Charlotte - First 5k to a Marathon in 7 months

Charlotte was running one 5k per week when I started coaching her in Sept 2024, and was looking to complete her 1st marathon at Manchester in 2025. She had a busy work and social life and also played football twice per week.

We had a productive discussion about how to build a solid base and to see how Charlotte would adapt to managed and sensible increases in volume and intensity and then went to a dedicated marathon block.

Charlotte was fantastic to work with, constantly meeting and exceeding targets, enjoying multiple 5k /parkrun pb’s, and great 10k and Half marathon times before an amazing marathon effort at Manchester marathon.

In Charlotte’s words :

“Tony played a huge role in building my confidence as a runner. When I first started, I had little belief in my own ability, but Tony’s consistent encouragement, realistic goal setting, and constructive feedback helped me see what I was capable of.

Over time, his trust in my progress made me start believing in myself, ultimately giving me the confidence to take on and complete the Manchester Marathon.”

“Tony was very flexible. As someone with a busy social life and many other commitments, he always adapted my training plan around my schedule, fitness levels, and any unexpected challenges that came up.

Whether it was adjusting mileage, or allowing extra recovery when needed, he made sure the plan evolved with me rather than being ridged with it.”

“Tony’s approach was completely personalised. He took the time to understand my strengths, weaknesses, and goals, not just physically, but personally too. He tailored every phase of the plan to match my progress and ensured each session had a clear purpose. The balance of endurance, speed, and recovery work was included which made all the difference in my development.”

“Tony’s coaching was the key factor in my success. He took me from a complete novice (running roughly 1 x 5km run per week), to running competently 4x a week and completing the Manchester Marathon.

His structured training plan, guidance on pacing, and advice on nutrition, running gear and mindset all contributed to that result. My overall fitness, stamina, and understanding of running improved dramatically under his coaching.”

“Tony had an excellent understanding of my needs. He checked in regularly and adjusted things accordingly. His ability to read where I was both physically and mentally meant the training always felt balanced and achievable.”

“Tony was always available and approachable. Whether through messages or our weekly calls, he responded quickly with advice and support. That level of communication made the process feel supportive and professional.”

“Tony pushed me when he knew I could manage more, but he was also mindful of rest, recovery, and avoiding burnout.”

“Tony always encouraged me to share my thoughts, whether it was about race strategies, training sessions, or recovery routines. He listened carefully, discussed options with me, and explained the reasoning behind his recommendations.”

“Every block of training had purpose and measurable improvement, whether in pace, endurance, or confidence. His knowledge kept me focused and reassured that I was on the right path.”

“Tony’s coaching style and mindfulness is excellent.”

“Tony is a brilliant running coach who genuinely cares about his athletes’ success. His passion for running shines through within his coaching – thank you Tony. “