Mike Gratton Coaching

21/10/2026

I had a very pleasant evening yesterday on a Zoom call with the runners who will be running the TCS London Marathon for the Molly Rose Foundation next April.

Along with coach Natascha Starr of Starr Performance Running, we answered questions from the 12 runners raising funds for the Foundations work in campaigning to protect young people from Tech Companies - see the Foundations website for more information https://mollyrosefoundation.org/

The most important take out from our advice to the runners - start training now!

The Molly Rose Foundation works to prevent su***de by advocating for safer online environments through education, research & expert-led guidance

20/10/2026

This weekends catch up is distinctly marathon orientated:

A big well done to Jackie Tombs running a 5 min+ PB of 3.54.09 in Amsterdam - finishing 1st FM70

Also in Amsterdam, Natasha Heasman took 6 mins off her PB to go under 4hrs for the first time, recording 3.57.

In Abingdon Emma Pearson finished 2nd in the British FM50 marathon with 3.19 despite not being on top form with a lingering cold.

And in York, Richard Woolterton ran his 3rd fastest marathon with 3.10.33.

This week we have 5 runners in Frankfurt, good luck to them 🙂

16/10/2026

It's getting into the autumn sniffle season...here we republish a blog we published on Coach the Run a couple of autumn seasons back.

We often get asked: Should I keep running with a cold? As a general rule, it's not recommended, and we explain why in this guide to colds.

13/10/2026

Weekend results round up. Another busy weekend and some very fine performances - well done all.

In Chicago, Jordan Wilson (pictured) ran a 7 min PB on a very hot and humid day in the Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2.38.30.

Nick Heptinstall completed Chicago in 4.19.37.

Another big PB for Madeleine Williams, taking off over a minute for 10km at the Leicester 10km, finishing 3rd female in 37.37.

At the Great Eastern Half Marathon in Peterborough, Ed Samuel missed a PB by a handful of seconds, running 1.15.27 and Mohammed Al Ababi ran a PB with 1.21.22.

Matt Rogers ran a PB Half at Goodwood, with 1.33.34.

Liz Nevllle was 1st FM40-49 over 25km in the Bath-Bristol races, with a time of 1.58.13.

Sharon Wheeler completed the Brugge Half Marathon with 2.25, which was 30sec faster than last year!

09/10/2026

Photos from Basingstoke Half Marathon,10k and 5k are up.

07/10/2026

A busy weekend as we come further into the road racing season.

Basingstoke, Cardiff and Galway the various venues.

A marshalling problem at a roundabout meant a group of lead runners ran up to 1 mile to far in the Basingstoke 5/10km (as race director I accept responsibility for that) so I have taken the Strava times on the day for 10km for Elliot Sales and Madeleine Williams, as a truer reflection of their performances.

First, a big congratulation to Roland Juhasz on running a 14min PB in the Galway Marathon. Finishing with 3.11.07, he was 43rd overall and 11th M40.

In the Cardiff Half Marathon Jenny Coleman (FM50) ran a PB with 1.44.11, Lauren Nelson (FM55), her 3rd best time, just a few weeks after running a PB in Sarajevo, ran 1.46.11. Jackie Tombs ran a solid 1.55.42 finishing 2nd FM70, in preparation for next weeks Amsterdam Marathon. Carolyn Thomas ran 2.13.38 in preparation for the tough Snowdonia Marathon next week.

In the Phillips Law Basingstoke Half Marathon,10k and 5k, David Prickett finished 10th in the half with his course PB by 2 1/2 mins, in 1.24.36.

Elliot Sales ran 35.32 and Madeleine Williams 38.45 (a PB) in the 10km, both having been affected by the marshalling error early in the race (running 1 mile and 1km over distance, respectively). Both would have been winning times.

Matt Rogers ran 42.06 and Emma Pearson 43.04,in the 10km, both just seconds out of their 10km PB's, Amy Gratton 46.27 did a 29 sec course PB - Emma and Amy 1st & 2nd respectively in the FM50 age group. Sharon Wheeler ran 32.06 for the 5km as a last minute training run before the Brugge Half Marathon on Sunday.

Thanks to Graham Micallef for doing the 45min 10km pacers job, perfectly, clocking 44.55.

03/10/2026

All set up at the start village for the Basingstoke Half Marathon,10k and 5k .

Late entry is open at War Memorial park today until 4pm and tomorrow morning up to 30mins before the start.

See you tomorrow.

01/10/2026

The race village build is underway...the weather is fabulous and looks good for Sundays race too.

Basingstoke Half Marathon,10k and 5k