Team Chances' Coaches
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The coaches for the Team Chances program are all experienced runners, with many completed marathons behind them. They are committed to helping others succeed, and provide each local team with support and encouragement through the program's entire duration. To learn more about the coach for your area, click on the links below:
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Susan Loken - Program Director - Tempe Location
Susan Loken is, among other things, a mother, elite runner, mentor, coach and an inspiration to many. She was born on July 28, 1963 and laced up her running shoes 35 years later with the goal of completing her first marathon. The rest is in the records. In the next four years, Loken minced her marathon time from sub four hours in the 1998 San Francisco Marathon to a sub three in the 2002 Grandma's Marathon. In 2005, she won the USA Masters Marathon Championship. In 2006 and 2007, she did it again. During those three years, she also captured three consecutive wins at the New York City MORE Marathon. Loken's elite times qualified her in the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. She is now sponsored by Sole Sports Running Zone.
Her newfound passion inspired her to instill a healthy lifestyle in others, and she is now the program director and lead coach for Chances for Children - Arizona. With these titles, Loken coaches others to success by leading fundraising running teams and developing programs for Arizona's less-fortunate youth. Loken has three sons, Michael, Taylor and Chris. Many are inspired by her story, but even more are inspired by her passionate, soulful lifestyle. She is also a USATF Level 1 Certified Coach and NPTI-Certified.
Katie Ellis - Phoenix Location
Born and raised in Phoenix, Coach Ellis grew up in a very competitive household. "Training" (more like having fun) was and continues to be her lifestyle of choice. From 1993-2002 Coach Ellis competed in numerous inline races ranging from 5K to marathon distances. Throughout high school she competed in swimming, cross-country, and track. Despite a less-than-successful triathlon debut at the 1995 IronKids Triathlon, Coach Ellis dabbled in sprint triathlons for a few years before becoming serious.
In 2005 Coach Ellis competed in her first Ironman Triathlon, which is when she claims the addiction took root. The following year, training paid dividends with an age group win at Ironman Arizona and a podium finish at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. Since then Coach Ellis has focused on shorter, faster races such as the - Collegiate National Championships, Age Group Nationals, ITU Age Group World Championships, Best of the US, Boise 70.3, and SOMA Half Iron-distance. In May 2007 Coach Ellis graduated from Arizona State University where she studied Kinesiology. Currently she works at Sole Sports Running Zone in Tempe.
Caleb Guest - Maricopa Location
Caleb began competing in triathlon his second year in college and steadily worked his way up to the Ironman distance, with solid performances at all distances along the way. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology Caleb moved out to Arizona where he interned at USAA in their corporate fitness department.
After finishing his internship, and thus his college education, he continued to pursue his desire towards physical health and fitness by obtaining NSCA's Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) Certification. With these qualifications and a desire to start coaching again Caleb volunteered to help with the Corona Del Sol Swim team in 2007. The following year he was asked to come back as the head coach, where he remains today
Andi Felton - Scottsdale Location
Andi grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. She earned her degree in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas, and moved to Scottsdale in 1999.
She demonstrates an ongoing commitment to both the local youth and Endurance Rehab clients through a number of training and outreach programs. Chances for Children Arizona is her most recent example of this commitment as she coached 45 runners to a successful finish in the 2009 Rock and Roll Marathon. Coach Andi is deeply involved in the local running community including event planning, volunteering, coaching, and organizing educational clinics.
Her personal involvement includes competing in Marathons and Ultra distances. Her success, however, is not measured by her personal achievements, but by the triumphs of others. Certification: NSCA C.S.C.S., CPT
