The Perkins Great Eastern Run has teamed up with Liz and Martin Yelling to offer runners the best available advice to help them train for and complete this year's half marathon. Liz ran the 2011 Perkins Great Eastern Run and set a new course record for a female runner, completing the course in 72mins 14secs.  Liz is currently training hard as she attempts to win a place to enable her to compete in her 3rd Olympics at London 2012.  All the training tips provided on this website have been compiled by Yelling Performance

Liz Yelling

Liz Yelling is one of Britain's top female marathon runners.  She has competed in the last 2 Olympic Games (Beijing and Athens) and has over 15 years experience as an international runner.  Liz has developed a world class reputation as an outstanding endurance performer winning the Bronze medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, finishing first Briton home in the Athens Olympic marathon, 4th in the Chicago marathon top 8 at the London Marathon.  Liz has won multiple National Championship titles on the roads and cross country.  She is a 4 times National Cross country champion and medalist at the European and World cross country championships.  in 2008 Liz finished first European at the World cross country championships in Edinburgh.  Liz has marathon PB of 2hrs 28min and a half marathon PB of 69min 28sec.

Liz competes in a variety of world class events across the globe but is at the same time passionate about helping other people achieve their own health, lifestyle and performance goals. Liz has written a coaching book for women runners (The Woman's Guide to Running, Hamlyn, 2006) and is the Lucozade Sport running ambassador as well a regular contributor to health, lifestyle and fitness magazines.   Liz may be an elite performer herself but she certainly isn't elitist.  She coaches runners of all abilities and has helped many runners, novice to elite, to achieve more in and through their running.

Martin Yelling

Martin has a background in sport, physical activity promotion and health education. He holds a BSc (Sports Science), a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, (Physical Education) and a PhD. He has worked in the education departments at Loughborough University and DeMontfort University.  Martin is a UKA level 3 endurance coach and REPS advanced instructor.

Martin is a regular writer and coach for running and triathlon magazines and websites including Running Fitness, Triathlon Plus, London Marathon News and Run247.com. He has worked with runners and triathletes at all levels from total novices who think they can't do it (but actually can), to experienced campaigners and full time professionals. He likes smiling.

Martin enjoys running on the trails and roads around his Dorset home and struggling to keep up with 2x Olympic marathon runner and wife, Liz. His competitive running background includes representing England at road and cross country running, a AAA's medal over 1500m, a top ten finish in the National cross country, some sub 30min 10k performances and a half marathon of 66mins. After snapping an achilles tendon in 1998 he switched to multisport and won the elite National duathlon championships twice, represented GB at world and European championships, recorded a sub 4hr half ironman and a 9.14 ironman and cracked the big one, the ironman world championships in Kona, Hawaii.  Martin 'retired' in 2007 and but has since run under 3hrs for the marathon and still enjoys running most days whilst not chasing around the house looking after new daughter Ruby. Martin's sister is 2x European cross country champion Hayley Yelling.

Martin believes in the spark of greatness in everyone and that we can all be successful at something. With desire, passion, drive and sustained support and guidance everyone can achieve their dreams!