USA Fit Tampa Bay Coaches
| Green Group | Yellow Group | Red Group | Fall Group |
| Click on a color group above to see the list of coaches for that group. | |||
| About the Organizer | ||
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Pat Brighton swimbikerun4fun@yahoo.com This is my 5th season as the Organizer of Tampa Bay Fit and I could not do it without the help of Christy and all the Coaches. I joined TBF in its first year at age 50 to run a marathon. As a non-runner I really didn’t know that much about it but figured it sounded like fun. I have completed many races of varying distances since starting on this adventure from the 2000 Disney Marathon to multiple Ironman Triathlons. My experience as an endurance athlete and coach helps me assist the new and returning members in preparing for and reaching their goals. I encourage everyone to be patient, prepared and safe and to have FUN! | |
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Matt Conigliaro Head Coach Matt joined Tampa Bay Fit in 2004 having never done any distance running. Since then, he has run many marathons and half marathons. His personal record in the full marathon is 3:36, and he intends to crush that time during the 2011-12 season. Matt lives and works in downtown St. Petersburg and believes we are incredibly fortunate to train along St. Pete's gorgeous waterfront. He looks forward to a great season and to helping lots of runners meet their marathon goals. Matt is a shareholder with the law firm Carlton Fields and in his spare, spare time, maintains a legal blog. | |
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Christy Nelson Head Coach 5 years ago I was a brand new runner and couch potato, with dreams of training for a marathon. Little did I know how Tampa Bay Fit would change my life. I've run multiple full and half marathons, relay races across Florida, competed in triathlons, and finished a Half Ironman last year. In the process, I've made great friendships and met some incredible people. This is my 4th year as the Yellow Group Head Coach and 3rd year as TBF Co-Organizer. I enjoy sharing my love of running and encouraging others to meet their goals. | |
| Thomas Oliver Assistant Coach | ||
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Anna Rice Head Coach I put on running shoes for the first time when I was 19; some guys in the office needed a female for the corporate relay team. Prior to that, I was pretty much a bookworm and couch potato! I took some time off from running when my kids were little, but I realized that if I were to ever loose that baby fat, keep up with my kids, and develop a healthy heart for a lifetime, then I better start running again. The furthest I had ever run was a 10K and I always wanted to be able to run at least one marathon in my life, but I felt that a marathon was totally beyond me, since running always seemed such a struggle. It wasn’t until after I talked with a couple of friends who ran marathons that I found out that it is okay to actually walk part of it! When I discovered Tampa Bay Fit in 2008, I knew that my dream could become a reality. The seminars and experiences of the coaches gave me confidence, and having a running group kept me committed. Since then I have run in 3 marathon races, one of which was the Goofy Marathon and a Half, and all of them injury free! My day job is a high school math, science, and health teacher, which I totally love! I also enjoy hiking, backpacking, and being involved in my church. | |
 | Bonnie Grey Assistant Coach In 2002, I signed up for my very first race, a 5K Breast Cancer Run. I really enjoyed the positive environment, the cheering people, and the feeling of accomplishment by crossing the finish line. I have been running off and on for years on my own, but I was never inspired to even think about working towards a half or full marathon until I found Tampa Bay Fit. TBF has provided me with the support, the education, and the motivation to reach for goals I did not think were possible. TBF is for any level of runner, from the "Couch-Potato" to the "Speedy Gonzales". Andale! Andale! This is going to be my 3rd season and I'm looking forward to meeting new people and encouraging others to reach their goals. My target race this year is to do my very first marathon!! | |
 | Danielle DiRosa Assistant Coach This is the start of Danielle's fourth season with Tampa Bay Fit. Since joining TBF she's completed 3 marathons, 11 half marathons and earned 17 medals. She is most proud of completing Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge last season along with Ray and Jennifer. Danielle is Program Director at Academy Prep in St. Petersburg. A New England native, she is an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. Danielle looks forward her Saturday mornings with TBF. | |
 | Jennifer Bumbalough Assistant Coach This will be my 4th season with Tampa Bay Fit. Having this group to meet with every week provides extra motivation to stay on a solid and manageable training schedule. Tampa Bay Fit also offers support, education and great friendships. A few years ago, I began running as a way to take better care of myself. In March 2008, a friend dragged me kicking and screaming to a 5K. I didn’t think I was ready to run 3 miles - with people watching. I never thought I would enjoy a race, but loved the feeling of accomplishment when I crossed the finish line. Since that first race, with the support of Tampa Bay Fit I have completed many other races including the 2011 Goofy Challenge. I am looking forward to this season with our new goal race and other new challenges. “When I do the best I can with what I have, then I have won my race.” - Jay Foonberg, 72-year-old runner | |
 | Ray Bailey Assistant Coach Returning for my 9th season with Tampa Bay Fit! Before 2001, I wouldn't run to answer the phone...then at the age of 40 I started walking, then running and set a goal to run my first race - a 10K "Turkey Trot" in Clearwater. After completing the Turkey Trot, I was hooked on running and joined Tampa Bay Fit in 2002 to train for my first marathon - Disney 2003 - which I completed in 4:29. To date, I have completed six marathons and 15 half marathons. My best marathon time is 4:15 and my bucket-list goal remains a sub-4 hour marathon. Last season, I completed the Disney Goofy Challenge (Full and Half marathon) and 5 additional half marathons. Since I started running, I have been able to run in some pretty exotic places including Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Budapest, Warsaw, Krakow, Berlin and Prague. I return to Tampa Bay Fit every year because of the friendships I've made with other members, meeting new friends, and helping "newbies" meet their personal goals as well, and of course the group runs with those convenient water stops on those longer runs! | |
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Sheila Kane Head Coach Sheila moved from Ohio to Florida in 1999 and immediately decided that going inside to a gym to work out was simply not enjoying the beautiful area in which she now lived. Never having run before, she found Tampa Bay Fit that first summer and ran her first (and only) full marathon at the age of 40 in December of 2000. Sheila has been a Tampa Bay Fit member for 9 of the last 12 years and has since run 8 half marathons. She is married, lives in St Pete Beach and has 3 children- 21, 17 and 14. She enjoys going to Bootcamp for cross training, reading, scrapbooking, gardening and margaritas! | |
 | Dawn Salliotte Assistant Coach I joined Tampa Bay Fit in 2010 when I decided I wanted to challenge myself to run my first half marathon. I have been involved with fitness for over 10 years starting when I joined my first workout class. This was a challenge for me because the class met four days a week at 5:30am. Being a new mother looking to start a healthier life style while maintaining a full time job was not an easy task. I found that I loved the daily challenge and became addicted to fitness. In 2010 I decided I wanted to run in a half marathon. I knew it wasn't going to be the easiest thing I have ever done and quickly realized that although I was in great shape, I needed to find a training group. I ran my first half marathon side by side with other members of Tampa Bay Fit. It was a life changing experience. Since joining Tampa Bay Fit I have ran in three half marathons and continue to challenge myself to finish faster. My best time was when I completed the Iron Girl half Marathon with a time of 2:01:40. My personal advise is to believe in your ability to accomplish the things others wouldn't dream of trying. This advise has kept me working hard on maintaining the healthy life style I love. Being healthy is good for both the body and the soul. | |
 | Jennifer Bellittera Assistant Coach I started running two years ago when some friends forced me to do Gasparilla 5K. I was pleased with my finish, and satisfied with 3 miles. At an orthodontist appointment, I was told about the Disney Princess half marathon. It sat in the back of my mind for about a year- I didn’t think I could do it. Last year I decided to try. I found TBF on the internet and finished 2 half marathons. The most important thing I learned is that some runs are better than others. When someone asks about your run, they want to know how far you went, not how far you walked. When I learned that, running became a stress reliever. I spend my days working as a Registered Dietitian with the WIC Program and I love it! I am looking forward to the season, and adding at least one more race to my list. | |
 | Michelle Schultz Assistant Coach "I am a native (Go Dolphins!) to St. Pete, married with four children. I enjoy coastal arts and crafts, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. Through my life, running was never something I thought I could do or even liked. However, in 2008, my sister-in-law encouraged me to set a goal to run a half marathon, and the addiction began. I completed seven half marathons, one full, and in Winter 2011, I won first place age division in the challenging Dade City Half Marathon at 2:14:15. My focus is on running for fitness and my passion is inspiring others to run. Finding people to run with is a must. Set goals and get competitive with yourself. If the girl who was always picked last in gym class can do it, anybody can! My goal as a TampaBay Fit coach is to help you, through positive support, reach up to the challenge and attain your goals." | |
 | Tonya Rivera Assistant Coach This will be my 2nd season with Tampa Bay Fit. I have been married 16 yrs and we have 2 great sons. I work full time as the Personal Lines Mngr at an Insurance Brokerage and I lead a couples group at my church. Tampa Bay Fit has helped me find the “fun” in running and I am hoping to help others find that. 10 years ago at 28 years old I could not even jog a ¼ mile without thinking I was dying. I was 200lbs and knew I had to make a change. I am one of those people who LOVE to eat and who gets bored easily, so I always have to challenge myself to keep the weight off. A year ago I would have told you there was no way I could run a ½ marathon, but with the help of Tampa Bay Fit in November 2010 my husband and I completed the Women’s Half Marathon and a couple months later we did the Disney ½ marathon. This year my teenage son will be joining Tampa Bay Fit and he will aim to run his first ½ marathon at 15 yrs old. I thank God everyday for giving me the ability to do this and I don’t take it for granted. I am honored to be an asst. coach this year. | |
