Upstate New York/Vermont

Capital Region Coaches

Len Putnick: Cycle Coach
Len has been interested in cycling since he bought his first serious road bike when he turned 30. Since then he has been an avid cyclist who puts 4,000 miles on his bikes in a good season.  Putnick has completed many century rides and has been involved with Team In Training^® (TNT) for more than five years. He is proud to say that all TNT cyclists who have worked with him have been able to achieve their goal of completing a century ride.

Dan Risler: Run Coach                                                                                  Dan joined Team In Training in 1998 and ran the Dublin Marathon in honor of Marina, a single mother with leukemia.  Since then, he has raised over $25,000 for the Society.  He took on a coaching role in 2001 and has now helped hundreds of Capital Region runners achieve their goals.

Meg McCabe: Run Coach
Starting out as a walker, Meg walked her first TNT event in 2001.  She slowly transitioned to running and has not stopped since. The transition to running was made much easier by using the run/walk method.  She can usually be found running with friends during the week and at the group runs on the weekends. She says the best part of coaching is watching participants' confidence and self-esteem grow over the season; watching them cross the finish line; and knowing that they've made a difference in the lives of others and their own.

Joanne Kelly: Walk Coach                                                                                  Joanne joined Team In Training with her daughter for the Walt Disney World Marathon, and hasn't stopped yet!  She has fundraised for several events and her family has become part of ours.  Joanne says, "This is for life."

Kristen Hislop & Beth Grzyboski: Triathlon Coaches: This dynamic pair took over the Tri team for the fall 2008 season.  They have brought experience, enthusiasm and a deep undertsanding of the LLS mission to the program.

Mid-Hudson Valley Coaches   

Dan Capson: Cycle Coach - Dan completed his first TNT event, America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, in Summer 2007.  He showed himself to be such a great source of support we invited him to start coaching with the 2008 teams.  Dan is a great motivator and is knowlegable in all things cycling.

Mary Downes: Run Coach - Mary is a TNT VIP, fundraising for two marathons back to back in a single year.  Mary coached her first season in Fall 2007, just after completing the Rock'n'Roll Marathon in San Diego.  Mary has a great love for the sport of running, which shows in her dedication to the Team.

BJ Wilson: Triathlon Coach - BJ joined us as a triathlon coach after participating the Westchester Triathlon for two consecutive years.  BJ has a wealth of triathlon knowledge and loves nothing more than introducing first time triathletes to the sport.

Vermont Coaches

Jan Leja: Run and Walk Coach

Jan Leja, a volunteer TNT coach, has been involved with the program since early 1998, when he completed his first marathon. He has been a TNT participant, a mentor and, for the last few years, a TNT walk and running coach. Jan, an avid racewalker and runner, enthusiastically trains with team members. He has completed 16 marathons and at several others had covered an equivalent distance while running his trainees in. "There is nothing more rewarding than to witness teammates, you have trained and become friends with, cross a finish line, reach their goal ... to share with them this very special, often life-changing, moment. TNT is such a unique, win-win program for all involved."

Scott Berkman: Cycle Coach - Scott Berkman and his wife, Mary, joined TNT is 2006 for El Tour de Tucson, raising $20,000 for the Society.  Scott was quickly recruited as a coach and has trained with both cyclists and triathletes in Vermont.

Maria Cimonetti: Triathlon Coach - Maria joined TNT for the Summer 2008 season and has been a fantastic addition to the TNT Coaching Staff.  She brings a wealth of training information and a lot of great stories to the program!

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