Our Philosophy
Welcome to Southern Summits Trail Coach, where we empower runners to achieve their goals through a unique blend of science and holistic support. Our coaching philosophy centres on personalised, individualised training plans tailored to your specific needs and capabilities, moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches.
We understand that the journey of running encompasses not only physical endurance but also the often-overlooked mental and emotional aspects of training and competition. By focusing on sustainability and consistency, we guide everyday athletes to tap into their full potential and transform challenges into triumphs. Join us in redefining what’s possible, one step at a time!
Your Coach
Hello! I’m Colleen; a trail and endurance running coach, mountain guide, and lifelong lover of the outdoors with a passion for helping athletes discover what they’re truly capable of.
With years of experience on the trails, I’ve completed multiple ultra-distance races both locally and internationally, including the gruelling 200-mile Tor des Geants race through the Italian Alps, the 100-mile UTMB Finals race, as well as several other ultra distance events across South Africa and abroad. These experiences have shaped not only my understanding of endurance but also the mindset, adaptability, and resilience it takes to succeed at any distance.
As a UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach, Endurance Sports Nutrition Coach, and registered Mountain Guide, I bring a scientific yet highly personalised approach to every athlete I work with. My coaching philosophy blends data driven insight with real world mountain experience, creating training programs that are as adaptable and unique as the runners themselves.
I’m fascinated by the process of athletic preparation, from building fitness and resilience to mastering the mindset, nutrition, and strategy that bring performance together on race day. Whether an athlete is training for their first 10 km or tackling a multi-day ultra, that same curiosity drives me to keep learning, researching, and evolving so I can offer the most up to date, evidence based coaching possible.
Whether your goal is to complete your first trail race, chase a personal best, or take on a major endurance challenge, I’m here to guide you every step of the way — with structure, support, and a deep respect for the process.
Let’s work together to unlock your potential and redefine what’s possible.
George Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB® 2026 Coaching Package
If the George Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB® is on your race calendar for 2026, this is for you. Drawing on my experience racing, guiding and race volunteering on every section of the course, — from the 25 km to the 100-mile route — I’ve created a dedicated coaching package designed to help you prepare specifically for the unique demands of this iconic event. This program blends my usual fully personalised, data driven coaching with course specific insight, strategy, and preparation to ensure you arrive at the start line confident, ready, and race-fit.
For more details or to secure your spot, get in touch at info@southernsummitstrailtours.co.za or send us a message via WhatsApp using the chat widget on this page.
Limited spots available!
