|
|
TRACY Y. THOMAS, MA, CSCS, ACSM H/FI
[Click here for a partial list of Tracy's accomplishments.]
Tracy Thomas is a personal trainer and running coach based in Champaign, Illinois. She owns and operates BodyMechanic Fitness LLC, whose clients range from competitive runners and triathletes to nonathletes seeking a healthier lifestyle. BodyMechanic Fitness Philosophy.
Before moving to Illinois in 2004 Tracy helped manage the corporate fitness center at Southern California Edison, where she was a Lead Trainer and evaluated members’ fitness levels, designed custom exercise programs, trained employees in fitness-related aspects of workplace safety, originated and managed fitness events, and managed various fitness center operations. She previously worked as the head trainer at a medical doctor’s wellness facility, where she developed particular expertise with obese and HIV-positive populations.
Tracy’s expertise in the fitness needs of runners and endurance athletes has been developed in part through her own accomplished running career. Tracy began running competitively in high school in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and also competed on the Long Beach City College cross country and track teams. Her specialty is the marathon and longer distances – she has completed more than 75 marathons, with a personal record of 3:10 in the 2004 Pacific Shoreline Marathon. Tracy was the first masters woman finisher at the 2004 Los Angeles Marathon, where she placed 17th of 9,000+ female runners and 205th overall out of over 22,000 participants.
Tracy has also run more than 30 ultramarathons – races of distances over 26.2 miles. She twice completed the Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run, in 1999 and 2000, finished the 2004 Vermont 100 in 20:56, and in 2005 & 2006 was the first female finisher at Kettle Moraine 100-mile and also completed the Western States 100. On October 2, 2005, Tracy became the first female in the 15-year history of the Arkansas Traveller 100-mile race to finish FIRST OVERALL. Tracy finished off 2005 and started 2006 by participating in Across The Years 72-hour race of which she ran 60-hours before stopping and reached 207 miles.
In April, 2006, Tracy was the first female and 4th overall at the McNaughton Park Trail 100-Miler and broke the women's course record by over 4 hours and followed that up with a victory at the Kettle Moraine 100-Mile in May, 2006.
As a result of her distance running accomplishments, Tracy is sponsored by Hammer Nutrition/e-caps and she was selected to participate in Active.com’s Active Elite sponsorship program, with corporate sponsorships from Dri-release, ThermaCare, BreatheRight, Egg Beaters and Club Med. She is currently active in the Second Wind Running Club in Urbana-Champaign--specifically The Buffalos.
A well-rounded athlete, Tracy also biked the 575-mile, 7-day California AIDS Ride in 1997, and played varsity basketball in high school and college.
Tracy received her Masters Degree in Sports Management from California State University, Long Beach. She also holds both the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health/Fitness Instructor (H/FI) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certifications. She has completed numerous other business and fitness-related courses at various educational institutions. She received her bachelors degree in fine arts from Ohio Northern University in 1983 and is also an accomplished potter.
Tracy can be reached at Tracy@BodyMechanicFitness.com.
*Always consult your physician before undertaking a new exercise regimen!