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runcoach blog
Runcoach Success Stories (96)Highlighting the successes of our awesome Runcoach athletes Finding Speed After 40: Hitting a Major 5K Milestone
Few moments feel as satisfying as hitting a long-time goal, and that’s exactly what happened when Ashley Coberly clocked a 20:38 5K, a major milestone. In this feature, we dive into what fueled this achievement and the lessons learned along the way. The best will continue to come! What is the secret to your success? Working on my pacing for the earlier miles. I tend to go out too fast and die. I also kept a sting mental state. Reminding myself that I could actually keep pushing, I was uncomfortable but that doesn’t mean to slow down. What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? The biggest obstacle for sure is the mind. I think most runners are capable of a little more. You have to be willing to be uncomfortable and push through. What is the most rewarding part of training? Knowing that I accomplished something I’d been working on. I’m over 40 and the messaging tends to be you start slowing at 40… maybe there is still speed to be had. Show up for yourself. Whether that’s a workout, easy run, or race day. Remember the hard work that has gone before.
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Runcoach Success Stories
Boston to Big Sur: What It Takes to Finish Two Marathons in One Week
Major milestone: Completed the Boston to Big Sur Challenge put on by the Big Sur International Marathon. What is the secret to your success? -Consistent running. Taking rest days when I needed to or when life happens changes your plans. What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? The first 48 hours between Boston and Big Sur where I doubted I could physically run another 26.2 miles in 6 days. The mental struggle was just as great as the physical part of getting my body ready to run another marathon. What is the most rewarding part of training? Crossing both finish lines. At Boston and then 6 days later at Big Sur. Big Sur was a tough course and the most beautiful ones I’ve ever run. That finish line feeling x2. Enjoy the run. There will be good and bad days whether running or on race day. Learn from the bad and soak in the good. Run in the moment Anything else you would like to share? I am very grateful to Tom and the entire Runcoach team for their diligence in helping me achieve my early goals in a healthy, fun and supportive environment.
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Runcoach Success Stories
From Doubt to Confidence: How a New Runner Found Her Stride
Major milestone: <26 minute 5K race; started Runcoach in February and posted this time June. What is the secret to your success? Combination of Runcoach training schedule and working directly with Tom What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? Not knowing how to prepare myself physically or mentally for races and for races of different distances. Not knowing how to achieve my physical potential. Getting beyond past beliefs about my potential. What is the most rewarding part of training? The encouragement, the consistency, the steady increasing fitness, the low pressure environment , the variety of workouts and results that came much more quickly than expected. Focus on your own goals, listen to your body and your heart. It is what you think about you that matters. Embracing these concepts has helped this be a fun, rewarding and enlightening experience for me. I hope this is a lifelong journey for me of one foot after the other on the trail, track and road. Anything else you would like to share? I am very grateful to Tom and the entire Runcoach team for their diligence in helping me achieve my early goals in a healthy, fun and supportive environment. The gradual increase of fitness was key, especially as an older novice runner. The surprising part was how quickly my fitness increased to new levels on a fairly regular basis without feeling like a grinding experience. The variety of workouts is so fun. I was a little hesitant at first given my lack of experience, but I learned that I really enjoyed the variety. This also improved my resilience, fitness and confidence. I feel that I could successfully prepare with Runcoach for any racing distance.
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Runcoach Success Stories
Never Too Late: Breaking 3:30 at 57 and Rediscovering the Joy of Running
Major milestone: Breaking the 3:30 barrier at Copenhagen Marathon May 2025. At almost 57 years old, this is my best marathon time in over 39 years, from when I was just a teenager. What is the secret to your success? A combination of sensible training avoiding placing too much stress on my body. I factored in rest days and off-road and hill variations for strength, together with sound nutrition (my wife bakes excellent Danish rye bread, which is packed full of fibre and seeds). What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? Time. Constraints of a full time job and the need to allow adequate time for the family and home. What is the most rewarding part of training? To know that you are following a plan and that every run is a step closer to achieving the goal. And then when you get to the taper period, you know that the job is basically done and you just have the victory lap to look forward to! Anything else you would like to share? At Copenhagen, I knocked off 35 minutes in just 18 months since taking up running again in my mid 50’s and entering city marathons starting with Dublin in 2023. I felt free like nothing would stop me - the first time I felt like this since I was just 17 doing my first marathon. You are never too old to start running again, so long as you believe that you can do it and are prepared to work hard to achieve results. The coaching from Coach Cally was first class. Always supportive and full of wise advice from her depth of experience as an athlete and coach.
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Runcoach Success Stories
First Marathon at 66: Crushing Goals and Inspiring the Runcoach Community
Major milestone: Ran first Marathon at age 66!! Finished 4th in my age group and ran much faster than I expected. What is the secret to your success? Set a goal, secured a good coach (Runcoach Cally Macumber), followed a solid training program, stayed persistent.... AND FAMILY SUPPORT was critical! It was also helpful to have a purpose bigger than myself--running as part of the American Cancer Society "DETERMINATION" Team. What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? Lack of confidence. How to overcome: Begin early, take each day as it comes, be aware of your body, be disciplined in training and celebrate your strength and endurance improving every day. What is the most rewarding part of training? Enjoying each run, being outside, celebrating as my strength and endurance improved. Anything else you would like to share? If you're at all interested, JUST DO IT!! When working full time and raising a family, I never felt I could dedicate the time needed to train for a full marathon. So its a miracle at my age that I was able to finish, with no injuries!
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Runcoach Success Stories
From 10-Year Hiatus to Half Marathon Triumph: How Jessica Crushed Her Goal at 51
Major milestone: Age 51: Baltimore Half Marathon, goal 2:30:00, chip time 2:28:57. First race in almost 10 years! Also very first race over 10k that I did not walk a single step! What is the secret to your success? Coach Tom, and sticking to the plan. I didn't miss a single workout, which was so easy with Coach Tom guiding me the whole way! What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? I wasn't a morning runner, but I work late so I had to make myself get up and go early, often before daylight. Totally worth it though! What is the most rewarding part of training? Feeling strong and having increased endurance. Watching the paces drop, and knowing I can continue to get faster into my 50s and beyond! Anything else you would like to share? I am running a 10k in 3 weeks, and even though I told myself I would never run another full marathon after my last 2 were close to 6 hours, I signed up for a race in April and I am dying to start training for it.
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Runcoach Success Stories
How Tanya Turned a 4-Hour Marathon Goal into a 3:10 Finish
Major milestone: I completed my first marathon and managed to qualify for the Boston Marathon 2026. I ran the Chevron Houston Marathon on January 19, 2025 finishing 4th in my age group with a time of 3:10. What is the secret to your success? I think this app helped me achieve this goal. Earlier this summer, I registered to run an 18 mile trail race in Colorado. I didn’t follow a plan and basically just tried to get in as many miles as possible. I ended overtraining and injuring myself unable to compete in that race. So I decided this time I would follow a plan. What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? My biggest obstacle is sticking to the schedule and keeping up with a job, housework, etc. If I am really not in the mood to work out, I take a day off. Getting right back to it the next day can also be another motivator. Even if I don’t run all the assigned miles, I at least get some in. Walk breaks also help to keep me motivated and on track. What is the most rewarding part of training? The most rewarding part is the feeling of getting stronger and faster. Running feels easier when you are in better shape. Anything else you would like to share? In the beginning, I had no idea what time I was capable of. I had originally predicted 4 hours for a marathon. I had never run that far and had no clue. Based off a 5k and my data, the app predicted I’d run a 3:15 and I thought no way. I finished with a 3:10. I am still shocked and happy.
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Runcoach Success Stories
Overcoming Obstacles and Staying Motivated: Insights from a Dedicated Runner
Major milestone: My milestone is ongoing. Keeping up with the schedule and staying as healthy as possible. What is the secret to your success? I would say my secret to success is I don’t give up easy. There is also determination, positive attitude and support from my family, especially my husband. What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? My biggest obstacle is sticking to the schedule and keeping up with a job, housework, etc. If I am really not in the mood to work out, I take a day off. Getting right back to it the next day can also be another motivator. Even if I don’t run all the assigned miles, I at least get some in. Walk breaks also help to keep me motivated and on track. What is the most rewarding part of training? Most rewarding part of training is finishing a run, keeping blood pressure and weight under control. Anything else you would like to share? I really like the quote “You get more compliments for working out than sleeping in!"
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Runcoach Success Stories
How Trust, Flexibility, and Fun Led to a 50-Minute PR at 53
Major milestone: I had an injury, then covid struck, I was honestly beginning to worry about making it to the start line of Marine Corps Marathon! With the help of Coach Rosie keeping me on track, I had a 50 min. 16 second MCM PR! What is the secret to your success? Trust your coach and trust the training, being willing to adjust and pivot, and don't be afraid to eat! I had to fuel my body more and know it's ok to actually run less and allow my body to recover. I would be ok! What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? The biggest obstacle was getting out of my head and believing that I needed to trust my body, even at the age of 53 I can do hard things while having FUN! What is the most rewarding part of training? For me the TRAINING IS FUN. I like the different assignments but also being willing to pivot and adjust. The communication between Coach Rosie and myself was always working together well.
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Runcoach Success Stories
33 Minutes Faster: A Marathon Transformation Story
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. 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 that this weekend I would need to run so much 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 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
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Runcoach Success Stories
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