COACHES’ BIOS

Melanie Barnes – Head Coach

“I am for all people moving. I believe that if you move, you will feel better and enjoy a higher quality of life. Success (for me) is being a part of people finding fitness, well-being and having fun! Being a coach, teacher, and educator is the best job in the world.”

Melanie is a head coach for Capital of Texas Team Survivor. She is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer, a registered yoga teacher, and a cancer exercise specialist.

Jimmy Bynum – Head Swim Coach

“More important than my swimming career is my coaching and teaching accomplishments. I’ve taught over 3,300 people swimming. The athletes I helped coach are: 8 NCAA Division I swimmers, 21 Hawaii Ironman Qualifiers, 24 Triathlon World Championship Qualifiers, numerous Olympians, lots of district, regional, and state UIL champions, numerous State Masters Champions,100s of women competing in Danskin Triathlons, 100s of men competing in all sorts of triathlons.”

Jimmy is the head swim coach for Capital of Texas Team Survivor. He has helped teach many of our members to swim, and just a few months later many of them complete their first triathlon!

Sharon Harris – Coach

Sharon is not only a coach for Capital of Team Survivor, she’s also a member. An accomplished triathlete before her cancer diagnosis, as a survivor Sharon continues to compete at an elite level. She has competed in all of the Austin Danskin triathlons & 2 half Ironman triathlons. In addition to her work with CTTS, Sharon is also a volunteer coaching for Move Through Cancer and Team Danskin.

Sharon coaches swimming, cycling, and walking/running for Capital of Texas Team Survivor.

Leona Martin – Coach

Leona has been working as a personal trainer since 1999, following a training philosophy utilizing the body as a whole to maintain alignment, health, and strength. Leona is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer at BodyBusiness Fitness Center. Leona’s specialties include post-rehabilitation, cancer survivors, and amateur athletes. She is currently a student at Texas State University studying Clinical Laboratory Science and Pre-Physical Therapy. Leona has coached spinning, cycling, walking, running and strength training for CTTS.

Mary Elizabeth Morgan – Coach

Joy Davenport was an instructor when I was studying to become a Physical Therapist Assistant and she had a history of breast cancer. She was very open with our class on this and years after graduation, she asked me to work with her on a program for breast cancer patients. The patients we saw were primarily ones who had difficulty achieving full range of motion in their shoulders, which they needed even for functional activities such as dressing. I was working primarily with orthopedic patients at the time but I quickly found that working with breast cancer patients was much more rewarding and even fun. They were the hardest working, most inspiring patients I worked with! Years later, after a career change, Melanie Barnes overheard me telling someone at the gym that I wanted to volunteer to work with breast cancer patients again. She knew I was doing triathlons at the time and she immediately recruited me for CTTS. I have done this for three years now and I love it! These women have been to hell and back and they just refuse to give up or just sit on the couch feeling sorry for themselves. They are willing and even happy to do all the hard work to get strong and make positive changes in their lives. So if I can be involved, I am honored and thankful.

Mary Elizabeth coaches walking and running for Capital of Texas Team Survivor.

Karen Slack – Coach

“I have always been active in sports and fitness and have enjoyed encouraging others to lead active lifestyles as well. I enjoy working with all types of clients, from beginning exercisers to elite athletes needing sport-specific training. In addition to personal training, I coach running clinics and triathlon clinics for sprint distance to Ironman distance participants. My clients work hard and have fun at the same time!”

Karen coaches spinning and cycling for Capital of Texas Team Survivor. She is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer, a NSCA-Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, a USA Triathlon-Certified Level 1 Coach, and a USA Cycling-Certified Club Coach.

Shane Selberg – Coach

Shane is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer, with an expertise in designing and implementing realistic, attainable weight loss and permanent fitness programs.

Shane coaches spinning for Capital of Texas Team Survivor.

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