Ultra Running Coach

Max Stuart Running Coach

I’m Max, an ultra running coach with a background in Sport, Fitness and Coaching, a Level 3 Personal Training and UESCA qualification, and experience coaching athletes across distances from their first 50km to multi-day ultras. My coaching philosophy is simple: successful ultra running comes from consistency, balance, and understanding the whole athlete, not just the miles they run.

I combine evidence-based training with real-world ultra experience to create bespoke training programmes that fit around work, family, and life stress, while still preparing athletes to perform on race day. Whether you’re tackling a South Downs Way 50km, stepping into an ultra such as Marathon des Sables, or aiming to perform in long, mountainous events, my role is to provide structure, clarity, and confidence throughout your training journey.

My coaching is built around five core pillars: nutrition and hydration, sleep and recovery, strength and conditioning, mental resilience and race strategy, and long-term consistency. These pillars work together to support sustainable progress and ensure athletes arrive on the start line prepared rather than exhausted.

Strength training plays a central role in my coaching, improving running economy, fatigue resistance, and resilience over long distances. Mental toughness is trained with the same intent as physical fitness, using pacing discipline, RPE-based training, and race rehearsal to prepare athletes for the inevitable highs and lows of ultra racing.

Athlete feedback through platforms such as TrainingPeaks and Whats App is fundamental to my coaching approach, ensuring plans evolve intelligently and remain aligned with how the athlete is responding to training.

Alongside coaching, I co-host the ultra running podcast Trails, Tales, and Fails, where we share practical training insights, honest race experiences, and conversations with athletes from across the ultra community. The podcast reflects my belief that ultra running should be challenging but also enjoyable, imperfect, and deeply human, and that learning from both successes and setbacks is part of the journey.

Above all, I believe ultra running should enhance your life, not consume it. Training should be purposeful, sustainable, and rewarding. My goal is to help athletes stay consistent, trust the process, and reach the start line confident, prepared, and excited to race.
Ultra running is a long game, and I’m here to guide you every step of the way.