Meet the Coaches

Albany Coaches

Ciena Lentz, 5k Beginner Coach

Ciena Lentz joins our coaching staff with years of experience coaching Bethlehem High School and the Upstate Panthers Track Club, as well as mentoring the Malta Half and Full Marathon program under Coach Mark Mindel. You may also recognize Ciena as one of the wonderful outfitters in our Albany location.

Coach Ciena brings to the Albany Beginner 5k program a wealth of knowledge and infectious positivity that are sure to make your 5k training successful and fun!

Dale Broomhead, Albany 5K Advanced and 10K Coach

Dale taught physical education and coached for 36 years in the Lansingburgh School District. His tenure as the cross-country, indoor and outdoor track coach produced numerous league championships and top sectional finishes. Dale received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland and his master’s degree in health education from Russell Sage College.

Malta/Saratoga Coaches

Jeff Casale, Malta 5K Beginner Coach

Jeff’s love for running began as a participant in the Fleet Feet 5k beginners program in the spring of 2019. Being part of the program he got to see first hand how the coach and mentors played a pivotal part in helping others achieve their running goals while having fun in a supportive group setting. “Running is a lifestyle” is the unofficial motto of the group and this inspired Jeff in fall of 2019 to begin mentoring the beginner 5k group to share his passion for helping and motivating others succeed in their personal health goals.

Mark Mindel, Malta 5K Advanced, 10K, Half & Full Marathon Coach

Mark has coached Fleet Feet’s Half & Full Marathon group in Saratoga County for the past five years. Before his retirement, he taught and coached at Averill Park for 30 years. A resident of Ballston Lake, Mark continues to be involved in high school athletics as a frequent track and field official in the Capital Region. More than 40 years ago, he was the founder of the popular Schenectady Stockade-athon 15K race that takes place each November. A competitive runner earlier in life, Mark won the Montreal Marathon in 1979.