2015 Ambassador Team
We are excited to announce our official 2015 Berkeley Half Marathon Ambassadors! From as far north as Sonoma to as far south as San Jose, our ambassadors are kicking it into high gear as we ramp up for The Berkeley Half Marathon in November. Our ambassadors will inspire you, educate you, and support you for the race season. Here’s to a great 2015 race!
Yuan Zhu
I was born with a disease that should have left me dead, but compassion kept me alive.
I was gifted with crippled legs as a child, but that gave me a reason to use them to their limits. I was 100 pounds obese into adulthood, but imagine the incredible lung capacity I was left with!
Life has been quirky. It has allowed me to stand on the ultramarathon podium, but it also rendered me unable to keep up with 7-year-old kids on their first 5k. Six months ago, I had a total hip replacement, and now I live with plastic prosthetics in my leg. The only thing that keeps me going is the one thing that can never be artificially produced.
I’m not here to try to inspire any runners. After all, if you’ve signed up for a half marathon, you clearly aren’t in need of motivation (you may need some brains, but I can’t help you there). My goal is simply to set an example for the future generations, to plant an idea of hope in the minds of children who may be struggling with self-belief.
This is the Berkeley Half Marathon, and I am a Berkeley Hippie.
Isaias Castaneda
Running has been a big part of my life ever since I been in the 5th grade, countless miles and 20 Marathons later still going strong. I later went onto Hollywood High School, joining the Track and Cross Country team. I was also part of the program Students Run LA program offered at my school to help us train for the Los Angeles Marathon. I always pride myself in giving my best effort. Currently I aspire to run more and more marathons every year and join Marathon Maniacs in the process and increase my mileage to hopefully run my first Ultra Marathon next year and maybe someday run the big one, 100 miles.
Eleanore Adams
Laura Moir
I began running in 2006 following the birth of my second child and, at that time, 3 miles seemed impossible to me! But I never gave up, I kept on trying to match feet with mind in order to conquer that 5K. I signed up for my first race in April 2009 and haven’t stopped since- to date, I have accomplished nearly 90 races, including 2 marathons, over 30 half marathons and countless 5Ks and 10Ks.
I started my blog in 2011 in order to document training for my first marathon but very quickly, it turned into so much more. I found that through telling my running story and sharing my struggles therein, I was able to reach and inspire other people who were just like me- sometimes just reading, “You can do it!” is all it takes to lace those sneakers and hit the road and if I can do it, so can you.
Stephanie Davies
Stephanie Davies is a 46 year old mother of three who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. A runner for 29 years, Stephanie brings experience and unwavering passion to the sport of running. Stephanie is deeply rooted in the running community through various ambassadorship programs which include The Berkeley Half Marathon and the San Francisco Marathon. Stephanie’s involvement in her community includes the creation of a women’s running group entitled We RUN the Bay, volunteer coaching through the American Heart Association, and involvement with local race promotion.
Tiffany Tran
Tiffany Tran has been a runner all her life (12 years in counting)! She ran cross country and track throughout middle school to high school, and continued to run in college, training with the Cal Running Club and competing in a number of different local races. She recently started a running club at her company in Berkeley and has successfully encouraged 12 of her co-workers to take on the Berkeley Half Marathon. Tiffany continues to inspire other individuals to get healthy and fit, and loves to get that runner’s high!
Shellin Chuong
Shellin Chuong is a third-year undergraduate student studying at UC Berkeley. She currently trains with the Strawberry Canyon Track Club and the Cal Running Club, and has raced in multiple events ranging from the 400m to the half marathon. This year will be her third year participating in the Berkeley Half. More than occasionally during her free time, she enjoys treating herself to copious amounts of chocolate.
Stephanie Laska
Stephanie Laska works as a Medical Sales Representative for a Global Pediatric Nutrition Company. She has worked in pharmaceutical sales in the Monterey-San Luis Obispo communities in addition to the Central Valley. Stephanie holds a Masters in Education from UC Santa Barbara and holds three teaching credentials. Stephanie is 100% new to running having discovered the sport two years ago; she didn’t waste any time pushing herself to the limit. Stephanie won first place (Athena Division) of her very first Marathon in March — the Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon, and went on to run the Big Sur International 21mi., and the San Francisco Full Marathon just months later. You may have read Stephanie’s story that was shared in the race brochure for the Big Sur International Half Marathon 2014. Through the discovery of running, combined with changing eating habits, Stephanie has lost 140lbs., or half of her body weight. Stephanie and her best friend/love-of-her life/running partner-in-crime, husband Bill, are raising their two elementary school aged children (both becoming runners!) in Turlock, CA.
Erin Garvey
Erin Mink Garvey has called herself a runner for most of her life and is absolutely stoked to be running the Berkeley Half Marathon this year, her first half since giving birth in early August. Since 2007, she has run 25 marathons and more than 30 half marathons and loves the running community and the sport’s transformative effects on people’s lives. When she’s not running, you’ll find Erin spending time with her husband and two daughters; writing on her blog; or cooking and baking vegan deliciousness. She and her family recently relocated to San Jose, California, after living in Chicago for more than a decade, and she is looking forward to meeting more CA-based runners and exploring all the beautiful running locales this fine state has to offer!
Jamie Wisto
I am a runner, blogger, bartender and greyhound mama (yes, my dog loves to run too!). I moved from Arizona to San Francisco in 2011, and was quickly drawn in to the running culture of the Bay Area. I completed my first half marathon in 2012, and have been hooked on running ever since. Beauty and adventure inspire me to run-I love using running as a means to explore new places. Recently, I was even able to take my running shoes to the streets Dublin, Paris and Rome! I feel very honored to be able to share my passion for this sport this year as an ambassador for both the San Francisco Marathon and the Berkeley Half Marathon!
Lynda Benson
Vivian Truong
Stan Tsu
My name is Stan and I’m a Berkeley Half Marathon Ambassador. I’m a UC Berkeley grad and a Bay Area native. I’ve run a lot of races and coached many runners & walkers, but I’m exceptionally proud of being a BHM Ambassador. Due to my schedule, my goal for this race is to run the 5K on Sunday 11/22/2015. To train, I’ve been doing intervals on the track and road. I look forward to race day. Run long, finish strong!
Ambassador Perks:
- Complimentary Race Registration
- Official Berkeley Half Marathon Ambassador Gear
- Discounts on Additional Events and Services
- Profile hosted on Berkeley Half Marathon Website
- Opportunity for involvement in Race Weekend Media Coverage
- Potential for additional perks for the Berkeley Half Marathon
- Additional incentives based on involvement
- Access to our Ambassador’s-Only Facebook Group
Ambassador Role:
- Collateral Distribution in hometown (running stores, local races, etc.)
- Spreading the word about Berkeley Half Marathon events (local running clubs, social media, blogging, etc are all examples) and answering questions.
- Participation in the 2015 Planning, Feedback and Surveys- you are our research team! Help us better serve the running community!
- Race Weekend support.
- Be an expert on the Berkeley Half Marathon!
In addition to the above perks and expectations, we will open up additional opportunities to our Ambassadors first. In the past these additional opportunities have included pre-race interviews and news stories, merchandise giveaways, Pace Team invitations, sponsor product giveaways and inclusion in special Race Weekend events. Our Ambassadors serve as both race representatives and our consulting team - we look to you for feedback, tips, and new ideas!
All Ambassadors will be featured on the Berkeley Half Marathon Website. Chosen applicants will have a profile, photo, and opportunity to connect with other runners through social media, meet-up runs, and more! You will have the opportunity to lead and guide new and inexperienced runners through their training process, motivate and inspire our runners, and share your story!
Please note that Ambassadors are NOT financially compensated in any way. We do not subsidize travel or training expenses or issue payment of any kind to our team. The Ambassadors serve for one calendar year, from July to November, though Ambassadors are encouraged to reapply each spring if they wish to continue on future years. The San Francisco Marathon reserves the right to remove any Ambassador from the team at any time due to poor conduct or failure to perform duties.
