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Runcoach Success Stories

Runcoach Success Stories (85)

Highlighting the successes of our awesome Runcoach athletes

Success_Story_AugustFrom Beginner to Marathon Finisher: Unveiling the Journey to a Major Milestone

Sport Running Major milestone: I ran my first full marathon!

What is the secret to your success?

Remaining dedicated to my training and accepting that not all my runs are going to feel great, sometimes it will feel like like you are dragging your feet through concrete. Just don't give up!

What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it?

My busy schedule with two teenagers and a full time job. My run coach [Rosie] helped me adjust my training schedule as needed so that I could still be a great mom and employee while remaining on track to reach my goal.

What is the most rewarding part of training?

Reaching distances that I never thought I could!

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?

Use your coach to adjust your plan as needed...give yourself grace and rest when needed also.

Anything else you would like to share?

My coach has been very encouraging. I'm so appreciative of her advice and support.

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?

It's been great to have live coaching so much better than other training programs. I've tried programs that are so rigid without flexibility in the training schedule.


success_story_julyTransforming Struggles into Triumphs for a Personal Best Half Marathon Time

What has been your major running milestone?
I ran my second half marathon this year last weekend and ended up taking 18 and half mins off my last half marathon time!

What is the secret to your success?
Prioritising running in my very busy life and making sure that I followed my Runcoach plan as much as possible helped me to not only run without stopping but also knock this time off!

What has been the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how did you move forward?
My IT band started niggling and causing me knee pain three weeks out from the race. I’d been injured before my last half marathon so I knew early treatment and then a belief in myself on the day was key. Having this attitude really helped me and I was beyond thrilled with my time.

What is the most rewarding part of training?
Feeling myself getting stronger and spending time with my running group who are like family to me now.

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Dream big and don’t be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Run outdoors as much as you can and run with others. There’s nothing like keeping yourself accountable especially on those cold and wet days, laughing and chatting with your friends and achieving your goals whether they’re big or small. Above all enjoy yourself and celebrate everything that you achieve!

Is there anything else you would like to share?
I’ve loved training with the Runcoach. It’s exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to see how much further I can push myself. Thank you Rosie and team!


From Motherhood to a Marathon PR of 2:55:10: Embracing Goals, Consistency, and Camaraderie

What has been your major running milestone? Success_Story

I feel very fortunate to have recently achieved my marathon PR of 2:55:10 at 44. :)  I largely took my 20s and 30s off of training while focused on my three daughters and my career, and it has been really fun to get back into setting goals and training more seriously since turning 40.

How did you get into the sport?
I started running in middle school - it was the most accessible sport for a daughter of an immigrant who otherwise saw the better focus of time on academics. As it got more structured in high school, I loved the trials of practice and competition, as well as the team aspects of the sport.

What is the secret to your success?
Waking up early! I'm usually done with my workouts by 7:15am during the week, whether it's 4 miles or 12. If I'm not done by then, it's likely something else will take priority later in the day and I'd be at risk of not completing it. I also hate having to think about nutrition relative to a late-in-day workout, so it's great to be done early.

What has been the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how did you move forward?
Consistency in doing workouts of effort!  It was easy enough to get out to run 3-5 miles on any given day.  But doing workouts to develop each system is the key to achieving time/race goals!  This is where Runcoach was a huge game changer for me - being able to work with a coach to set a goal and then not have to come up with a plan with WHAT to do, but rather just do it, was critical.

What is the most rewarding part of training?
Camaraderie and seeing it pay off!  For 2023, I made a resolution to do more of my easy days with others, in addition to partners I have for workouts.  It makes a world of difference and running so enjoyable to vary the quieter, music/podcast days with conversation.

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Set a goal, make a date, and stick with it! My friends that don't "get" running usually fall back on "it's so boring". We know that's not true, but even for runners, not having a goal can make training feel a bit aimless.  Set a goal (or goals) for whatever training cycle you like, find friends and other ways to keep yourself accountable - including your coach! - and make sure you get out the door. For a lot of us more distance-oriented folks - especially over 40 - the first couple of miles might not feel great, but KEEP GOING.  Remember that post-workout feeling!

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Meet yourself where you are, and compare yourself to your realistic expectations for that year relative to everything else you're trying to achieve in your life.  And stretch.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
Take the time to understand what nutrition habits work best for you. I've learned a ton in the last two years about what my body needs to feel better, and do better, and calories before and during workouts and good fuel immediately post has made a huge difference.


From Winter Obstacles to Marathon Triumphs: Discover the Secrets to Consistent Success in Running at 58
Success_Story_May
Upcoming major milestones:
Heldeburg To Hudson Half in April - Marine Corps Marathon in October.

What is the secret to your success? Consistency is the key. Don't let excuses limit your results!

What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? Being in upstate NY, winter weather is the biggest obstacle. Some days, outdoor running is just not possible. As much as we do not like treadmills, it is a must to have here. That's my solution.

What is the most rewarding part of training? At 58 years old, and after having smoked for 25 years when I was younger, the most rewarding part is accomplishing things I never thought I would ever be able to do. Some of my rewards are health based.

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community? Stay consistent. Don't let excuses get in the way of your success. Tell people why and how you were able to do it instead of listing all the excuses why you couldn't.

Anything else you would like to share? It is more beneficial to set lofty goals and fail than to set low goals and succeed.

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience? Utilize the tools you have in your toolbox. They work. Also rely on the years of experience the coaches have.




Matthew McLane Crushes His Personal Best and Qualifies for Boston Marathon with a Sub-3 Hour Finish!
RuncoachSuccess
Sport Running Major milestone: Ran my first sub-3hour marathon last Sunday-March 19th. It was my 9th marathon since 2018. My goal for 2023 was to run a "sub 3 in '23" and to get a BQ time. I did both and I'm super stoked!

What is the secret to your success? Running consistently. I ran every day (at least 1 mile) from Nov 20th, 2022 to March 19th, 2023. A 120 day Run Streak. I didn't start the streak with that in mind. I was just trying to run streak out the rest of 2022, but then I kept going because I noticed I was able to recovery more quickly after long or speed runs.

What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? Building up the endurance to run a sub 7-min mile. The long runs were key to callusing the legs for 26 miles. I ran a stretch of three consecutive Sunday long runs of 23 miles, it was hard starting those runs knowing I had to do it all again the next week.

What is the most rewarding part of training? See that time--2hr 56min 42sec!!! Knowing during that last mile of the marathon that I was going to make my goals of sub3 and a BQ. Very rewarding! Also, getting in shape and losing extra pounds is great as well!

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community? Start slow, start easy. Be kind to yourself. Some runs are going to suck and some runs are going to be great. It's the ebb and flow of this great sport!

Anything else you would like to share? I've used the Runcoach training app for 8 of my 9 marathons. Love the schedule set up and the ability to change it. My first marathon was a 3hr 47min and last Sunday I ran a 2hr 56min!




NYRR athlete, Frank Carter, joins us to talk about his recent accomplishments and learnings.

Sport Running Major milestone: I was able to run a marathon 33 minutes faster than my personal best. And it’s all because of the coaching app.Frank_Carter__1
What is the secret to your success? I am terrible at planning and sticking to a strict run schedule. This year I trusted the coach and made sure to follow what he said and just that alone made all the difference.

What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? My biggest obstacle was scheduling runs and not knowing what distances my long runs should be. The coach app helped me know what I would need to run and that I should take rest days. I didn’t want to over do it, so I made sure to never go over the mileage too much.

What is the most rewarding part of training? Honestly, the rewarding part was getting all new personal records at almost every run. The most rewarding part was when I was running my marathon and I realized I was much better prepared this time. And, when I realized I was so close to getting a sub 4 hour marathon (I was over by 33 seconds and I know exactly where those seconds were). Nothing felt better than crossing the finish line knowing I trained for this and it was all worth it.

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community? Trust the coaches. They absolutely know what they are doing and it shows. I used the Runcoach app twice now. The first time I didn’t fully listen to it. The second time I did and it helped more than I could have hoped for.

Anything else you would like to share? I registered for the app at the middle of training for a marathon. I realized that I was a month behind in my training and I needed guidance. I registered and explained to coach Tom all the different runs I had, and my concern that I was behind in my long run distances. Coach Tom immediately adjusted my runs. It was intimidating that I had to start my long runs at 12 miles that weekend, but I knew I could do it. With each long run and each daily run, I felt more and more confident in my running abilities. I will definitely be using the coach app again next year!



Vicente Ferre placed 2nd in his Age Group at the Bryce Canyon 60k, and completed the 100k distance in 12h 40m. jan_nl

What is his secret to success? Enjoy every day of training and believe in yourself. Always be positive in the face of any adversity.

What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? There are times when we are training alone, with no company to motivate you. I get through it by going out to run and knowing that even though I'm alone in this country, I have my mom up there who is always with me. So... it's time to train.

What is the most rewarding part of training? When you have that feeling of having done your homework. To feel free while running, where you know that, at least for me, it is my therapy and at the end to smile and give thanks for a good workout. Because every run is great. We are so lucky.

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community? I do not consider myself a person to give advice, the only thing I do share are my experiences and always under my opinion. And my opinion about these last months training with you guys, has been very positive.

Anything else you would like to share? Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to the whole team, for helping me, advising me, and making my training and time worthwhile. I will always be grateful to you.


Patricia recently ran her 6th NYC Marathon! She speaks to her journey to this point, both successes and obstacles. Success_Story

Major milestone: This will be my 12th marathon! I ran my first marathon in Los Angeles in 1996 and ran San Diego in 1998 (the 1st Rock n Roll marathon) and a few others until I ran a Rock n Roll marathon in 2004 in Arizona on limited training and “suffered” the last 13 miles! I didn’t run a marathon again until the 2017 NYC marathon which I got into via lottery and only then started training. This Sunday will be my 6th NYC marathon.

What is the secret to your success? I have always been a disciplined person and have enjoyed running for over 30 years! Every year, I have run at least a 1/2 marathon and in the early years I raced 5ks and 10ks almost every weekend!

What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? I feel I do not recover as quickly now and have had little issues as my training progressed. Last year my back hurt quite a bit after about 13 miles…this year, I struggled w/right bunion pain and pain in my left foot after attempting 19 miles two weeks in a row! 

What is the most rewarding part of training? I love the feeling when I’ve completed my session successfully even if oftentimes slower than was designated in the plan!

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community? I have reached out to my coach and she always responds quickly w/advice on how to proceed when I feel pain. For example, I have been aqua jogging the last few weeks at her suggestion and my left foot feels much better!

Anything else you would like to share? I love running the NYC marathon! The crowds are amazing and it’s just a positive, wonderful experience to finish!!!!!

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience? Take it a day at a time and reach out to your coach for advice and positive motivation.


Darrel has had an inspiring journey since heart surgery in 2021. He shares the importance of consistency and quality coaching guidance. Screenshot_2022-11-06_4.48.40_PM

Major milestone: Beginning after heart surgery in November 2021, my first milestone was 60 yards. I'm now up to eight miles. Actually, each time that I went farther was a milestone!

What is the secret to your success? Consistency. I know that mornings are best for me. Vigorous activity is essential to keeping my heart healthy.

What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? Sometimes it’s the time requirement to finish beneficial workouts. Sometimes it’s impatience and the need to go at a pace that is neither too slow nor too fast. I remind myself that results depend on spending time on quality workouts to achieve worthwhile goals. What is the most rewarding part of training? Finishing the exercise. Feeling the burn or the fatigue when it’s time to relax.

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Talk with the coaches. Trust the program. As long as you’re working on fitness goals, give yourself grace on missed days or more difficult sessions.

Anything else you would like to share? Always before I trained for marathons or ultras (10 total) on my own. Training methods have changed these past 20 years. I needed sound guidance to rebuild from ground zero. My coach, Hiruni, encouraged me. She always replied to my messages. The Runcoach program is an effective training system. 

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience? Runcoach offers so much to inform and encourage runners to meet their goals. The personal contact is real. The resources are extensive. You are doing well. Please don’t stop.


Frank is celebrating the successful completion of the Ottawa Marathon '22 in 3 hours and 50 minutes. 
His story sheds some light on the journey to healthy running amidst a busy lifestyle.Frank Marshall jogging city streets

Major milestone: Ottawa Marathon 2022.  Completed in 03:50 (gun time was probably 03:45 because I finished on the line with the 03:45 pace bunny!).

What is the secret to your success?  Stretching, running, breathing, groceries, walking, more walking.  Having good routes.  I've been running a lot ever since I was 4, but walking and carrying big groceries has been the most stable and consistent thing that has kept my fitness regardless of my general running form or participation in events.  Having people who support you is massive, if you don't know anyone obvious in your vicinity, join a running club or a training program - even if you don't attend all the time, it gets you off the ground to independence at the very least, but can do a lot more as well (Runcoach certainly helped!).  Breathing rhythm is very important, it helps for just about anything that requires effort because it helps you maintain composure in a way I find little else does.

What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it?  Work and family commitments.  I took physical education as an elective in high school every year starting Grade 10, because I couldn't fit a club in to my packed schedule.  During my university years (2008-2020), I didn't always have the time to run much, so I just participated in a handful of small races (<15K).  But during terms, I walked with the patience of knowing that I'd be running again at the end of that testing period, and that would keep me fit enough to get going quickly out of the blocks upon resuming my running.  Running in this case meant playing soccer, long-distance runs, and tennis - all good, different forms of running.

What is the most rewarding part of training?  You feel very good after a tough run because of the adrenaline rush and subsequent clarity of mind, so that gives you the incentive to agonize for an hour.  The clarity of mind comes because your body is functioning well the rest of the day.  You need good eating habits, so that adds to your feeling well during the day.  The adrenaline rush helps you because without that it's hard to get from anywhere other than exercise; new movies don't come out at the cinema every day, sports events occur once a week, eating too much chocolate comes with lows later on because it does something bad to your digestion.  Racing is great because of the way the local community comes out just to see the runners - not to mention the rather tremendous good will you see from volunteers (this is really some of the best of society that you will ever see).  I should say: virtual races done solo are fantastic, though you should probably have at least one person there to provide you drinks and cheer you on for the day.  I ran my first half marathon in 2021 during lockdown.  Having a friend and my parents there made that day more or less as exciting for me as the 2022 in-person event a year later.

What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?  Personal experience (differs between people, so might not apply to the reader): if you've never run before, don't run unless you've tried walking long distances (e.g., 5K).  Buy running shoes (that was my first mistake, and my foot let me know about it!).  Follow instructions of a coach/teacher or any other trainer (e.g., running partner) who knows more about running than you do.  Try different styles of running.  Absolutely, do 20 minutes of static stretching post-run, 10 minutes of dynamic stretching pre-run.  Eat not too much the night before a run, but have something to eat alongside you during the run.  On a hot day, drink more than you feel like consuming.  On a freezing day, bring gloves and run in loops rather than long stretches.  Try laps before running too far - that way, you calibrate how far your route should be.  Buy a book about running, better if it is a very detailed one, it's worth paying for.  Read a blog (Runcoach blog is amazing).  If you're running and don't feel in control, slow down.  The most important thing is to finish the assigned distance.  Even if the time ends up poor, long-distance running is often about just pushing yourself at this moment in time.  You don't look at people running in the morning and think they're slow or fast; you normally think, "That is someone pushing hard, good for them".  You don't go easy on yourself, though, you go as far as you can go without losing control in the sense that absolutely you must reach the finishing line and you'd rather avoid a bad time as a bonus.

Anything else you would like to share?  My family, my friends, and my teachers have all been important in starting me off, maintaining and developing my running activity throughout the years.  It is to them that I owe all of my achievements, the hard work I put in is largely a reflection of their remarkable efforts over many years.  The people of Runcoach who have provided those Hi-5's have offered brilliant support throughout my training, that is the kind of support that you think about when your legs feel like quitting.  Also, a word for Terry Fox, whose charity run is held in many places worldwide (or virtually, in the areas of some readers).  Look him up if you don't know his story, and try giving up on a hard run after you've read that.  That story gives me a lift sometimes when I feel that the effort is getting too much.  Also, thinking of how good the warm drink and meal back home are going to taste!

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?  I began with Runcoach using the free trial offered in preparation for the 2021 virtual Ottawa Half Marathon event.  I started it in March 2021 as I began training, concerned from my previous experiences of physical-education courses that I'd be making novice errors during training for a distance >5K longer than my previous distance record.  This was the time of lockdowns and isolation, one that nobody likes looking back to.  Runcoach here was pivotal because it not only pushed me to new distances and raised my general health and performance standard, it helped me through Winter 2021 when lockdowns were in full force and cold conditions meant that indoors was more of a necessity.  I learnt a lot from my coach, he was there every time and punctual whenever I had questions.  The option of the log entries is terrific, and also the adaptation of the schedule after a goal has been reached always seems to work well for me, I rarely feel intimidated.


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