Ultra Running Coach

James Riley - Run Unbound Ultramarathon Coach

I’m James. I love running marathons, trails, hills and mountains, but more than that, I love helping runners find their own summit – whatever that looks like.

I didn’t grow up as a runner. I first laced up my trainers at 38 to get fitter and lose a bit of weight. A 10K became marathons, marathons became ultras, and somewhere along the way I discovered that I loved the training as much as the challenge. Completing the Bob Graham Round, paced by friends, remains my happiest running memory so far – not because it was hard (it was), but because it was shared.

I’m a qualified running coach and personal trainer, and a self-confessed science nerd. I enjoy the details: training theory, recovery, fuelling, heat strategies, and how to apply them. But I’m far more interested in what actually works in real life than chasing perfect training weeks or massive mileage, or mistaking suffering for progress.

I’ve coached runners across road, cross country, trail, ultramarathons and multi-day events, including the Dragon’s Back Race. Some are tackling their first ultra. Others are experienced mountain runners looking to go longer, faster, or simply enjoy it more.

Before coaching full time, I was a partner at a Big Four accountancy firm. I know what busy looks like. That’s why my coaching is personal, flexible and collaborative. Plans adapt. Communication matters. We train for the race, but also for the life you’re training inside. Consistency beats heroics.

When I’m not coaching or running, I’m a dad to three kids and supporting my wife, herself an enthusiastic ultrarunner. My philosophy is simple: be deliberate, stay consistent, remain curious, and respect your life outside running. The rest tends to take care of itself.