Rally Foundation For Childhood Cancer Research - Marlene Atwood, Personal Coach

Marlene Atwood
Personal Coach’s Profile

770-209-8020 Office 770-497-4208 H 770-883-4208 Cell
atfedwood@msn.com Marlene.Atwood@womens101.com www.womens101.com

Personal Summary

I discovered the sport of running a short 20 years ago. As a recreational runner, I loved competing in 5Ks and 10Ks and enjoyed the wonderful camaraderie that runners universally share. As the years went on, I realized that the sport of running encompassed so many other things. It is about volunteerism and wanting to see the sport grow. It is about sharing the joy of running with others and helping them discover the many health benefits. It is about sharing the rich history of our sport and keeping the dream alive.

As an athlete, I participate in road races from the 5K to the 50K distance.
As a race director, I strive to improve the quality of the races I direct.
As a coach, I try to effect a lifestyle change and impart a joy for running to those who come through my training programs.
As a volunteer, I have aligned myself with the organizations that set standards; that govern and protect the sport of running – the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) and United States Track & Field (USATF).
As the Road Runners Club of America Georgia State Representative, I supported close to 7,000 runners in the state over my 8 year tenure from 1999 – 2007.
As a USA Track & Field member in Georgia, I am a certified official – active in officiating at high school and college level track and field and cross country events (local, state and regional). I am a secretary of the USATF Georgia Association, and sit on the USATF Georgia Association Board of Directors.

Certifications:

ASEP (American Sports Education Program) Certified Running Coach
RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) Certified Running Coach
USATF (USA Track & Field) Level I Coach
USATF Certified Association Level Official
American Red Cross First Aid/Adult CPR Certification
Effort Based Training – Coach Roy Benson’s Coaching Workshops
RRCA Coaches Continuing Education Program

Running Profile:

Veteran - 52 marathons, 4 Boston Marathons, several ultra distances, hundreds of 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons. Age group winner at all distances.

Coaching Experience:

I have been a certified running coach for over 9 years.
As a volunteer coach for my running club in Marietta, I trained hundreds of women to run and walk the 5K and 10K distances.
I worked with the American Stroke Association for 4 seasons as their marathon running coach and trained over 750 participants to run marathons in Jamaica, Disney, Kona, Hawaii, San Diego and Bermuda.
I have worked with the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department for several years, conducting coed and women’s running programs.
I have satellite running programs in Duluth and Marietta that offer 5K/10K training each spring and fall.
I privately coach individuals and groups to run various marathons and half marathons. Abilities vary from the very beginner to my fastest marathoner at 2:55.
I am in my second year coaching for the Rally Foundation, training runners who are fundraising to benefit children’s cancer research. Our inaugural event – the ING Georgia Marathon – was a huge success!

Training Programs:

As an RRCA/ASEP/USATF certified coach, I design personal running programs for men or women who are interested in getting fit, losing weight, are learning to run, or are participating in their first 5K, 10K, half marathon or marathon event. Programs are designed for walkers, beginning runners and intermediate runners.

Over the years I have developed several training programs emphasizing the coaching principles of such organizations as the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), American Sports Education Program (ASEP), and USA Track & Field. I offer periodized training, designing my programs to focus on endurance, strength, and speed. I also welcome individuals interested in effort based training. I offer group programs and weekly training sessions. My training programs also cover such topics as nutrition for the athlete, injury prevention, shoes and running apparel, upper body weight training, stretching and other related topics.

References:

Available upon request.

Download Marlene Atwood's Bio (PDF)

Meet Taylor

Before July, 2007, Taylor was a normal teenager, looking forward to starting as a freshman at high school where she would be taking all honors and gifted classes. She is a first degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and enjoyed playing soccer and taking guitar lessons.

Taylor's life changed radically in July of 2007 when her family noticed that her stomach was swollen. Her pediatrician sent her to the hospital where she was admitted and tests were begun. The doctors discovered there were tumors in her stomach and did a biopsy of her lymph nodes. On Friday, July 13, 2007, just before her 14th birthday, we got the news that every parent dreads hearing—Taylor had cancer. Specifically, she had Stage IV Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor cancer, a very rare type of cancer usually found in boys.

Taylor began chemotherapy treatments the day that she was diagnosed. Because her cancer is rare and funding for children's cancer research is limited, her treatments were planned by the doctor searching for documented cases and trying these regimens to see if they delivered positive results. Taylor relapsed in early 2008, and she lost her battle with cancer and won a place in heaven just after 3AM on April 1, 2008 in the arms of her family.

Taylor went to school everyday she was not in treatment, and she acted as team manager for her high school girl’s varsity soccer team. She also served in her community by volunteering at an International Karate Competition and being a poster child for a blood drive. Taylor also wanted to make a difference for the cancer patients at the hospital where she was treated. In addition to raising money for new technology, she also organized a holiday party for the patients and families.

website design by Tiny Design Studio