The Fitness from Africa Team!
Marcel is the founder of Fitness From Africa and is as passionate about his athletes’ running as he is about his own. He started running in 1980, and has participated in a variety of disciplines including track, road cross country, marathon and ultra distance running. As many other juniors he started his career on the track, and progressed to the road. After a stint on the road racing circuit in Europe, he returned to SA and embarked on the marathon scene, as well as eventually the Comrades marathon. With a best of 6h59 he believes his best is yet to come. Marcel has coached 1000’s of runners, ranging from sprinters to Comrades runners, and delights in the successes of each of his athletes!
Brendan has been with the Lonehill Exercise & Sports Center since 2003 and is co-owner. He has his honours in Sports Science and is proficient in a wide variety of sports but has a great passion for rugby. He has an IRB coaching qualification, and is a member of Golden Lions Coaching association. As track runner he boasts a time of 2min00 for 800m and has played rugby at club level. He has worked with numerous sportsmen and women, and was the trainer for the inaugural Climb Against Crime program in 2008 helping five ladies to prepare for climbing five peaks in five days in the Drakensberg.
As Sports Scientist, Neil has worked with numerous national level, as well as provincial sportsmen and women. He is also very proficient in the sports of body building and power lifting. Neil is the current strength and power coach of the Golden Lions.
Megan is a speed nut and comes off a sprinting background. She loves a variety of sports and is passionate about studying sports sciences and broadening her knowledge base.
She is a personal trainer, massage therapist, and athletics and water polo coach.
Michael is one of the most up and coming young cyclists in the country, and has achieved successes on the road in South Africa, Europe and the States. As member of House of Paints in 2009, they captured the road team title in dominant manner.
He is a qualified personal trainer, massage therapist and cycling coach.
Bev Baker heads up the recently formed Cape Town branch and boasts many years in the fitness industry. She is a dedicated runner, cyclist, personal trainer and gym owner with experience in all distances from 5 km to Comrades and has been awarded provincial colours for the marathon. She has also completed some duathlons and triathlons. Trained and coached by Marcél she has implemented the FFA methodologies and is currently coaching several athletes in the Western Cape. Some of her personal bests as a veteran include: 5k – 21m51, 10k – 45 min, 15k – 68 min, 21k – 1hr38 min and 42.2k – 3hr 32
Lynda is a respected and experienced sports massage therapist. With her running background, her coaching and personal training experience, she is an asset to the business and concerned coach to her athletes.
John is our fastest staff member and renowned for his lethal kick over the last 100m of any race! He enjoys track running the most, but has also shown his proficiency on the road and cross country routes.