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"But we realize he was lucky," he's quick to add. "We don't want to rely on luck."

Back on the wagon

A decade ago, when she was in her early 20s, Tiffany McKenzie would speed walk 4 to 8 miles a day on a track (that's up to 32 laps, by the way).

"I was fit," she says.

Then she got married, went to grad school (that education again), had a baby. At 32, she now finds herself 75 pounds heavier than she would like to be.

"I fell off the wagon," she admits.

McKenzie started climbing back on the wagon three weeks ago, walking the Apex Community Trail near her home. At first, she couldn't make it around the 2-mile loop trail. Today, she's walking the whole way and regaining her speedwalking mojo from a decade back.

Despite her apparent self-discipline, she says Fit-tastic is ideal for her. "I'm a structured kind of person," she says. "I need the motivation, the e-mail tips, the constant reminders."

She's also motivated by her 3-year-old, Brenna.

Six weeks ago Brenna wanted her mom to go out and play. Swing, kick the soccer ball -- kid-play things.

"I couldn't," says McKenzie. "I was too lethargic. That was a heartbreaker.

"I want to be a good role model," says McKenzie. "I don't want her growing up to think it's OK to be a couch potato."

Coaching online

Tom Hughes of Durham is a structured guy, too. That's why he hooked up with Crooker in 2006 to train for a marathon and why he stuck with his online coach to train for last year's Ironman Florida triathlon, which Hughes completed in just over 12 hours.

"He does the thinking for me," says Hughes. "He tells me what to do and when to do it, and I just go out and do it."

This year Hughes is back with Crooker, hoping to break 12 hours at the triathlon.

The Vernons and McKenzie hope for similarly successful results from their online coaching experience.

"I intend to do my best at jogging it," says McKenzie of the Monster Dash. "If I can't, I'll let myself walk."

Matt Vernon expects to run the race and enjoy doing it. Katrina's goal, in addition to establishing a lifelong exercise routine, is more basic.

"I hope to learn not to hate running."

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