I went from having no formal triathlon experience to completing an Ironman in 9 months - something that would have been impossible without the Hard & Smart team.

Coach Greg provided invaluable support throughout the process, building a plan that was tailored for me and ensured I had a platform to succeed.

I improved dramatically at every discipline and drew on Greg’s wealth of knowledge to guide me through one of the most challenging but rewarding processes of my life.

If you’re new to triathlon and want to shoot for the stars then you could not be in safer hands than with Hard & Smart!

I’m thoroughly enjoying this process. The training is easy to understand and broken down into chunks so I don’t feel overwhelmed. I’m seeing my fitness improve week by week which isn’t something I felt for a long time.

My attitude has definitely improved both in and out of training. I’m finding myself much more energised and enthusiastic.

I’ve been a coached athlete for Hard & Smart for around 18 months now, within that time I’ve learned a lot about myself and the world of triathlon.

I’d joined right after completing Ironman 70.3 Bolton in 06:08, within the space of 10 months I’d knocked off 60 minutes of my 70.3 time at Nottingham outlaw. Alongside also achieving personal bests across multiple running distances, my improvements have been very clear.

One thing I’ve always appreciated is the communication and support from Mark. My training is always structured well with a clear purpose, but there’s also an understanding that life outside of triathlon comes first. Having that flexibility and knowing the support is there makes a massive difference.

Hard & Smart coaching has helped me become not only a better athlete but a more knowledgeable and confident one too. I’m excited to see how much further I can progress.

I've been with Hard and Smart for just over a year now and it's been the most consistent and enjoyable year of training I've ever done. Having such a knowledgeable coach takes any stress out of the training and has helped me stop running endless junk miles until I'm injured.

You can always buy a standard training plan online but the regular feedback on training peaks and collaborative training planning really helps with staying positive and motivated after those bad sessions, and celebrating non-Strava wins, as well as making the training work for the individual, around whatever else is going on in life.

Mark’s helped me get so much more out of myself, and enjoy training and racing so much more in the process.

I joined Hard&Smart at the start of he 2022 season. I felt i’d got stuck in a rut and needed pushing harder to enable me to hit my goals for the the year.

Hard&Smart tick all the boxes!

I get the tailored experience I was looking for which is sympathetic to my busy life outside of triathlon. Mark, your coach is super enthusiastic about triathlon, coaching and getting the best out of me.

This manifests itself in a real focus on data, motivating me to hit my targets and the knowledge I have a coach there with a solution when I need it.

I always thought of getting a coach as something only elite athletes did but getting Mark to coach me is easily the best decision I've made in a long while. I've gone from a chaotic, over training schedule where I burned myself out every few months like clockwork to structured training that actually works. Since being with Hard&Smart I've got multiple running PB's, picked my swimming back up and even got the confidence to get on the bike, all thanks to Mark.

Mark really takes the time to get to know you as a person and does so much more than just slapping together a training plan. He's always there to support you, listen to you and push you just enough out your comfort zone to get you to where you need to be and further.

I raced with Mark at the World Sprint Champs and experienced his drive, focus & diligence towards the race itself, while enjoying a fun & relaxed environment for the rest of the time - it was a great combination and has formed a great base once we started working together.

I’ve been working with Mark since Nov 2023 and feel I have progressed a lot since then. My swimming is now so much more consistent and I feel I have a lot more control of pace on feel alone, similarly with my running where my feel, perception & top end speed have improved dramatically and I think this is all down to the sessions and work I've been doing.

Mark's listened to my inputs & feedback throughout, tailoring the plan to fit a sometimes hectic schedule, and always being on hand to rein things in if need be. I've really appreciated the flexibility which has been needed to balance training with work.

The first 6 months have been great, culminating in a European middle distance bronze - I'm excited to see where the rest of the season and beyond goes.

I have been working with Mark at Hard&Smart for just short of a year now and I’m already seeing great improvements in all of my triathlon disciplines.

It’s one thing to have a plan but it’s another having someone there to answer any and all questions I might have and to reassure me whenever I’m stressing out! Mark has coached me leading up to Bolton 70.3 and given me the confidence to believe in my ability to make me feel like I did belong at the start line. I finally feel like an athlete now and I’m super excited for what’s to come in the future.

I’d wanted to do a triathlon for ages but always found the idea of training in three different sports and all the equipment needed very daunting and a little intimidating. Greg and the Hard & Smart Coaches broke that down for me, taking away lots of my worry and making it easier for me to focus on just enjoying the sport and growing in confidence.  

One of my biggest concerns was how I could find all the time to do the training alongside a busy schedule. Working with the Hard & Smart coaching team allowed me to maximise my training without comprising my other commitments. Signing up with Greg and the team allowed me to get a time I’m extremely happy with and would never have imagined I could achieve. Theres no doubt I wouldn't have made it round an Ironman without the friendly and near constant support of Greg.

Training with Mark gave me the structure and guidance needed to make completing my first Ironman a realistic and achievable goal.

He structured well-rounded, training blocks which were challenging but allowed for the necessary recovery. It included various training sessions that fitted seamlessly into my lifestyle and pushed me across all 3 triathlon disciplines.

Having a regular catch ups allowed to adjust anything if necessary based on ever changing life stressors and the training load.

Beyond the plan, Mark provided me with a lot of knowledge and understanding about training and triathlon in general.

After 10 months of training with Mark I can see clear improvement across all 3 disciplines to an extent I did not think was possible. Mark’s positive attitude and encouragement kept me motivated and excited about the goals ahead.

Being coached by Mark was a great decision and I could not recommend him enough.

I’ve been working with Mark for a few months now and have loved every minute. My swimming has come on incredible amounts and I feel so confident in my bike and run ability.

He’s been a much needed steady ship to my chaotic mind and has helped changed my whole outlook to training, racing and recovery. When I used to spiral into insecurity and self doubt after a difficult session, Mark has taught me to look at the bigger picture of my training and seek the positives.

Working with Mark has been an awesome experience throughout.

He invested in me from the start and made sure that I was able to balance my work commitments alongside maximising training benefit. Always on hand to answer any questions or give advice, the help he has given me went far beyond simply setting sessions and programming.

I asked Mark to write me a plan to complete the London marathon after i had decided to set myself this massive challenge as an overwhelmed millennial who “hates running”.

I’d never run further than a half marathon before and often didn’t feel like a “proper runner”. We had an initial chat where Mark listened to my Whys and Aims and I felt he understood what I wanted and what motivated me without any judgement. He wrote a 21 week plan with an aim for me to run 3 times a week, with mileage building up over time in a sustainable and fun way.

He added strength sessions to keep me injury free and these were really detailed and varied to keep it interesting and effective. We caught up during rest weeks and he had so much great advice about the marathon day itself, from fuelling to clothing and where my family can spectate.

I’m happy to report I barely missed a workout in the 21 weeks and I successfully completed the marathon, injury free and with a strong finish. I’m so grateful to Mark’s expertise, wisdom and kindness while writing the perfect marathon plan tailored specifically to me.

I couldn’t have done it without him.

As someone with a lung condition and lives inside their own head, training can be a right nightmare.

However, Mark keeps me grounded, stops me spiralling and much more. I have already achieved goals I never thought possible and if you asked me two years ago to do an Ironman I’d of said “flip off”.

However, with one on the horizon, I am buzzing for it. Mark has helped me as a coach and so much more, taught me what/how/when/where to train and get through life’s ups and downs.