Meet Brennan & Kat

Brennan is an elite ultra trail runner and professional running coach based in the Lake District, UK. He lives with his family in the heart of the Northern Lakes, where the mountains shape both his training and his coaching philosophy.

With over 16 years of endurance sport experience — spanning triathlon, professional cycling and fell, trail and ultra running — Brennan brings a rare depth of understanding to performance, resilience and long-term athlete development.

Athletic Achievements

• Winner — Three Peaks Fell Race (x2)
• Winner — UTS 50km, UTMB World Series
• Winner — Garmin Mourne Sky Race
• Winner — Steall Marathon
• Winner — Skiddaw Fell Race
• Winner — Newlands Memorial Race
• Winner — Buttermere Sailbeck
• Winner — Grisedale Horseshoe
• Winner — Lakeland Classics Trophy
• Former Record Holder — George Fisher Tea Round
• Runner-up — English Fell Running Championships (2022)
• Former UK Skyrunning Champion
• 34th — OCC by UTMB (UTMB World Series Finals)
• Top 10 — Val d'Aran by UTMB, PDA
• GB Representative — 2022 European & World Trail Running Championships
• Team Bronze — 2022 World Trail Running Championships

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UTMB World Series Experience

Competing at the front of UTMB World Series events gives Brennan a direct and practical advantage as a coach. He understands exactly what it takes to perform on the most demanding courses in the world — from pacing and fuelling to technical descending, climbing efficiency and race execution under fatigue.

For the athletes he coaches, this translates into real-world insight, not just theory — helping them prepare effectively, avoid common mistakes and perform with confidence on race day.

View Brennan's UTMB Profile ›

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Coaching Experience & Philosophy

Brennan has been coaching endurance runners for over 12 years, working with athletes of all levels to maximise performance, prepare for key events and build long-term progression.

His approach is grounded in science-led methodology — combining data analysis, structured training principles and real-world racing experience. Every athlete responds differently, so coaching is highly individualised, designed to optimise performance while balancing lifestyle, recovery and long-term development.

The goal is simple: build durable, resilient athletes who perform consistently when it counts.

Kat Townshend is an experienced road, fell, trail and mountain running coach, combining active elite racing with real-world mountain experience to help runners reach their potential.

As co-founder of Townshend Performance, she works with athletes of all levels — from road runners developing speed or stepping onto trails for the first time, to experienced ultra racers — delivering structured, personalised coaching built around long-term development.

A former track and cross country runner, and now an active UTMB World Series competitor, Kat brings current race experience directly into her coaching. Combined with her background as a mountaineer and alpinist, and the reality of balancing training as a mother of two, her coaching is genuinely grounded in real life — understanding fatigue, terrain, and how to build consistency around work and family without burning out.

Athletic Achievements

• 3rd place — The Lap (8:54)
• 3rd place — Skiddaw Fell Race (1:36)
• 5th place, 1st age category — UTS 25km, UTMB World Series / Ultra-Trail Snowdonia (3:08)
• 3rd female — Adidas Terrex Keswick Mountain Festival 25km (2:35)
• 10th place — Ennerdale Horseshoe, English Fell Running Championships (5:05)
• 4th female — Salomon Serpent Trail 50km (4:46)
• 14th female, 5th age category — Wildstrubel by UTMB, Wild 25 (3:00)
• 12th female, 1st age category — Val d'Aran by UTMB, EXP Val d'Aran 32km (4:22)

View Kat's UTMB Profile ›

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Coaching Experience & Philosophy

Kat has been coaching runners across road, fell, trail and ultra distances to build consistency, resilience and long-term progression.

Her coaching blends evidence-based training, strength work and terrain-specific preparation — supporting everything from faster road running to confident movement in technical mountain environments. Every plan is individualised, built around your life and goals rather than a generic template.

The aim is straightforward: develop you over time — stronger, aerobically fitter, more efficient, and more consistent — not just for your next race, but for where you'll be in 6–12 months and beyond.