Receive one-to-one marathon training support from our elite coach.

Run Your Best Race

With Mike Gratton – London Marathon winner 1983 in 2 hours, 9 minutes

Who is Run Your Best Race for?

Our membership is perfect for half marathon and marathon runners of all levels.

The benefits of Run Your Best Race membership:

Are you...

Eager to achieve a new PB?
New to marathon distance and not sure where to start?
Always getting injured?
Switching from another sport?
Looking for a midlife challenge?
Keen to improve on your last marathon?
Seeking better health and wellbeing?

Through your custom marathon training programme, you’ll learn how to…

Meet our head coach

About Mike Gratton

In the world of long-distance running, Mike Gratton is a name synonymous with dedication, passion, and achievement.

As an elite runner who won the 1983 London Marathon (2hrs 9mins) and a Commonwealth Games bronze medal, his story will inspire athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.

"I want to thank Mike for creating a personalised marathon training plan for me. With his help, I've been able to improve my marathon time from 3 hours and 25 minutes to a recent time of 3 hours and 2 minutes, bringing me very close to breaking the 3-hour mark. Mike provided valuable advice during my last training cycle, and I now feel confident about achieving a sub-3-hour marathon. I highly recommend working with Mike if you have ambitious marathon time goals."

“Mike played an incredible role in my journey from running 5km to completing the London Marathon in 04:34:47. Amid the confusion of online articles and running books, Mike analysed my running technique and lifestyle to create a tailored program. His unwavering support and encouragement were invaluable, especially on a couple of days when I could have easily just given up.

Thanks to Mike, I achieved an unforgettable personal milestone, surrounded by an electric atmosphere from the cheering crowds – an incredible experience, and a day that I will never forget!”

How does it work?

When you become a Run Your Best Race member, you’ll be able to book a one-hour online call with marathon winner, Mike Gratton, who will share his elite running knowledge, tried-and-testing training approach, and trademark honesty.

Mike will create a personalised training plan for you, plus you’ll also be able to ask ten questions along the way as you embark on your training. This is much more than a static training plan – it’s interactive with different levels of follow-up.

If you’re doing a half marathon or marathon in the next three to four months, this one-to-one coaching is perfect for you.

Whether you are tackling the Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, or Tokyo Marathon, or a local half marathon, we can help!

Membership includes:

A one-hour kick off video call with Mike Gratton

During your discovery video call, Mike will discuss your goals, background, and fitness levels.

Personalised PDF training plan

With over 40 years of experience in amateur and professional running, coach Mike will create a personalised training plan tailored to your needs. Every four weeks, your plan is adjusted based on your feedback and progress, preparing you for your big day.

Private questions via our portal

Ask Mike unlimited questions about your half marathon or marathon training – from strategies for success and advice on injuries to kit and nutrition… and some much-needed motivation.

Catch up video calls during progress

You can also request additional video calls with Mike (up to three in total) to help you stay laser-focused on the finish line.

Access our online runner’s community

You’ll gain access to our exclusive running community group on Strava; connect with others who are joining you on the road to success with Mike.

Exclusive discounts

Within our portal, you'll unlock exclusive member discounts for renowned brands like sportsshoes.com and pilatesforrunners.co.uk

Ready to smash that PB?

Example plan - supplied in 4 week cycles

FAQs

If you’re interested in joining us but not quite sure, here are some common questions…

How much will it cost?

Our service is a subscription with two options:

12 weeks (3 months) training block:
Option 1: £180 one-off (save £15!)
Option 2: Monthly instalments of £65 per month for 3 months

18 weeks (4.5 months) training block:
Option 1: £250 one-off (save £30!)
Option 2: Monthly instalments of £70 per month for 4 months (which covers the 18 weeks)

I’m new to running is this for me?

Yes, we cater to all levels of running. If you are aiming to complete your first marathon, we can help you with a customised training plan based on your personal circumstances.

Is Mike a qualified coach?

Yes, Mike Gratton is a qualified UK athletics running coach.

I'm based outside the UK can I still join?

We welcome individuals from around the world. Please note that our coaching sessions and training materials are conducted in English.

Is one-to-one online running coaching the same as personal training?

First, you fill out our onboarding questionnaire so that Mike has some background about your goals and abilities before your kick-off call. Then, you book your call with Mike. After the call (around 1 hour), you’ll receive a personalised training plan, which you then put into action! Every 4 weeks, Mike will supply your next 4 weeks of training, adjusted based on your feedback and progress. You can ask Mike unlimited questions during your training block (which can be either 12 or 18 weeks). You can ask your questions via our private messaging service or request up to three video calls with coach Mike.

How does the Run Your Best Race process work?

No, with Run Your Best Race, you’ll get exclusive access to advice from London Marathon winner, Mike Gratton, and a personalised plan that you follow yourself. You’ll also be able to ask his advice during your training block.

How do I join the Run Your Best Race Strava community?

You will be able to join this via a link when you have registered as a Run Your Best Race member. This is a friendly private community to share and celebrate achievements with fellow runners and get inspired about the routes they train on.

What does a 12 or 18-week training block mean?

If you opt for a 12-week membership, you can access your personalised coaching portal for 16 weeks. If you choose the 18-week membership, you can access it for 20 weeks. The assumption is that you’ll begin your training plan promptly, and follow it to achieve your goals within a set timeframe. You’ve got this!

What if I get injured or sick during the training block?

We will endevour to reset the training plan and work with a client who has to interupt their training due to injury or illness. However, as reasons for interupting training can be varied we cannot guarantee that we will be able extend the period of training.

Will my plan include other forms of training?

The plan will focus solely on running, but we highly recommend you complement your running training with weight/strength training, yoga or Pilates.

What is the difference between a Personalised Plan and Run Your Best Race?

There are some different features to both options:

Run Your Best Race, priced at £180 or £250, is our premier online training service, perfect for extensive marathon preparation. With this service, you’ll gain online access to our head coach, Mike Gratton. This access includes:

A kick-off video call with Mike will be held to discuss your target race and running history, as well as known injuries and life commitments.
Mike will then create a personalised training plan based on the information gathered in the kick-off call.
Send unlimited questions to Mike via our private chat tool, so you can ask Mike anything during your training block.
Book up to 3x extra video check-in calls with Mike, which can be requested in our private area.

Our Personalised Plan service, priced at £75, includes an initial kick-off video call with Mike and a custom training plan tailored by him based on insights from the call. You can also send a follow-up message to Mike via email once the plan is complete.

If you’re seeking comprehensive support from our head coach, opt for Run Your Best Race. However, if you prefer a highly customised plan that is more tailored to your needs than typical running training apps, choose our Personalised Training Plan.

We have two block options for you

Join today

> 12 weeks (3 months) training block:
Option 1: £180 one-off (save £15!)
Option 2: Monthly installments of £65 per month for 3 months

> 18 weeks (4.5 months) training block:
Option 1: £250 one-off (save £30!)
Option 2: Monthly installments of £70 per month for 4 months (which covers the 18 weeks)

Once signing up, you will receive a discount code for a future race training block.

12 weeks:

18 weeks: