MANCHESTER · TAMESIDE · STOCKPORT
Your local running coach in Manchester
Personal 1:1 and online coaching from an England Athletics-qualified coach based in Denton, on the east side of Manchester. From your first 5K to a faster parkrun or your next marathon, you'll get a plan that fits around real life, and a real person in your corner.
🏅 England Athletics CiRF & LiRF · 📍 Manchester, Tameside & Stockport · 🏃 Complete beginners to marathoners · 💻 Online, UK-wide
1:1 sessions from £35 · Online coaching from £60 per 4 weeks · No long-term contract
WHY WORK WITH ME?
A real coach who runs these streets too.
I'm Steve. My own running started with Couch to 5K in 2018, so I know what it's like to wonder whether you're really "a runner". That quickly became an obsession. I've since run the Manchester Marathon and the Great Manchester Run, and I qualified as an England Athletics coach.
I don't believe in generic plans or "just push harder" coaching. You get training that's evidence-based, realistic and built around your work, family and everything else that matters, so you can train with confidence and actually enjoy it.
It's just me, so the person who writes your plan is the same person who meets you for sessions, answers your messages and adjusts things when life gets in the way.
What Manchester runners get
- 1:1 sessions at a place and time that suit you
- A plan built around your week, not a template
- Clear pacing, effort or heart-rate guidance
- Form and technique feedback in real time
- Strength, mobility and warm-up routines for runners
- Check-ins and support via WhatsApp or Teams
WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER
Running coaching options in Manchester
Start small or go all in. Most people begin with a free chat and one of the options below.
TRY IT FIRST
Running form & gait analysis
£35
in person, locally · remote from £15
- Video capture with motion-tracking analysis
- Cadence, stride, foot strike and posture
- A clear report with drills and strength work
FACE TO FACE
1:1 in-person coaching
From £35
per session · pay as you go
- Coached sessions: intervals, tempo, hills, long runs
- Form, pacing and technique feedback as you run
- Discounts for block bookings and longer sessions
MOST POPULAR
Online running coaching
From £60
per 4 weeks · no long-term contract
- Personalised plan delivered in FinalSurge
- Regular reviews and plan adjustments
- Support via WhatsApp or Microsoft Teams
Need a plan for a single race? See bespoke training plans or marathon training plans. Starting from scratch? Couch to 5K coaching is where I started too.
AREAS I COACH
In-person coaching across Manchester, Tameside and Stockport
I'm based in Denton and coach 1:1 across the east and south of Greater Manchester. Find out more about coaching in your area:
TAMESIDE
Denton
My home patch, with riverside trails at Haughton Dale and sessions in Victoria Park.
TAMESIDE
Stalybridge
Canal miles, Stamford Park parkrun and reservoir trails on the edge of the Peak District.
TAMESIDE
Hyde
Hill work up to Werneth Low, the Peak Forest Canal towpath and Hyde parkrun.
STOCKPORT
Stockport
Reddish Vale, the Trans Pennine Trail, Woodbank and Bramhall parkruns, and the Stockport 10.
TAMESIDE
Ashton-under-Lyne
Three canals at Portland Basin, hills at Hartshead Pike and Daisy Nook's trails.
ANYWHERE IN THE UK
Online coaching
Not local? Get a fully personalised plan and ongoing support wherever you live.
WHERE WE TRAIN
Running in Manchester
Manchester has some brilliant places to run. These are a few of my favourites for coached sessions and long runs.
SATURDAYS · 9AM · FREE 5K
Heaton Park and Heaton parkrun
The biggest park in Greater Manchester, with over 600 acres of rolling hills and views to the Pennines. Heaton parkrun is one of my regular Saturday runs, and it's a great test of fitness.
WOODLAND · RIVERSIDE · EAST MANCHESTER
Clayton Vale and Philips Park
Woodland trails along the River Medlock in east Manchester, just a few miles from the city centre. It's perfect for easy off-road miles.
TRAFFIC-FREE · 8 MILES
Fallowfield Loop
An 8-mile traffic-free greenway on a former railway line from Chorlton to Fairfield, through Fallowfield, Levenshulme and Gorton. It's ideal for long runs and steady tempo work.
FLAT · CANAL · CITY TO TAMESIDE
Ashton Canal towpath
A flat towpath from the city centre out east through Clayton and Droylsden to Portland Basin in Ashton. It's a great way to link Manchester and Tameside on a long run.
RACE PREPARATION
Training for a big Manchester race?
Manchester hosts two of the UK's biggest running events every spring. I've run both, and I can help you get to the start line prepared and confident.
EVERY APRIL · 26.2 MILES
Manchester Marathon
One of the UK's biggest marathons, with a famously flat and fast course. A structured plan with long runs, pacing practice and a proper taper makes all the difference.
EVERY MAY · 10K
Great Manchester Run
A brilliant first 10K or a PB attempt through the city streets. It's a perfect goal for runners stepping up from 5K or parkrun.
See my marathon training plans or bespoke training plans for a single race.
WHO I COACH
Coaching for real runners with real goals
Most of the runners I work with aren't chasing elite times. They want to run with more confidence, stop getting injured, or finally hit a target that's been just out of reach.
Run your first 5K · Get back into running · Faster parkrun · First 10K · Great Manchester Run · Half marathon PB · Manchester Marathon · Return from injury
HOW IT WORKS
Getting started is simple
1
Free chat
A no-pressure call or WhatsApp to talk about your running, your goals and your week.
2
Assessment run
A short, guided run so I can see your pace, form and current fitness.
3
Your plan
Training built around your goal, your schedule and how your body responds.
4
Coach & adjust
Regular sessions and check-ins, with your plan evolving as you improve.
FAQS
Running coach in Manchester: common questions
How much does running coaching in Manchester cost?
1:1 in-person sessions start at £35, with discounts for block bookings. Online coaching starts at £60 per 4 weeks with no long-term contract, and running form & gait analysis is £35 in person or from £15 remotely. We can work out the right option on a free chat.
Where do you coach in person?
Across Manchester, Tameside and Stockport, including Denton, Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge and the whole of Stockport. We agree a place that suits your goals and is convenient for you, from Heaton Park to the Fallowfield Loop or a route near your home or work.
Can you coach me if I don't live in Manchester?
Yes. Online coaching works for runners anywhere in the UK, with your plan in FinalSurge and regular check-ins by WhatsApp or Microsoft Teams.
Can you help me train for the Manchester Marathon or Great Manchester Run?
Yes. I've run both myself. I can build a plan around your race date, with long runs, pacing practice and a taper that gets you to the start line fresh and ready.
I'm a complete beginner. Is coaching for me?
Absolutely. I started with Couch to 5K myself, and I coach complete beginners right through to marathon runners. Everything starts from where you are now.
Can I combine in-person sessions with online coaching?
Yes. Lots of runners follow an online plan during the week and book occasional 1:1 sessions for technique, key workouts or race preparation. Just ask on your free chat.
What qualifications do you have?
I'm an England Athletics-qualified Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) and Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF).
Ready to start your running journey?
Tell me where you are now and where you'd like to be. The first chat is free and there's no obligation. From first steps to finish lines, we'll get you there.
Coaching in person across Denton · Hyde · Ashton-under-Lyne · Stalybridge · Stockport · Manchester. Online coaching is available anywhere in the UK.