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TEAM BIOS
Michele Yates
Founder/Director of Coaching
Michele graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in May of 2005 where she earned a degree in Kinesiological Sciences with a concentration in fitness management. Her personal training journey began in 2003 with a paid internship at Club Sport Green Valley, Henderson NV. Michele has accumulated over two decades of experience in group training, kids fitness, individual training/coaching, fitness club, and personal studio management. Her educational background and experience provides her with professionalism in nutrition, cardio, core, strength, flexibility, and ultimately running.
In running, Michele is a 2x Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon and a 4x USATF National Champion in the mountain and ultra trail events also representing the US at the World and NACAC Championships multiple times and distances. She has completed over 20 marathons, with 9 wins, and still holds numerous course records at the elite level. She is a 4x National Champion in the ultra trail events and has numerous course records and wins in trail and ultra races. Michele was also crowned Ms. Figure Colorado in 2008 where she had no less than a top 2 finish in each event she competed in within the year.
CREDENTIALS:
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Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiological Sciences with a concentration in fitness management
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Certified Holistic Nutritionist (AFPA)
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Certified Life Coach (LCTI)
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Licensed 7v7 USA Soccer Coach
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NFHS/USATF Cross Country Coaching Certified
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Youth XC Mountain Wolves (Movers) Coach
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2x Olympic Trials Marathon Competitor
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USA Team- World Mountain Trail Championships 2011
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USA Team-NACAC 2012
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USA Team- World Trail Championships 100k 2013
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9 Marathon Wins
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Ms. Figure Colorado 2008
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UNLV Steeplechase Record Holder
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UNLV Indoor Track 5k Record
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4x National Champion (50 mile Trail 2012,2013-record holder and 100k Trail 2013, 50K Trail and record holder)
PERSONAL RECORDS & NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:
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Marathon PR - 2:38:37, Rock n Roll Seattle Marathon, 2009
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Half Marathon PR - 1:17:23, Spirit of the Marathon Columbus OH, 2009
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10k PR - 34:16, Salt Lake City UT, 2009
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2nd Place National Mountain Trail Race 2011
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21st World Mountain Trail Championships Tirana Albania 2011
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5th North American Trail Championships Vancouver BC 2012
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2x National Champion and Record holder 50 Mile Trail 2012 & 2013
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National Champion 100k Trail 2013
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National Champion and record holder 50k Trail 2013
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Overall winner- Indiana Trail 100 Mile, 17:35:18, Course Record, 2013
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Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile Champion, 20:16:54, Course Record, 2013
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3rd Place Ultra Run of Champions 100k World Championships 2013
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1st place North Face Endurance Challenge 50 mile
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ULTRA RUNNER OF THE YEAR (UROY) - 2013
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Podium finishes- Trail Marathon National Champs 2007, 2012
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Mountain Bike- "Queen of the Hill" Leadville series TX 2017, Bailey 100 7th place, 2x mtb Leadville 100 mile finisher 23rd.
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2nd Place 100k trail National Champs Bandera TX 2018
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MTB- Queen of the Hill Leadville series TX 2018
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1st Place Open division 3rd Place Female overall Bailey 100 MTB 2018
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9th Female Overall Leadville 50mile MTB 2018
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Quad Rock 50 mile 2nd Place Female 2018
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Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile 1st Female New Course Record 2018
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Quad Rock 50 mile 2nd Place Female 2019
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Run Rabbit Run 100 mile 1st Female NCR 2019
Wyatt Yates
Business Manager
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Wyatt graduated cum laude from Coe College with degrees in Business Administration, Public Accounting, and Economics while also being a member of the wrestling team all 4 years.
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Wyatt started his career working for a CPA firm in Omaha, NE helping individuals and small business owners performing tax, audit, and consulting services. He worked with business owners in the healthcare, service, farming, manufacturing, insurance, and financial industries.
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He then made the move to Denver, CO where he spent 12 years as an Executive in charge of finance, accounting, information technology, human resources, risk management, and investments for a Private Equity Company. During which time, he operated a real estate tax lien business from a start-up to $140 Million and a top 25 company in the industry. He was also a panelist at the National Tax Lien Association's (NTLA) annual conference and a member of the NTLA's Legislative Committee. In addition, he was the CFO and a minority owner in an affordable housing business that he helped grow from a start-up to $150+ Million and a top 50 company in the industry.
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Athletics has been a big part of Wyatt's life. After wrestling in college he spent 3 years coaching high school and youth wrestling. He also likes to give his wife, Michele, a hard time that he has a faster 5K PR even though it was from a high school cross country meet 20 years ago. Wyatt ran his first ultramarathon in 2013 and is working towards running his first 100 miler.
Ambassadors
Renee Calvert
Pennsylvania
Renee knew as a child she wanted to be a veterinarian. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Penn State University, and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University, and she’s been a practicing small-animal veterinarian for the past 27 years. She is co-owner of Centre Animal Hospital in State College, PA, where she lives with her husband, Jeff (also an ultra-runner), and her four-legged training partner, Scotia. Their adult son Lucas (yes, also an ultra-runner) lives in California.Renee’s running career started on her high school cross-country team, but she didn’t really get serious about it until she trained for first marathon in 1998, at the age of 31. Twelve years later, she discovered the rocky trails of central Pennsylvania, and fell in love -- with both the trails, and the trail-running community. She ran her first 50k in 2012, and has now completed 22 ultras. Along the way (7 years ago) she also faced and survived breast cancer, a different kind of
endurance challenge that she brought the same strength and tenacity to. She’s now training to run her fourth hundred-miler, in May of 2023.Renee loves the trail running community, and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives.
She looks forward to sharing the trails, making new friends and encouraging others to
accomplish great things.
Check out her video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/xJL3wrUMiEU
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Lynaia South
Colorado
I started running in 2010 when my friend convinced me at happy hour that I should run the Rock N RollHalf Marathon in Denver. I was 40 years old and did not have any type of running background other than a couple of failed News Year’s Resolutions here and there. Despite running ever since and signing up for longer and longer distances, I always considered myself too slow to join a run group.Rugged Running has increased my confidence and has offered a place of support. I am a Rugged Running ambassador because I want to pay it forward welcoming and supporting others as they move through their running journey. I want to help others discover that they are a runner, they just don’t know it yet. Since my first half marathon I have completed several marathons, a 50K, and in 2022 I completed the Run Rabbit Run 50 miler. I will be running my second 50 miler in May 2023. I love being outdoors so
you may also find me hiking, camping, snowboarding, and split boarding.
Check out her video here! https://youtube.com/shorts/XfiO4FOeJ0o?feature=share
Matt Hoholek
Indiana
Hi, my name is Matt Hoholek. I am a husband and father, born and raised in Hammond, IN. I and currently live in the South Bend area of Michiana. I am a Navy veteran, having served 6 years, and currently work in the nuclear power industry, where I have spent over 25 years. I ran some long-distance track back in high school, but never really got serious about it until later in life, when a friend in the Carolinas challenged me to do a local 5k. I was heavily winded after this effort and it really hit me hard how “out of shape” I had become in the years since my high school & navy days. This experience set me on a path of determination to improve my cardio fitness, and ultimately, my overall quality of life. Since then, I have worked my way up in distances from 10ks, to marathons, and to ultramarathons, including my first 100-mile finish at Tunnel Hill in November of 2019. Running ultramarathons has really challenged me and brought out my capabilities in ways that I never thought possible. With that, I do most of my trail running at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore or in nearby state and county parks, throughout Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan.
watch my video here! https://youtu.be/VY8WU-lKO5c
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Norm Williams
Indiana
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Hi,
I’m Norm Williams, a Marine Corps Veteran. (Thank you for your service Norm- RR) I live in Northwest Indiana near the Indiana Dunes National Park and State Park. 17 years ago I weighed 190 pounds and had high cholesterol, triglycerides, you name it!.. I was basically killing myself. I have surgically repaired knees so I wasn’t sure I could run. I started walking a lot and walked off 50 lbs in just one summer! I did try out the bike the next summer and bought my first pair of running shoes. I about died the first mile! 15 years later I have run over 50 ultra distance races from the 50k distance through 150 miles. Unfortunately, the last year has been rough. I tore my meniscus and had to have surgery once again. I’m slowly getting back to doing what my body is allowing me too and making every day count! Michele has been with me every step of the way. Her encouragement and just being a great coach and person is beyond what I expected. Even though I have my own challenges, I truly enjoy helping others overcome theirs. I have paced/crewed/and helped other athletes reach their goals. I’m looking forward to hosting walking/hiking (and maybe a little running) events for Rugged Running and especially hope to meet some of you in person!