In April this year I ran in the Boston marathon. It was an achievement just to qualify for Boston, but my excitement of being part of it was slightly marred by the time – just over 4 hours. I was also battling with an Achilles injury. It was then that I turned to Darren. We started on a 6-month training plan, including strength and conditioning, a structured running plan plus health and nutritional advice. Darren’s advice, guidance, encouragement, and, most importantly, his patience with me has transformed my running.  

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Darren took me back to basics and helped me to understand that more running doesn’t make me faster or stronger. It was what was causing my injuries and slowing me down. Darren carefully and patiently taught me the science behind the training to help me to understand that by slowing down, running less and getting stronger through a structured strength and conditioning programme it would make me faster – and my goodness it did!

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Week by week my heart rate improved and I began to run faster using the same effort rate. My Achilles injury improved and is now completely healed – pain free running! I was getting faster and stronger and importantly my mindset was getting more and more positive. I began to believe I could go sub 4 again. Strava also confirmed that I was getting fitter – my fitness level has risen by 185% in the last 6 months!

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Darren’s structured coaching plan prepared me exceptionally well for the Sydney marathon. I peaked at the right time, and then the training was pulled back to set me up for race day. I followed Darren’s plan to the letter and it paid off and the outcome far exceeded my wildest dreams! Crossing the line in Sydney in 03:48:48 is something I will never forget! I smashed my PB by 6 minutes which I never thought possible.  

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And now on to the next challenge in the Manchester marathon 2025. I am sticking with Darren because he is focused on me as an individual. Every training session and running plan is based on my needs. Everything is based on my stats, my running and my strength and that is what is making me the best I can be. Thank you Darren!

Darren is a top coach who really.cares about his athletes. He took me from ground zero in Oct 23 to completing Ironman Wales in Sep 24. The plan was absolutely catered to me, my schedule and needs.

​He understood all the wobbles along the way and his support was brilliant. He give me the confidence to get on the start line at Ironman Wales confident in smashing the day having fully prepared. Top bloke

I’ve been coached by Darren at STC since the middle of January 23. The A race I had targeted was Ironman Wales. I’ve never completed a full distance before so decided to seek out a coach to ensure I put myself in with the best possible chance of completing. Darren has been great since day 1. He structured a training plan for me and followed up with fortnightly meets to discuss progress. He was also always on hand to answer queries and provide support throughout my Ironman journey. As the weeks progressed Darren constantly tweaked my programme and provided new methods (to me) to ensure I was always progressing. Well 32 weeks later, with thanks to Darren, I can now say I’m an Ironman! I can highly recommend STC.

I would just like to say a massive ‘Thank you’ to Darren at STC for writing my 32 week Ironman training program.

I had never completed an Ironman. I had completed several sprint and Olympic distances, so I was under no illusion this was going to be a huge challenge - especially as I had been injured for the last 3 months and hadn’t ran or swam for a while.

As Darren had done Ironman before he gave me race specific advice and tailored the program for the endurance needed for Ironman.

The first few weeks of the plan seemed really hard but as my fitness level increased it did become easier. I got quite stressed if I missed a session but Darren reassured me not to worry and just move on to the next session. Some weeks I would miss quite a lot due to work and family commitments.

From the start, the main aim was just to be able to complete Ironman within the 17 hour cut off time. As race day approached, Darren shared tips and advice to ensure that I was prepared with the equipment, nutrition and fuel required. He was on hand to answer all the questions that would pop up and wrote a very helpful and thorough checklist. I started to become more nervous but Darren was there to give advice insisting that because I’d done the training so the race would be the fun bit.

My Ironman went really well, my time exceeded what I wanted to achieve, as I mentioned above I would have been happy to complete it within the 17 hour cut off time but managed just under 15 hours (14:58:35), I can only put this down to having a structured training plan to follow and coach on hand to advise me and keep me motivated. I would 100% recommend STC to anyone undertaking this or any personal triathlon challenge.

Just finished my 6 week strength and conditioning programme with Darren Gibbons and wow! My confidence has soared since Darren has started coaching me. I needed encouragement, patience and challenge and have had the very best of all of them. Darren's strength training programme has really improved my strength and fitness, and my running has benefitted massively! I have achieved things I never thought I could, finishing off today with 70 squat jumps onto a 12 inch box and 60 sit ups - couldn't do 5 jumps onto a low step 6 weeks ago! Thank you Darren and here's to the next 6 weeks!

Thanks to Darren whose support and advice over the last 6 months has improved my knowledge about how to train and improved my fitness level dramatically.

With Smart Triathlon Coaching started the C25K and completed my first Park Run in February, not wanting to stop, Darren wrote a plan to  improve my PB with running, strength, cardio and swimming.

Easy to follow, challenging, achievable plan with100% support I cannot recommend Smart Triathlon Coaching enough, it's personal and highly effective.

Thanks Coach

Darren is a brilliant coach. If you’re looking for someone to help push you out of your comfort zones and smash those goals… Darren‘s your man!

I signed up to Long Course Weekend nine long months ago, and Darren has taken me from being actually scared of my bike to cycling 70 mile rides, my swimming has come on in leaps and bounds, and I’ve managed to train fairly consistently throughout those nine months, alongside a busy life of work and family.

Sadly, illness got the better of me just before the event, but regardless, I know that thanks to Darren’s coaching and training, I am now in a much better and stronger place to focus on next year.

I cannot recommend Darren and STC Coaching enough. His advice, training methods and support really have been invaluable

Darren is an excellent coach!

I started working with Darren in November 23, my main goal being Long Course Wales this summer. Due to injury and illness in the spring I wasn’t able to complete the distance I had planned but due to the training sessions Darren provided me I was able to complete the half distance with relative ease, thank you Darren.

Pb’s at both 5 and 10k during the build to LCW hinted at what was possible. Darren’s sessions are very specific, challenging and engaging, I thoroughly enjoyed them all.

A coach who always goes above and beyond, nothing is too much trouble. Highly recommended for all your training goals.