state reps in action

For over four decades, the RRCA Representatives have served as ambassadors for the organization.  RRCA Reps promote our programs and services to members, non-members, and individual runners in their home communities and within the states they serve.

hogeye pic bAfter participating in high school track and cross country, Jerry took about a decade off from running. Eventually, a few days per week of running to lose weight turned into a couple of 5Ks. It only took one marathon to have him hooked on long distance running again for good. Forty marathons, a few ultras, some Masters track meets, and 20+ years of volunteering for everything from race directing to serving as a running club president later, Jerry is more passionate than ever about introducing newcomers to his favorite pastime.

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Sheri LubniewskiSheri became an RRCA certified running coach in 2016 aspiring to coach others as running (specifically the marathon) changed her life. After getting certified, she started her business and has been coaching athletes ever since. She then became a board member and coach with the Illinois-based Fox River Trail Runners running group and had the opportunity to go to two RRCA Conventions, an experience that convinced her she wanted to get more involved with the amazing RRCA community.  Following a move to Colorado, she was able to join the amazing State Rep team. Sher is looking forward to representing the RRCA,  staying true to their mission and helping the running community grow and thrive.

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Tia lives Tampa, FL, and has been married to the love of her life for over 30 years. She has been running consistently since 2008,  initially starting to lose weight but ultimately realizing she actually enjoyed it. Tia ran her first Half Marathon in November 2009 and just three months later, completed her first Full Marathon. Since then, she’s run a total of 11 Marathons, over 160 Half Marathons, a Triathlon and Figure Competition. In 2023, she qualified for and will be running the 2024 Boston Marathon.

Tia has been featured in Ebony and First for Women magazines and have been a contributing writer to various running magazines. She is an RRCA Level 2 Run Coach and has been certified as a Level I Run Coach since 2013. Tia coaches people virtually all over the country and also serves as the National Coach for Black Girls RUN!  through which she has coached over 1,000 women for various distances, from 5k to 100 Mile Ultramarathon.

Tia strives to equip her athletes with a great foundation of knowledge and skill they can use the rest of their lives. She wants each of her clients to feel they are my only one, and not just a name. Tia loves helping someone complete their very first or best race and everything in between and  wants anyone she works with to feel the joy of our sport!

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Ron Alford State Rep HeadshotRon took up running as an adult and have always enjoyed it. He became an RRCA Certified Coach in the 1980s and coached for the Huntington Track Club (Huntington, WV) and the Atlanta Track Club. Ron specialized in beginners as he really loves to introduce new people into the sport. He retired to Honolulu in 2010 where he is a member of the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club and its current President. Ron was selected as the 2015 RRCA State Representative of the Year. Representing RRCA to the community is a task he relishes and race expos are one of his favorite places to talk about RRCA and meet lots of runners! He believes it is wonderful to run with Aloha!

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Doug PitchfordDoug was a late comer to the sport of running, beginning in his 40s and running his first marathon at age 50. HE joined the Alpine Runners of Lake Zurich to get him through his first 26.2 miles and has for more than 20 years as of 2022. Currently, Doug serves on the board as club treasurer. He has been the Illinois State Rep since 2013 and has  traveled the state from Rockford in the north to Vienna in the south and many great places in between, representing the RRCA at local clubs and races. He has met many wonderful club leaders, volunteers, and runners and is  proud of the Illinois Running Community. Personally, Doug has run many races throughout the US and Canada, including more than 30 marathons. Currently he focuses on shorter distances up to half marathon. Doug is also an RRCA Certified Coach.

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Kim Harding State Rep HeadshotKim was raised in Highland, IN. She moved to Fort Wayne in 2008 and is a clinical psychologist currently working at the VA hospital. In 2011, she lost over 100 pounds through diet and exercise and was regularly walking several times per week. She slowly started to pick her feet up a bit and discovered she could run….and she loved it! She completed her first official 5K in 2012. After several health setbacks for a few years in 2017 she was healthy enough to run again. She found a local Couch to 5K program, and the rest is history. She went from the couch to a half marathon in 6 months, to a full marathon in a year, to a 50 miler in 2 years and she just completed her first 100 miler in 2021. She has served her local running community as a member of the board of directors for two different running clubs and assists in race directing several races. She has become an RRCA coach and absolutely loves helping runners and walkers of all abilities train and achieve their own running goals. She particularly loves running ultramarathons.

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Doug PitchfordDoug was a late comer to the sport of running, beginning in his 40s and running his first marathon at age 50. HE joined the Alpine Runners of Lake Zurich to get him through his first 26.2 miles and has for more than 20 years as of 2022. Currently, Doug serves on the board as club treasurer. He has been the Illinois State Rep since 2013, and began filling the role in Iowa as well in 2024.  His RRCA Rep travels have taken him from Rockford in the north to Vienna in the south and many great places in between, representing the organization at local clubs and races. He has met many wonderful club leaders, volunteers, and runners and is  proud of the Illinois Running Community. Personally, Doug has run many races throughout the US and Canada, including more than 30 marathons. Currently he focuses on shorter distances up to half marathon. Doug is also an RRCA Certified Coach.

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Scott Fiske HeadshotOriginally from Vermont, Scott has lived in Michigan for 22 years. He teaches  elementary school PE and is an avid runner, triathlete and coach. As of summer 2022,  Scott has completed 18 marathons including 6 Bostons as well as an age group win in Chicago. He came on board as the Michigan State Representative in 2016, and is passionate about inspiring others to live their best lives through the wonderful sport of running!

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Ryan Crandall, was born and raised in Madison, MS. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Mississippi College where he also ran collegiately and is currently working towards his Master’s degree in Sports Management from Liberty University. Ryan started running in middle school and has been hooked ever since. During his free time, Ryan enjoys hanging out  with his almost two-year old son and is involved with his family-owned race timing business called MS Race Timing & Management, which they have owned for over six years. He is also one of the race directors in races they produce and plans on running a marathon in every state.

 

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Pam Car Nebraska State RepAn Omaha, NE native, Pam enjoys outdoor activities, running, gardening and has been in the private practice of law for over 35 years. She ran track in high school and for leisure before competing in event to challenge herself by running various distances and paces. Pam is an RRCA certified  running coach and she enjoys helping other runners who are still on their journey, as well as running with friends a couple days a week, and volunteering at races. Pam is a regular attendee of the RRCA conventions and a member of the Omaha Runnng Club where she serves on its board of directors.

 

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triCoach2Dave Preston is an avid endurance athlete who participates frequently in running, cycling and triathlon events. He was initially introduced to endurance sports after an injury ended his collegiate baseball career. After baseball ended, he was randomly recruited by the Washington State University Men’s Rowing team. He gave it a shot and found out he really liked cardiovascular training and competition. Post-college this led to 5Ks, 10Ks, Half-Marathons, Marathons, Ironmans, and even racing his bike from coast to coast and from Canada to Mexico.

Dave loves to help others enter endurance sports or improve their abilities through coaching and race directing. He is excited to be on board as the Washington State Rep for RRCA and to promote running.

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Terro is thrilled to represent Wisconsin as the RRCA Rep! She comes  with a decades long background in running race organization and directing. Shortly after graduating college Terri began organizing small triathlons and running events for friends and fellow members  at a fitness club where she taught. It moved into formal organization of a charity Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in her community to benefit the schools’ athletic programs. Terri now co-direct a large Milwaukee Turkey Trot and has a leadership role with the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon. Terri has experience on the board of a local non-profit running club and leads weekly speed and strength workouts. And, of course her favorite pastime is running herself!

Terri runs her own business as a Certified Personal Trainer (ACSM) and Certified Running Coach (RRCA) and loves being an integral part in the running community.

RRCA has consistently demonstrated a drive toward celebrating the running community at all levels. In Wisconsin, she will continue on that path by representing the vastly diverse groups and individuals who have made running a part of their lives for all of the many reasons we each have for doing so.

Whatever your reasons for lacing up your shoes and hitting the pavement, trails, snow, ice cross country courses or tracks, we understand you and support you. Terri looks forward to meeting you out there!

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