JOHN HAMLETT

THE BEST ULTRA DISTANCE COACH

MEET THE COACH

Chairman of HOT (Hamlett Online Training) competing as Entsika Athletics Club Elite Athletes

John E Hamlett is a seasoned professional athlete, having completed more than 70 marathons and has for the past 35 years used his professional experience to coach athletes to improve their performance. His personal successes include completing the 800m sprint in 1minute 48 seconds and having won the prestigious “Jock of the Bushveld” challenge, besting the record with 7 minutes as well as winning the East London based, Buffalo Marathon. His personal best performance was completing a marathon in Botswana (1983) within 2 hours 18 minutes, solidifying his dominance as a serious contender.

John’s athletic career started at the age of 15 and due to his successes naturally progressed to him becoming an expert coach, teacher and sports nutritionist. He is also a qualified Gym, Aerobics, Swimming instructor and Tri-Athlon coach. He is also certified in Sports Nutrition and Fitness, providing a sound base for holistic lifestyle-based training and coaching which has become his primary focus in preparing athletes.

This approach had been particularly effective in eliminating the Russian dominance over the Comrades Marathon in 2001, where John played a significant role in preparing Andrew Kelehe for his victory. Before, Andrew had competed in the Two Oceans Marathon for many years and finished second and top 10 several times but was unable to win the challenge.

WINNERS

During the past three decades, John has been instrumental in coaching athletes whom have competed and earned 60 Comrades gold medals of which 5 were Winners, earned several silver medals and progressed to completing personal best times in ultra-distance marathons, whilst maintaining dominance in first and second places for overall team performance in the Comrades Marathon.

Being recognised as a Coach-of-Coaches is supported by the achievement of athletes being coached by his and their successes include amongst others:

2001

Andrew Kelehe won Comrades Marathon and breaks the Russian Stronghold

2016

David Gatebe won the Comrades Marathon, breaking the longstanding Russian record (since 2007) by 4 minutes

2017

Prodigal Kumalo won UCTC 100km over Table Mountain again breaking the record 9:51

2013

David Gatebe won the Two Oceans

2016

South African team represented by amongst others, Gift Kelehe, David Gatebe and Bongmusa Mtembu, won the 100km World Championships in Spain – Bongamusa finished second overall

2018

Ann Ashworth won Comrades Marathon 2018, whilst Gordon Lesetedi got his first gold medal (6th position), David Gatebe (8th position) and Gift Kelehe (9th position) and Prodigal Kumalo (11th position)

2015

Gift Kelehe won the 90th Comrades Marathon, making history being the first of sibling brothers to won Comrades

2016

Prodigal Kumalo won UCTC 100km over Table Mountain with a time of 11:07

2019

Ann Ashworth got her second gold at 4th position, Gordon Lesetedi got his second gold medal (9th position) and Siya Mqambeli his first gold medal (10th position)

As chairperson and coach of HOT, John is preparing the Entsika Athletics Club Elite team for the prestigious Two Oceans and Comrades Marathons in 2020 and aims to break the existing record, whilst attempting for the entire team to complete in the Top-10 and winning the coveted Overall Team Prize.

John remains committed to the support of athletes under his guidance and aims to provide them with competitive advantage and support through his holistic lifestyle coaching methods to unlock and improve on their potential and encourage performance excellence.

John Hamlett, a well-known Ultra distance coach, offers online training programmes for those interested in running their first Half Marathon, Marathon or Ultra Distance Marathon.

John's coaching provides a programme to increase or enhance your running fitness level, while minimizing the chances of incurring injuries.

John coaches’ long-distance athletes but can also assist those wanting to start with 5km and 10km runs.

training

If you want to be a winner or just better your time in a 10km, 21,1km, 42,2km, Comrades Marathon or any other Ultra Marathons then you are at the right place, Coach John does high quality one on one coaching with each and every athlete he coaches.

Personal Goal Setting

With every new athlete he does a full personal training assessment in the first interview, looking at your running history and looking at the best way to help you. We start all new coaching relationships with a personal training review. Looking at the running history we set the goals you'd like to achieve and work out how long it will take to get you there.

Personal Training Programme

Coach John do a specific personal training programme for you as an individual athlete, no athlete is the same, it is specific to the individual taking your schedule, goals and training athletic ability into account.

Feedback & Support

Weekly whatsapp feedback is required from you as an athlete to make sure that your training is adequate and that you are coping with the programme. Feedback makes it easy to assess and assist in niggles and injuries if they should occur. Once a month there will be a one on one feedback session.