Training Run Captains lead and organize the runs for each of our various meeting locations across the city.
- Central Park Captains: Jeremy Arthur, Katie Stiles, Stephanie Gnoza
- Central Park Long Run Captain: Young Cho
- East River Park Captain: Kurt Munz
- Downtown Captain: Patricia Tirona
- Prospect Park Captain: Katie Edwards
- Brooklyn Long Run Captain: Laura Gann
Their bios and contact information is below. Feel free to reach out to them if you have any questions about a specific run!
Central Park Captains
Originally a tennis player, Jeremy played competitively for Vassar College and the University of Oxford before focusing on running in his late-twenties. After a few dispiriting marathons he joined the Whippets in 2016 and never looked back: he competes in distances ranging from 400m through 26.2 miles and has been a mainstay of the Central Park workouts in all seasons and conditions. What Jeremy enjoys most about the Whippets is its blend of community, ambition, and fun; he regularly volunteers as a focal point for new members and is keen to discuss running goals at all levels. Jeremy is a USATF-certified Track and Field coach.
Katie joined the Dashing Whippets in 2012. Originally from Ohio, she started running as cross-training for rowing in college. Her favorite races are 10 miles to half-marathons and fun relays. When she’s not running, you can find Katie enjoying one of the many restaurants in the city. Katie has a doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology and is currently an Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Stephanie started running in 2008 with plans for a “one and done” marathon. Despite being terribly underprepared for that first marathon, running quickly turned from a one-time achievement into a lifestyle. Running led to triathlons and over the last decade, she has done too may running races and triathlons to count, from the mile to the Ironman. Stephanie has been running with Team Matt Wong since 2017 and can’t imagine when her running career would be without her teammates. Her latest love is trail running and she is stoked every chance she gets to run in the mountains. She is looking forward to testing her boundaries in 2019 with a 50 miler.
Central Park Long Run Captain
Having picked up running solely to maintain fitness when Young started working, he ran unattached for many years before joining the Whippets in October 2013. Since then, he has enjoyed the comradery in running and seeing his teammates and friends do amazing things on and off the race course. Young proudly hails from the borough of Queens where he spent most of his formative years. He graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
East River Park Captain
Within eight months of joining the team, Kurt ran personal best times in the mile, two-mile, 5k, 10k, and half marathon. “Proper coaching and consistent training really make a difference,” he said, “especially track work. And having great teammates to inspire, challenge, and sometimes distract you makes developing speed much easier and more fun!” When he’s not on the track, Kurt is an aspiring business school professor, pursuing a PhD at NYU Stern. Prior to academia, he served as an officer in the US Navy. He is a former high school and collegiate wrestler, high school wrestling coach, and triathlete. He lives in Jersey City, with his dog Andy.
Downtown Captain
I’ve been with the team since 2010 & countless races later I can say I love training for 26.2 but the half is my favorite race distance. Marathon training in the summer heat is tough but what I live for each year. Summer pains = winter gains. Ask me anything about hydration! Leading social runs is great because I meet so many new people and if you set the right welcoming tone, next thing you know they become entrenched ambitious members, eventually destroying their personal goals. The coaches give everyone at every skill level a blueprint for tackling their biggest challenges and speaking personally, the crucial support to navigate the roughest times as well celebrate the milestones, pun intended!
Prospect Park Captain
Katie joined the whippets in 2015. A casual runner since high school, she got hooked on racing after running her first half marathon in 2007 and enjoys every distance from the mile to the half. She first moved to Brooklyn from Quebec for grad school and now works as a software engineer. In her free time she loves to hike, camp, and solve crossword puzzles.
Brooklyn Long Run Captain
Laura has been competitively running track since 7th grade, ultimately competing Division 1 Cross Country and Track and Field at Drake University in Iowa, specializing in middle distance. She graduated with a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Public Health in 2016. Laura joined the Whippets in December 2016 after moving to NYC from Illinois to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Health Nutrition from NYU. Although the track will always be Laura’s favorite, she now enjoys longer road races as well after completing the 2017 New York City Marathon and the 2019 Boston Marathon. Laura is currently employed as the Lead Recovery Coach at Balance Eating Disorder Treatment Center, where she works with the dietitians and therapists to provide counseling and meals for clients. Feel free to reach out with any nutrition related questions! When Laura’s not running, she’s likely cooking or listening to Taylor Swift.