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Worldwide Run Coaching

Fell, Trail, Mountain & Skyrunning Coaching, Built Around You

You don't need another plan. You need a clear path to becoming a better runner — structured, progressive and built around your life, whether you're training in the Lake District, elsewhere in the UK, or anywhere in the world.

What Development Means

More Than a Training Plan

This is about building you over time — stronger and more durable, aerobically fitter, more efficient across terrain, and consistent in your training. Not just for your next race, but for where you'll be in 6–12 months and beyond.

Your training evolves as you do — with ongoing adjustments based on your response, clear guidance so you understand the process, and support across training, racing and recovery, including race-day fuelling (see our guide on how to fuel an ultra).

Who It's For

We Meet You Where You Are

New to Training

Build consistency, confidence and a strong foundation for running.

Intermediate Athletes

Break through plateaus and train with more structure and purpose.

Competitive & Elite

Maximise performance, race execution and long-term progression.


Disciplines

Fell, Trail, Mountain & Skyrunning

We coach all four mountain running disciplines from our base in Keswick, in the heart of the Lake District — face to face on the Lakeland fells, and online for athletes across the UK and worldwide. Most runners we work with move between them, and the training is built to carry across.

Fell Running

Steep, rough and often unmarked. Brennan is a two-time Three Peaks Fell Race winner and 2022 English Fell Running Championships runner-up, with wins at Skiddaw, Newlands Memorial, Buttermere Sailbeck and Grisedale Horseshoe. Both coaches hold the UK Athletics Fell and Trail Leader qualification.

Trail Running

From 25km to a hundred miles. Brennan won the UTS 50km at the UTMB World Series, placed 34th at OCC by UTMB and represented GB at the 2022 European and World Trail Running Championships, taking team bronze.

Mountain Running

Long days, big climbs and technical ground. Kat’s background as a mountaineer and alpinist feeds straight into how we prepare athletes for sustained climbing, descending and moving well over difficult terrain.

Skyrunning

Racing where the ground steepens and the air thins. Brennan is a former UK Skyrunning Champion and winner of the Garmin Mourne Sky Race; Kat races the Skyrunner UK series, including the Ring of Steall in Glencoe.


Coaching Options

Choose Your Level of Support

Standard

Standard Coaching

£100 / month

Perfect if you want structured training and thoughtful support — ideal for self-motivated runners who want expert guidance and a clear training path.

  • Goal setting call
  • Two weeks of training planned ahead
  • Runner-specific strength & conditioning
  • TrainingPeaks session feedback
  • Partner discounts
  • Email support

Phone calls available on request at extra cost.

Get Started
Premium

Premium Coaching

£135 / month

For runners who want more regular connection and deeper support throughout their training.

  • Everything in Standard Coaching
  • Sports & general nutrition guidance
  • Unlimited contact via email & WhatsApp
  • Monthly review calls
  • Premium TrainingPeaks account included

 

Get Started
How It Works

From First Contact to Race Day

1

Free Consultation

We talk through your background, goals and what coaching looks like for you — no pressure, no commitment.

2

Personalised Plan

Your training is built around your life, schedule, terrain and goals — never a generic template.

3

Ongoing Development

Coaching that evolves with you month by month, year by year. We have athletes we have worked with for over 7 years.

4

Long-Term Results

Consistent improvement over time — not just for your next race, but for where you'll be in 6 months, a year and beyond.

Brennan and Kat Townshend, fell and trail running coaches, on a Lake District ridge
Athlete Stories

Past and Present Achievements

Jonathan racing the Coledale Horseshoe fell race
16 MinPB
ColedaleHorseshoe
Jonathan
Finisher — Coledale Horseshoe · Coached by Brennan Townshend
Read Full Story

"A huge 16-minute PB on a tough course, in conditions that demanded smart decisions from the very start. Layering up, staying patient in a congested opening climb, and committing to a steady, controlled effort early on — that's what set the tone."

Bryan racing to 7th place at the Cavour race in Italy
7thPlace
CavourItaly
Bryan
Finisher — Cavour, Italy · Coached by Kat Townshend
Read Full Story

"Superb return to form for Bryan, finishing an impressive 7th at the Cavour race in Italy last weekend. A great start to this year's racing season."

Kate with her medal and dog at the 13 Valleys Ultra finish
Finisher13 Valleys Ultra
Strong LegsOn The Descents
Kate
Finisher — 13 Valleys Ultra, The Lakes · Coached by Kat Townshend
Read Full Story

"Big thanks to Coach Kat for keeping my legs strong on the descents! Was a good feeling to be able to run to the end rather than hobble!"

Seth with his UTS 50K race bib at Ultra-Trail Snowdonia
2nd FastestLondon Marathon
50KUTS Snowdonia
Seth
Finisher — UTS 50K, Snowdonia · Coached by Brennan Townshend
Read Full Story

"Preparing for an ambitious PB attempt at the London Marathon and following it three weeks later with a crack at UTS 50K in Snowdonia was always going to be a challenge, but with Brennan's assistance I had one of my best training blocks ever. An intelligent training plan built around my busy life focused on building both speed and resilience, and I was pleased to PB in a road half marathon in the buildup. A strong run in London — my second fastest ever there at 51 years old — was followed by a great day out in challenging conditions in the Welsh mountains, where I feel as a fairly novice mountain runner I did well in managing my effort and finishing strongly. More races are already planned to build on the momentum, and I'm confident with the Townshend team's support I'll not only achieve but surpass my goals."

Rayan racing the Coniston Trail Half Marathon in the Lake District
6thPlace
1h 38mFinish Time
1,900 ftElev Gain
Rayan
Finisher — Coniston Trail Half Marathon · Coached by Brennan Townshend
Read Full Story

"I am really enjoying these hilly trail half marathon races right now — they are definitely underrated. It was a tough race that worked my legs and lungs hard against some very fast road runners. Fighting for 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place from the very start to the finish line was amazing. Now it's time to train hard for the next one — my coach Brennan and I have more goals to reach at Skyrunning UK, we have some unfinished business there. Time to get back to the steep, rocky hills and start climbing."

Mark receiving the trophy for 1st place at the Spelga Skyline race
Photo: Richard Wilson
1stPlace
SpelgaSkyline
Mark
Winner — Spelga Skyline · Coached by Brennan Townshend
Read Full Story

Mark took the win at Spelga Skyline, out in the Mournes — a brilliant result on a tough course.

George scrambling up the ridge during the St Sunday Skyrace
2ndPlace
St SundaySkyrace
George
2nd Place — St Sunday Skyrace · Coached by Kat Townshend
Read Full Story

George took 2nd place at the St Sunday Skyrace, tackling the exposed ridgelines above Ullswater for a brilliant result on tough Lake District terrain.

Lydia on the podium with her medal after finishing the Lakeland 50
10:39:05Finish Time
14thLady
Lydia
First Ultra Finisher — Lakeland 50 · Coached by Kat Townshend
Read Full Story

Seventeen months of building strength, resilience, and consistent habits led to this: Lydia's first ultra finish at the Lakeland 50 in 10:39:05, 14th lady and 99th overall — patient, purposeful progression paying off.

Philippa racing for Keswick AC at the Coledale Horseshoe fell race
2ndLady
1stV40
Philippa
Finisher — Coledale Horseshoe · Coached by Kat Townshend
Read Full Story

"Fantastic conditions and support on the fells yesterday. So grateful to be part of such an amazing club, Keswick AC. Thanks again to Townshend Performance and Kat Townshend for training and racing advice."

Poppy racing in Round 1 of the English Fell Running Championships
5thPlace
Round 1Eng. Fell Champs
Poppy
Finisher — English Fell Running Championships, Round 1 · Coached by Brennan Townshend
Read Full Story

"Great run from coached athlete Poppy in the first round of the English Fell Running Championships, finishing a strong 5th. A really solid start to the series and great strength shown over a tough route."

Sam running through the streets of Keswick with her support team at the finish of the Bob Graham Round
23hrs10Bob Graham Round
42 Peaks66 Miles
Sam
Finisher — Bob Graham Round · Coached by Kat Townshend
Read Full Story

"I can't believe it's been a week already! What a perfect day on the fells, and one I am super proud of. No drama, just a fantastic team and a quiet determination to get it done. I am so grateful and so happy that I get to do these things."

Not sure which option is right for you? Book a free consultation and we'll work it out together.

Book Free Consultation
Partner Discounts

Exclusive Discounts From Our Trusted Partners

Our athletes get exclusive discount codes on nutrition and gear from these trusted brands.

Precision Fuel & Hydration Inov-8 Mountain Fuel OTE Sports Supernatural Fuel Voom Nutrition Neversecond XMiles
Common Questions

Coaching FAQs

How much does running coaching with Townshend Performance cost?

We offer two coaching options. Standard Coaching is £100 a month and includes a goal-setting call, two weeks of training planned ahead, runner-specific strength and conditioning, TrainingPeaks session feedback and partner discounts. Premium Coaching is £135 a month and adds sports and nutrition guidance, unlimited contact via email and WhatsApp, and monthly review calls.

What's the difference between Standard and Premium coaching?

Standard Coaching covers structured training with email support, with phone calls available at extra cost. Premium Coaching includes everything in Standard plus sports and general nutrition guidance, unlimited contact via email and WhatsApp, monthly review calls and a premium TrainingPeaks account.

Do you coach runners who aren't based in the Lake District?

Yes. All of our coaching is delivered entirely online, so we coach athletes UK-wide and worldwide — training, feedback and support wherever you're based, via TrainingPeaks, email and WhatsApp.

What happens after I get in touch?

We start with a free consultation to talk through your background, goals and what coaching would look like for you, with no pressure or commitment. From there we build a personalised plan around your life, schedule and terrain, and your training keeps evolving as you progress.

What level of runner do you coach?

All levels — from runners new to structured training who want to build consistency and confidence, through intermediate athletes looking to break through plateaus, to competitive and elite runners maximising performance and race execution.