Endurance coaching

“From the outset, my goal was clear: finish in the top 100 at the 2025 Marathon des Sables Legendary—and, thanks to Coach Shard, I proudly crossed the line in 69th place.

My journey began about six months before the race, but it was quickly complicated by a torn meniscus in the early weeks of training. Despite this setback, Coach Shard was incredibly accommodating and developed a sophisticated, tailored programme that balanced my physiotherapist’s guidance, my pain tolerance and the demands of a busy work schedule. The programme was thoughtfully constructed, incorporating variety, strategic de-load weeks and regular fitness checks that made my progress not only measurable but also motivating.

What truly stood out was Shard’s availability and flexibility—adjusting training sessions, intensity, or timing to match whatever life threw my way, whether work commitments or injury niggles. His support and attention to detail gave me full confidence in the process; while I committed fully, I never imagined I would achieve the result I did. The programme was also reasonably priced and exceptional value for the level of coaching provided.

I won’t take on another race without Coach Shard in my corner and I’ll be continuing to work with him to maintain consistency between events. I couldn’t recommend him more highly.”

“Training under Shard has been an immense asset in my ultra running journey. He’s coached me from 10km being the furthest I’ve run all the way to some of Australia’s toughest 100km races including UTA100 and the Buffalo Stampede 100km and ultimately helped me reach the pinnacle of my running so far: completing the Marathon des Sables.


What sets Shard apart is his ability to tailor programs specifically to my lifestyle and goals. With a demanding, high-tempo work schedule, I needed a plan that was both realistic and effective. Whether I was coming back from injury or battling a dip in motivation, he always finds a way to get me back on track.


Shard doesn’t just focus on the running, his strength training programs have helped me improve on my weaknesses, stay injury free, and perform better in the long haul. His support and expertise have been instrumental in everything I’ve achieved. I wouldn’t have accomplished what I have without him.”

“I recently trained for my first ultramarathon, the Sandman 50k Beach Ultra, with Shard as my Coach. From the outset, Shard provided an exceptional training experience. He meticulously programmed and customised my training plan, ensuring it was tailored to my specific needs and abilities.

Throughout my training blocks, he constantly tested and adjusted the program to optimise my performance. Shard's dedication and attention to detail were evident as he regularly checked in on my progress, providing support and making necessary adjustments when any aspect of the training proved too challenging. His expertise and encouragement were instrumental in helping me prepare effectively for the race.

If you are considering taking on your first Ultra, I highly recommend Shard. His personalised approach and commitment to his athletes make him an outstanding coach.”

“When I first began speaking with Shard about general running advice and my goal of finishing a 12km race in September I was roughly able to run about 4-5km. I was having consistent knee pain as soon as I would hit the 3km mark as well as an elevated heart rate. Shard took one look at my Strava data and instantly had an idea what was happening

Shard devised a training plan for me for 6 weeks which would see me pull right back and start from scratch.

As the weeks went on and the kilometres increased the first thing I noticed was my left knee pain had gone. With the reduced load and slower set pace my body was able to cope. I honestly believe if I had kept going down the path I had set out for myself this knee pain would have only increased and possibly led to an injury preventing me from my end goal.

My heart rate has also dropped by 20bpm in an endurance long run. Again something that without Shard’s expertise I wouldn’t have understood the importance of

Shard always remained in contact checking in on my progress and general thoughts on the plan and how I was adapting to it - especially in peak week when the kilometres had dramatically increased. Always providing words of encouragement right when I needed to hear them.

I was able to successfully complete my race.. 8 minutes quicker than what I had initially intended and at a pace that was perfectly consistent the entire duration. I was even able to actually look around smile and enjoy the experience instead of feeling so fatigued and exhausted.

I’ve never been a runner, I’ve always struggled with running but never quite knew why. All I knew is that is that it was something I wanted to be better at and achieve goals I didn’t think was possible. Now I have my sights set on a half marathon. Words a year ago I wouldn’t have even dared to dream of.

Thank you Shard 🙏🏻”

“Working with Shard has changed the game for me, he’s helping me prep for a PB in the Blackall 100k and my first 100 miler. I recently knocked out the 4X4X48 Challenge as a bit of a test run and the confidence it’s given me is 10 fold, all thanks to his solid coaching and support.

He’s also helped me squash a few niggling injuries along the way, keeping me consistent and on track.

Can’t recommend him enough if you’re chasing endurance goals”

After DNF’ing my first 100 mile attempt, I started working with Shard to rebuild fitness, confidence, and strength. Twelve months later, I returned to the same event and got the result I’d been chasing, his coaching made the difference.


Midway through the build, I secured a late entry into an overseas 50 mile race. Shard adapted the plan seamlessly, ensuring it supported rather than disrupted my preparation. The programming was clear, structured, and realistic, allowing me to progress without feeling overwhelmed.


Shard’s availability and feedback were second to none, and it was clear he was genuinely invested in the process. When I sign up for my next event, I won’t hesitate to work with him again

Before working with Shard, I already had a solid endurance background across marathons, ultras and Ironman. When I shifted my focus to a much larger goal moving from events around four hours to multi-day racing, I knew my training would need to change significantly.

Shard took me through a detailed but easy to follow onboarding process that clearly explained how and why my training would evolve. The focus moved toward building true aerobic endurance using an RPE based system, with every session clearly explained in terms of purpose and outcome.

He struck the right balance between trust and oversight, giving me space to execute while stepping in when needed. Any time I had questions or issues, he was always available.

If you’re stepping into longer, more demanding endurance events and want a coach who understands how to build for that level properly, I highly recommend working with Shard.