Company Profile
Running Coach Melbourne is a professional running coaching service.
RCM offers speciality training for clients of any ability. Our coaches are registered with Athletics Australia and have several years background in top level athletics as well as other sports such as AFL football.
RCM specialises in fitness, developing correct running technique, weight loss strategies and training to compete at a professional level.
About The Coaches
Mark Howard, 47, has been involved in athletics for over 25 years as an athlete, coach and CEO of the Victorian Athletic League. Mark is accredited with Athletics Australia as a Level 3 coach. Mark is the original proprietor and creator of Running Coach Melbourne. Mark has assisted people of all age groups and is willing to assist any person of any athletic ability. Mark believes that having the correct running technique is the most essential tool to gaining speed and running long distances such as the Marathon.
Mark is a member of the Doncaster Athletics Club and coaches runners at this track. Mark and Matt Shiel conduct joint group training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm and 10am on Sunday. Mark and Matt encourage athletes of any ability to join the group sessions, whether a novice or an elite runner we can tailor a training plan to suit your requirements. Online training programs can be made available for runners who cannot attend sessions in person.
Mark has coached elite runners of all age including Victorian state championship runners, Australian national junior representatives as well training professional runners to win at the Stawell Gift carnival. Mark has a background in AFL having played over 150 games in the Essendon District Football League. He has coached TAC cup players and has assisted players in gaining speed and endurance in order to get drafted to the AFL, notable players include Bachar Houli (Richmond) and Trent Bianco (Collingwood). In addition, Mark has assisted a number of A-league and rep soccer players including Bruce Kamau.
Mark's professional achievements in the Victorian Athletic League include winning 3 major 400m professional events, including the 2001 Bendigo Black Opal (46.24 sec), the richest professional 400m event in Australia. Mark competed in distance events post his sprinting career and completed the 2012 Melbourne Marathon in 3hrs 58mins. Mark has also competed for the Doncaster Athletic Club and has won team relay events at an Athletics Victoria championship event in 2019.
To book an appointment with Mark, email runningcoachmelbourne@hotmail.com or phone 0402 199 463.
Eric Sapac is an accredited coach with Athletics Australia. He has a passion for coaching athletes of all abilities. From the fun runner to the serious competitor, Eric believes that all athletes should have a goal to work towards. Whether it be completing a 6km fun run, running a Marathon or improving your 100 metre PB.
Along with coaching, he competes in the Victorian Athletic League in multiple distances ranging from 70m-1600m. Over the winter months, he runs in Cross Country events ranging from 5km -16km. Eric has experienced much success over the last few years winning races ranging from 300 metres ranging all the way to 8km. The range of distances he competes in provides him with a wealth of knowledge in regards to the training methods required for each event. Also, with a rich background in Soccer and Aussie Rules Football, he has developed a thorough understanding of how to improve the athlete's speed, agility and conditioning in order for them to perform at a higher level.
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To book an appointment with Eric, email runningcoachmelbourne01@hotmail.com or phone 0468 491 431.
Eva Howard, 50, is an enthusiastic, passionate coach with many years of experience in athletics. Eva has competed in a wide range of events and competitions and can work with children, teenagers and young adults of all fitness levels and disciplines, she specialises in middle distance running.
Matt Shiel decided to compete in Athletics in 2007 to get fit for pre-season football. Matt's notable performances have been making the finals at 400m Bendigo Black Opal classic, Stawell Backmarkers, Frontmarkers and Novice. He also won the Ringwood novice 400m.
Before devoting time to athletics he had placed and won fun runs and triathlons in his age group.
Matt also played American Football for college teams Auburn Tigers, Alabama and Mercer Bears, Georgia in the United States. He was first team All So-Con Punter and named on the College Football Award List. Whilst in the U.S he was able to learn from elite Strength and Conditioning coaches.
Predominately from a background in Aussie Rules Football where he has played and coached at representative/TAC cup level he will be able to set up programs to enable you to play at a higher standard.
With an interest in training programming and methods he is committed to fulfilling every athlete's goals to improve their technique, speed, power and endurance.
Matt has a Bachelor's degree in Sport Coaching - Sport Science, Master's degree in Education (Coaching) and is an accredited Australian Strength Conditioning Association Coach.
To book an appointment with Matt, email mattrunningcoach@gmail.com or phone 0450 085 854.
Pete Boardman, 53, is a keen fitness person who is based in the western suburbs of Melbourne. He has been coaching under the guidance of Mark Howard for a number of years and is a registered Athletics Australia coach. He has personal experience having competed in a variety of sports including sprint and middle distance running as well as cross fit competitions and martial arts, he has a focus on strength training as well as teaching all his clients proper running technique and drills.
Pete is a passionate coach specialising in junior athlete development and distance running for athletes of all sports. Peter works with individuals to improve performance by developing technique, strength, speed and mobility. Sessions are structured to the needs of the individual and may focus on running technique, strength and conditioning.
To book an appointment with Pete, email pete.boardman45@gmail.com or phone 0412 655 010.
Alex Jones, 21, is an athlete and coach with success ranging from 100m to 5km. Alex has a genuine enthusiasm for the sport of running and given he has competed in a variety of distances, those experiences provide him with the ability to coach athletes in a variety of events. Alex's strategy is a combination of his coach Mark Howard's focus on running technique, mixed with his own values on having a professional training mindset. In the summer he competes in Athletics Victoria events for the Doncaster athletics club and also competes in Victorian Athletic League events. In the winter he builds fitness through Athletics Victoria cross country championships and Eastern Football league umpiring. Alex can assist any runner of any ability to improve their technique and increase their stamina and speed. Alex has extensive experience assisting junior runners.
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To book a session with Alex, email ajmjfc@icloud.com or phone 0448 090 887.
Sugi Neecowen, 19, is a keen athlete with a passion for fitness and 11 years experience in athletics. She is currently studying Sport Coaching and Development at University enhancing deeper insights into sports motivation and furthering her knowledge of physiology and how it improves health outcomes. She enjoys helping athletes reach their goals and loves assisting athletes of all ages.
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To book an appointment with Sugi, email sugi.neecowen@icloud.com or phone 0447 125 222.