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💭 “The most important thing you can do as a coach is respect that you don’t know everything.”

What if unlocking your trail running potential wasn’t about running harder—but about learning to do less, better?

In this episode of Trail Chasers, we sit down with James Montgomery—trail running coach, performance strategist, and co-founder of The Run Project. From helping beginners build consistency to working with elite athletes chasing podiums, James shares what truly makes a good coach (hint: it’s not just running fast yourself).

We explore the realities of balancing training with life, when and why to hire a coach, and how to build a training plan that actually works for you—not just what you see on Strava.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Why consistency is the real key to progress
✅ When it’s time to hire a coach—and when it’s not
✅ How to spot a great coach (and red flags to avoid)
✅ Why your training plan should evolve with your life
✅ The difference between discomfort and injury
✅ Why chasing someone else’s plan might be slowing you down
✅ How coaching is really about curiosity, not control

💬 Have a coaching question or trail running story to share?
Tag us @trailchaserspod or send us a message—we’d love to hear your journey.

🎙 Season 3 is proudly sponsored by:

• Gilnokie Socks 🧦 – Visit gilnokie.com and use code TRAILCHASERS for 20% off your first order.
• Boonies Sunglasses 🕶 – Visit boonies.co.za to grab your next pair of adventure-ready sunnies.

📩 If this episode changed the way you think about training, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who thinks a coach just tells you to “run more.”