Run Far, Live Fully. If not now, when?

Unlock your potential with personalised ultramarathon coaching that fits your life. Whether you're starting out or pushing new limits, we help you balance training with your daily responsibilities. Let's make your ultramarathon goals a reality.

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What is an ultramarathon?

Considered one of the greatest tests of physical and mental endurance, an ultra marathon is any footrace longer than the standard 26.2-mile (42km) marathon. Typically ranging from 50km (31 miles) to 100 miles (161km) or more, these events primarily take place on trails, mountains, or in deserts.

Coaching your ultramarathon journey

At Inspire Action we specialise in 1-to-1 coaching of ultramarathon athletes from beginner through to established, to achieve training and racing success whilst balancing life's demands. Even if you've never run before, we can build you into an ultramarathon runner (and have 'fun' doing it!), if you can commit.

We know the struggle to balance life and training; we get it because we've done it, and we know how to help you do it as well. We also know how it feels to come from a starting point of being overweight and unfit, and we know how to make the lifestyle changes needed, because we did it.

Why us?

  • No automatically created or off the shelf programme: monthly personalised plans to deliver an agreed rolling 18-month strategy, with ongoing programme adjustments throughout the month as necessary

  • No faceless coaching - weekly video calls for the first four weeks of onboarding, then monthly video calls and WhatsApp/email support throughout the month

  • Global racing experience shaping our practical, pragmatic approach

  • UESCA Ultramarathon coaching qualified

  • Our Inspire Action framework of over 120 modules

    , covering the five phases of athlete development

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Connect with a coach who understands your unique journey and helps you balance ultramarathon training in amongst the real world.

These details will only ever be used to contact you, and never passed to a third party.

Testimonials

"I’ve had the privilege of working with Toby for over 3 years now. In that time he has helped guide me through my first ever ultra marathons from 55km to 100km and we are now preparing for the 7 valleys ultra 110km. As a young working dad of two, I needed a coach that understands the competing demands of every day life. Toby builds training plans to genuinely work around you, with plenty of variety to keep you interested through the dark winter sessions! All of his advice is grounded in data and real experience as he’s been there, done that with all of the stories to tell. 1/2"

JH

"Whether you’re new to running or a seasoned athlete, from training plans to nutritional advice to guidance on the latest kit purchase or even running book recommendations! - I honestly couldn’t recommend Inspire Action coaching enough. 2/2"

JH

"I had the pleasure of being 1-to-1 coached by Toby during a brief stint working in Hong Kong, and with a recurring ankle injury. Within 3 months Toby had got me up to running 3 x 7km per week, at a pretty reasonable pace, but it wasn't just about the stamina. Where Toby was simply amazing for me was beyond 'just running'; his reference to the 'kinetic chain', the entire motion of running, breathing, and the mental focus, the things to really pull on when pushing a bit harder or going a bit further. 1/2"

PW

"I would 100% recommend Toby as a running coach, whether you're getting back into it (as I was) or looking to train for longer distances, ultra-marathons, or simply looking for a way to refocus, reinvigorate your lifestyle, Toby is simply phenomenal. 2/2"

PW
1 / 4

What your coaching includes

Connection

1 -to-1 coaching with weekly video calls during the first four weeks, to help build a regular training cadence, a constructive partnership between athlete and coach, and to explore the long range training plan fully. Video calls then proceed monthly to discuss progress, wellbeing, interpretive analysis of the month's data, and to support an open, honest, trusting rapport of mutual commitment and accountability. To remind you that your goals are possible.

Individual WhatsApp messaging for ongoing, regular communications throughout the month.

In short we will be your support system, no matter what, in enabling you to be at your best.

Goal setting

Realistic whilst suitably ambitious 6, 12 and 18 month goal setting, reviewed every 3 months and partnered with a custom long range training plan.

Personal short range training plans

Bespoke short range training plans and performance-related programmes, to establish a flexible structure to balance your commitments and which we adapt as your training progresses - not using AI.

The proprietary Inspire Action framework

  • Three domains, five athlete development phases and over 120 modules

  • Coach presentations upon all modules of the framework, to develop a well-rounded athlete, not just a great runner

Advanced analytics and watch synchronisation

It's not only the personal touch which makes a difference:

  • Performance tracked using an advanced analytics platform

  • A monthly qualitative and quantitative summary report upon athlete performance

  • Automatic training programme synchronisation to athlete's training device (subject to compatibility)

  • All training performance and relevant health metrics are reviewed holistically against key performance indicators relevant to the current training block.

Race day strategy development

Development of race specific strategies based upon training performance, course type, topography, athlete experience, anticipated environmental factors and aid availability.

The time to start is now

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Toby Durnall

Coach

UK based though coaching worldwide, Toby started running in his 40s, to combat weight and blood tests all going in the wrong direction. A decade later he is a UESCA certified ultramarathon coach, and has competed in some of the most prestigious and gruelling ultramarathons around the world.

With a family, international work commitments and career as a management consultant, he has first hand experience in juggling life, training and achieving success. This practical experience, and his solution-focussed consulting background, led to the development of the Inspire Action framework.

Our tools

Inspire Action framework

Shaped by race experience, to build a well rounded athlete and a great runner.

In total there are over 120+ modules, updated as required to reflect developments in the sport, and race experience. This is how Inspire Action enables our athletes to effectively learn years of experience, as well as become a great ultramarathon runner.

The framework covers the five phases of athlete development:

  • Foundation

  • Emerging

  • Building

  • Established

  • Excelling

Running throughout the framework are three domains considered essential for training and racing:

  • Movement

  • Psychology

  • Strategy

Analytics and programme synchronisation

Not just the personal approach to coaching

Our personalised training programmes automatically upload to your training device (all major manufacturers are supported), with training results then automatically synced to our analytics platform for analysis.

This enables a review on an individual activity and crucially, allows programme adjustments to be made with a holistic, 'big picture' perspective that ensures alignment with our long range coaching programme and your set goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unless you have a medical condition which means you can't run then yes, why shouldn't you become an ultramarathon runner? Seriously, if you can commit to it, you can do it.

It's not easy for any of us, and that's why we do it. To feel how the extraordinary becomes normal, and to dare to strive for things which most people can't comprehend. Ultramarathon runners exist in a different world. Come and join us.

Yes, we provide fuelling and nutrition support for ultramarathon training and racing to help optimise performance and recovery, and can refer you to trusted specialist nutritionists as necessary.

Getting started is easy! Simply reach out via the contact form on the website or email to schedule an initial consultation.

We consider recovery to still be training, and work with athletes to proactively manage their training and racing recovery. For specialist interventions, a benefit of our individual training programme approach is that we can easily integrate requirements from medical professionals, physiotherapists and soft tissue specialists for injury recovery, to support a safe and effective return to running.

Coaching is priced to reflect:

  • Our commitment to you as an athlete, including long range planning, and coach engagement via video, WhatsApp and email

  • Our practical, adaptable and pragmatic approach to 'real world' individualised training that fits in with your life, built on our practical experience of doing it ourselves

  • A month-long onboarding of weekly video calls for in-depth discussions upon goals, building a training cadence and building a foundation of good behaviours

  • A decade of global training and racing

  • The calibre of race experience which athletes will benefit from

  • Our belief that if athletes suitably invest in their training, they are more likely to commit

  • Training designed to prepare you physically, psychologically and logistically for some of the worlds hardest ultramarathons such as the UTMB and Marathon des Sables Legendary, if that's the path you choose

  • Our intentionally limited roster of athletes to ensure our service is never compromised

  • The advanced analytics platform we use and our interpretive analysis

  • UESCA qualified ultramarathon coach

  • The Inspire Action framework - shaping well-rounded athletes, not just great runners

We'll discuss the details during your introductory call.

A selection of Inspire Action racing experience