Karen Kaye
Karen Kaye – Head Coach – Purple Group
Marathons Completed: New York City (2002, 2003), Marine Corp (2004,2008), Outer Banks (2006), Nike Women’s Marathon (2007)
Half Marathons Completed: Disney World (1998), Kiawah Island(1997), Mardi Gras (2004), Vulcan (2005), Atlanta Thanksgiving (2005,2006, 2007), Warner Robbins (2006), Silver Comet (2006), Callaway Half (2008), Berry College Half (2008), Zooma Half (2008), Auburn/Opelika Half (2009), ING Georgia Half Marathon (2007,2008,2009)
Other Distances: Many 5k’s, 10k’s, 15k’s & numerous age group awards – Racewalking
Background and Experience: Karen is very excited to return to Get Fit Atlanta after joining in 2006 as a mid-season replacement coach. Prior to joining Get Fit, Karen served as head coach for the Train To End Stroke marathon program. Karen’s coaching career began many years earlier as a hobby, and way to help friends who wanted to bring fitness into their lives. Karen is experienced in coaching walkers and runners of all fitness levels. “I bring humor and fun to all the trainees I work with. My goal is to have new athletes complete their races healthy and injury free. Nothing gives me greater pleasure as a coach than watching my marathoners sport a big smile as they cross the finish line!”
At 50 years young, Karen is a self-proclaimed lifetime fitness junkie, after the thrill of winning a 100-yard race in the sixth grade. She also ran as a sprinter in Junior High School, and kept running from that point on. After moving to Atlanta, and developing asthma, running became a bit difficult, so Karen learned the sport of Racewalking in 1996. After 8 weeks of lessons, Karen won second place in her age group in her first attempt at a judged Racewalk. She was hooked, and has since participated in countless 5k and 10k road races, winning her age category many times. Racewalking proved much easier on the lungs, and this onetime sprinter became an endurance athlete. Now, after so many years of Racewalking, Karen has been able to add some running back into the mix, and enjoys it even more now than she did years ago.
Karen is so passionate about the lifestyle that she works as the Director of Community Relations and Communications for Big Peach Running Co. In that role she has coached/mentored at-risk youth as they prepared for their first half marathon, led training sessions for charity marathon teams, discussed footwear needs as it relates to biomechanics at corporate wellness programs, and has a recurring role as a guest lecturer at Kennesaw State University Exercise Science class.
Certifications: USAT&F Level I Coach, CPR & First Aid
