About me

Meet: Dan Connolly

A Bit Of Background

I qualified as a personal trainer at 17 and have spent over a decade working in the fitness industry. I studied to a Masters level at Loughborough University, where I also took on voluntary coaching roles with British Athletics and British Triathlon whilst studying. Here, I learned from some of the best coaches and sports scientists in the country. I am continuously learning and growing as a coach and love the process.

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Since then I have coached a national Skyrunning champion, national fell running champions, Welsh Athletics and England Athletics athletes, and Team GB representatives.

I have also worked with athletes returning from serious injury, postpartum athletes rebuilding from scratch, and an 85-year-old who ran his first fell race and hasn't stopped since. Athletes I have coached have reached the top of iconic races like Marathon des Sables, won national mountain and skyrunning championships, and progressed to run their first 5k.

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That range — from 18 to 85, from first race to international podium — reflects years of building a coaching practice grounded in genuine curiosity about every athlete, regardless of level or starting point.

As an Athlete

I am an elite mountain and trail runner, currently based in the Lake District and competing at the highest level of the sport whilst working full time as a coach.

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In 2023 I won Man versus Horse outright — becoming the fourth person in the event's forty-year history to beat the horses. In 2026 I returned and won the human race again. I am a two-time Golden Trail National Series Champion (2022 & 2024), a two-time Welsh Fell Running Champion (2024 & 2025), and I have represented England in road, mountain, and trail running.

Most recently I was selected for the inaugural England Athletics Trail Running Team at the first-ever Off-Road Home International — the first England Athletics trail team of its kind.​

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Personal bests: 29:49 (10k) / 65:37 (half marathon) / 2:20 (marathon)

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What I Actually Do

I am a running coach and strength and conditioning specialist. My coaching is bespoke, individually built, and grounded in evidence — but it starts with a simple question: what does this athlete need, in this season of their life, to become the best version of themselves as a runner?

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I specialise in trail, mountain, road, and ultra running. I integrate strength and conditioning as part of an athlete first, runner second approach. And I work with a limited number of athletes at any one time to ensure every person receives the depth of attention elite level coaching actually requires.

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Communication and trust are key pillars for me when working with an athlete.

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Coaching Credentials

• MSc, Loughborough University

• UESCA Accredited Running Coach

• Qualified Personal Trainer — over a decade of experience in the fitness industry

• Voluntary athletics and strength and conditioning coaching roles with British Athletics and British Triathlon during postgraduate study at Loughborough

• Coaching experience with Welsh Athletics and England Athletics athletes

• Athletes coached: national Skyrunning champion, fell running champions, Team GB internationals, Marathon des Sables top finishers, complete beginners — ages 18 to 85

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Media Features:

• BBC: "Everyone can do it - 83-year-old runner"

• BBC: "Man v horse: Runner becomes only fourth to beat horse"

• Financial Times: "Inside the wild ‘Man vs Horse’ race that made a small Welsh town legend"

• Fitness coach takes on the horses and wins​

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