Mark Collie and John McKenzie are the kind of guys you can’t help but admire. They're full-time professionals, dedicated Dads with young families, and yet somehow, they carve out 5+ hours a week for their passion: endurance sports.
Whether it's triathlon, long-distance running, or chasing each other up a hill on a Sunday morning — they train hard, they train together, and they push each other to be better. For five years, they’ve been chipping away at their goals. And while their motivation sometimes ebbed with the chaos of life, their commitment never did.
But they both felt they had more in the tank.
From Plateau to Progress
Like many experienced amateur athletes, Mark and John had hit a plateau. Their training was consistent, but the results weren’t matching the effort. They'd tried the typical training apps — impersonal, rigid, and often mismatched to their needs. Some sessions were far too hard, others far too easy. There was no nuance, no adaptation, and certainly no accountability.
That’s when they came to RhodesRunner — looking not just for a plan, but a partnership. Someone to take a real look at their goals, their weaknesses, and the way their bodies responded to training. Someone who got that life doesn’t stop just because you’re training for a marathon.
Two Athletes, Two Unique Journeys
Though their marathon PB goals were similar (John targeting 3:15, Mark somewhere between 3:15–3:20), their paths were different.
🔹 John (PB: 3:26, Half: 1:36) needed to sharpen his speed, nail his training zones, and build the fitness to sustain pace deeper into the race. He wanted to be held to account, challenged, and guided through the nuances of pre-race prep.
🔹 Mark (PB: 3:28, Half: 1:31) was all about resilience. His training needed to tackle one big issue: late-race fade. He had the strength and the mindset, but those final 10K always hit hard. A better balance of volume, durability, and hydration planning was the key.
They trained together, but their coaching plans were tailored individually. Each run had a purpose. Every week had structure. And most importantly, they felt seen, heard, and supported.
The Coaching Difference
A coach doesn’t just hand you a plan — they help you navigate the training as life happens. They course-correct, adapt, and bring a human lens to the science of running.
Mark and John didn’t miss any workouts — but what changed was how they showed up to each one. They executed their sessions with laser focus, confident that each workout was helping them get where they wanted to go.
Race Day Results
When race day came, they ran separately — an important part of their success. Each stuck to their own strategy, trusting the process we’d built together.
🏁 John crossed the line in 3:16 — a 10-minute PB.
🏁 Mark followed in 3:20 — an 8-minute PB, despite battling cramps in the final 8K.
Both results were huge. Not just on the clock, but in what they represented: belief, execution, and finally, tangible proof that they were becoming the runners they knew they could be.
In Their Words
John:
“Thanks mate! Sub 3:15 on Strava, but the course ran a little long. A couple of 4:40s in the last lap, but overall stoked with that. 10-minute PB! Got me the fittest I’ve ever felt.”
Mark:
“Thanks Simon. Pretty happy to be fair, stuck to the game plan for the majority. It was hot and I don’t think I got enough fluids in, so had some cramping in the last 8K. Held on pretty well. Definitely take it. Thanks again. Loved the training!”
The Bottom Line
In a game of fine margins, when you’re pushing toward your peak, generic training plans won’t cut it. You need structure. You need accountability. You need personalisation.
👉 Be like John and Mark.
Get serious. Get a coach. Take your running to the next level.
📩 Ready to train smarter and race stronger? Let’s talk.