Introduction of Forerunners Main Street Ambassadors

Introducing our newest Forerunners/New Balance brand ambassadors, Kristina Bangma and Facundo Chernikoff.

Kristina Bangma

My career in the fitness and wellness industry began in 1998 as a Registered Massage Therapist, living in Whistler BC.

After four years instead of helping people recover from the same injuries, I wanted to teach them how they could play and train without getting injured in the first place. In 2003, I moved to Vancouver and started Get Fit with Kris Personal Training which is now known as Kits Energy Training Inc.

Over the last 15 years I have competed in Trail Running, Triathlon, Ironman, Road Running, Mountain Biking and Road Cycling. Although I loved the excitement of competition and the dedication required for training, I realized that fitness isn’t just about winning races. It is a lifelong endeavour that is constantly changing and developing as we discover new information on how our bodies work and change over the years.

I believe that it is normal that our commitment to fitness will ebb and flow as we move through the cycles of life. But I also believe that as a Trainer it is my duty to help my clients find the time, energy and desire to continually make personal fitness one of their main priorities, however that looks like for them.

Facundo Chernikoff

As a Mechanical Engineer, understanding aerodynamics, energy, power, properties of materials, strength and moving systems is my specialty.
The human body is no different from any other system. Your heart behaves like a pump, your tendons act like springs and your body generates and dissipates heat. For optimal performance it is necessary to keep all systems running smoothly. Just like any machine, if the stress on any one component is too high the whole system will fail.
After several years of racing competitively, I retired from triathlon and engineering to move on to my next two careers – Firefighting and Coaching. In March 2013 I was hired by Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, founded Peak Power Coaching, and began coaching with Kits Energy Training, training advanced cyclists for long distance events.
Over the last 5 years, I have worked online with all levels of athletes, helping them achieve their goals in running and cycling events. The running events have ranged from 10k’s to full marathons, while cycling events have ranged from 90k fondos to the Iditarod, a race across Alaska on a fat bike.

As an athlete and as a coach, I enjoy going through the process of training just as much as I enjoy watching the end results. Every day an athlete will have both small victories that we must celebrate and defeats that we must learn from. Both of these are equally important in order to improve. As an online coach I design customized training programs. I keep my athletes accountable and on track by reviewing and providing feedback to every workout they do.

Some of my past accomplishments are:
113th place OA – 2016 Boston Marathon (2:38:30) – 3rd Canadian
11th place OA – Pacific Road Runners First Half (1:12:36) – 3rd AG
1st place OA – 2015 Whistler Gran Fondo (3:22:26)
3rd place OA – 2015 Ryder Hesjedal Tour de Victoria (3:48:11)
31st place OA – BMO Vancouver Marathon (2:48:25)
3rd place for 800m Freestyle in the 2010 World Master Games in Sydney
Represented Canada, in the 2009 and 2010 International Triathlon Union Pan American Cups
I believe that with the proper training, nutrition, sleep, state of mind and injury prevention there are no limits to what anyone can achieve.