At the age of 30, I was stuck in a rut - An overweight smoker with a stressful job as a chef. I only took up running to lose weight and get fitter but this turned out to be the start of a unique journey that would ultimately see me finish 10th in the 1998 Commonwealth Games marathon aged 41!

I started my running life as a fell runner eventually setting a number of course records, some of which still stand today. I became British Fell running champion before starting racing at a high level on the road and cross-country. My performances allowed me to train at altitude in Kenya and the Pyrenees. I regularly competed against some of the world’s best athletes across Europe and in the United States.

As an athlete I worked hard. My coach, leading physiologist Tony Trowbridge guided me so that my training was scientific and right for me. I enjoyed competing and winning but I have never forgotten how difficult my misinformed first attempts at training, fitness and weight loss were. What I did learn was that it’s not just about hard training!

I have advised hundreds of runners, from complete beginners through to international athletes, writing coaching articles that have featured in Runner’s World, Running Fitness, Peak Performance as well as a number of running books and websites. During my coaching career I have created / delivered a variety of training camps, races and running events.

I believe that my coaching along with my competitive experiences provide me with a unique insight that will allow me to help you to achieve your running and fitness goals. From overweight thirty something to international runner my personal bests are...
 

5 km – 13.46, 10 km – 29.04, 10 m – 48.15, Half marathon – 64.20, Marathon – 2.17.08  

I joined Full Potential in 2009 providing biomechanical advice and supporting running specialists all over the UK in conjunction with a leading sportswear manufacture. What started off as maternity cover has taken me on a journey of becoming a running coach and Director of Full Potential.  If only I could have warned that young man what he was getting into!
 

As a school kid, I hated running, I just didn’t get it.  I loved team sports and played to a high level, but I just didn’t understand running.  Things all changed once I joined the Full Potential team and I have gone from running novice to coach and high level technical geek. I am always looking at new ways to improve performance, whether that be subjecting myself to lactate testing, trying out an altitude tent, running in magical footwear or wearing the latest in GPS running watches from Garmin.  I try to write about most of my experiences and post them to the Full Potential website, so that others can use the good stuff and avoid subjecting themselves to terrible products! 
 

After running my first marathon in 2010 in 3:58, and making many errors along the way, I sat down with Keith and he helped to guide me to the semi-ahtlete that I have become today.  Winning my first ever race (a 10km in 2012) was fantastic and if I could tell the chubby little school boy how amazing it feels to win a running race, I think I may have started sooner!  My marathon PB of 2.52 was run in Florence in 2015. I have run a 34.17 10km and 1.17.06 half marathon.
 

I started coaching in 2011 and absolutely love it. It provides such a buzz being able to write plans, talk to others about their running and see them develop as an athlete.  Whether that's getting someone to run 2.40 for the marathon or talking someone who has only run a 5km to run their first half marathon, it's equally rewarding.  Each day brings with it new challenges but getting to work closely with an athlete of any ability is really special. I am currently coaching the Mens Running Team for the Big Marathon Challenge.
 

Steve Prefontaine summed up perfectly how I feel about running: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"

For over 20 years I worked as a busy PA in London at companies such as Virgin, Hamleys and Charles Worthington. Running and exercise didn't really feature in my daily life most of that time. It was whilst at Hamleys that a friend and I decided to run a 10K race in Richmond to raise money for charity. So I got a trainer, lost some weight, got fit and surprisingly found that I really enjoyed the training. The race was great fun too!  I signed up to run the Great North Run and before I knew it, I had a place to run the London Marathon!  

It was sometimes difficult to fit my training and exercise in since i was working 12-hours a day juggling a very busy and pretty stressful work load. I tried hard to make it a priority to find the time each day to train and ended up running my first marathon in a time of 4.17!  I was so pleased and proud of myself... I was hooked!
    
I gave up working in London in 2005 to help set up Full Potential with Keith.  I love to run, cycle and exercise each week not only to keep fit but also because I know how much it helps me stay sane in my busy life.  My ultimate running goals now are to break 4hrs for the marathon and run sub 50 mins for 10K.

I completed my UKA Level 1 Running Coach qualifications several years ago and really enjoy helping runners who are just starting out on their running journey. I want to help them understand and enjoy their training to achieve their running goals.

Kerry coaches at her local clubs of Gloucester AC & Cotswold Pentathlon with GB athletes - U13  to U17 outdoor ranking from County to previous European Gold Medallist for 5K.

She is a qualified Athletics Coach and qualified Coach in Running Fitness and has worked for England Athletics and Welsh Athletics since 2012 as a Tutor - educating our up and coming coaches.

Kerry won the prestigious prize of SW Run Leader of the Year for England Athletics in 2015. She has been on the British Athletics National Coach Development Programme to support her own coaching to the highest standard within the UK. Kerry is currently also working as part of the Run Club scheme for England Athletics, mentoring athletic clubs with their own coaching for their athletes. She has recently worked as the Team Coach for our England Masters Marathon team too.

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Kerry has PB's of 1.37 for the half marathon and 42 mins for 10K. She's recently returned to the track and is aiming to better her current 800m PB of 2.45 - ranked top 20 in UK for her age group.

After a successful running career as a junior/U23, I joined Full Potential in 2019 as an athletics coach, specialising in endurance running. Some of my accomplishments nationally were McCain National XC series champion, 2nd at English Schools XC and qualifying for the World & European Championships.

I went on to represent Team GB on three occasions competing at the World XC Championship in Edinburgh, as well as two European XC Championships in Slovenia & Belgium.

I aspire to wear an England or Team GB vest again and am training hard towards these goals.

Using my coaching experience and that of an athlete competing at international level, I always help the runners I work with, strive to get the most out of their training and racing.

Phill’s PB’s are: 3k – 8:28, 5k – 14:52, 10k – 32.03, 10 mile – 54:40