Coach josh

Coaching philosophy

When it comes to coaching, I believe that the big picture is what matters. All of the biggest leaps in race performances I’ve seen from athletes have come from a background of consistent work. Encouraging an athlete to put in the work, no matter what that looks like to them, is incredibly rewarding. Showing up every day and working hard takes you 90% of the way. I also believe that consistent hard work is the most underrated aspect of training. Whether you’re training for a 5km or a marathon, training consistently and with purpose is what will take you the closest to your goal.

Favourite race distance and why?

My favourite race distance is the mile. I love that it's the intersection of strength and speed. A good miler needs outstanding top-end speed and the strength to get to the end of a race to use it. Because of this, you can find all types of athletes in the mix, making for some very interesting races.

A few pro tips for your athletes

Enjoy the process. There’s something special about working towards a big goal and getting a bit better every day. Not every day needs to be perfect. Not every workout needs to be perfect. Have a short memory. Don’t dwell on things too long, focus on what's right in front of you. Bad days are part of the process. You can’t feel 100% every day. 

Career highlights

Having the opportunity to represent Canada for the 2019 FISU team with two of my teammates. Being able to share this with teammates who worked alongside me during my university career made this moment special.

Quote that inspires you:

“Athletics is not so much about the legs. It’s about the heart and the mind.”

-Eliud Kipchoge