How personalized coaching works
From assessment to race day: the process we follow
Week 1
Detailed Athlete Intake
You complete our detailed athlete intake questionnaire. We don't leave any stone unturned. We want to understand your race choice, goals, fitness level, schedule, constraints, preferences, and what success looks like to you.
What happens
- ✓Your chosen race and why it matters to you
- ✓Your current fitness level and running history
- ✓Your specific goal: finish, place, personal record
- ✓Your work and family commitments
- ✓Your access to training infrastructure and equipment
- ✓Activities and training methods you enjoy (and don't)
- ✓Your timeline and available training hours
- ✓Complete assessment of your race-specific readiness
Weeks 1-2
Initial Planning
Based on your athlete intake, we design an initial training plan built specifically around your situation and your target race. This isn't adapted from a template—it's built for you.
What happens
- ✓Race-specific demands: multi-stage fatigue, heat adaptation, pack carry progression
- ✓Back-to-back training days to condition your body for consecutive race days
- ✓Terrain and climate preparation tailored to your specific race
- ✓Recommended training timeline before your race
- ✓Weekly training structure and progression
- ✓Intensity and volume based on your constraints
- ✓Recovery strategies and progression management
- ✓Equipment considerations: what you have access to, what you prefer not to use
- ✓Sessions and activities built around what you'll actually enjoy doing
- ✓Milestone progress markers
Week 2
Refinement & Agreement
We review the initial plan with you, make adjustments based on your feedback, and ensure it genuinely works for your life.
What happens
- ✓Review of the proposed plan structure
- ✓Adjustments based on your feedback
- ✓Confirmation of timeline and expectations
- ✓Introduction to coaching support available
- ✓Agreement on communication and check-in schedule
Weeks 3-20+
Training & Support
You execute the plan with ongoing coaching support. This is where real coaching happens: feedback, adjustments, problem-solving, and progression.
What happens
- ✓Regular check-ins and progress reviews
- ✓Adjustments based on how you're responding
- ✓Support through setbacks and changes
- ✓Feedback on your training and effort
- ✓Guidance on race-specific preparation
- ✓Peak training phase management
Final weeks
Taper & Race Prep
As race day approaches, we fine-tune your plan, address final preparations, and ensure you're mentally and physically ready.
What happens
- ✓Structured taper to optimize peak fitness
- ✓Race-day logistics planning
- ✓Nutrition and fueling strategy
- ✓Mental preparation guidance
- ✓Final confidence-building conversations
- ✓Race week adjustments and reminders
Race week
Race Day & Beyond
Support doesn't stop when you cross the start line. We're with you through race day and help with recovery afterwards.
What happens
- ✓Race-day communication and support
- ✓Post-race debrief and analysis
- ✓Recovery protocols and guidance
- ✓Assessment of what went well and learning points
- ✓Future planning and next steps
Who this is for
We don't coach standard marathons or generic ultras. We specialise in races that demand preparation beyond simply building mileage.
Athletes targeting Marathon des Sables
Whether you're racing in the next training cycle or building toward it over 12–24 months, we'll build a plan that gets you to the start line prepared.
Athletes preparing for other multi-stage desert races
Sahara Race, Grand to Grand Ultra, 4 Deserts series, and similar—if your race demands consecutive days of self-sufficiency and heat exposure, we can prepare you.
Athletes moving from regular ultras
You know the jump from a standard ultra to MdS is completely different. Generic plans won't bridge that gap. Ours will.
Any runner who wants coaching built around their actual life
Whether you have 5 hours per week or 15, whether you train in the Scottish highlands or the Sahara, we build your plan around your constraints—not in spite of them.
Ready to get matched with your coach?
Complete a quick coach match to find the right specialist for your race and situation. We'll show you who you'd be paired with.
Get YOUR Coach Match