I ran 2:24 around a full time job. I’ll show you how to fit fast running into yours.

Online coaching and personalised plans from a 2:24:35 marathoner, PT since 2010, still running every day.

I’m Gareth Cooke, a running coach and personal trainer from Barnsley and a member of Barnsley Athletic Club. I went from a 4:04 first marathon to 2:24:35 while working full time, and I’ve run every single day since 30 November 2015. That’s 3,964 days and counting. When surgery came along I kept the streak going, came back, and ran 15:40 at parkrun. None of that happened because I had loads of spare time. It happened because the training fitted the life.

Most of the people I coach look a lot like I did: working, busy, already running a fair few miles a week and stuck just short of a number. Sub 3:30, sub 3, sub 90, sub 20. Every plan is written around the days you can actually train, at paces built from your own recent times. If you want the strength side covered too, Premium coaching adds a full strength programme, progressed alongside your running.

The title ‘therunningmaninblue’ came from choosing to wear the same blue top when racing before I joined a running club. I have previously run for Penistone Footpath Runners & Athletic Club; making the transfer to the blue side again in 2021.

Not sure which option fits, or want to talk something through before committing? Email me on gareth@therunningmaninblue.co.uk. I answer every message myself.

Want to see what I’ve been doing, check out the updates section.

Day 3,964 and still running

Train with someone who hasn’t missed a day since 2015

I took myself from a 4:04 marathon to 2:24:35 while working full time. No altitude camps, no shortcuts. Whatever you’re chasing, I’ll build the training that gets you there.

2:24:35 marathon PB / Coaching & PT since 2010 / Barnsley AC / Streak since 30 Nov 2015

£80 / £120

Standard / Premium, per month

1:1 coaching

Training written week by week, for you
WhatsApp access, so I’m only ever a message away
Race planning, pacing and taper
Premium adds form analysis and a monthly call

See the tiers

£39

One off payment

Personalised training plan

5K, 10K, half or full marathon
Paces built from your own recent PB
Every session named and explained
Delivered as a branded PDF

Build my plan

Add on

£60

Running form analysis. Send up to five twenty second clips from your phone, filmed from behind and side on. You get back what your stride is actually doing, plus the corrective strength work aimed at the faults it finds.

Analyse my form

Add on

£30

Strength & conditioning plan. A full progressive programme of gym and bodyweight work built for runners, to keep you clear of injury and stronger over the closing miles.

Add S&C

Not sure yet? Start with a free consultation by email, WhatsApp or a phone call. No obligation.

Free tool

What could you run off your current fitness?

Put in a recent race and get predicted times from 5K to marathon, plus your seven training paces from recovery to reps. Free, and it takes about a minute.

Recovery / Easy / Steady / Marathon / Threshold / Interval / Reps

Find my paces

Athletes I coach

37:17 10k

York 10k

Part of the Barnsley training group, with every session and every week written by me. Only been running a few years and has gone from strength to strength, most recently taking his 10k best to 37:17 at York.

Lee, coached athlete

2:59:18 marathon

Manchester Marathon, April 2026

“Gareth took the time to understand me, adapt my training when needed, and support me through the ups and downs of a demanding marathon block. The sessions were clear, easy to follow, and gave me the structure and confidence I needed to keep progressing. His advice, flexibility and encouragement helped me become a better, stronger and more consistent runner, and ultimately played a huge part in helping me finally achieve my sub-3 marathon goal.”

Scott

2:52:35 marathon

Boston Marathon

Came to me in September 2024 with a marathon best of 2:58:52. Through that winter he took the half down to 79:06 at Brass Monkey and ran 36:09 for 10k at Dewsbury, then went to Boston and came home in 2:52:35. Over six minutes quicker than he had ever run. After the inevitable post-marathon flat spell he came back and took the half to 1:17:37 at Manchester.

Keiron, coached athlete

therunningmaninblue over on YouTube

In years gone by I took a proactive stance to writing up my racing and training reports with a lot of this moving over to a YouTube channel that I routinely update. If you’re interested in following and watching along check out my channel here.

Check out YouTube

Buy me a coffee!