
MEET THE COACHES

sarah
mccormack
COACH PROFILE
UK Athletics-Certified Trail & Fell Running Coach
PhD Biogeochemistry, MPhil Chemistry BSc (Hons) Biochemistry
Mountain Running World Cup Winner 2019
Italian Mountain Running & Vertical Kilometre Champion 2020
Top ten - World/European Mountain Running Championships - 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018
Winner, Snowdon International Mountain Race 2014, 2015, 2019
European Cross Country Championships Team Gold 2012
Irish Cross-Country Champion 2014
5k PB 15:46 / 10k PB 33:33
What motivates me as a coach is the process of getting to know individual athletes and developing a training approach that works best for each unique runner. I believe my mixed background in track, cross country, trail and mountain running gives me a big base of experience to draw from when designing a training plan to meet both the unique needs of the runner and the specific demands of their target events. It's incredibly rewarding to be a part of the success of other runners and to have the chance to share in their achievements."
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paul
tierney
COACH PROFILE
UESCA-Certified Ultra-Running Coach
Lydiard-Certified Running Coach
BSc (Hons) Business Studies
Lakeland 100 podium, 2011, 2012, 2015
Wicklow Way Ultra podium, 2011-2015, 2017
Former Wicklow Way record holder
Wainwrights Round 2019
Team Ireland / World Ultra Trail Championships 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018
Tor des Geants 330km 2017, 2018, 2021
Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Coach
Certified Biomechanics Coach & ACE Personal Trainer
I've been involved in competitive sport from a young age, getting my start by playing hurling for my local club and eventually for my county. I got into endurance sports during my time in Australia, and ultimately gravitated towards fell and ultra-trail running. I have always enjoyed working with other athletes and helping them to achieve their goals through fun and challenging training. I feel that my strength as a coach lies in my ability to understand and communicate well with my athletes."
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jacob
adkin
COACH PROFILE
UESCA-Certified Ultra-Running Coach
BEng Mechanical Engineering
Winner, European Mountain Running Championships 2019
Winner, Mont Blanc VK 2018, 2019
World Mountain Running Championships 6th 2018, 8th 2019
10th, Sierre-Zinal 2018
Record-holder, Langstrath Fell Race
Record-holder, Blencathra Fell Race
Record-holder, Kentmere Fell Race
Record-holder, Fairfield Horseshoe Fell Race
Heralding from Scotland originally, I moved to the Lake District after completing university at Edinburgh. Growing up on cross-country, I found my groove in hill and mountain running and have gone on to compete abroad at international events and more recently in the fell running scene.
The appreciation for and enjoyment of the process of training and maximising performance is something I love to share with athletes, helping them realise a rewarding journey as well as an end goal."
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LOUISE
merceR
COACH PROFILE
UESCA-Certified Ultra-Running Coach
Lydiard-Certified Running Coach
MSc Environmental Science
XTerra Trail World Championships, 4th, 2018
Mountain Running World Cup, 7th place, 2019
Snowdon International Mountain Race silver, 2017
NCAA Division 1 scholarship athlete (Utah), Cross-Country/Track
I started off running in wellies around my family’s farm, and eventually progressed to represent Scotland in track, cross country and mountain running. The mountain running community and beautiful alpine trails have led me to focus on trail running. As a coach, I enjoy working with athletes to develop tailored plans that fit around their work and lifestyle. It's extremely rewarding to see training and racing goals being met through this collaborative approach."
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ally
beaven
COACH PROFILE
UESCA-Certified Ultra-Running Coach
Cairngorm Big 6 Record Holder
Former Cairngorm 4000s record holder
Tor Des Geants Top-20 Finisher, 2021
When I started hill running in my early twenties I was instantly drawn to longer races. New to running, and not knowing how to train effectively, I did a lot of painful slogging. I've learned a lot in the intervening decade and I enjoy putting my experience to use in designing personalised, targeted and effective training programs for my athletes.
Every runner has their own individual circumstances and background, and navigating these considerations to meet goals and achieve long-term development is a hugely rewarding process for me."
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GET IN TOUCH
Missing Link Coaching
Unit 16, The Mill Yard
Staveley, Cumbria LA8 9LR
email: enquiries@missinglinkcoaching.co.uk
tel: +44 (0) 7960 470 415
