Marcela

Director

Marcela was born in Bogotá, Colombia, South America and currently resides in Davie, Florida. She works at the Motorola/Plantation Pointe Fitness Center in Plantation as the General Manager. She has been working in the Fitness field for over 20 years. She is a certified Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer / Fitness Counselor (among other certifications). "I totally LOVE MY JOB! I think I am in the best field ever! I love getting people started in a fitness program and seeing the wonderful changes in people's lives because of it." She is also an RRCA Certified Running Coach. Marcela has been running for a little over 20 years and has proudly completed 76 marathons, including the famous Abbott World Majors! They are Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Boston. She's a happy 6 start finisher! This is an achievement that less than 2% of the world population has accomplished. Some other races also include the original Athens (Greece) Marathon, Geneva (Switzerland), Rome, Mexico City, San Jose (Costa Rica), Disney (2), Miami (20 years in a row! Miami has a very special place in her heart, and she works closely with the Miami Marathon Team as the International Coordinator, bringing thousands of Colombian athletes to run Miami. She has also been to Mexico and Costa Rica promoting the Miami Marathon) Another race dear to her heart is the A1A Marathon, her "home race" which she has also participated in every single year since they started (15 plus). Among others, Marathon of the Palm Beaches (15 plus), Lake Tahoe, San Antonio, Marine Corps, Sarasota, Portland, Niagara Falls, and the most challenging one, the Pikes Peak Marathon (also known as America's Ultimate Challenge 5 plus times including the doubler! Which is a challenge to complete the Ascent/Half Marathon Saturday, Full Marathon on Sunday). Pikes Peak by far being the most challenging but her favorite marathon thus far.

Real name:

Marcela

She has also completed over 150 Half Marathons. Her first marathon was the 2002 Alcatel Ottawa Marathon in Ontario, Canada. Marcela says, I loved it! I had a very fun time with my Friends In Training. We went site seeing the day after the marathon and it was a wonderful experience. Ottawa is a beautiful city!

Now, Marathon running gives me a wonderful opportunity to travel with great people to beautiful places. Each marathon turns into a little vacation with my best friends! I love it!! Marcela says her motivations to run are “My friends from Friends in Training and the good feeling of accomplishment after a marathon”. About her running goals Marcela says, “My short time goal is to get my weekly runs in, regardless of my crazy schedule. My long term goal is to run at least one marathon a year.”

About her favorite running event, Marcela said, “I have enjoyed every single event as much as I enjoy running. Each one has been unique in its own way. But if I had to pick one, again the Pikes Peak Marathon was the most exciting, beautiful, yet challenging marathon I have ever participated in. I would do it again in a heart beat!” Marcela is also an Ultra marathon runner! Her ultra marathons include a 50K, some 50 milers, and a 100 Miler from Key Largo to Key West. That by far has been the most challenging ultra she has participated in.

When asked about her favorite forms of exercise and other hobbies that she has, Marcela said, I love it all! From running to spinning to zumba classes! Marcela also enjoys horse back riding and cycling. She has participated in the MS150 Bike tour (2 day cycling event riding 150 miles total, from Miami to Key Largo and back) to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She has also participated in 2 challenging, but BEAUTIFUL bike tours across Switzerland. www.bikeswitzerland.com) She rode her bike for 10 consecutive days going from city to city, all across the country! Right after finishing her second tour, she ran the Geneva marathon. It was quite an experience and adventure, and I’m ready to do it all over again! she said.

Marcela loves motivating and encouraging people to get to the finish line, and loves being a pacer! www.marathonpacing.com/marcellat.php She has been a part of the official Pacing Team at different Marathons. She has paced the Miami Marathon, A1A, Sarasota, Pittsburgh Marathon, and Marathon of the Palm Beaches among others, where she had the opportunity to pace a 78 year old running his very first marathon! They crossed the finish line together successfully and it was a very rewarding experience for her. She says “It was very emotional and it was quite the honor for me to support this new runner at a later age. This goes to show it’s never too late to start running!

Marcela is currently the Friends In Training’s Program Director/Head Coach and totally loves the group! “FIT has helped me to keep motivated to achieve my running goals. It has given me the opportunity to travel lots, but what I love the most is the friends I have made and the wonderful people I have met in the program. My Friends in Training have not only been with me during the happiest running times in my life, but also during the most difficult times. I can truly say not only we train together, but we develop wonderful friendships here! I love my Friends in Training and very much enjoy being a coach. :)”

Marcela

Director

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