Rotherham’s top V45 marathon star, Ian Whyman, is brimming with confidence following a superb 2:51 PB in London, which represented the culmination of months of hard - but smart - training, juggling 80 mile weeks with a full time job and busy family life.

Ian entered the running world eight years ago, when he was challenged to take on a sprint triathlon, before building up to a half Ironman in 2013. He clearly isn’t an athlete who does anything half-heartedly, and, following a year training with the friendly set up at Maltby RC, he joined Rotherham Harriers last year.

Although the research and development engineer is keen to emphasise how he has benefitted from training with his club mates - who include our own Team Blizard elite athlete, Fiona Davies - he says that it wasn’t until he had his first lactate threshold test with Dave Tune last January that he really started to believe he was capable of making great inroads into his PBs.



Ian explained: “The aim of my first lactate test was to help prepare me to train seriously for a good time in the 2015 Manchester marathon. Clowne’s running legend, Gareth Lowe, recommended Dave, having achieved fantastic results himself on the back of lactate threshold training.”

The 45-year-old married father of two found the scientific and mathematical side of the training plans appealing, and was impressed with the set up at Blizard’s testing centre.

“I loved meeting Dave - he oozes enthusiasm for his sport and his methods. He set me a 12 week training plan for Manchester, and I was amazed that he thought I could achieve a sub-3 hour time based on my test results, as my previous PB was 3:17.

“I would have never targeted sub-3 hours without the confidence Dave instilled in me.”

Ian followed through with Dave’s prediction and smashed his previous lifetime best, clocking a superb 2:55:11!



Boosted by experiencing first-hand how lactate threshold training unquestionably works, he booked himself in for his second test last December, with the aim of knocking another chunk off his PB in London.

Ian explained why he believes in the training: “I really enjoy the threshold and recovery runs in my individual heart rate zones - it gives a real purpose to every session, and you can see the improvements for yourself, as the pace slowly increases for the same heart rate as the body adapts.

“It’s not easy, and it is hard work, but when you see the results it is all worthwhile. Dave always responds quickly and professionally to any questions about my training and races, which I really appreciate.

“It has given me a real focus and transformed my endurance running. This training, in combination with my club’s excellent sessions, have had me churning out PBs almost every time I’ve raced in the last two years.”

The results are there in black and white on Ian’s Power of 10 profile. The hard-working Rotherham Harrier has knocked four minutes off his half marathon time to take it down to a fantastic 78 minutes, and was therefore full of hope going into this year’s London marathon, where he clocked a top 100 age group ranking time of 2:51:05.



“I was super happy with my first London marathon - it was all a learning experience, including coping with the amount of runners around you, and the crowds. I did find myself having to consciously control my breathing and reigning the pace back when going through the incredible walls of noise, with the Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge real highlights,” he explains.

Excitingly, he feels there is still considerable room for improvement, and adds “I ran a little too conservatively in the first half, but I will be back next year to be braver and get that sub 2:50!” We like your style Ian!

He is enjoying getting back on his beloved bike as part of the marathon recovery process, before launching a strong attack on his already impressive 10k and 5k PBs (currently standing at 37:01 and 17:23). The family man is also looking confidently ahead to “hammering some of the Northern, national and veterans relay races’ with his Rotherham team mates, adding how he ‘loves the camaraderie”.



Ian is also a great example of someone who uses the sport to its best advantage for him, and never uses his hectic lifestyle as an excuse not to train: “Running is my passion, it helps me relax and de-stress, and, if I’m grumpy, my very supportive wife and kids just send me for a run!  I make sure it fits in around my busy life, always packing my kit when I travel. I include a treadmill run most mornings, and stop off on my way home to get the main run done before the end of the day.”

The consistently improving Team Blizard athlete may target an autumn marathon, but his main focus is next year’s London, for which he will enrol Dave’s help once again to ensure he is in the best possible shape to break through the 2:50 barrier in the world’s biggest marathon.

We are really excited to see what times you achieve along the way to the 2017 London marathon Ian, and look forward to seeing you back at the clinic to get your next set of training planned out to help you continue your rise up the UK rankings!