I’ve always considered myself a strength athlete.

Heavy bars. Big Rocks. Progressive overload. That’s my world.

Endurance? That was for other people.

But in February 2024, standing outside my parents’ house in Yorkshire long before sunrise, in the pitch dark and biting cold, I decided to test that identity.

That morning, I ran my first half marathon — without stopping — around York Racecourse.

And it changed the way I coach forever.

Why I Decided to Run a Half Marathon

The catalyst was something called The Dreadnought — an ultra-endurance challenge where we would carry an 80kg log over three days for charity. Essentially, an ultra marathon with a brutal twist.

As a coach, I’ve trained plenty of people for endurance events. I understand the strength component:

Muscles involved in long-distance running
Injury prevention
Structural balance
Strength programming to support endurance
Well versed in pushing through discomfort

But this time, I wanted lived experience.

If I was going to take on an ultra marathon with a log on my shoulder, I needed to know what my engine could do.

So I did what I often tell my clients not to do…

I decided to run a half marathon without really building up to it.

Not recommended. But I like a challenge.

DARK. COLD. January. Yorkshire.

My parents live near York Racecourse, which conveniently has a large circuit. My plan was simple:

Run from the house to the racecourse
Complete enough laps to reach 13.1 miles
Run back
Do it non-stop
Be home early

It was January. It was freezing. Over the run light was just starting to creep in.

At points, I had literal ice in my beard.

Perfect conditions, clearly.

The Best Advice I’ve Ever Had About Running

Before I set off, one of my clients, Rich — an experienced endurance racer — gave me a piece of advice that saved the run:

“Don’t get too excited. Hold your pace. There will be a moment when you feel unstoppable. That’s when you need discipline.”

About three-quarters of the way in, it happened.

Headphones in. Music pumping. Endorphins firing.

I felt like I could take on the world.

And I absolutely could have ruined the whole thing right there by pushing the pace.

But I didn’t.

I held it.

And I’m glad I did.

Because the final couple of miles were a grind.

Real grind.

Just Under Two Hours. Non-Stop.

I brought it home in just under two hours of continuous running.

For someone who had always identified as a strength-first athlete, that was a milestone.

More importantly, it gave me something that no textbook ever could:

Perspective.

What That Run Taught Me as a Coach

Since then, I’ve:

Completed marathons with weighted backpacks
Finished the Dreadnought ultra marathon
Supported more endurance athletes with firsthand understanding

But that first half marathon was the turning point.

Here’s what it gave me as a coach:

1. Real Endurance Insight

I now understand the psychological battle of distance running — the pacing, the mid-run high, the late-stage fatigue, the mental bargaining.

2. Smarter Programming

When I build endurance training plans now, they’re grounded in:

Structural strength
Muscle resilience
Recovery strategies
Real pacing strategy

Not theory. Experience.

3. Authority Through Action

I’ve always helped runners stay injury-free through strength training. But now I know what it feels like when:

Your calves start tightening at mile 10
Your hips begin to fatigue
Your mind wants to quit

That matters.

Strength Athletes Can Do Endurance — If They’re Smart

One of the biggest myths in fitness is that you have to choose:

Strength or endurance
Muscle or miles
Power or engine

That’s nonsense.

With intelligent programming, structured progression, and proper recovery, you can build both.

The key is respecting the process.

I didn’t fully respect it that first time — I relied heavily on grit — but it sparked something that led to smarter, more structured endurance work later on.

Why This Matters for You

If you’re:

A strength athlete thinking about your first half marathon
A runner who keeps getting injured
Someone preparing for an ultra endurance event
Or just someone who wants to test their limits

You don’t need to abandon what you’re good at.

You need smart coaching that blends:

Strength training for runners
Endurance conditioning
Injury prevention
Practical race strategy

That’s where I come in.

Endurance Is in My Back Pocket Now

Since completing the ultra, endurance hasn’t been my main focus. I’ve moved into other performance goals.

But I know it’s there.

And I’ll return to it.

Because once you’ve stood at 5am in the freezing Yorkshire dark, run until your beard freezes, and found that gear inside you…

You don’t forget it.

If you're training for a half marathon, marathon, or ultra marathon — or you're a strength athlete looking to expand your capacity — get in touch.

Let’s build something that makes you stronger and harder to break.

Your engine is bigger than you think.

I coach one-to-one clients at the Commando Temple in Deptford. You can find out more about personal training with me HERE

MY FIRST HALF MARATHON