About Me

ATHLETICS

I didn't do athletics at school.  Long story short, but I have asthma which was not diagnosed until my late teens.  Running has however been an important part of my life ever since. I have raced over varying distances including half marathon (PB 1:20), and marathon (PB 3:07, but if you want to listen I'll tell why that could/should have been sub 3).  I've run marathons with my Dad, Brother and Daughter, and half marathons with my wife and daughters. 

Most importantly sport/triathlon/running has been an enormous part of my entire adult life and I like to share that with my athletes.  Throughout adult life running and sport more generally has been my "Go To" option for stress relief/ enjoyment/ friendship. 

TRIATHLON AND ENDURANCE SPORT

In addition to athletics I have taken part in a number of triathlons up to Ironman distance (the Outlaw in Nottingham which I completed the day before my 50th birthday). I am a keen cyclist. I've cycled from Land's End to John O' Groats and have recently completed London-Edinburgh- London (1500km in 5 days)

ATHLETICS COACHING

I have self-coached throughout my running story.  Initially just reading a programme from "Runner's World".  Yes I'm old enough to have run before the internet and certainly before GPS and Strava.  Since 2012 I have been qualified athletics coach.  Initially coaching the junior squad at Elswick Harriers and now coaching regularly at Ponteland Runners.  I have coached groups to specific races over the last few years and ran a popular "Fine Tune your 5K" group during the second phase of lockdown in 2020.  I have coached individuals both family members (daughter couch to marathon programme 2023, wife hockey to half-ironman 2023, niece to 10K PB 2024) and local athletes to PBs both actual and age-graded over distances from 5K to Marathon.

TRIATHLON COACHING

I have been triathlon coach at Ponteland Tri for nearly 5 years coaching the junior and adult sections.  I have recently completed my British Triathlon level 2 diploma allowing me to progress to coach individual triathletes as well as groups.  During this process my mentor described my submission as "a really good piece of work, well done" and commented "there has been lots of communication going both ways and you’ve really been looking after him" 

EDUCATION AND MEDICINE

I am a retired NHS clinician.  To re-iterate again this website is NOT medical advice and any coaching is delivered via my coaching insurance
In addition to NHS work I was an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Sunderland and a Senior Fellow at "Advance HEE", educating future doctors at one of the UK's newest medical schools