoys helping others catch the enthusiasm for bike riding.  Jean became involved with the Leukemia Society as a participant for the Tahoe ride in 2006. Since then, she has been the Team In Training coach for West MI and did the Tahoe event and El Tour de Tucson in 2007.  She has made so many life long friends while fund-raising and coaching.  She said watching her team grow into stronger riders and accomplish something they never thought they could do is a very awesome experience.  GO TEAM!!

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Triathlon

East Michigan

Anne Demko is the TNT triathlon swimming coach. She is currently coaching her 5th season of athletes for our organization.  Anne has thoroughly enjoyed sharing her love of swimming and triathlon each season with enthusiastic and motivated team members.  A former collegiate swimmer Anne took up running marathons and competing in triathlon 15 years ago.  Since then, she has participated in countless road races, triathlons and century rides. She is proudest of her Boston marathon and Florida Ironman completions. Anne happily admits to being addicted to the lifestyle the sport of triathlon breeds and is delighted to share this with new team members each season.

Damon Krueger is an alumni member of the TNT St. Anthony's Triathlon team and a University of Michigan graduate student working towards a PhD in fisheries management. He is happy to be a part of the coaching staff for another great season. While Damon has always had a love of running and cycling, he began racing just five years ago. Since then he has completed over 20 triathlons of varying distances including an Ironman finish in November 2007 and has set a personal goal of qualifying for the World Ironman Championship in Kona, Hawaii. He brings great enthusiasm to his role as a coach, and truly has a passion for triathlon and TNT.

Kevin Merritt, a TNT alumni, has 12 Triathlons under his belt at various lengths and a few time trials.  He also has completed a half and full marathon and is excited about endurance sports.  Kevin enjoys cycling and working on bikes.  With a family and full time job in which requires extensive travel, he realizes the time constraints in training vs. family and work life and will help in planning a schedule that will work for you.

Brian Gabel is a two-time TNT triathlon alumnus (Philadelphia 2006 and Gulf Coast 2007) and has competed in 11 triathlons from sprint to half Ironman distance.  He loves the challenge and reward of transforming new TNT participants into triathletes and is a huge believer in the many benefits of training as a team.  Brian considers himself lucky to be involved with TNT and honored to help participants achieve their goals. He is immensely proud of how well everyone on the Nation's Triathlon Team raced in Washington, DC in September 2007. His personal goal for 2008 is to race in his first marathon (with Team in Training, of course!).

West Michigan 

Laura Piippo first participated in Team in Training in 2006 when she signed up for America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe. She spend the winter and spring training with a group of wonderful people, some of whom are good friends to this day.  In 2007, she was a mentor and competed in the Nation's Triathlon.  She will serve as the run and bike coach for the 2009 Philadelphia Triathlon team. She will share her personal experience in triathlons while helping participants meet training and fundraising goals.

Samantha Hoogerwerf will be coaching the triathlon swim team. She lives in Jenison with her husband and dog Sully!  She has been swimming competitively for over 15 years now. She started on the local swim team and after graduation did long open-water competitions and triathlons. She first got involved with Team In Training when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin?s Lymphoma in May 2007. She participated in the Lake Tahoe century ride in June 2008 and helped coach the Nation?s Triathlon team this past fall, as well as mentor the run/walk marathon teams.  "Team In Training is very close to my heart," she says.  "I love watching participants give so much to such an amazing organization and seeing them reach their goals.  I am very excited to be a part of another season! GO TEAM!"