Push on from the middle of the marathon pack to fulfill the potential you know you have, outperform your fellow club runners, and qualify for major marathons
The marathon is an iconic race distance that is very difficult to execute well. The marathon experience you dream of is possible but there are many pitfalls to navigate along the way. Some things are out of your control which can make achieving your best marathon frustrating but many of the traps marathoners fall into can be confronted and avoided. Controlling these factors gives you the best chance of success in a marathon. Best of all, you are not alone - I will be here every step of the way to answer any questions you have and guide you to a stronger, faster, more confident marathon.
Hi, I’m Alan, a very passionate running coach, nutritionist and marathoner. In 2018 I was where you are now. My dream was to qualify for the London Marathon with a sub 3-hour marathon. My previous best was 3:25. I thought a sub 3-hour marathon might not be possible but I decided to commit to trying. That year, I ran 2:58 and by refining the skills I learnt then, I’ve since lowered that further to 2:45. I’ve also been coaching marathon runners since 2015, first at my local running club and one-to-one through my coaching business. I am qualified as a UK Athletics Level 2 Coach in Running Fitness and hold an Active IQ Level 4 Certificate in Nutrition Coaching.
Marathons are more popular than they ever have been and many of the biggest races allow you to qualify for a guaranteed place to avoid the lotteries of the masses. The times required are competitive but attainable when you really understand and execute all the different factors that can improve your time. And the sooner you start, the longer you have for that knowledge to compound as you build up experience of strong marathon after strong marathon.
This course is for you if you are a keen marathoner but you’re not getting the results you feel you should be. If you are having any of the problems below then this course is for you:
This program is about mastering the marathon. Why not try mastering it from your first attempt? Whilst this is not explicitly aimed at first timers, there is so much valuable information that can help you with your first marathon. If you feel that you will be walking more than running then this course might not be the best fit but if you’re going to predominantly run the marathon in under 6 hours then this course will give you all the tools you need to be successful.
If you are just following a written plan then you will still definitely benefit from this course. The training module will really help you understand the plan you have and may also give you ideas to tweak it for the better. A written plan is unlikely to cover any of the other areas in the course which are critically important for a successful marathon.
It really depends on how hands-on your coach is and how much time you get with them. If you are looking for new ideas or to cover areas such as nutrition that your coach is not qualified in, then this could be a good fit. I’m very happy to discuss individually on a case by case basis - reach out to me at alan@therunningrules.com.
If you already get one-to-one coaching with me then please send me a message - this course is included in your coaching package!
If you’re already running fast times in the marathons (e.g. qualified for London or Boston) then you probably already have an excellent knowledge of preparing and racing the marathon. There may be something new in here for you but you might be better off hiring a coach to help you shave those next few minutes off if you don't have one already.
Again, if you are not sure, feel free to reach out to me.
Martin
Claire
Angela
Philip
Many coaches will focus only on a few aspects of training for a marathon. Having progressed as a runner myself and studied nutrition, I help you tackle all areas so that you don't get let down by a weakness you haven't addressed. I show you how to adapt and mould plans to fit your life. I help you to work on your mindset that is critical for success and that is so often glossed over by others.
I am also open about the fact that every person is different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to marathons. The framework I guide you through is built on solid foundational areas and also has room for you to find what works best for you.