Coach Toby Tanser

"90% of life is showing up...so why not show up, and live your life." - Coach Tanser

He is a former professional runner, sub-2:20 marathon runner (63-minute half marathon) and has competed and coached in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Tanser has been the FIT Cross Country/Half Marathon coach since 2004. He is a wonderful coach with a unique and inspiring story. The FIT student athletes have the opportunity to train with a world renowned athlete/coach; more importantly, they are able to witness firsthand that we all can make a difference and make the world a better place by being coached by Toby, who is changing Kenyan lives for the better through his non for profit organization, Shoe4africa.

Tanser has a unique and inspiring story. He is the director of Shoe4Africa, which he founded in 1995. He is also director of the New York Road Runners (the world’s largest running organization) and Achilles International, the world’s largest running organization for athletes with disabilities. He sits on the coaches advisory board of Runner’s World.

Tanser is the author of three books, the best selling Train Hard Win Easy the Kenyan Way, and The Essential Guide to Running the NYC Marathon. His latest book, More Fire, How to Run the Kenyan Way, will raise money to build a children’s hospital in Kenya. Tanser’s articles about running have appeared in journals worldwide as well as in Runner’s World, New York Runner, and Metrosports magazines. He wrote and co-produced the global Puma Trainway series and the New York Road Runners audio guide for the INGNYC Marathon. He has done TV and Web commentary for marathons in America and Europe.

He coaches New York City’s largest running team, the NY Flyers. He also coaches various charity organizations, including Team Lifeline, and is the race director of the Hope and Possibility, an annual race in NYC that supports athletes with disabilities.