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Runcoach Success Stories

Runcoach Success Stories (78)

Highlighting the successes of our awesome Runcoach athletes

Conquering Setbacks and Achieving PRs with Runcoach

Major milestone:

New 10K PR - 8:50 per mile!

What is the secret to your success?

Sticking to my training plan with Coach Cally is my secret to success. Even when work gets in the way or the workouts don't coincide with the time I have that day to run, I feel completely comfortable adjusting. With Cally's guidance, and this incredible training plan, I feel so supported and I am loving my journey!Jodi_Success

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

I suffered a foot fracture in December of 2022 which led to no running for almost 7 months. I listened to my body and biked, did the elliptical. The hardest part was staying away from running during that time. Patience, and listening to my body, and once cleared, getting back into things slowly and consistently over the last year has led me back to just about my regular race pace. Runcoach and Coach Cally are definitely a big part of my journey!

What is the most rewarding part of training?

The most rewarding part of training is how great it feels to accomplish continued improvement in my running. Equally important are the high fives and kudos from the trainers and especially Cally, and being able to run the NYC Marathon in 2023, while looking forward to running many of the NYRR races this year, including the United Airlines Half Marathon and TCS NYC Marathon with confidence in my ability due to my training program.

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

I would tell other runners not to stress if they cannot complete a specific workout on the assigned day due to other engagements or lack of time. If you have 30 minutes and are assigned 60 minutes of running.. do the 30! Do what you can and if you cannot run a certain day for whatever reason, adjust your schedule and keep moving forward. Trust the process, and your coaches. They are always there for you to answer your questions. You got this!

Anything else you would like to share?

I am so grateful for Coach Cally and this training platform. The support I have received and the guidance and incredible workouts have immeasurably prepared me and made me a much stronger runner.

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?

I have nothing but positive feedback. I feel so grateful to be trained by my amazing Coach!



Breaking Barriers: Completing a Full Marathon - The interviewee reflects on a significant achievement.

Major milestone:

I finished my first full marathon in January 2024 thanks to the dedicated guidance from Runcoach and Coach Tom.

What is the secret to your success?

Mental resilience and running economy build up.Success_Story_January_

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

Inconsistent training. Training adjustments to reach sufficient aerobic fitness.

What is the most rewarding part of training?

Happiness.

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

Dedicated and personalized coaching to personalize your running training experience. Hence, stay responsive and stick to the training plan.

Anything else you would like to share?

I appreciate Coach Tom's guidance and will be a lifetime mentee.



Running with Joy: Unveiling Marathon Success with Runcoach

Major Milestone? The Marathon Runcoach_Success_Story_Lorea

What is the secret to your success?

Having fun, actually enjoying the runs.

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

Planning adequately to get the time in and considering travel, so needing to be flexible.

What is the most rewarding part of training?

Being outside in nature, watching the trees change, learning to identify a few, listening to my body and thoughts.

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?

I did not download the app until the end of September because I thought if I only put in weekly miles I would be okay. But a friend who has run several marathons advised me to buy it. It was a game changer! I now had a plan, it even included rest, timed runs were great and it gave me confidence to know I was doing the right thing. Being able to email the coaches (Cally for me) was great. I asked her several questions, she always answered on time and I felt someone had my back. It made me feel accompanied. The daily tips were also great. Specially the reminders to “not do anything new on race day!” because it is so easy when one is nervous to want to change things up, but I stuck to the plan and it worked. I did go out too fast, I couldn’t help it, but fortunately because I was well trained I was able to keep going. Great experience.



Striking the Right Balance: A Runner's Secret to Marathon Success

Major Milestone? 

Completing Dublin Marathon in 3:54. This was my first marathon in 22 years, and my best time in 37 years, nearly 4 decades later.

What is the secret to your success?runcoach_success_antony_boyd

Discipline and focus, and setting realistic goals. I have learned that if there are failures along the way, there are always lessons that can be learned which can help make you a better runner going forward.

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

It is very hard to fit the training in around family and work commitments. Sacrifices have to be made and sometimes you have to be selfish to get the me-time in. But at the end of the day, it is about finding the right balance in a realistic way. You cannot please all of the people all of the time.

What is the most rewarding part of training?

To see the improvement. To come back from a hard run at the end of the day following a really tough day at work, but knowing you have given it your best, the positive energy gained can turn any negative thoughts into a runner’s high. And you know that you are going places as you strive forward and closer to reaching your goal.

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

Just go for it. You will not regret it. And don’t be afraid to seek help from those around you. I am in my mid fifties and am running better and feeling better with myself than I have done in decades. I have not been able to do this on my own though, and have learned to seek help from nutritionists, physios, experienced runners and a chiropractor. The whole system needs good maintenance to work properly.

Anything else you would like to share?

Mix up your training runs - include some road running and trail running. Milestone races also add some spice and excitement and allow you to benchmark your improvement over time and to engage with the local running community too. And also try to keep it interesting by mixing up the routes and throwing in some big adventures to give excitement and memories too. The mental well-being benefits are huge.

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?

The coaching advice from Cally has been first class, She was always good to respond in good time, answering all of my questions and sharing her huge experience and knowledge. Thank you Cally!



Overcoming Doubts, Achieving Milestones: An Inspiring Interview with a Dublin City Marathon Finisher

Major Milestone? 
Dublin City Marathon (Ireland)

What is the secret to your success?Dublin_Marathon_Success_Story

Listen to good advice like following the training plan, good nutrition, rest and sleep, strength exercises to reduce the risk of injury and warm up before every run. It's not one of these, it's all of them. Make this a routine. Above all, you have to want it.

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

Worrying that I was not good enough or fit enough to run a marathon. Earlier in the training plan, this knocked my confidence. But as I achieved my sub goals I began to see the value in the plan and my confidence slowly grew. Worry has no value..stick to the plan and have patience.

What is the most rewarding part of training?

By far the most rewarding part of training was seeing my fitness level increase. A year ago, doing a 25k run was tough; now I find it relatively easy and enjoyable. My preference is longer distance running and the training plan Runcoach gave me helped me to become a confident endurance runner.

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

Whatever your big goal is, set mini goals along the way and train for each goal. Enter competitive runs and stick to your plan as best you can. This will give you a big confidence boost as you achieve each mini goal.

Anything else you would like to share?

I started running at the age of 51 and two years later I've just completed my first marathon. It's never too late. In the marathon, I ran with with people of all ages, abilities and challenges. If you want to do it, you can.

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?

Runcoach is a terrific resource to have supporting you. There are plans to suit all stages of your progress including weekly schedules and audio guide when running. But the best part is that you get a dedicated professional coach...a real person to help you and answer questions. My coach Cally is brilliant and definitely helped my achieve my goals.



Unveiling the Secrets of a Massive Personal Best Achievement at the 2023 Chicago Marathon

Major Milestone:


1hour and 35 minute improvement from 2021 Chicago Marathon (7:11) to 2023 Chicago Marathon (5:36). success_story_octoberr

What is the secret to your success?

Sticking to the plan as much as possible and granting myself forgiveness when circumstances won't allow me to follow the plan. Be that weeble that wobbles but doesn't fall down or give up. I fell a lot but I kept getting up, dusting myself off and making an effort to change my mindset.

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

Replaying the negative chatter in my mind when I don't think I did something good enough or missing the plan workout. This only compounds the issue and can break my spirit. I find a positive scripture, mantra, or inspirational song that I play over and over in my mind to over talk, drive out and over take every negative thought until my spirit being becomes focused and unstoppable on reaching that goal.

What is the most rewarding part of training?

Building self confidence and allowing it to spill into other parts of your life. When you push yourself to achieve in what appears to be at times the impossible (lack of time, getting past an injury or illness) during the training there is nothing that anyone can throw your way that you will not feel can be handled or conquered.

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

Getting in the miles is important but don't skimp on the cross training. I found it important to get in my strength training, cross training, yoga which helped build up the muscles needed in my entire body to support the change that was needed to improve my time. Believe your Coach when they tell you to trust your training and don't ignore the taper without consulting with your coach. We think getting in all the miles is important but proper rest each night to give the muscles time to repair and for the mind to rest and relax is just as important. It is finding that balance in mind, body and spirit that will keep you focused on not allowing anything to take you off course from achieving your goals.

Anything else you would like to share?

The Coaches are top notch in the field. They have been there, done that and know how to make the minor adjustments in your plan to bring out the very best in you. I absolutely love the way they approach it from a partnership perspective. Easy to talk to, bounce off ideas and always willing to make adjustments that make the best sense to achieve your goals. I took advantage of every tip of the day each coach shared and incorporated it in my run for that day. I found myself pulling from those tips of knowledge miles 19 -26 when I had to dig deep to keep up the momentum in the race.

What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?

The experience with Runcoach has exceeded my expectations. When I physically could not train my coach challenged me to strengthen my mind. See the race from start to finish. I smiled on race day when I got to those places my mind saw before the race and pulled from the daily tips when the course changed from the last time I did that race. So glad I signed up for the year plan. Worth every penny.



Vicente_BehrensA Marathoner's Journey with Relentless Dedication and Inner Strength

Major milestone: New York City Marathon

What is the secret to your success?

Relentless dedication, patience, and planning.

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

Having enough time to train during the week due to long days at work. I overcame the frustration with meditations and simple short exercises like a 20min indoor ride or 10 min full body stretching.

What is the most rewarding part of training?

Discovering the inner strengths and potential. Learning to accept the setbacks. Overcoming self doubts when things seem too hard.

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

Follow the plans on the calendar. Schedule your long runs and prepare well the night before. Trust the process and don’t give up even when you feel that you have not achieved all the goals in a week. You will come back stronger.

Anything else you would like to share?

Having a clear goal with recommendations for the training every week allowed me to get focused and achieve so much more than I thought. It’s very helpful to read daily tips from the coaches because some days, there was a line I needed to hear from someone else.




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.


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