🏆 Coach To 10,000+ Runners · Sub-2:20 Marathoner
Run Your Fastest Times Yet with a Personalised Training Plan.
Stop guessing your mileage. Get a custom training plan built directly on TrainingPeaks by sub-2:20 marathoner and Adidas running coach Nick Bester, completely free for your first month.
Plus, join 10,000+ runners getting Nick’s weekly coaching newsletter delivered every Monday morning.
🎁 Free 5K Breakthrough Playbook PDF on signup
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What's Inside The Playbook
9 pages. Five pillars. Everything you need to start training smarter this week.
The 5 Pillars
The core framework behind every athlete's training block.
2 Predictor Sessions
Workouts that reveal your current race-day fitness.
My Favourite Speed Session
The exact interval set I use to build top-end speed.
The 5K Mental Map
Mile-by-mile mindset cues to push through the pain cave.
A 4-Week Training Block
A ready-to-run sample block you can start this week.
My Coaching Principles
The philosophy that guides every plan I write.
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Inside the Ecosystem
Your TrainingPeaks plan is just the start. Here's everything that comes with Hub access.
Personalized TrainingPeaks Plan
Tailored 4-week block built by Coach Nick based on your background and goals.
Weekly Monday Coaching Newsletter
Deep-dives into elite workout structures, race strategy, elite breakdowns, and exclusive recovery tips.
Hub Access & Community
Live webinars, watch-sync setup guides, "Ask the Coach" Q&A, and weekly Adidas/nutrition giveaways.
About Coach Nick
Not your average running coach.
I'm Nick, a sub-2:20 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
65 000+
Km Covered In a Decade
Racing and training, I have covered the distance around the world
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 Is Inside Every Newsletter
Every week you get real coaching, not generic tips. Here's a breakdown.
Latest Issues
Catch up on recent issues: training breakdowns, elite insights, and actionable tips from a sub-2:20 marathoner.
Start Here: The 5 Most Popular Blog Issues
New here? These are the best places to start, hand-picked by Coach Nick for first-time readers.
Community
The Boom Shakalaka Runners Hub: our free training community
Join the free hub where runners share goals, swap workouts, and hold each other accountable between issues.
Race Strategy
The Half Marathon Playbook
Nick's 7/7/6/1 race structure broken down: the exact mental and pacing framework he used at Hackney Half.
Mental Racing
How I Mentally Break Down a 10K Race
The mental segmentation strategy Nick uses to stay controlled in a 10K, so you never blow up in the first half.
Training Metrics
The Training Scoreboard That Actually Counts
Forget Strava kudos. Nick reveals the one metric that separates runners who improve from those who plateau.
⭐ All Articles
All Weekly Coaching Blogs
Every weekly coaching blog in one place. Browse by topic and find exactly the training insight you need right now.
Ready to Train Smarter?
Join 10,000+ runners getting weekly workouts, coaching insights, and race breakdowns, completely free. Plus get The 5K Breakthrough Playbook sent to you the moment you subscribe.
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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. Sometimes we send a special edition for the 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.
What happens after my free month?
Your first month of a personalised TrainingPeaks plan is free. After that, Performance membership is $15 a month (introductory price) and Nick keeps updating your plan every week. If you do not upgrade, your plan stops being updated and your watch goes quiet, but the community and the newsletter stay free. Cancel any time.
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 10,000+ subscribers and a reputation for no-nonsense coaching, he's become one of the most trusted voices in the running community.
🛠️ 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.