MEET THE TEAM
PETE PFITZINGER
Pete has over 30 years of experience coaching marathon and half marathon runners to achieve their goals. He is the co-author of the highly respected training guides Advanced Marathoning and Faster Road Racing.
As an elite athlete, Pete was the top American finisher in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympic marathons. He won the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon and recorded a personal best of 2:11:43, later placing third at the 1987 New York City Marathon. He was ranked the top American marathoner in 1984 by Track & Field News and is a member of the Road Runners Club of America Hall of Fame.
Alongside his competitive career, Pete has a strong background in exercise physiology, with research focused on lactate threshold measurement. Combining his experience as an Olympic marathoner and longtime coach, he brings a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in the marathon.
CHRIStine PFITZINGER
Christine brings a wealth of experience as an elite athlete and a highly regarded coach, with a career spanning performance sport, coaching, and the fitness industry.
A New Zealand representative at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games, Christine was one of the country’s leading middle-distance runners. She held national records in the 1500m (4:06.47) and mile (4:30.50), and won multiple New Zealand titles across the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m.
Her road racing credentials include 15:37 for 5K, 25:49 for 8K and 32:33 for 10K.
Towards the end of her competitive career, Christine moved into coaching and athlete development in the United States, including serving as Head Athletics Coach at Mount Holyoke College.
With qualifications in personal training and fitness instruction from Auckland University of Technology, Christine combines her elite sporting background with decades of coaching and practical experience. Her approach is grounded in helping individuals train with purpose, build confidence, and reach their full potential.
ANNIKA PFITZINGER
Annika is an athletics coach with a strong background in middle- and long-distance running.
As an athlete, she has competed at a high level across events from the 800m to the half marathon, winning eight national medals and representing New Zealand at the 2024 World Cross Country Championships in Serbia.
Annika holds a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation and a Personal Training qualification, bringing both practical experience and formal knowledge to her coaching.
She currently coaches a squad of middle-distance athletes aged 11-16 in Nelson, New Zealand, and has guided her young runners to NZ and regional medals on the track, roads and cross country.
She is passionate about helping athletes of all ages enjoy the sport, improve their performance, and build confidence through structured, supportive coaching.
