Testimonials

I booked a running coaching session with Riaz because I had stopped making progress as a beginner runner and I wasn't enjoying my runs like I used to. I knew I was doing something wrong, but I didn't know exactly what it was.
After a chat and a short warm up run, Riaz showed me some stretches and exercises and then he took me through some mobility drills. He explained what everything would do to help me and how often and when to do each of them. We discussed different strength training exercises and what I could do to cross train.
We finished up by doing another run and I was amazed at how different it felt than my usual runs and I could feel how effective the drills had been in improving my form.

Riaz was incredibly encouraging and positive, not pointing out anything I did wrong, just showing me what I needed to do to improve. Since this coaching session I have noticed a big difference on every run. I've been doing the exercises coach Riaz recommended and added in some new stretches and have improved my warm up. I now have noticeably less calf pain at the beginning of every run, which was something I struggled with for a while. I'm back to running longer distances and enjoying going out for a run the way I previously did.

Thank you so much for the enormous amount of help you gave me. It was exactly what I needed to start enjoying running again. -Cat Truman

I'd completely lost motivation for running and felt like I was failing every time I tried to do any sort of distance. I contacted Coach Riaz to help me get back on track and be able to complete a 10 mile race I had in the calendar. Riaz was brilliant, setting manageable weekly training schedules which always pushed me a little more and helped me see what I can achieve.

I really didn't believe I'd even be able to complete 10 miles but with Riaz's help I went faster than I expected and I enjoyed it! Coach Riaz is full of motivation, encouragement, advice and support. An amazing person to have on your team! -Carys Samuel - Darlington

Riaz is an excellent coach, gives attention to detail and really passionate about coaching. In my introductory session we went through warm up preparation, running form for egronomic performance (filmed and analysed), exercises for strength, when and how to do strides and how to keep it all manageable with a busy lifestyle.

I especially loved the easy going and fun approach with an emphasis on running intuitively. Riaz also sent me personalised notes and useful tips on the above which has been very useful to refer back too. Thank you Riaz for introducing me to Protein Rebel gel which is probably one of the most natural gels you can find on the market.

I highly recommend Coach Riaz. -Nighat Hasnain - London

I asked Riaz to coach me after setting the goal of a Good For Age London Marathon time. I’d managed to get myself round a virtual marathon with an online plan but picked up plenty of injuries along the way and was struggling for motivation by the end of the block. With Riaz’s help, I was able to run fewer days a week but tackle sessions that I would have previously thought impossible. He completely understands that work can be busy and adapted my runs to suit my schedule. He was also helpful in guiding me when to cut back after illness to make sure I’d recovered properly.

I’m proud to say that I not only smashed my original goal but also did so injury free and with plenty more appetite for more racing. 3:39 London Marathon 2023. Thanks Riaz!

- Carys Randeria - London

When I first contacted Coach Riaz, I was still fairly new to running and was already getting bored of the same type of runs and didn’t believe that in my fifties I would be able to improve much anyway. How wrong was I!
I am already making the progress I longed for but never thought possible and have improved my 5k and 10k times more than I ever believed that I would.

Coach Riaz is in no way pushy, he works with you to motivate and challenge you and build on your goals to get the results you want. I like having that accountability.

I look forward to seeing the entries in the training diary for the week ahead. The variety of the different runs and the strength training exercises has stopped me from getting bored or being stuck in a rut. I look forward to each run and it is helping me to seek out new routes that will fit well with the run I’ve got that day.

Riaz is quick to reply to any questions and sends useful links when required. His messages are so encouraging, he really is helping me to believe in myself. -Tracy R.

I used to be able to run 5k but life got busy so I landed back to square one again! I didn't want to just follow a Couch to 5k plan as I found it okay but some weeks found myself struggling to stick to the plan, especially when I had missed a couple of runs. So when I got in touch with Riaz at Flowrunner coaching, I immediately felt supported and felt like I had someone by my side keeping me consistent with my running. Riaz is very flexible when planning my runs and he understands the busy family commitments I have. He is always willing to switch things around and adapt my plan for me to keep me going. I feel I'm starting to regain my fitness again. -Laila Qureshi - Birmingham

I was stuck in a bit of a rut with my running, running similar times for events over and over again. With a few events this year, including marathons and ultras, I decided to take training a bit more seriously and so asked Riaz for some help. His coaching has been brilliant. I am enjoying having structure to my training and doing a range of interesting runs each week, as well as strength sessions.

He is quick to respond with feedback on sessions or general questions, and is always so encouraging and positive. I love that my training plan is so personal and also flexible, taking into account the time I have to train or making it easy to fit sessions in around travel.

Since having Riaz as a coach, I have improved my times in 10k, half marathon and most recently, a 3:41:08 PB at Seville marathon. This would not have been possible without Riaz’s help. -Nicola G, Surrey

Since joining Flowrunner coaching, I've seen my running go from strength to strength. Coach Riaz is a great communicator and motivator. He is constantly in touch with me, discussing my sessions and running plan. His experience in all aspects of running is invaluable. I'm loving the strength and core sessions he puts into my plan too as it makes me more consistent. Now that I've achieved my sub 30 minute 5k goal, I have more belief in myself and we are already planning to go for a sub 25 minute 5k! - Richard Wilson - South London

I was deep into marathon training, when I thought things were going well. But suddenly I picked up an ankle injury which stopped me in tracks. I was extremely upset and disheartened. Even when recovered, I'd lost my running mojo. I decided to find a coach who could give me that motivation to run again. Getting in touch with Coach Riaz was the best thing I did. After discussing my goals with him, he is now working with me to get that sub 4hr Marathon time. He has built strength work into my schedule and I am trying my best to stick to it. I'm loving the variety in the sessions coach Riaz is setting for me, and having them sent straight to my watch is a Godsend!

- Dan O'Neill - Wolverhampton

Since joining Team Flowrunners I have reached and completed my first half marathon. I consider myself a very average runner and was stuck on 10k as my main distance. If I'm honest, I was a little fearful of the challenge of moving up to my half marathon as my endurance is not great. Coach Riaz helped me put all my fears aside and slowly build my mileage to achieve that half marathon goal. Coach Riaz has helped me to start enjoying the process more rather than just focusing on the end goal. I'm actually really enjoying the interval sessions now, as much as the slow runs. I'm hoping I can continue this approach to one day completeing a full marathon -Jen Rhodes - Birmingham

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