Dominic Toms has been running since the 2015 London Marathon. He has now completed 16 marathons and is also a director of golf academy. More information about Dom can be found on his Twitter account and website.
What is your proudest running achievement?
My first London Marathon in 2015 is my proudest achievement because I ran the whole way refusing to walk a single step despite being absolutely worn out from the 23-mile mark.
What has running taught you about yourself?
Running has taught me self discipline in terms of dedication to follow strict training plans.
What is the most ambitious running goal you’ve ever set?
My most ambitious goal to date was the six marathons I completed in 2016 for my local charity and raising £10,000 in the process.
How far in advance do you plan your running races?
I plan my races (future marathons) normally a year in advance where possible.
What is the most miles you’ve ever run in a week?
The most miles I’ve run in a week is 60, which was during my marathon training.
What is the longest period you’ve ever trained for a race?
My longest cycle of training is 20 weeks for a marathon consisting of running, Pilates, and core strengthening.
What has been your most serious running injury?
My worst injury was plantar fasciitis due to tight calves and tight Achilles. It didn’t stop me running as I just worked with the physio to control it before getting rid of it.
What cross-training exercises do you commit to?
On occasion I cycle in the gym.
Why do you work with a running coach?
The reason I chose a running coach was the disappointment of seeing no progress or improvement in recent marathons. Despite training hard in my opinion it turned out I was just training my body the same and never coming out of my comfort zone. Having a weekly training programme that I have to follow and reporting back to my coach on a weekly basis gives me the motivation I needed as I don’t want to let him down as well as myself.
What does running mean to you?
Running for me is freedom, time to myself to cleanse my mind throughout a marathon training cycle. The race against myself to achieve more in terms of performance and results is also important to me.
Grounded Runner Coaching 