Youth Running Club
Meet the Coaches
Damian grew up in Fresno and Turlock, California, where he ran cross country and track throughout middle school and high school. Although he did not initially plan to run, he quickly developed a love for the sport and the discipline it teaches.
Coming from a family of runners, Damian values leadership, hard work, and resilience. Outside of running, he enjoys photography, barbering, gaming, and cooking. As a coach, he strives to be a positive role model and inspire young athletes to grow in confidence and pride in their progress.
Damian
Kaya began running in middle school and has continued developing as both an athlete and a mentor over the past eight years. She grew up in San Diego and discovered her passion for running through a local club team.
With six years of experience coaching at her former running club and multiple summers as a counselor at an overnight running camp in Yosemite, Kaya is dedicated to helping young athletes build confidence, discipline, and a positive relationship with running. She is majoring in psychology with the goal of becoming a sport psychologist and is passionate about the mental side of performance.
Kaya
Isabel has been passionate about running since she was seven, growing up in a family of distance runners. She competed at Murrieta Valley High School before moving to Mexico City, where she trained alongside professional athletes while attending an international school.
She is currently majoring in criminal justice and psychology and has a strong desire to help others. Isabel brings energy, leadership, and a genuine love for working with young athletes. She is committed to inspiring kids to grow in confidence, discipline, and enjoyment of the sport.
Isabel
Sydney is originally from Orange County, California, and began running in high school after exploring multiple sports. She loves the personal growth and self-discipline that running encourages.
She enjoys reading, listening to music, philosophy, and spending time in nature. Sydney is passionate about all things health and wellness and loves how running can help people become the best version of themselves.
She is majoring in business marketing and also supports marketing for Chico Striders. She is committed to spreading positivity, fostering community, and helping young athletes develop confidence and a love for the sport.
Sydney
Daniel has been running competitively since high school and continued his career at Chico State, where he graduated as a four year student athlete. His passion for running extended beyond his collegiate years, and while he remains competitive, his true calling is coaching.
He began coaching with Fleet Feet in 2016, leading 5K through half marathon training groups and helping athletes of all levels achieve their goals. Daniel believes in building a strong running community that encourages synergy among team members. He focuses on developing confidence, consistency, and a genuine love for the sport in every runner he coaches.
Daniel
Matthew has always been an advocate for youth programming and believes deeply in each individual’s power to create meaningful change in their life and community. For the past eight years, he has worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, providing a wide range of mental health services throughout the North State.
Although newer to running, Matthew has completed four half marathons through Fleet Feet training programs. Serving as a mentor for the inaugural Striders program was a natural fit, allowing him to blend his love for running with his passion for supporting youth. He is committed to helping young athletes build resilience, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.
Matthew
Kaitlin began running recreationally six years ago through a Fleet Feet training group. Too young at the time to run independently, she quickly became involved in mentoring younger athletes within the group, which sparked her passion for coaching.
Through that experience, she met Coach Shawna and was later introduced to Danny and the Striders program. She immediately fell in love with youth coaching and the impact it can have. Kaitlin is dedicated to creating positive, supportive spaces where young runners can grow in discipline, confidence, and joy