AI can write you a marathon training plan in 30 seconds. But can it spot that you're overtraining before your long run turns into an injury? Can it adjust your plan when work stress, poor sleep or a niggly calf knock you off track? Can it talk you down at mile 20 when your legs are screaming and your head wants to quit? That's the difference an experienced marathon coach makes. Getting to the start line healthy, confident and properly prepared is half the battle. Most first-time marathon runners don't fail on race day. They fall apart in training. They do too much too soon, skip strength work, ignore recovery and get their fuelling wrong. Then they turn up at the start line injured, exhausted or doubting themselves. A good marathon coach gives you: ✅ A personalised marathon training plan built around YOUR life, not a generic template ✅ Smart progression of your long runs, easy runs, tempo runs and speed work ✅ Injury prevention and strength training guidance ✅ Race day strategy, pacing and marathon fuelling plans ✅ Accountability when motivation dips ✅ Real human experience from someone who's been there, on the start line and at mile 20 I've been coaching for over 15 years and have run 16 marathons myself, including two sub-3s. AI is a great tool, but it isn't a coach. Whether you're training for your first marathon, chasing a marathon PB, aiming for a Boston qualifier or just want to finish strong, don't leave it to chance. 👇 Comment "26.2" below and I'll message you personally to help you get to the start line, and the finish line, ready to run your best marathon.

I've been thinking about this quite a bit recently. As runners, we often focus on the big goals. The marathon. The personal best. The finishing time. But sometimes the biggest improvements start with something much smaller. Getting through a long run without struggling. Feeling stronger towards the end of a race. Recovering better between sessions. Finding a training routine that actually works around your life. Or simply feeling more confident about what you're doing. One of my coaching clients, Paul, managed to improve his marathon time by more than an hour. An incredible achievement, and one that reminds me how much progress can be possible when the right pieces come together. But improvement looks different for everybody. So here's my question for today: If you could improve just ONE thing about your running over the next few months, what would it be? 1. Speed — getting faster over your chosen distance. 2. Endurance — feeling stronger over longer distances. 3. Consistency — making training work around everyday life. 4. Confidence — knowing you're training in the right way. Or perhaps it's something completely different. Drop your answer in the comments, and tell me a little bit about why you've chosen it. I'll be jumping into the conversation throughout the day. John

It doesn't have to be a PB. It doesn't have to be your longest run. And it certainly doesn't have to be your fastest session. Maybe you got out for a run when you weren't particularly motivated. Maybe you managed your training around a difficult week at work. Maybe you made the sensible decision to rest rather than force a session. Or perhaps you've had a genuinely good week of running. Whatever it is, I'd love to hear it. What's ONE thing you're pleased with from your running this week? And what's the main thing you're working towards next week? Let's finish the week by recognising the progress we're making. John

You've got a running goal. But are you confident you've got the right plan to achieve it? Over the years, I've coached runners over 35 through their first marathons, personal bests, and plenty of challenges along the way. And one thing I've learnt is that sometimes you don't need a completely new training plan. You need an experienced coach to look at what you're doing and help you identify what's missing. That's why I've launched something new. The 1-to-1 Marathon Strategy Call — £99 A dedicated 45–60 minute session with me, focused entirely on YOU and your running. Whether you're: - Training for your first marathon and unsure if you're on track. - Chasing a PB but struggling to improve. - Constantly fading in the final miles. - Unsure about your pacing, fuelling, or training structure. - Trying to balance marathon preparation with work, family and recovery. We'll look at where you are, where you want to be, and what needs to change to help you get there. This isn't a generic webinar or another downloadable training plan. It's a proper conversation about your running, your goals, and the challenges you're facing. You'll complete a short questionnaire beforehand so I can understand your situation and we can make the most of our time together. Who is this for? Runners who want professional guidance and a clearer direction but don't necessarily need ongoing coaching. And if you're already following a training plan, that's absolutely fine. You don't need to start again. You might just need to make a few better decisions. The investment: £99 One session. Focused advice. A clearer way forward. Book your 1-to-1 Marathon Strategy Call here: https://marathonwithjohn.com/ I'm looking forward to helping more of you take the next step with your running. John

Here's a situation that comes up regularly when I'm coaching runners. You've got a marathon coming up. Your training plan says you should run five times this week. But work gets busy. Family commitments take over. And suddenly you've missed two sessions. Now it's Friday. What do you do? A) Try to squeeze the missed mileage into the weekend. B) Carry on with the remaining sessions and accept that you've missed a couple. C) Add the mileage to next week's training. D) Panic and convince yourself your marathon is ruined! Here's how I generally approach this. I don't ask runners to make up missed mileage. Trying to cram extra running into an already busy week can create more problems than it solves. Instead, we look at what's been missed, what training is coming next, and how to keep the overall programme moving forward. One disrupted week rarely determines your marathon result. What matters is how you respond to it. So, what would you do? A, B, C, or D? And be honest, I suspect a few of you have considered option D at some point! John