My story
From overweight
to ultramarathon runner
Every journey starts with a single step.
I’m Richard Rains, founder of Rains Endurance Coaching, and if you’d told me a couple of years ago that I’d be running ultramarathons, covering hundreds of kilometres and helping others discover running, I would never have believed you.
My journey didn’t start with running shoes, finish lines or race medals. It started with a decision that I needed to change my life.
Where it all began
Towards the end of 2024, I weighed around 17½ stone (111kg). I was overweight, unfit and knew I wasn’t where I wanted to be physically.
I wanted to feel healthier, have more energy, improve my confidence and become a better version of myself. But I wasn’t a runner. In fact, the thought of running the distances I cover today would have seemed completely impossible.
So I started with something simple. I started walking.
My first real adventure was a six-mile hike up Mam Tor in the Peak District. It might not sound like much compared to what I’ve achieved since, but looking back, that hike was one of the most important steps I ever took. I discovered something that would completely change my life: a love for being outdoors, challenging myself and exploring places I’d never been before.
From walking to running
As the weight started coming off and my fitness improved, walking turned into longer hikes, bigger challenges and eventually running.
At first, running wasn’t easy. I wasn’t particularly fast, I couldn’t run huge distances, and every improvement had to be earned. But I kept turning up.
Early mornings became part of my routine. While most people were still asleep, I’d be outside at 5:30am, putting in the miles, exploring the trails and gradually becoming stronger.
The more I ran, the more I realised that it wasn’t just changing my body. It was changing my mindset. Running taught me discipline, resilience, patience and the importance of consistency. I stopped focusing on what I couldn’t do and started discovering what I was capable of.
From my first 5K to ultramarathons
What started as an effort to lose weight became something much bigger. I progressed from running shorter distances to half marathons, trail races and eventually ultramarathons. Along the way, I’ve taken on some incredible challenges, including:
Centurion Hundred Hills 50K
Tough trail course — completed in roughly seven hours.
North Downs Way 50
50 miles in 12 hours 25 minutes.
Serpent Trail 100K
100 kilometres in 16 hours 30 minutes.
Great North Run
One of the UK’s most iconic half marathons.
Around Ibiza
Roughly 210 kilometres around the island across four days.
I’ve also experienced the other side of endurance running.
I’ve had injuries, setbacks, difficult training sessions and races that haven’t gone to plan, including a DNF at the Arc of Attrition. Not every challenge has ended with a medal. But every experience has taught me something.
Success isn’t about never failing. It’s about learning, adapting and continuing to move forward.
The transformation
Today, I’ve gone from approximately 17½ stone to around 11½ stone, losing roughly six stone along the way. But the biggest achievement isn’t the number on the scales. It’s what I’ve gained.
- Starting point, late 2024
- 17½ stStarting point, late 2024
- Today
- 11½ stToday
- Lost along the way
- ≈6 stLost along the way
- Ibiza perimeter, 4 days
- 210 kmIbiza perimeter, 4 days
- Confidence
- Fitness
- Discipline
- A healthier lifestyle
- A passion for adventure
Running has taken me to mountains, forests, coastal trails and finish lines I could only have dreamed about when I started. And I’m still learning, still improving and still chasing new challenges.
Why I started Rains Endurance Coaching
As my journey progressed, I started sharing my experiences through Rains Adventures and founded Thurmaston Runners, a local community bringing people together through running.
Seeing others begin their journeys, improve their confidence and achieve personal milestones has become one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. That’s what inspired me to create Rains Endurance Coaching.
I want to build something that helps people discover what running can bring to their lives. Whether you’re completely new to running, struggling to find motivation, hoping to complete your first 5K, or dreaming of tackling a marathon or ultramarathon, I want you to know that everyone starts somewhere.
I know what it feels like to look at a challenge and think it’s impossible. Because I’ve been there. My ambition is to use my experiences, alongside my continued development and formal coaching education, to create a supportive coaching community that helps runners work towards their individual goals.
Your journey starts here
You just have to be willing
to take that first step
You don’t have to be fast. You don’t have to be fit. You don’t have to look like a runner.
If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that your starting point doesn’t have to determine your destination. I’m still chasing my own goals, and I’d love for you to be part of the journey.
From your first mile to your biggest challenge
Richard Rains
Founder — Rains Endurance Coaching