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Coaching Advice
As of October 2026, JM Coaching has 85 Google five-star reviews. Here is what runners actually say about our online coaching, pulled from every one of them.
The Short Answer
In One Paragraph
As of October 2026, JM Coaching has 85 Google five-star reviews. Runners consistently mention the same things: personal bests across every distance, training built around work and family, coaches who adapt plans through injury, and a supportive community. You can read every review on Google or meet the coaches behind them.
I started JM Coaching in 2013 to help fund my own running career. I never imagined that thirteen years later we would have a team of coaches and be able to read 85 reviews from runners all over the world. I have read every one of them for this post, and rather than just pasting a wall of testimonials, I wanted to pull out what they actually tell you about what coaching with us is like, if you are considering your options or want to know whether it is the right fit for you.
These figures come from 79 written reviews on our Google Business Profile (six reviews are a star rating with no comment) and the 85 total ratings they sit within.
What Runners Say
The most common thread is improvement. Not just in the target race, but across the board.
"I've gone from 7:40 per mile to a 5:50 mile and practically every 1-2 races I do, I achieve a new PB."
Abbas M., coached by Adam
"I have improved my marathon best from 2:55 to 2:34 in 14 months."
Joe W., coached by Ross
"I have hit PBs in every distance since I started with Adam and went from never running over 13 miles to just completing the London Marathon in 2:49:55."
Louis G., coached by Adam
"I've smashed every single PB from 5k to the marathon just by following the training he sends me."
Simon B., coached by Jonny
Some of the jumps reviewers describe are big. Charlie P. went from 3:45 to 2:51 in the marathon, Iván V. from 3:15 to three sub-3 marathons, and David N. from 21:30 to 18:38 for 5k on one of our TrainingPeaks plans.
"When a runner PBs at every distance, it is rarely because of one magic session. It is because the training is consistent for months on end."
Nearly every review that mentions a big jump also mentions something about the plan fitting their life. That is not a coincidence. It is something we have experienced ourselves first hand and worked hard at transferring to the runners we coach.
What Runners Say
More than half of the written reviews mention work, family, children, shift patterns or a busy social calendar. This is the theme I am proudest of, because it is the part generic plans (or AI plans) do not understand, and the thing I know first hand as a business owner, husband, father and athlete trying to balance all four day in, day out.
"Highly recommended if you want to train smarter with good honest coaches who seem to understand the need to be your best but also that you have a full time job and family to work around."
Gary B., coached by Adam, 2:30 at Manchester Marathon
"Having just had our first child, my wife was naturally delighted to hear me say I wanted to take on this challenge. He does all the thinking for you so all you need to do is go out and do the running."
Freddie D., coached by Jonny, sub-3 at Seville
"I never felt overworked and the amount of time involved (7-8 hours a week usually) was manageable with work and kids."
Mike S., Sub 3-Hour Marathon plan, ran 2:52:40
"Izzy works my sessions around my family and work life. The hard sessions are challenging but she always keeps them fun."
Stacey W., coached by Izzy, half marathon PB
"My weekly runs get worked around me, and if I have a busy social calendar that's sorted too."
Liam B., coached by Izzy
What Runners Say
Thirteen reviews talk about injury, a niggle, or returning after time away. These are the reviews I would read first if you are on the fence, because anyone can coach a runner when everything goes to plan. Having coaches on our team who have been through the highs and lows of running themselves makes a real difference, and having Mollie as a qualified physiotherapist within the team is invaluable.
"A month out from the race I injured my knee. But Alan adapted my training around the injury and got me to the start line in the best shape I could be. That support meant a lot."
Kevin M., coached by Alan, Great North Run
"She supported me back to running after issues with my back, starting with cycling sessions and then building up running gradually."
Karen W., coached by Mollie
"Ross knows exactly how to manage training loads and has kept me injury free for 3 years now!"
Maximilian S., coached by Ross, first 50 mile race
"By the time I'd got to Manchester I'd never felt fitter, knocking two minutes off my PB, something I did not expect."
Billy H., returning from long-term injury
"Good coaching is as much about what you take out of a week as what you put in."
The runners who come to us after a breakdown have usually been doing the same thing, more and more miles, with no structure and no one to tell them when to back off. Gary put it perfectly in his review: he could run fast but could not walk down the stairs.
What Runners Say
A lot of reviewers were worried before signing up that they would get a copy-and-paste plan. The reviews suggest otherwise.
"Despite being sceptical of spending my hard earned money and half expecting a copy and pasted plan each week I could not have been more wrong."
Gary B., coached by Adam
"It's not just 'setting the plan' (which he is amazing with btw), it's being there to answer the 'silly questions', be a sounding board and generally just keep me on the right track."
James C., coached by Jonny, 2:44:27 marathon PB
"I was nervous reaching out to Jonny Mellor Coaching, but Jonny's reply was warm and welcoming and put me at ease straight away."
Kevin M.
Our coaches use TrainingPeaks for sessions and WhatsApp for day-to-day contact. Andy L. described his race being cancelled the day before and getting a message with a rearranged long run almost before he had seen the news himself. If you want to understand what weekly coaching actually involves, our guide to what an online running coach actually does covers it in detail.
What Runners Say
Sixteen reviews mention the JM Coaching community, our WhatsApp groups or JM Run Club.
"Being part of the whole JM Coaching Group is like having a second family that understand everything about running."
Michael D.
"I also appreciated having access to an active and highly supportive WhatsApp group of runners, which has a real community feel to it."
Billy H.
What Runners Say
Not everyone in the reviews had one-to-one coaching. Several bought a structured plan from our TrainingPeaks store.
"I used Jonny's sub-2:40 marathon training programme on TrainingPeaks and ran a 2:39:21 16 weeks later."
David L.
"It was a sub 3.30 plan based on 6 days a week training and I smashed my time in sub 3.15."
Sally B., first marathon in 21 years
"I managed to run 2.34 in 2023 and have managed to cut that down to 2.30 in 2024 reloading the same plan."
Paul B., sub-2:40 marathon plan
If a plan suits you better than one-to-one coaching, you can find the right training plan here. These are all being updated to ensure they sync direct to your compatible GPS device too. In terms of value for money, for the level of detail and amount of support and advice along the way, you will struggle to find better in my very honest opinion, and these are plans I have personally put years into creating, not copying and pasting from the internet.
Who We Coach
It would be easy to assume an elite marathoner and a team of elite athletes only coach fast runners. The reviews say otherwise.
"This is the first time I have consistently run in my life as I usually struggle and then quit. I believe this is down to the professional plan that I am given and understanding from Izzy on how to ease me in to running so the enjoyment stays."
Nathan B., coached by Izzy, new 5k and 10k PBs
"I was so scared joining a run coaching family as I'm a triathlete and not the quickest runner. JM Coaching feels inclusive for all abilities and goals."
Sophie B., coached by Izzy
At the other end, Boyd P. qualified for the England Athletics Masters team at half marathon, and Sharon B. ran a 10k PB at V40 she thought was beyond her.
Honest Advice
Every one of these reviews is five stars, but that does not mean coaching is right for everyone. We are always honest with you if it would not be.
If you are not ready to trust the process. Sharon B. admits in her review that she spent the start questioning everything. Coaching works when you follow the plan, and it costs you money when you do not.
If you only want a one-off race and a fixed schedule. A TrainingPeaks plan may be the better value. Several reviewers above got superb results that way.
If running is causing you pain right now. See a physio first. We will happily work alongside them, as several reviewers describe, but we are not a substitute for a diagnosis.
Next Step
I have only been able to include a handful here. You can read every JM Coaching review on Google, including the ones I have not quoted.
If you are thinking about coaching, the best next step is to meet our coaches and see who might suit you, or compare our coaching options and prices.
Common Questions
All 85 reviews are on JM Coaching's public Google Business Profile, posted by runners from their own Google accounts. You can read them all, with dates, on Google.
As of October 2026, JM Coaching holds a 5.0 rating from 85 Google reviews, with no reviews below five stars.
Reviews mention head coach Jonny Mellor, a 2:08:45 marathoner and GB international, alongside coaches including Adam, Ross, Izzy, Alan and Mollie. You can read about each coach on our coaches page. We have a range of coaches suited to different runner levels, goals and experience.
Based on what our runners report, the biggest benefits are consistent personal bests, training built around work and family, and support through injury. More than a third of our written reviews mention a PB. Whether it is worth it for you depends on your goals and budget, which is why we also offer standalone TrainingPeaks plans.
Yes. Several reviewers were new runners, first-time marathoners or triathletes improving their running. Coaching is built around your current fitness, not an elite template.
Many reviewers have, including runners who went sub-3 at Seville, Melbourne and in their first marathon build with us. Results depend on your starting point, consistency and time available, which is why every plan starts with a conversation about your goals.
Sessions are delivered through TrainingPeaks, which syncs with Garmin and other watches. Day-to-day contact is usually via WhatsApp or email.
Summary
Eighty-five five-star reviews is a long way from where we started in 2013. What they tell me, more than any single success story, is that the system works best when it is built around the runner in front of us, not a template. If that is what you are looking for, come and meet the team.
Reviews quoted are taken from JM Coaching's Google Business Profile and lightly trimmed for length. Reviewer names are shortened to first name and surname initial. Review count and rating correct as of 27 October 2026.
Founder of JM Coaching, 2:08:45 marathon runner and Great Britain international. Coaching runners of all abilities since 2013. Read his full profile.
Coaching that is built around your life, your goals and the time you actually have.
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