Your Running Coach
Looking for a UK Athletics qualified running coach to progress your running? Charles Rodmell will provide you with running coaching wherever you are. If you are in and around Chichester in West Sussex (UK), or near Reading or Arborfield in Berkshire (UK) or near Yateley in Hampshire (UK), we would meet in person.
Alternatively, you can improve your running by working with me as your online running coach, via video calls to clients in other areas of the world. Have a read to see if my services are the right option for you and then let me know what your goals are. You’ll see pics of and read about a few Runningversity coaching clients on this page.
“I learnt more in one session than anything I’d learned at my running club”
“Loving the marathon training this time around – couldn’t have done it without your coaching”
“Thank you so much – it was a fantastic session and unbelievably useful; I really feel I learned a lot and very glad I went for it!”
get fitter & faster at running
If you’d prefer a more personal approach than our online running courses, get in touch to see if this is the right running coaching for you. If you are committed to improving & learning, we’ll make a great team.
Client: Jo
Aim: Get confidence back after a fall. Get back into running
Achieved: From shuffling to pro runner style.
Client: Helen
Aim: Prepare for the 10 mile Great South Run
Achieved: 11:58/mile pace
Finish Time: 1h59m!
What you'll get
The Mental
Running training is fruitless if you don't know why you are driven, and where you are headed. As well as motivation and accountability, you'll be taught mental skills for runners to give you the edge.
The Physical
Unsure if your running form is on point? Let's get you refocused on economic and relaxed running styles that work for you. Knee Drive, Triple Extesion, Whip, Cadence. We'll find out what needs work.
The Plan
The aim is that you understand the objective for every running session or rest day. It's a two-way thing: the more you learn, the more you can feed back, for improvements to your running coaching plan.
Client: Neil
“The whole experience has been 100% positive. Both physically and mentally. I’ve remained injury-free too which is testament to following the plan designed specifically for me.“
I’ve been receiving 1to1 running coaching for 5 months with Charles and have also followed the tailored running plan with great success and great results. I like being able to input my thoughts and feelings after a run knowing that they will be read and commented on and plan changed if necessary. The whole experience has been 100% positive. Both physically and mentally. I’ve remained injury-free too which is testament to following the plan designed specifically for me.
Charles is quite clearly passionate about running and he is definitely keen to impart his skills onto anyone who wants to learn. I’ve asked Charles numerous questions and they’ve all been answered in a very thorough but clear way.
It’s not always easy to recognise and appreciate improvements when they are gradual. Sometimes you can appreciate them when you think back to how things were and sometimes the improvements can take you by surprise. On a recent country walk to a pub that involves a long steep uphill section, I noticed that where previously I would stop 2 or 3 times to get my breath back and recover, this time I just continued walking to the top; I was not out of breath at all. It felt really good noticing this big improvement which has only come from learning to run. The improved fitness levels in a relative short space if time are really impressive. I’m not complaining about the reduced waistline either!
My parkrun times have improved. I’m happy with gradual improvements at parkrun – it seems a very sensible way to progress. I started at 31m44s and in just 4 months have progressed to 27m54s, plus a sub60 10K.
I’m sleeping better than ever before and I’ve more confidence. Whereas initially I only ran in very quiet places, where I’d hopefully not meet anyone else, just last week I was running through a busy city centre.
I’ve surprised myself, my family and friends by learning to run but I don’t regret any of it. If you’ve ever thought about running but then thought it’s not for for me I urge you to give it a try. Looking forward to seeing more improvements and continuing progression with Charles at Runningversity.
Ethos
I believe that the most important aspects of any running training program are simply to improve running form and to get the right habits in place to become a fitter and faster runner, with long term improvement.
Many people fixate on training for a particular race, as if ramping up to a race is the end-game. The race is normally a medium term goal, but really it’s just a stepping-stone along the way – a method to focus the mind and measure how much better you have become, as well as enjoying the event.
As you can see, if you don’t have race goals and just want to be a better runner to have more fun with your running, you’ll still benefit from the same coaching style. If you do have race goals, your plan will be nudged in certain directions and matching terrains so that you are ready on the day, and beyond.
Ultimately if running coaching can enable you to wipe a number of seconds off your 5K time, those gains from being faster at 5K scale up to longer distances too. If you can run a little more with less effort or more speed, you’ll go further, see more stuff, and have more fun, regardless of what your goals are.
If you are looking for a personal trainer for 5K training, 10K training, Half Marathon Training, Marathon or Ultra-Marathon training, ask me for advice on how to approach it properly.
Client: Emma
“I have been working with Charles at Runningversity for a while now for running coaching and wow, it’s just amazing what I have achieved!“
I have been working with Charles at Runningversity for a while now for running coaching and wow, it’s just amazing what I have achieved! I have got faster, fitter and stronger. My running form has improved and I am now able to run for well over two hours on my long runs. I am recovering so well after runs – my legs feel great and strong 😊 I am easily running half marathon distances now. I look forward to his plan updates and his coaching has helped me massively. I want to keep smashing my goals.
Example coaching services
I can tailor my services depending on your specific needs. Common services provided are running form assessments and running fitness plans.
Running Form Assessments
Could your running be more efficient and relaxed? To understand if there are areas your running form will be improved, we’ll meet to assess the way you currently run. This will be visually as well as using video. I’ll suggest methods to improve and guide you in ways to succeed in creating new running habits. We’ll try those new methods so you understand what you are working towards – habits take weeks to embed.
Running Fitness Plans
To improve your running fitness, you need a plan. I will provide that plan based off an initial assessment discussion and constant feedback from you throughout the plan. However, the plan alone is not enough. You will also need patience, consistency and discipline. If this sounds like you, or someone you’d like to become, get in touch.
Your UKA coach
Coach: Charles Rodmell
Charles Rodmell created Runningversity. He runs canicross with his Siberian Husky, “Rocky”, and is quite handy on a mountain bike too. Disciplines coached: Endurance, Road, Trail, Canicross, Returning from injury. Geeky stats: 10K=35:21, Marathon=2:58
DBS - Disclosure and barring service
Certificate Number: 001686081590
UK AThletics
UKA Coaching ID: 3462840
Coaching the Endurance Events
insured
Liability and Indemnity Insurance: Hiscox
PL-PSC10002545161/00
First aid
Surefire training: >> 15th May 2024
Client: Nicky
“Hi Charles, just done the half marathon…. 1.31.39!!!!”
“Hi Charles, just done the half….1.31.39!!!!”. (She had wiped 5 minutes off her Half Marathon PB and during a solo time trial 🔥🔥🔥 Speaking to her afterwards, she felt like she still had a little more in the tank at the end)
“If I think back to previous times, my legs would have been shot for a couple of days after a run like that, with DOMS, but I feel totally different, almost like I haven’t raced!”
Client: Achillea
“Charles has been so great. I really struggled with running as my body just wasn’t used to it. He has helped me go from running just 100m in pain to achieving 5K without stopping. He has been very proactive with asking for feedback. We worked on form, we worked on cadence, and we made key adjustments that will now set me up to progress.“
In 2019 I decided to apply for the London Marathon for the first time.
Let me set the scene a little. I am the complete opposite of what you might think of as a runner. I used to compete in competitive bodybuilding and have been weight training for around 10 years. I started off as a skinny kid, and was never really ‘athletic’ by any means. However, one summer, I decided I wanted to put on some muscle and started to learn about diet and the human anatomy. Years later, I competed in my first show, didn’t do well, but absolutely loved it! As time went on, I looked to further challenge myself and started moving more into CrossFit style training. As my fitness started to improve, and I was ‘forced’ to do more cardio, I thought I would find a new challenge.
I decided to add running to my workout plan and I met Charles who asked if I needed any help with the running. Charles has been so great. I really struggled with running as my body just wasn’t used to it. He has helped me go from running just 100m(!!) in pain to achieving 5K without stopping. What a result! He has been very proactive with asking for feedback. We worked on form, we worked on cadence, and we made key adjustments that will now set me up to progress.
