I’ve been coming to the sessions for a few months now. My aim was to stay as injury free as I could as I had never been very successful in this area. When you first come to the group and have never done anything like this you wonder how these exercises and movements will help you. I have so far become a stronger runner and less injury prone. The classes with John are first class and I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to improve their running. (Simon Hunt)
I have been attending John’s move better run better course weekly and after 5 months I can tell I have greater flexibility, movement and generally less aches and pains hampering my running. It’s a fun environment, with serious training from a runner who knows his stuff, if you are looking for something to improve your running go for it. (Lesley Butlin)
With my first marathon just over 3 months away and wanting to turn up on the day in the best possible condition, I decided to take John up on his offer of coaching. After a short consultation John started to put together my sessions, explained how to tackle them and gave me regular feedback. Some were tougher than others but knowing that you’ve got the backing of a top coach like John really does help you get the most out of your training. As a result of my hard work and Johns expert coaching I stood on the start line of the Manchester marathon feeling good and confident of getting the job done in a respectable time. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with John in helping me become a better runner. (Adrian Atter)
I’m a coached runner. I wanted to improve time and distance but was regularly injured and unsure where to begin Also I wasn’t sure how to find a good coach, I needed a recommendation.
The strengthening exercises I’ve been given now have prevented injuries and the plans have given me focus and confidence. Also hearing feedback is a boost to confidence. Despite health issues I have managed to beat my marathon pb significantly from 4.43 to 4.18 in a single race! Will definitely recommend it to others. (Alison Leatherbarrow)
I have just completed a 12 week block of Move better – Run Better training sessions with John and a small group of other runners. The course has helped me to understand the benefits warming up in preparation for running any distances and the importance of core strength and posture. Johns knowledge, experience, enthusiasm is evident in his calm and reassuring coaching technique. The sessions are suitable for everyone who has the same goal in mind to understand how to move better to help run better. The sessions have met my expectations and have given me some good habits that can be used on a daily basis. His sessions are well organised and explained and adjusted to suit each member of the group. I would recommend John has a coach to anyone who wanted to start out running or work to improve their running skills. (Lee-Anne Manley)
I think got a case of the 7 year marathon itch…in my madness I signed up to a marathon as a total non-runner back in 2010 and completed the New York marathon. An amazing achievement in itself I know, but I had a target to hit which sadly I didn’t make. Since then I had been socially running along with my other sports such as netball, hockey and touch rugby completing the odd 10k here and there. I don’t know where it came from, but I in January this year I had 5 months until my new home was ready so I thought now was the perfect time to sort out my marathon time for good…entry to the Edinburgh Marathon 2017 completed.
The whole process was seamless from the initial skype video call to check whether I was the right person to be taking on a marathon with 5 months to go, to the training plans and feedback every week. I can very proudly say that in the whole time I only missed one training session (which was out of my hands) – I honestly never thought an app and a weekly skype feedback video could motivate me to achieve that – through gales, torrential rain and some of the hottest runs, but I did it. Everything was clearly explained in the app for each individual training run and the weeks flew by and my progress increased literally every week.
I got a little niggle in my knee around 3 weeks before the marathon which was a little frustrating, but John was hot on the case with speaking to my physio to know exactly what I should and shouldn’t do and tailored the programme to fit in around this and what can I say….mission accomplished – I hit my target after a very long 7 year wait! Was absolutely delighted and there is no way I would have been able to achieve this without John – his experience and support were second to none.
If anyone was thinking of starting running, entering a race, even just improving fitness, I would be the first person to say John’s your man for the job. I’m based in Jersey so sadly couldn’t ever have any sessions with John in person, but it just goes to show anyone in the world can achieve what I did and more!
Verienne Belcher
Thank you for the strength and conditioning sessions you provided me with. I have enjoyed each session and it has taught me a lot! I am already incorporating the exercises into my weekly routine and using the warm up drills before competitions, but also in training sessions. I’m very grateful for all your time an effort and I feel I’ll be a greater athlete because of it
Meg Hunt
The training was pretty intensive and took the form of a weekly plan from John on which I would give John feedback before he wrote the following week’s plan. This resulted in programme that was completely flexible, specifically tailored to my progress and ability, and allowed me to avoid any type of training injury. As mentioned, the training was intensive but it put me in a position where the big day was like my ‘lap of honour’ I am a bit of a plodder but finished the London Marathon with no walking and no stopping in a time that I was very happy with.
Had I not sought professional help I have no doubt that I would have suffered training injuries, the training would have been ‘the wrong kind’ of training, and it is likely that I would not have completed the event. For this I have John to thank and I would not hesitate to recommend him as a running coach to runners at any level.
From my perspective (and I have attended many conferences) your talk was very good. Not only was it a unique insight into the humbleness of your discipline, but the thoughts and theories (all valid) from an athletes perspective, which as medics, we do not often have the time to unearth.
I had the privilege of being John’s teammate in college. He was always one of the top distance runners, but never seemed to get injured! I quickly learned that this was because he not only trained hard but trained *smart*. Occasionally struggling with various injuries myself, I would often seek his advice on what I could be doing differently to achieve my goals, and found myself improving as a result of it. Post-collegiately I still sought his advice on my training program because there wasn’t an individual I trusted more.
I have known John for many years and he has always been very switched on and knowledgeable about the sport. He has a good understanding of the commitment and preparation required to succeed. Having trained with John extensively in Kenya, Font Romeu, and Albuquerque, he has proved extremely helpful in supporting me on various occasions with my preparations for the marathon.
In our sessions I’ve learned things that will stay with me, correct warm ups to avoid injury, how to get the most out of my sometimes limited training time, variation on training and how to build my race schedule to get the results I’m looking for. Since starting I’ve improved my times for 5 and 10k , finally finished in the top ten at my local parkrun and I feel stronger, more confident and faster than before. Johns honest, simple and calming coaching style works really well for me and I will definitely schedule some top up sessions over the coming months in preparation for my first marathon in October. I would and do recommend John to anyone who regardless of level wants to improve or get the most out of running.