Our Coaches
Five Points Runners is run and coached by its founders, Lydia Vanderloo and John Wiltshire. Both are parents who live on the Lower East Side and saw the need for a rigorous running program with a supportive, community-oriented spirit. A dedicated and committed parent body ably supports the team.
Lydia Vanderloo began running regularly in 2009, when she trained for her first half marathon. The next year, she ran the NYC Marathon, and since then has run 15 more half marathons and two additional marathons. Along with John, she founded the Five Points Runners in 2012 to offer children in the Lower East Side – including her own son and daughter – a safe, fun and challenging community in which to develop their running skills. Lydia is a USATF – Level I Certified Coach who also coaches with the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation team, which trains athletes to run full and half marathons while fundraising.
John Wiltshire began his running career at an early age, competing at the high school, college levels and currently with West Side Runners here in New York. He has been a member of that team since the early 80’s. As a co-founder and coach of the Five Points Runners Track Club, his goal is to impart the love and discipline for the sport. “Running is a great discipline for children; they learn skills that will carry over into their adult lives,” says Wiltshire.
Wiltshire’s own running passion has led him to finish the New York City Marathon 26 times with a total marathon count of 36 and scores of half marathons and other races.
As a marathoner, Wiltshire knows what it’s like to push hard and dig deep to cross the finish line, time and time again. “I want our athletes to have that determination to never give up,” he says.
…Excerpt from NYRR feature on John Wiltshire.