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USATF certified and RRCA certified Coach Maria Williams has been helping people learn to love running for the past 12 years. A former overweight music major at Gordon College, Maria decided to take a step and lose some weight in 1999. In order to accomplish this goal she signed up for her first triathlon without knowing how to swim bike or run. Since then she has run over 115 races from 5k to Ironman, 3 time Boston Qualifier, Maria has spent years helping runners and triathletes achieve things they never thought were possible.
Maria has lived in Maine, Memphis, Boston, and Tampa and worked as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and coach. She coaches people in 8 different states online as owner and founder of On Track Running Academy, and has committed her life to helping athletes find their best self, while maintaining life balance. Having 2 Children, Maria understands how to train and maximize recovery while keeping a full time job and running a household. She coaches all levels from 3 hour marathon to 7 hour, and loves to teach people to enjoy the journey. Maria is passionate about educating her runners on the art of pacing, training intelligently, eating for performance, and proper recovery practices. On Track Running Academy is committed to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be! Let’s get you to the start line!
I developed a love for running almost ten years ago while living in Tallahassee, and what started out as just a way to stay in shape and meet new people quickly turned into much more. Over the years since running has become my passion, my community and my constant motivator. I run regularly with an amazing group in Carrollwood and have raced all distances from 5k to full marathon. I have completed eight marathons including New York, Chicago and Marine Corps, and have obtained a Boston qualifying time. One of the things I love most about running is the constant challenge of setting and achieving new goals, and I have learned firsthand the benefit of having someone there to help with that process. Whether you are in elementnary school or retirement, a new runner or a seasoned veteran looking to break new barriers, my passion and my goal as a coach with On Track Running Academy is to help you achieve yours!
“[A]nd let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us….” – Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Exercise physiologist and RRCA certified Coach Rachel Bozich has been helping people reach their goals for the past 7 years as personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and educator. She has a strong background in exercise physiology with a Master’s Degree from the University of Tampa in Exercise and Nutrition Science. Rachel had all intentions of becoming a doctor, but after numerous specialists told her that injuries were going to keep her from running again she changed her major and decided to prove them wrong. Since then she has run over 35 half marathons, 6 marathons, and completed numerous multiday challenge races. Now she wants to help others defy the odds and accomplish their goals!
“It is never too late to start, but always too soon to quit!”
Brenda began running at an early age. She completed in Track and Field at the high school and college level, specializing in sprints. It wasn’t until she took a jogging and fitness class in college that she found a new found passion with distance running. She has completed 61 marathons from Boston to Athens and Rome and has competed at all levels including qualifying for the Olympics Trials in the marathon. She has also competed in all distances from the mile to the marathon, including multisport events such as Olympic distance and Ironman Triathlon.
Brenda is a Level I USATF certified coach with 25 years of coaching experience. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education with a certification in Physical Education in 1995. From 1992-1996 she coached cross country and track and field at Rhodes College, a Division 3 school, in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduation from college in 1995 she taught Wellness: health and physical education at Germantown High in Germantown, Tennessee for 19 years: coaching cross country and track and field. She retired from teaching in 2015 but continued coaching high school and Jr. high runners.
Brenda has coached numerous athletes and led several runners to State Championships in both cross country and track. She coached a two time state champ in the pole vault and two time state champ in the 100 meter dash along with multiple state qualifiers in distances from the 100 meter dash to the 3200 meter run with several podium performances.
“I am fortunate to have a passion for running, something I have always truly loved without a doubt. As a coach, one of the greatest things I have been able to do is to pass my knowledge of running onto others. Regardless of the goals, whether it’s recreational or competitive, it is rewarding to see runners transform themselves, to possibly develop the same passion I have been so fortunate to have”.
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” – Steve Prefontaine