Online running coaching and personalised training plans
My adventures of running, training and life.
I’m Gareth Cooke — a running coach and personal trainer from Barnsley, and a member of Barnsley Athletic Club. I took myself from a 4:04 first marathon to a 2:24:35 personal best while working full time, and I’ve run every single day since 30 November 2015. That’s 3,923 days, and counting.
I coach runners online — from first-timers working towards a 5K to club runners chasing a Good For Age. Every plan is written around your week: the days you can actually train, at paces built from your own recent times, with the reasoning behind each session explained rather than just handed to you.
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.
Inspire, Motivate, Achieve
Day 3,923 — 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
£60 / £120
Standard / Premium, per month
1-to-1 coaching
- Training written week by week, for you
- WhatsApp access — I’m a message away
- Race planning, pacing and taper
- Someone holding you to it
£35
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
£30
Strength & conditioning plan — runner-specific gym and bodyweight work to keep you injury-free and stronger over the closing miles. Pairs with any plan above.
Add S&CNot sure yet? Start with a free consultation — email, WhatsApp or a phone call, no obligation.
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.
My Garmin Says 2:32. My PB Is 2:24:35. | Valencia Marathon Ep.1
Right, this is the one I’ve been wanting to make for a while. Fifteen weeks out from Valencia and my…
Sub-3 Marathon: How Many Miles a Week Do You Actually Need?
The honest answer from someone who ran 2:55 on 40 miles a week and 2:45 on 100 – what the…
The Fastest Trail parkrun in Yorkshire? | York Community Woodlands
Another one off the Yorkshire parkrun list this week — York Community Woodlands, up on reclaimed land north of the…
From the athletes I coach
2:52:35 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