Ben O'connell ultra marathon coaching

Hi I’m Ben – welcome to my coaching space. I’m a UESCA certified ultra marathon coach and a UK Athletics Run Leader (LiRF). My home trails are the South Downs in England and I love working with runners to help them achieve their goals.

About

I started running as a way to stay fit, get headspace and have time out in nature. Since getting into ultra marathons I’ve really enjoyed the adventures and challenges they bring. Ultra marathons give the opportunity to achieve what we may have seen before as inconceivable and as a result can be really empowering.

Of course, progress isn’t always linear and I’ve had my fair share of training sessions and races that didn’t go to plan but these are an important part of the learning and development process. I’ve had the privilege of running in some beautiful places and stunning landscapes. Some of my running highlights include:

  • South Downs Way 100 Mile

  • UTMB Ultra Trail Snowdonia 100K

  • Swiss Alps 100K

  • A self-supported 75 mile from London to Brighton

  • Race to the King 53K (2nd Place)

  • Copthorne 50 Mile

  • South Downs Way 50 Mile

  • North Downs Way 50 Mile

Coaching

My coaching is for all abilities and levels of experience whether you’re just starting out and looking to tackle your first ultra marathon or you are a more experienced ultra runner looking to approach your training with a fresh perspective. I tailor your training plan to meet your specific requirements and ensure it fits around any work/family commitments. My aim is to keep the training process simple and enjoyable and form the coaching process around you – every athlete is different.

Sometimes the ultra marathon world can be susceptible to fads and short-term trends so in my coaching I focus on a science-informed approach and getting the fundamental principles of good training right with consistency over time.  

Coach support is there for every aspect of your performance; from race psychology and mindset, to strength and conditioning, recovery, race nutrition and guidance on kit.

Below are the packages and services I offer. If you have any questions about any of these then do get in touch. Prices are indicated below but are agreed based on your financial situation so reduced rates are available for athletes on low incomes.

Steps for coaching

  1. Contact me via the form below to register interest

  2. You fill in two forms – a health questionnaire and an athlete history (training to date)  

  3. We have a free 45 minute call to talk about your goals and training  

  4. If you decide to sign up then coaching starts!

Packages

Silver

  • Full bespoke training plan with sessions sent every two weeks and tailored to your requirements.

  • Training plan via a performance tracking app that syncs to your watch or Strava.

  • Guidance on strength and conditioning.

  • Ongoing WhatsApp/Email contact, feedback on training and a 30 minute check-in call every two weeks.

  • £90 per month

Gold

  • Full bespoke training plan with sessions sent every two weeks and tailored to your requirements.

  • Training plan via a performance tracking app that syncs to your watch or Strava.

  • Guidance on strength and conditioning.

  • Ongoing WhatsApp/Email contact, feedback on training and a 30 minute check-in call every week.

  • £110 per month

One-off Coaching Call

  • 1 hour to talk about whatever you would like - race nutrition/race selection/training reflections and analysis.

  • Includes session write-up with summary of discussion detailing next steps for training.

  • £50

Testimonials

  • Ben is a great coach who I can't recommend enough. His ability (and patience!) to sit down and tailor a plan to my specific needs has allowed me to achieve personal running milestones I wouldn't have thought myself capable of before.

    James

  • We first connected casually chatting about the Beachy Head Ultra Marathon. We had a long, thoughtful conversation about my running journey and Ben gave me time and support to settle into my training plan properly. On race day, he even came out to support me and met me at the finish line which meant a lot. Ben's understanding, encouragement, and experience make him someone I fully believe in.

    Steve

  • I started working with Ben to figure out a race day strategy for my nutrition as this is something I’ve struggled with in the past. I now feel much more confident in my abilities and know that my body won’t fail me during long distance events due to not being fuelled properly. I recently broke my marathon personal best and more importantly could enjoy the race!

    John

Contact

If you have any questions or want know more then drop me a message.