For me running is both the easiest and hardest of sports. The fundamentals, breathing, stride, pace and rhythm, seem so natural it’s hard to reason why you would need a coach. Just get out there and run. And yes, you can do that, but – and it’s a big but – there is the issue of persistence, keeping yourself going. There is not much point taking up running for a day or a week. Then there is your desire to be a better runner, improve your fitness and even compete. This is when you start looking for a friendly hand. Working with Liz Mathews over the last four years has clearly made me a better runner and most importantly she has kept me going by providing a variety of training programs which take into account my fitness, injuries and moods. As a Masters athlete, I was never planning to compete seriously but as I felt my fitness take-off I couldn’t resist testing myself out. Fortunately, Liz is also very tuned into preparing an athlete for competition and since joining her she has helped me reach my peak for state, national and international championships. Coming home with medals at all these levels has given me a great sense of satisfaction, but I also realise that it would have been difficult to do on my own and frankly a little boring. I’m very happy to recommend Liz Matthews as a coach who can get you out there to run for fitness or competition.
Paul Thomas