One-on-one running and ultramarathon coaching by Glen Smetherham that adapts to your body and your life, from your first 5km to 200-mile trail races.
Combining 60+ Ultramarathon finishes, 10+ years of coaching, 30 years of podiatry biomechanics, continuous self-learning and 3β7 day adaptive blocks to get you to the start line healthy and the finish line strong.
The focus at Consistent Running is a long term love of running, with an emphasis on running economy.
I base my coaching, not on any system, but on the latest science and research into training theory, including load management, running economy, strength and conditioning, mental training, and injury risk management. This, together with countless lessons from my 60+ Ultra finishes and coaching athletes to approximately 1000 race finishes forms the core of my training philosophy.
I am influenced by many great coaches from the past and present, as well as exercise scientists and experts in other fields. When I'm not running myself, I'm usually working on training plans, reading a running-related book or catching up on the latest research into running.
I deliver and adjust your training inside Intervals.icu using 3β7 day rolling blocks. Click the real-world triggers below to see possible adaptive adjustments (note: these are illustrative examplesβoften I will simply give you direct instructions to modify an activity rather than rewriting the whole week).
Total physiological load equals training stress plus life stress. A shift-worker or busy parent on broken sleep cannot absorb the same intensity density as an athlete with 14 free hours and low cognitive load.
Select your weekly time budget and cognitive stress level to see how your training prescription may be adapted.
"Being coached by Glen really showed me the benefit of consistency over the occasional monumental effort. Glen was always happy to provide additional training and race advice as well as adapt the schedule to fit my often 50 hour work weeks. The adaptability really helped especially when real life got in the way of running."
"Glen helped me place first female in the next two ultras I did which was something I never really thought possible and for which I am eternally grateful!"
My number one goal is to help you enjoy a long-term love of consistent running. I have completed over 60 Ultramarathons up to 350km, and I bring over 30 years of clinical experience as a podiatrist.
I don't deliver rigid/static plans. I customize your training based on how your individual body responds to load, balancing your running training with the realities of your daily life.
Aerobic capacity and metabolic fitness are universal fundamentals, but successful races depend on preparing your body and gear for the specific conditions ahead. Whether itβs managing desert heat, soft-tissue shear on dunes, eccentric quad braking in the mountains, or locking in your gear and fueling, we work together to bulletproof your body and mind for race day. Select your target race environment below:
For more information on how we could work together to achieve your running goals, fill out the form below. I will initially reply by email to share some thoughts, but we can easily arrange a quick phone chat if you prefer to discuss things directly.
"Since being coached by Glen, I have found my overall fitness and pace improved. It is indeed all about consistency, and Glen works with my capabilities and works to get me to my goals. He is spot on with communication, always looking out for me to make sure I'm feeling 'en pointe', checks in to see how I'm going, is always happy to respond to me with my ridiculous queries, and if there are any changes that need to be made to my schedule just in case life gets in the way β because that happens, let's be real."
"If you want to reach a goal, whether it be a speedy 5k or hit your first ultra-distance, Glen at Consistent Running is the coach to get you there."
The ultimate partnership to build your running fitness and work towards your goal races. I set and analyse your workouts, dial in your Intervals.icu zones, and fully manage your training in 3β7 day rolling blocks.
This is an off-season maintenance option exclusively for athletes who have completed at least 3 months at the Adaptive tier. For example, if you are going on a long holiday or have a period where you want to maintain your training but will be unable to follow a fully structured plan. I provide fortnightly volume targets and advice on distance/workout/strength options, while you take over daily calendar management and any required pivots.
There is no single formula to reach the start line of a goal race. Depending on your biomechanics, life load, local terrain, and injury history, the right training mix changes across the year, and always revolves around Recovery at the core.
At one point in your build, trail volume and vertical hiking carry the load. During winter storms, a summer heatwave, or to reduce injury risk when a niggle occurs, we seamlessly adjust your plan to suit. Varied training may include incline treadmill sessions, road speed, focused hiking, cross-training, and focused connective tissue strength. There are many varied combinations of training inputs we can use to get the adaptations needed to build the Aerobic Engine, Tissue Resilience, and Running Economy you'll need when standing on that start line.
In the Italian Alps, legend says that when runners leave Courmayeur on the 330km loop, a group of dragons sets off in the opposite direction. High in the mountains, when silence, exhaustion, and self-doubt close in, you inevitably meet your dragon face to face.
You donβt only meet your dragon at mile 150 of epic races. Often, the dragon is waiting before you even register, whispering that a goal is too big for you, or surfacing midway through a training build when life gets messy and you question whether you belong on that start line.
If a goal is big enough, it forces your dragon to the surface so you can face it, let go of ego and fear, and move forward lighter. Donβt wait until you feel fearless to sign up for the race that scares you. Commit to the goal, trust a structured, adaptive process, and letβs build the resilience to meet your dragon head-on.
No pressure and no hard sell. Hereβs what to expect.
Consistent Running β’ Coaching
No. I coach people from 5km to 200-mile races. What matters is that you want to improve and build a long-term love of running.
Highly recommended but not essential. Your training is delivered through Intervals.icu, which works best with data from a GPS watch.
Yes. Coaching is done online, so location isnβt a barrier. I coach runners from around the world
Thatβs exactly what the 3β7 day rolling blocks are for. Shift work, 50-hour weeks, family demands and travel are normal. We adapt the plan rather than abandon it or force you to follow it.
I bring over 30 years of clinical podiatry experience, so injury management and building a strong connective tissue foundation is built into how I coach. For anything needing hands-on treatment, Iβll often advise you to see a practitioner in person and happy to work alongside their recommendations. I've also had many runners finish their goal races with a high focus on cross training when needed. When possible, I also can help with gait analysis (in person or from video of your running).
Yes. Strength and connective tissue work are part of building running economy and reducing injury risk. Some athletes choose to do their own strength work or work with a strength coach/class, and that is ok as we can plan alongside that.
I set and analyse your workouts, including strength/mobility work and notes for complementary training, and manage your training in 3β7 day rolling blocks (prices in AUD, including GST).
Itβs a lower-cost option ($80/mo) for athletes who have completed at least three months of Adaptive one-on-one coaching. Itβs for periods when you want to maintain training without a fully structured plan, such as a long holiday. I provide fortnightly volume/distance targets and advice for strength/speed workouts, and you manage your own calendar.
No minimum commitment, however most athletes who commit to longer builds will see greater improvements in their endurance, speed and durability.