About Dr Ian Martin
I am founder and Head of Coaching and Development at Vale of York Athletic Community and founder of Delphis - a management training and consultancy business specialising in corporate health and wellbeing.
My sporting qualifications include England Athletics Endurance Performance Coach and Exercise Referral Specialist and I work for UK Athletics as a Safeguarding Educator.
Academically, I have a Phd in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine from Manchester University, a MSc (with distinction) in Business, and a first-class honours degree in English. My Master’s thesis, ‘Long Hours and Stress for IT Professionals’ won the departmental business school prize for best dissertation in 1999.
Other qualifications include: Event Group Endurance Coach (England Athletics).
Athletics Coach (England Athletics).
Coaching Assistant (England Athletics).
Level 5 Advanced Sports and Exercise Nutrition Adviser (Health Sciences Academy).
Level 4 Obesity and Diabetes Specialist (Wright Foundation).
Advanced Diploma in Sports Massage (University of Leeds).
Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral (FIE) Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training and Instruction (FIE).
Level 3 Circuit Instruction (FIE) Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral (FIE) Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing Gym-Based Exercise (FIE) Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health Awareness.
I am a competitive age group masters athlete in track and field and road and cross country.
In 2022, aged 55 and with type 1 diabetes, I competed in every event from 100 metres to a marathon and ran three lifetime bests:
5K parkrun - 17:43.
10 mile - 1:03:13.
Marathon - 2:59:15.
I am currently the M55 Yorkshire Veterans Athletic Association (YVAA) champion for 5K, 10K, 5 mile, 10 mile and multi-terrain Grand Prix.
My PB's and age gradings for 2022 aged 55:
100 - 14.5 - 78.21%.
200 - 28.05 - 82.75%.
400 - 61.8 - 82.85%.
800 - 2:29.84 - 80.95%.
1500 - 5:02.13 - 81.12%.
Mile - 5:23.6 - 81.95%.
3000 - 10:41.32 - 81.72%.
5000 - 18:46.70 - 80.06%.
5K - 17:43 - 85.89%.
5 mile - 32:27 - 77.97%.
10K - 38:48 - 80.84%.
10 mile - 1:03:13 - 80.65%.
Half marathon - 1:22:32 - 81.79%.
Marathon - 2:59:15 - 80.02%.
I offer online and face-to-face coaching services to a wide range of endurance athletes of all ages and abilities both face-to-face and online. I also work with young footballers face-to-face to improve their speed, agility, balance, coordination and strength.
I am currently coaching a sub 17:00 5K runner, a first-time Ironman competitor, a beginner looking to break four hours for the marathon and a number of footballers at various club academies in Yorkshire. There are many more.
My coaching is grounded in tried and tested scientific principles combined with over forty years' practical experience. I believe in an athlete-centred approach rather than one size fits all.