BY ADIDAS COACH NICK BESTER · sub 2:20 MARATHONER
How I Dropped My 5K From 25:14 to 14:34.
I am a Sub 2:20 Marathoner and adidas Coach.
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What's Inside The Playbook
9 pages. Five pillars. One four-week plan. One race-day mind map.
Built from a decade of coaching.
The 5 Pillars
Structure, race-pace work, race-day feel, pacing, and the one thing most runners get wrong — consistency.
2 Predictor Sessions
The exact track sessions I use to know — almost to the second — what 5K shape I'm in before I ever race.
My Favourite Speed Session
8×400m + 8×200m — 4.8km of work above goal pace. The session that's stayed in my training for nearly a decade.
The 5K Mental Map
Kilometre-by-kilometre — exactly what I tell myself when the demons start. Pulled straight from my sub-15 race.
A 4-Week Training Block
Build, sharpen, peak, race. A copy-able template you can drop into next month.
My Coaching Principles
Easy days easy. Hard days hard. The fundamentals I send to every Best Athletics athlete on day one.
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Testimonials
Real Results From Real Runners
Real runners. Real results. No fluff.
About Coach Nick
Not your average running coach.
I'm Nick — a 2:19 marathoner, adidas Running Coach, and founder of Best Athletics, one of the UK's fastest-growing running clubs. I've raced 100+ marathons across 8 countries and now I help everyday runners train like the people I line up against on race day.
2:19
Marathon PB
World Athletics-ranked sub-elite
100+
Marathons Raced
Across 8 countries — Berlin, London, Tokyo & more
Adidas
Running Coach
Active coach with Adidas Runners
70K+
YouTube Community
@justalilbester — training vlogs & race breakdowns
Founded Best Athletics in 2020 — now one of the UK's fastest-growing running clubs, officially registered with England Athletics. Whether you're chasing your first sub-4 marathon or a Boston Qualifier, the principles I share are the same ones that took me to 2:19.
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Here's What Last Week Looked Like
Every week you get real coaching — not generic tips. Here's a taste.
🏟️ Inside Running
🔥 Featured Breakdown: Keely Hodgkinson's 1:55.30 Championship Record
How she won by 1.34 seconds — and what her race execution teaches every runner.
🏃 Workout of the Week
Controlled Hill Sprints
4x40s, 4x20s, 8x15s — built for form, power, and staying injury-free.
💡 Tip of the Week
Why Your Easy Runs Are Probably Too Fast
I ran mine too fast for years because of Strava. It held me back more than I care to admit.
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🛠️ Free Tools I Actually Use
These are the kind of tools that take the guesswork out of training.
Use them to dial in your pacing, understand your zones, and train with purpose.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do you send?
Every Monday morning — one focused issue. Built around Nick’s proven training methods and real-world coaching experience, so you're always getting fresh perspectives from someone actively in the running world, not recycled advice. Sometime we do an Arc for big marathons.
Is this really free?
Yes, 100% free — no credit card, no trial period, no hidden tier. You get the full newsletter in your inbox every week at no cost. Nick's mission is to make elite coaching insights accessible to every runner.
What distances do you cover?
Everything from 5K to marathon — and beyond. Whether you're targeting a parkrun PB or qualifying for a world major, the principles Nick shares apply across all distances. The training science scales with your goals.
Can beginners follow along?
Absolutely. Nick breaks down complex training concepts into clear, actionable language — no coaching jargon. Beginners love it because every issue explains the "why" behind each workout, not just the "what."
Who is Nick Bester?
Nick is a sub-2:20 marathon runner and certified adidas Running Coach based in UK. He's competed at sub-elite level internationally and now channels that experience into helping everyday runners train smarter. With 12,000+ subscribers and a reputation for no-nonsense coaching, he's become one of the most trusted voices in the running community.