Coaches
Meet the Coaches
We aren’t a big team, but we are passionate about our running and looking to build our England Athletics (EA) Qualifications to help support all runners. Originally started with Ben and Corin who have been friends from their teens and have since watched each other grow into the runners they are today. We really enjoy working with all athletes no matter where they are on their journey or what the challenge is, we are just excited to be part of it.
Ben Neale
Ben entered the world of running 12 years ago when he set himself the challenge of running a marathon before he turned 30 years old. Now aged 35, Ben has completed 9 marathons…so far and it is fair to say that running is his life but making sure it fits around his 3 children and work life is essential.
Within the last 4 years Ben has gained his ‘Leadership in Running Fitness’ and ‘Coaching in Running Fitness’ qualifications through England Athletics. At present he is studying to obtain an ‘Endurance Event’ qualification to broaden his horizons further and be able to help a wider range of athletes. Ben has the honour to be coach mentored by the British Milers Club which is the premier middle distance athletics club in the UK, aimed at improving the standard of British athletics.
Consistency in training methods over the years whilst continuing to fine tune his technique has led to a number of successes and seeing his times to tumble. Ben has won a number of races including, but not limited to, The Tavy 13 twice, Henley-on-Thames ½, Ivybridge 10K and Plymouth ½. His improved times allowed him to also represent Devon on a number of occasions.
He is excited now to be able to work with a range of athletes on a more personal level helping them achieve their individual goals whether those be completing their first 5km, running a marathon or knocking down their times.
Corin Russell
Brought up on the western edge of Dartmoor Corin moved away for a while for work but has since moved back to where he calls home. Using his maths degrees Corin’s day job involves working with data and making it tell insightful stories, running simply used to be the way he would switch off and unwind from a day in the office but more recently it is something he has turned into a real passion.
Having run on and off since his late teens Corin never really took it seriously until he got into his 30s when Ben convinced him to run his first marathon in 2019. He just about finished it, but still didn’t take his running seriously and it took a DNF to awaken him to the real challenge of running. Since this wakeup call and a bit of a talking to, he has since watched the PBs tumble and more importantly really wants to share everything he has learnt with anyone looking to start their own running adventure. Corin is currently a step away from his LiRF qualification and looking to progress this to the CiRF as soon as possible.
In his spare time, other than running, he will literally watch or try out any sport, he also loves to get in the kitchen to rustle up food and when he does switch off there is normally a podcast on or a book in hand.