Past Coaches

Amy Pace

Amy began running after college and ran her first marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, through the Leukemia Society's Team in Training program. Since then, she has run 5 Boston marathons (all as a qualifier!!), the Philadelphia Marathon, and the Chicago Marathon. Her PR in the marathon is 3:13, run at Boston 2002. While the marathon is her focus, she has also won several shorter races, including the Chatham Harbor 10K and the Back Shore 5 Miler in Gloucester. In 2000, she was awarded the first annual female runner of the year award by the Heartbreak Hill Striders. Amy also enjoys swimming and she is currently working out with a masters swim team at BC.

Amy was born and raised in Iowa and went to school at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She came to Boston to attend Harvard where she obtained her doctoral degree in biostatistics.

Kirsten Ward

Kirsten, a previous member and coach of Community Running, works full time as an exercise physiologist with Joslin Clinic. She has a diverse background in the health and fitness industry. Kirsten began her fitness career as a modern dancer. From dancing she started teaching aerobics and personal training (which she still does on a part time basis and has done for over 10 years now). However, it was not until 2000 that Kirsten started running seriously when she completed The Boston Marathon. Since that time, she has completed nine marathons and will be running her 10th this season, The Boston Marathon 2004. In her "free" time Kirsten studies Pilates (she is mat certified and working on her certification for the reformer), ballroom dances, enjoys biking, hiking and ice climbing.

> Kirsten Ward, the unauthorized biography:

Carnival roadie, dominatrix, political consultant, moyl--Kirsten Ward has been many things to many people. It is, however, in her latest incarnation as a physical therapist and running coach that she has found true purpose. "After the Meyerowitz triplets, I knew I had completed my last circumcision," says Kirsten of her previous vocation. "It just takes it out of you, you know? Once I found out that coaching doesn't involve any surgical instruments, wailing infants or Hebrew prayers, I started running and I've never looked back." Asked if she misses any of her other former professions, Kirsten turns thoughtful. "Sure, some days I get nostalgic for my days as a dominatrix, but then I get a group together and conduct a mini-session. It's amazing what these runners will go along with when you use the word 'plyometrics.' They'll do anything."

> Kirsten Ward, the second unauthorized biography:

Having been born and raised the deepest reaches and harshest regions of Africa is only one of the many life experiences that has prepared Kirsten for the challenges of being a Community Running coach. "My parents, Drs. Livingston and Doolittle Ward, gave me the confidence I have in 'advising' the runners in their training. After all, what is running a 20-miler around the Charles River or the Boston Marathon compared to outrunning a Lion, a raging Elephant, or migrating with the Gazelle's?" Her most recent adventure was swimming the length of the Amazon (upstream) after attending a wedding in Brazil. Her newest book, "Stretching: At Peace with the Animal Within" is due to be published this summer, and is expected to be as popular as her most recent best-selling and critically-acclaimed "Adventures in Running and Pictures from the African Savanna".

Antonio de la Serna

Tony first began running in May 2000. Since then, he has completed about a dozen marathons recreationally across the U.S. and Canada. He enjoys encouraging new runners and youth in the humble sport.

Tony is a computer chip developer originally from Los Angeles. He holds an MSEE from the University of California, Davis, where he also performed doctoral research in digital signal processing before entering industry. Tony is the father of two bright young runners, Eva and Alicia.

Molly Zytkovicz

Molly joined Community Running in the summer of 1999, and continues to earn rave reviews from all who come in contact with her. When she's not working with our sub-4 hour marathoners during the week and coaching our Saturday Long Run, Molly is busy initiating a new CR program for Triathletes. Molly has run competitively since her high school days in Hingham and, in college at UMass-Amherst, she was captain of the school's Division I women's cross-country team. In 1996, while still at UMass-Amherst, Molly was the collegiate New England 10k Champion. In addition to coaching at CR, Molly is an Assistant Track & Field Coach at Haverhill High School. She is a fully licensed Muscular Therapist.