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Expert Running Advice, Race Tips & Motivation from a Trusted Running Coach

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running injury

Beat your running injury and bounce back

Few runners have escaped the frustration of a running injury, but it can be an opportunity to rebuild and return to running stronger, says Coach Neville
Running fatigue

Avoid the Plods from running fatigue, and get your energy back

Coach Neville explains how to avoid the Plods from running fatigue and get your energy back
Running psychology

Know your personality type and run better

We get runners of all shapes and sizes, but our personality type plays a big role in running psychology and in determining what sort of runners we become
parkrun fun

Get fast with parkrun fun

Get fast with parkrun fun. Coach Neville explains how to use 5km parkuns to gauge a runner's progress, as well as for sharpening up before a race.
Comrades marathon

You ran the Comrades marathon, now what?

Coach Neville explains how to recover well, and get started running again after the Comrades marathon
Comrades 2025

Tips to crush 2025 Comrades

Coach Neville explains how run your best 2025 Comrades, with handy tips for the last week and for the race
Peaking properly

Peak correctly for your next race

Peaking correctly for a race will enable you to run faster and to enjoy the race more.
Two Oceans marathon

How to nail your Two Oceans marathon

Coach Neville explains how to train for the Two Oceans marathon, when to do the long runs and speed. And how to put it all together
Heart rate monitor

Optimise training with a heart rate monitor

Learn to use your heart rate monitor correctly for heart rate training, using training zones to optimize your training
run faster

Run faster, longer and stronger

Most of us want to run faster on distances ranging from 5km (smash that parkrun), 10km, half marathons and marathons, and even up to 100km for strong runners
Comrades

You can smash your Comrades marathon qualifier

Planning when to run your qualifier is important. For those runners that won’t have run an early qualifier in October or November, the aim is to run the qualifier sometime between January and the beginning of March.
Spar ladies 10km

Spar ladies 10km winner Judy shows younger runners a clean set

I have coached Judy since 2002, and she holds the South Africa national 10km record for over 60s with a sub 40 minute run, two years ago.
Speed session

Reach new heights with speed session for all seasons

The 75/45 speed session is great for VO2 max as the intervals are short enough to do fast running and push up the heart rate
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Ela breaks 90 minute barrier at Gun Run half marathon

She has the ability to enjoy the training process, something which runners aiming for goals, easily lose.  She is a runner to watch in the future!
Comrades training marathon

Comrades marathon – are you fast enough?

The average pace to complete the Comrades marathon varies, depending on the exact distance. But if we use 88 km, then your average pace needed to finish under 12 hours is 8.10 min/km or 13.08 min/mile
running health, can exercise age you

Can Exercise Age You? The Surprising Truth Revealed

In the pursuit of a youthful physique, many individuals turn to regular exercise regimens, such as running, cycling, weight training, and yoga, among others. These activities not only contribute to a toned and fit body but also enhance overall well-being. However, recent research suggests that while exercise may give you a younger-looking body, it could potentially age your face.
coach neville Beeton taking a selfie

Starting from zero (almost)

coach neville, personalised coaching -run faster

Debbie O’ Mahoney gets her Leadville 100 miler belt buckle

expert tips - Comrades tips

Expert tips for a successful Comrades marathon

Getting to the start line of the Comrades marathon is half the battle won, while running the race is the other half of the battle
Comrades

The final countdown to Comrades marathon

In these final weeks to the Comrades marathon we are tuned into how we feel, sometimes panicking over symptoms that disappear when the starting gun fires
Marathon des Sables

Marathon des Sables was a desert odyssey

Judging by the higher than normal withdrawal rate at the Marathon des Sables this year of 34% (usually it is 5% - 8%) , we were not the only participants who suffered in the Sahara Desert,”
Comrades

Road map to a great Comrades marathon

This article sets out a road map for planning for the Comrades marathon
expert tips - Comrades tips

Race entry fees still a bargain – even the Comrades!

Social media has seen runners complain about the increase in race fee entries, particularly for the Comrades Marathon. But I argue that it remains a bargain.
City run

The Fair Cape … or not so fair?

expert tips - Comrades tips

Comrades marathon tips for UP run

Coach Neville has run 10 Comrades marathon with a 6hrs 38 minutes best, and shares these Comrades marathon tips for the UP run
Comrades stone

Comrades 2022 – a curved ball for runners. Coach Neville explains how to plan for this

Recce Raid

Debbie finishes 3rd overall at 100km Recce Raid

In the midst of the Covid pandemic and having no road races to work towards, I started focusing more on trail runs to challenge myself, and came across the Recce Raid Trail race.
Older runners

How older runners can grow older gracefully and stay fast

Older runners do slow down as we age, and that age is not "just in our minds". But we are also seeing more and more older runners on the roads, enjoying it, and many are very fast
A male runner, wearing a headlamp and bib number 306, runs with two boys at night. The runner is wearing a dark top and shorts. The boys are wearing jackets. The background shows a Red Bull arch, Salomon banners, and spectators, suggesting a race event in Cape Town.

Trail runner survives heart attack ordeal

Basically I was fit as a fiddle Saturday morning with no sign of cardiovascular disease (by the way, there is still no sign) and while running a very small piece of plaque in the coronary artery came loose and formed a blood clot that completely blocked the artery in the right side of the heart. Cardiologists called it a major heart attack.
Namib desert

Epic 131km solo run through Namib desert

The chosen place for the solo run was the Messum Crater, which lies within the Namib Desert. The start was just outside the village of Uis and the run would take me around the southwestern base of Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, through the crater and across the desert to the coast by Cape Cross
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Race to Rhodes, a 480km odyssey on foot … Peter Purchase remembers the days and nights with three friends on the trail …

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Lockdown – a new way of coping for coaches & runners

Three runners, two men and one woman, run on a paved road with a yellow dividing line. They are wearing athletic clothing and sunglasses. Lush green trees line both sides of the road. A glimpse of water and the opposite bank are visible in the distance under a clear sky. A speed limit sign is visible on the left.

Annual 50km Dullstroom training camp was tough, but fun

Three runners, two men and one woman, run on a paved road with a yellow dividing line. They are wearing athletic clothing and sunglasses. Lush green trees line both sides of the road. A glimpse of water and the opposite bank are visible in the distance under a clear sky. A speed limit sign is visible on the left.

Corona virus … let's make lemonade from lemons

Sky Run

100km Sky Run is a celebration of life

I was saved at the Sky Run by a magical little place called The Hut. We reached it around 3:30am when I was dead tired. A very special lady is there all night, handing out warm cups of soup and coffee to broken runners.
Comrades training long run

The long run for the Comrades marathon

One of the most important challenges facing the Comrades runner is the long run as it takes some planning to ensure that you can fit them in and that they are done at the
training intensity

It’s not just FAR you run, but how FAST

While your long runs will ensure that you get to the finish line, it’s your training intensity which will determine how quickly you get to the finish line. It’s not just how FAR you run but how FAST you run.

The one plan fits all programme

You can use this One Plan Fits All programme if you want to race well over a range of distances throughout the year without worrying about

Cross your threshold and run fast

Ever wondered how fast you could run? Perhaps you are a closet speedster just waiting for the right moment to astound your clubmates on a

A new lease on life

So, you’ve been running for a few months and may have completed a fun run or two or perhaps a 10km race. Or perhaps you are a seasoned
fartlek

Juice up your speed with fartlek

You can beat the tyranny of the watch by using fartlek when doing speed work. Fartlek is a Swedish word that means “speed play"
A medium shot features a fair-skinned male runner with a beard, wearing a blue shirt, a blue vest, green shorts, and a cap. He is using trekking poles and running on a dirt trail. The background shows a mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks.

He tackled the 171km UTMB, and lived to tell the tale

The UTMB race take place over a week in Chamonix. It is the main event of the Festival of Ultra Running that takes place in the little Alpine town. It is THE biggest ultra running event in the world
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Caffeine! Dietitian and runner, Mel Sher, explains the benefit for runners.

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It’s time for the Ultimate Human Race   On your marks … get set …. GO.  But wait, read this first!

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Are You Water Wise? Without a doubt, water is the most extraordinary substance! Some may even say it is the ‘Hub of Life,’ writes runner and registered dietitian, Melanie Sher.

Comrades marathon

The final countdown to Comrades marathon

Coach Neville explains how to cope with the final countdown to the Comrades marathon
Mel

What actually is a "Well Balanced Diet?". Avid runner and registered dietitian, Melanie Sher, cuts through the myths and misconceptions …

Addo 100 miler

Beating the odds at the 100 miler Addo Elephant Trail

Cape Town trail runner, Liam Gannon, tackled his first 100 miler at the Addo Elephant Trail recently, and after 18 hours, finished tired but happy
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Coachneville's Dullstroom high-altitude 50km training run: Great vibe and perfect weather

Comrades marathon

Comrades marathon training begins mid-March

The high mileage training phase for the Comrades marathon begins in the middle of March. Coach Neville explains ...
Alex Comrades graph

Running Comrades with Type 1 Diabetes. Alexander Pope is a runner who trains hard and races hard with Type 1 diabetes

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Glen tackles the iconic UTMB ultra trail race

Fish river canyon

Heat and sand at the tough 65km Fish River Canyon trail race

Namibian runner, Pieter du Plessis, went from 97kg on the scales to running the tough 65km Fish River Canyon trail race
Cape Wraith

A tale of the 400km Cape Wraith ultra trail

Words such as technical, ascent and altitude help describe the difficulties and challenge of the Cape Wraith ultra trail, but even they cannot fully describe the experience. There is only one way to find out … and that is to run it.
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Mnweni Pass is calling. CoachNeville had a fun weekend training in the Drakensberg with his runners

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Runners open their hearts to underprivileged children

Eugenie skyrn

Mountains, mist and snow at Sky Run

He described the Sky Run as tough, with mostly no track and the occasional cattle path if you are lucky, rocky, remote, exposed and high above the clouds
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33kg weight loss for marathon

I weighed more than 100 kilograms at 5ft 4, and the last time I had exercised was over a decade ago in school. Even then I was more likely to be the last person to cross the finish line
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Lucky Miya wins 100km Skyrun

Grand Raid Reunion

The 165km Grand Raid Reunion is relentless, but awe-inspiring

The Grand Raid Reunion has mountains, and I mean proper mountains! Not the stuff we get back in South Africa that we think are mountains
Comrades marathon

Comrades marathon triumph after beating cancer

Comrades marathon was a another race for Barry Maitland-Stuart, after fighting for his life with throat and neck cancer.
Chokka

And our winners of free entries to the Chokka Trail Race are ….

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THE RIDE WITH YOU is a science-fiction, short-story about mountain biking, dreamed up by my buddy, Denis Droppa, on our many rides. On our last ride I dared him to publish it on my website. I loved it it, so read on and enjoy …

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From hero to zero and back to hero

Mnweni summit

Snow blizzard made Mnweni hardcore

Two runners, potentially guided by a running coach, participate in the Vodafone Malta Marathon 2017. The woman, bib 724, and the man, bib 302, are seen on the course. The scene is vibrant with other runners and spectators.

"It was an incredibly special moment when a band played our wedding song as we ran past". Shane and Shereen Rimmell celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary by smashing their PBs on the Malta Marathon and here is Shereen's story

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He weighs 100kg, and ran the 100km Ultra Trail Drakensberg

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Nicky Booyens smashes 400km Munga trail race

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Congratulations Gareth Andrews on winning New Balance 1080 shoes!

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When things go wrong on the Munga 400km trail race

Addo 100 miler

Addo 100 miler is Rosie’s first such ultra

It’s around 3am in the morning and I’m alone on the trail without another runner in sight. Rosie Carey reflects on the Addo 100 miler
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Master runner Judy Bird ran the perfect race at the Spar Ladies 10km in Cape Town on April 2, winning both the veteran and master categories and breaking the route record in 38.47. Judy reflects on her race

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Drakensberg Northern Trail is a tough challenge

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