Spotlight - The Coaches

Brian Hsia

Brian Hsia had a dream in creating an official team for the Alzheimer’s Association in participating as a charity for the New York City Marathon in 2006.  He joined the Junior Committee (JC) to learn more about the Alzheimer’s Disease because his grandmother first showed signs of it in 2003.  He brought up the idea to former JC President, Meghann McKale, which probably at the time thought he was crazy.  He got that dream fulfilled in 2009, after 2 years of rejection and despair applying and reapplying. 

Modeling the program from two previous Alzheimer’s Association chapter running programs: Chicago and Boston, and teaming up with an even crazier runner, Jeff LeBlanc, they set forward in putting a running program together in 1 month (first impressions of Jeff was that he had to stay off the caffeine.) 

Trained as an architect, Brian has been running since high school in Somers, NY.  Since moving to New York City nine years ago, he has evolved from a sprinter into a long distance runner.  When Brian attempted to run his first half marathon, his only goal was to "complete" the race. He now runs ultra marathons and multiple marathons in the same weekend. The marathon is his favorite distance with the perfect combination of speed, distance and time. He has competed in 38+ marathons and has a quest to complete a marathon in all 50 states.  He ran his personal record of 2:54:42 in the 2010 Boston Marathon. He enjoys running competitively, although giving back to the running community is a better satisfaction than any personal achievement. Best known for running with his camera, taking pictures of teammates, and capturing race moments along the way, he enjoys saying hello to friends in Central Park.

Trained as a Road Runners Club of America, USA Track and Field certified coach and Track and Field Academy, he is also the New York City marathon coach for the New York Road Runners Team for Kids.  Brian also served as the co-director of the marathon training program for the New York Flyers, one of the largest running clubs in New York City and has been featured in The New York Times.

Brian’s advice to a new runner training for a marathon is, 1) “Listen to your body, the marathon training is a long season, pace yourself.”  2)“Just have fun with it. Have no expectations, enjoy the moment and believe in yourself. You are doing this for yourself. You will gain so much more than you will expect as you bond friendships, memories, and new experiences in your life”

Alexandra Cohen

Ali is not directly affiliated with the Alzheimers’s Association, but have become dedicated to spread awareness and the fight against Alzheimer’s.  When asked to be part of the 2010, it was a great honor. She was really excited, amazed and thankful to be with a team that has such passion for the reason why they are running. 

 My role as a coach is to design a run specific/technical training program, as well as avoid, treat, and beat injuries.  My background is in Exercise Science (slowly advancing to exercise physiology). I am licensed in manual therapies with multiple sports specific certifications.  I have both personal training and group fitness certifications through ACSM, NSAC, ACE and Advanced first aid.

 In my teens I trained and competed as an elite athlete (not running).  Some of my worst and best, mental, and physical moments occurred during my training and racing seasons.  When I decided to stop, I also decided to try every other extreme sport and resulted in a life altering injury that led me to be a runner.  My recovery started with walking up 2 steps and ending with a ½ marathon.  Today, running is something I love and am passionate about. 

Glen Wiener

Glen is a former collegiate quarter miler who in 2006 rediscovered my love for running when I began to focus on running the marathon.  Since then he have completed 18 marathons, including New York, Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia.  Proving that age is just a number, he has recently achieved his marathon PR of 3:12 and a half marathon PR of 1:29 both at the age of 52.  In 2012, he has placed third in his age group in two marathons, a ten mile, and four mile race.  

After decades as a competitive runner, he now achieve immense enjoyment in coaching others and helping them achieve their running goals.  He has completed the rigorous USA Track & Field Level 2 coaching certification program with a specialization in endurance events and also a Road Runners Club of America certified coach.  In 2007, he has created the New York Flyers Marathon Training Program and its famous Three Bridges 20 Mile training run and he still serves as the Director of the Program.  For over six years, he has been a marathon and half-marathon coach with the New York Road Runners’ Team for Kids.   His training programs and advice have been featured in the New York Times and New York Runner magazine. 

A lawyer by trade, he now works as an arbitrator for New York State and a former Captain and two-term President of the New York Flyers running club.  As a coach with Athletes to End Alzheimer’s he is extremely excited to help you reach your running objectives.