You book a free 15-minute intro call. We talk about your running, your goals, and your life. If we're a good fit, you choose your coaching tier and we get started — usually within a week.

The first paying session is a 60-minute video call where I learn everything I need to know about you and your training. From there I write your first two weeks of training based on what you've actually told me, not a template.

No. I work with athletes ranging from "I'm thinking about my first 50k" to "I've done a few 100-milers and want to keep improving." What matters is that you're committed to the work, honest about your life and constraints, and willing to communicate openly. The experience level matters less than the willingness to engage.

Usually within a week of the intro call. If you've decided you want to work with me and the timing works, I can have your first plan in TrainingPeaks within 5-7 days.

Sometimes. I cap my athlete numbers to make sure everyone gets proper attention. If I'm at capacity when you reach out, I'll be honest about it and give you a realistic timeline. I'd rather tell you "in six weeks" than over-commit and short-change you.

What is TrainingPeaks and do I need to pay for it?

TrainingPeaks is the platform where your training lives. You'll see each day's session, log your training, upload data from your GPS watch, and I can see how each session went. The athlete account is free — you'll get a code from me when we start.

A GPS watch is genuinely useful — it lets me see what you actually did rather than relying on memory. Most modern Garmins, Coros, Polar, or Apple Watches work fine. Heart rate is helpful but not essential. We can work effectively without it. If you don't have a watch and aren't sure what to buy, we can talk through options on the intro call.

Daily training plans are visible in TrainingPeaks. Weekly check-ins on how training's tracking. Monthly video calls on Clift Coaching, weekly on Clift Pro Coaching. Async messaging response within 24 hours weekdays for anything that comes up between calls. More frequent contact during race weeks.

We review how the training's tracking, what's working, what needs to change, where your head's at. This is where the real coaching happens. The plan in TrainingPeaks is half the work — the conversation about how it's actually feeling is the other half.

We adjust. Life happens. Missing one session isn't a problem. Missing a few sessions in a row, we talk about what's going on and adapt the plan. The training is designed to fit your life, not punish you for having one.

We pivot. I've worked with athletes through various injuries — calf strains, IT band issues, plantar fasciitis, stress reactions, niggles that needed managing. The coaching doesn't stop because the training has to change. We adapt the plan, manage the recovery, and rebuild appropriately. If the injury needs a physio or specialist, I'll often work alongside them.