Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions. If there’s anything not answered here, please shoot us a message from our Contact page. We would love to hear from you!
Online coaching provides structure and guidance to your running from an experienced runner and coach.
This means you don’t need to think about what session or type of run to do. Each program is individually tailored for you and your goals and can be adapted as needed. Your program will be planned out and you can just get out and enjoy the run.
You’ll have more accountability with a coach checking how you’re going week to week. If you’re someone who struggles with the motivation this can help.
You can expect to see improved performance and reduced injury risk compared to doing your own thing or following a generic program.
Coach Ben has over 10 years personal experience with running covering everything from cross country, track, road racing and trails. He first dabbled in coaching in 2016 helping friends and colleagues with their running. In 2018 he became a qualified Level 2 Recreational Running coach with Athletics Australia. In 2023 he decided to formalise his coaching and launched BEAM Running.
Some of Ben’s most rewarding results include helping people run their first 10km, half marathon and marathon and helping people improve their performances. A recent big success was Dylan running a 17 minute PB at Melbourne Marathon in 2023 finishing in 3:11:57.
Ben isn’t a naturally gifted elite runner. You can pay more of course to be coached by an Olympian or an elite level runner. However being a talented runner doesn’t necessarily make you a good coach. What Ben does have is a passion for running theory, having both read and applied a variety of different philosophies over his years of running. He knows what works and importantly what workouts and structure to apply to different levels of runners for different goals.
BEAM Running is not a full time job. Not here to try to make big dollars, we’re here because we love it and to help you achieve your goals! Because of that we’re able to offer what I think is some of the best value online coaching available.
It starts with an initial form to complete to gain information on your running background, experience and your goals. From there we can start to form your running program and discuss any particular details.
Soon after registering we will send you an invite to the coaching platform we use – Final Surge. You can access Final Surge from the phone app or from a web browser on your computer. In Final Surge you’ll be able to access all of the detail of your training program and individual workouts.
Your coach will monitor how you’re responding to the training and keep in touch to see how you’re going and if any adjustments are required.
You can communicate with your coach through comments in Final Surge or directly by email. There’s no limit on communication, ask any questions you like and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Invoices are issued monthly and can be paid with common payment methods including credit card and Apple pay. There is no lock in or minimum period, you are welcome to pause or stop your running coaching at any time.
If training specifically for a 5km, 10km or Half Marathon we recommend a 12 week block of training.
If training specifically for a marathon we recommend 18 weeks of training.
This is a guideline only and assumes a certain base level of running for the longer events. For example if you’re brand new to running we would recommend training over an extended period of time before attempting the marathon.
The reason we recommend 12 weeks is to allow enough time to train all systems including:
- building your endurance,
- improving your lactate threshold pace,
- improving your VO2 Max and
- improving your speed and running form.
Twelve weeks is enough time to train specifically for the event and see improvement. If you can’t quite get 12 weeks in, you can still benefit following our running training for a minimum of 8 weeks before the event.
Final Surge is a tool we use, a web application, for setting up and planning out your training. You can use the Final Surge app on your phone or in a web browser on your computer. Final Surge is where you will access you training program, view details of a workout and provide direct feedback to your coach.
If you have a compatible GPS watch you can link it to Final Surge so your completed runs link up automatically. Some watches can also receive the planned workouts and your watch can then guide you through your workout. For example if an interval workout was planned for 4 x 400m with 200m recovery, the watch can alert you for each 400m and 200m interval for the workout and record the interval times. We highly recommend setting this up if your watch is compatible.
You can learn more about the Final Surge app features through the app’s website here: Final Surge Features.
You’ll need a GPS watch or a phone with a running app to record your runs. If you’re looking at purchasing a GPS watch we recommend Garmin watches.
It’s important to have a good pair of running shoes. If you haven’t been fitted before we recommend getting fitted at your local running store. I can personally recommend my local store The Running Company Yarraville. They will get you to try a number of shoes and assess you on the treadmill to find what works best for you.
A part from a GPS device and running shoes, and perhaps some body glide if you’re prone to chafing, ensure you have comfortable running clothes and a device with internet to access your running program and you’re good to go!
At this stage we don’t have set length programs available.
You can sign up to our monthly coaching and stop at anytime, there’s no long term commitment. And there’s no hard feelings if you want to stop after 3 months, 2 months or even 1 month. We understand you may want running coaching for a certain period for an event and may not need or want it after that.
You can thank my wife for coming up with this one. She came up with BEAM as it’s an acronym of our initials.
I think it works as I relate the word Beam with joy and happiness. A beaming smile or a beam of light. That’s the vibe we’re aiming for at BEAM, we’re doing this for the joy and love of running.
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page / DetailsOnline run coaching
$60.00
