Run With Alex study links training consistency to half-marathon bests

Run With Alex published an analysis of 18 amateur runners that found athletes with fewer training interruptions were far more likely to set half-marathon personal bests. The Belgrade-based coaching service is also expanding availability to runners in the United States and Western Europe.

Why it matters: - Training consistency appears closely tied to race-day improvement in this small amateur runner sample. - The findings are being used to support an evidence-informed coaching model as Run With Alex expands into the United States and Western Europe.

What happened: - Run With Alex published an applied coaching analysis titled “Consistency as the Primary Driver of Performance in Amateur Half-Marathon Runners: An Applied Coaching Analysis.” - The analysis reviewed training logs and race results from 18 adult runners ages 24 to 51. - All 18 runners were coached through at least 16 weeks of half-marathon preparation between 2021 and 2024. - Run With Alex is founded by UESCA-certified coach Aleksandar “Alex” Matić.

The details: - The runners were grouped by the frequency of training interruptions lasting seven days or longer. - Of 12 runners with no breaks or only one or two interruptions, 10 set a personal best in their target half marathon. - Of six runners with repeated or longer interruptions, none set a personal best. - Runners with no or limited interruptions averaged 79 kilometers per week and improved their half-marathon times by 15.8 minutes on average. - Runners with one or two interruptions averaged 56.6 kilometers per week and improved by 11.8 minutes on average. - The most disrupted group averaged 45.8 kilometers per week and did not improve from their starting performance. - Matić said, “Every runner in this study who completed 16 weeks without long interruptions ran faster on race day.” - Matić said he builds plans around a training load the athlete can maintain through work, travel and family life, then increases volume once that base is in place. - Matić said the coaching approach uses direct communication and ongoing adjustment through TrainingPeaks. - Matić also said coaching can include analysis of pacing, fatigue, aerobic development, race-specific preparation and the relationship between training load and performance. - The research paper is publicly available through Zenodo at the full paper. - More information about international coaching is available at international coaching.

Between the lines: - Matić said the analysis is descriptive and based on a small sample, not a controlled prospective study. - The results show an association within this group, but larger prospective studies would be needed to test whether the pattern holds across a broader runner population. - The publication also reinforces Run With Alex’s branding around individualized training, rather than fixed templates. - Matić has coached more than 100 runners, from first-5K athletes to marathoners and ultrarunners. - Matić’s own running background includes more than 15 years in the sport, more than 20 marathons and multiple ultramarathons. - Matić is currently advising a Serbian 10,000-meter champion who is preparing for a marathon debut in December 2026.

What’s next: - Run With Alex is now accepting coaching clients in the United States and Western Europe. - Coaching is offered in English and covers distances from a first 5K to ultramarathons. - The company’s broader research and coaching work will likely continue to emphasize consistency, progression and athlete-specific adjustment.

The bottom line: - For this group of amateur runners, steady training beat disrupted training, and the cleanest gains came from athletes who stayed on plan for 16 weeks.