Highlighting the successes of our awesome Runcoach athletes
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.
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Show up for yourself. Whether that’s a workout, easy run, or race day. Remember the hard work that has gone before.
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.
-Not worry about skipping a training day and knowing that not any one day matters as much as the whole plan. Being flexible.
-Training the mind with the body. Using affirmations and being grateful in the moments (especially the hard times during training or racing) to be healthy and able to run.
-Smiling
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.
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
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.
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.
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
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.
What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?
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.
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.
The trick is to strike a good balance and by avoiding putting too much pressure on yourself through overtraining.
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!
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Be disciplined and patient. With time the results will come, you’ll see. And when it comes to Marathon Day, just go out there and enjoy yourself. You have put a lot of time and energy Into this, as well as the cost, so revel on the glory of hard-earned “me time”.
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.
What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?
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.
Tom’s drill routines also work a treat and even before a marathon just to loosen things up before the big start.
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.
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Begin early, take each day as it comes, set realistic goals, be aware of your body, be disciplined in training and celebrate your strength and endurance improving every day. Also, RunCoach was very helpful.
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!
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!
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Listen to your coach! They know what they are doing, and are amazing!
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.
What feedback would you offer on the Runcoach experience?
This is the best training program/coach I have ever had! Could not be more happy!
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.
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Just follow the plan. Be consistent and don’t worry too much about what everyone else is doing. I found myself comparing my workouts to what everyone else was doing but in I decided to trust in the plan Runcoach assigned to me.
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.
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.
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Keep trying! It usually takes me about 3 weeks to see progress. Of course, that is sticking to the schedule more often than not.
It is okay to take a day off once in a while, especially if you don’t feel well or need sleep.
There are also different kinds of workouts, like bike, swim, yoga, pilates, strength training.
Anything else you would like to share?
I really like the quote “You get more compliments for working out than sleeping in!"
What feedback would you offer the Runcoach experience?
I really like the flexibility on the website. The schedule tells me what activity is scheduled, but I can also change it. It also lets me know if I am on track with mileage and XT workouts.
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.
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Have fun and enjoy the experience. It won't be perfect but if you're willing to pivot and adjust, trust your coach, everything will work out for your race!
Anything else you would like to share?
I've been with the program for years now. There's a reason. It works. Why change sometimes that works?
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
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Trust the coaches. They absolutely know what they are doing and it shows. I used the Runcoach app twice now. The first time I didn’t fully listen to it. The second time I did and it helped more than I could have hoped for.
Anything else you would like to share?
I registered for the app at the middle of training for a marathon. I realized I was a month behind in my training and I needed guidance. I registered and explained to coach Tom all the different runs I had and my concern that I was behind in my long run distances. Coach Tom immediately adjusted my runs, it was intimidating that I had to start my long runs at 12 miles that weekend but I knew I could do it and with each long run and each daily run I felt more and more confident in my running abilities. I will definitely be using the coach app again next year!
