My intention here is to inform as to my coaching philosophy rather than to describe my own achievements in detail. Suffice to say that over 30+ years I have covered distances from 5k to 75 miles, at home and abroad across a wide variety of terrains. These days I have particular passion for running backyard ultras. I have discovered what works for me and also what doesn’t (finding out the hard way is sometimes the only way to improve).

Running is one of the most natural activities the human body can perform. Over the years running has provided me with a sense of purpose and personal achievement, as well as enhancing my physical and mental wellbeing. It teaches the value of patience and the value of incremental gains over a long period. It is indeed a marathon and not a sprint.

My approach to coaching runners is a blend of the science of running from formalised learning coupled with the art of running based on many years of personal experience.

I strongly believe that no two athletes are alike. We differ as much on the inside as we do on the outside. We have different blends of muscle fibres that give us different capacities to respond to the different types of training. We have different nervous systems, perceptions of discomfort and cardiovascular capacities. There is no 'one size fits all'. The core principles never change, but the intensity and duration of training and racing should be fine-tuned to the individual.

Being of a certain age now, I am particularly tuned in to the needs of the ‘older’ runner, whatever their previous achievements, current fitness levels or future goals. As the renowned New Zealand coach Arthur Lydiard said: 'The wise only train according to their age, physical condition and their capacity to exercise'.

If you would like to learn more about my coaching services, whether in-person or virtual, feel free to reach out via email or request a call through the Contact page.