Meet the BEAM Running coaching team

BEAM Running combines personalised coaching with practical, athlete-centred support.

BEAM athletes receive a clearly defined lead coach and training direction. Head Coach Ben Mudie leads most athlete relationships, while Coach Claire Hodgart contributes to athlete coaching and selected case reviews where her experience can add value, particularly around training load, recovery, injury concerns and return to running.

Together, the BEAM coaching team helps runners train consistently, build confidence and make sustainable progress towards their goals.

Head Coach

Ben Mudie

Australian Athletics Advanced Recreational Running Coach (Level 2)

Personal running coaching built around consistency, good judgement and real life.

Ben coaches committed recreational runners who want to improve without treating every missed session, sore spot or busy week as a failure. His approach combines structured training with regular review, clear communication and sensible adjustments when training or life does not go perfectly. As Head Coach, Ben leads BEAM’s overall coaching approach and works directly with many athletes, overseeing their training plans, regular reviews and ongoing coaching communication.

Ben’s coaching approach

Ben believes the plan is only the starting point. Good coaching means understanding what the athlete completed, how they responded, what is coming next and what else is happening in their life.

  • Personalised, rolling training rather than a static plan
  • A concise weekly review and a clear focus for the week ahead
  • Green, Amber or Red training status to show when to progress, monitor or adjust
  • Proactive changes around fatigue, illness, soreness, work, family and travel
  • Long-term consistency across a season, not just one race

Experience and qualifications

Ben began running in 2013 and has since raced cross country, track and road events. He has completed five marathons, including Gold Coast, Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Canberra and Sydney, along with many half marathons and shorter races.

  • Experience with a range of training approaches, including the Australian method, Lydiard, Jack Daniels and Pfitzinger
  • Western Athletics committee member from 2015 to 2025, including two years as Vice President and two years as President

Ben is not an elite runner, and that is part of what shapes his coaching. He understands the patience and consistency required to improve while balancing training with work, family and the rest of life.

He also believes no coach has every answer. His method continues to develop through education, reflection, collaboration and what each athlete teaches him.

Ben’s running background

  • 5km: 21:13
  • 10km: 44:13
  • Half marathon: 1:41:44
  • Marathon: 3:46:53

You can read more about Ben’s running journey at Ben Runs Melbourne. To learn how he works with athletes, explore BEAM online run coaching.

Follow Ben on Strava

Coach

Claire Hodgart

BExSpSci, MAppSpSci, MPT | Level 2 Athletics Coach

Claire is an accredited Level 2 Athletics Coach and physiotherapist with a strong academic and practical background in sport and exercise science.

Combining her coaching experience with her clinical expertise, Claire brings valuable knowledge across biomechanics, rehabilitation, injury-risk management, training load and performance development.

At BEAM Running, Claire contributes to athlete coaching and selected case reviews, particularly where recovery, injury concerns, return to running or more complex training decisions benefit from a second set of eyes.

Claire is passionate about helping athletes of all ages and abilities build confidence, improve performance and develop a sustainable enjoyment of running.

Running and multisport experience

Claire brings first-hand competitive experience across road, track, trail, mountain running and aquathlon. Her selected achievements include:

  • 6th place — 2024 World Multisport Aquathlon Championships
  • 9th place — 2025 World Multisport Aquathlon Championships
  • 12th place — 2018 Australian Half Marathon Championships
  • Bronze medallist — Victorian Open 3000m Steeplechase
  • Silver medallist — Victorian Under 20 3000m Steeplechase
  • Bronze medallist — Australian Under 20 Mountain Running Championships
  • Gold medallist — Victorian Under 20 Trail Running Championships
  • Bronze medallist — Victorian Open Trail Running Championships

A self-proclaimed running nerd, Claire can often be found exploring the hills of the You Yangs, stopping at a local café for a latte or reminiscing about the past success of the Richmond Football Club.

Claire’s physiotherapy background informs her coaching perspective. BEAM Running coaching does not include physiotherapy assessment, diagnosis or treatment.