At Pyllon Coaching we are dedicated to transforming the running industry by making expert training advice accessible to all.
The business ran right through its 7th birthday last month and, in that time, we’ve supported hundreds of athletes, written thousands of bespoke training programs and continue to put athlete wellbeing and connection at the heart of everything we do. 2021 has been another successful year of growth and business development.
Growth for the sake of growth is not a recipe for long term success though. In running, it’s like training an athlete too hard for one race result, regardless of any wider implications to health, mental wellbeing or longevity. Real growth must be sustainable, tied to an overall vision and have a meaningful purpose. At Pyllon, the aim is always to build something that is ‘better’ not just ‘bigger’.
There have been a number of positive changes at Pyllon recently as the team continues to help more runners take on bigger and bolder challenges. Head Coach - Paul Giblin has a personal mission to positively impact the lives of over 1,000 people through running. Encouraging more athletes to take on challenges they’ve never done before and to provide clear opportunities for individuals to progress, learn and connect through their running.
“To make progress towards our goals we’ve added some remarkable individuals to an already fantastic coaching team and also created several new products that are making coaching more accessible to more people. Giving access to many people who are new to the sport or who may have felt that expert support was out of their reach, and only reserved for elite racers.” said Paul.
Since its origin in 2014, Pyllon’s flagship ULTRA coaching program, providing individual bespoke and detailed weekly training plans, mainly for ultra endurance athletes, has been the foundations on which successes have been built. It requires a level of commitment from both coach and athlete and works for those with clear, progressive goals and often demanding race calendars. However, not everyone requires this same level of interaction and customisation.
So the Pyllon LITE coaching option was launched earlier this year - with monthly plan development, and the same level of expert guidance. It provides access to a supportive community of like-minded individuals - to continue to move Pyllon’s reach from a narrow athletic endeavour towards a wider lifestyle movement. We continue to develop and grow the LITE coaching team with Kevin Banks and Ali Wyllie already supporting athletes with principle-led training journeys.
“We want to be more than just a training partner. We want to build a supportive and safe community experience for runner - where connections are stronger, and families are happier.”
Another exciting initiative is the recent launch of Pyllon TRAX coaching, designed to support athletes who are focused on shorter running events, from 5K to marathon, on any surface. It’s an exciting new space for Pyllon, and we convinced GB 100K athlete Rob Turner to lead the initiative, having spent many years as a competitive club runner on track, trail, road and XC.
Coaching Options
2021 has been a challenging year, at Pyllon we continue to find creative ways to keep athletes engaged, especially with many races being cancelled. Building a Coaching team that’s strong enough to support more athletes in 2022 has been our priority.
Grant MacDonald has joined the Pyllon Coaching team and brings a wealth of training and racing experience with him. Grant has a real passion for the sport, and is as happy trudging through boggy, trail-less mountains as he is racing hard around a 400m track for 24hrs continuously. Grant runs at international level, but remains very grounded and will have a huge amount to offer any athlete looking to get more out of their running.
“I’ve learned so much from this sport and had amazing experiences over the years and I’d like to give something back, and help more people make the most of their training and racing.’
Debbie Consani has also joined the Pyllon Coaching team. Debbie needs no introduction on the UK ultra running scene. Debbie has run more ultra races than anyone in the team, from World & European 24hr races, to Spartathlon, UTMB, the Tor des Geants and the infamous Spine race. Not to mention, all the big UK 100-milers.
“Debbie is one of the most determined and tenacious people I know, even after 10 years+ of racing she still has this burning passion for more. I’m not sure there’s another ultra athlete like her!” says Paul Giblin.
Debbie will focus on supporting a diverse group of athletes, her obvious love for the sport, her talent and determination to push herself further and faster is an inspiration for many. Debbie has been a Pyllon coached athlete for many years so a move into Coaching is a fantastic opportunity for both.
I'm really excited to join Pyllon Coaching and having the support of an experienced and knowledgeable team. I have been a Pyllon athlete since 2015 and have done my groundwork as a UKA licensed coach. I'm so looking forward to using what I have learned to help others on the road to ultra madness. The bigger the goal, the better. I like big dreamers.
If you want to know about Pyllon Coaching please visit the Coaching information pages, follow us on social media (@pyllonultra and @pyllon) or catch up on the latest Podcast (Pyllon Ultra Pod).