Book
Programs
Technical Analysis
Contact UsOur Book
"Run with the Best"
Tony, with co-author Irv Ray, wrote the first addition of Run With The Best in 1996. The Run With the Best program shows you how to take your runners to the next level. Sculpted from the training philosophies of legendary coaches Arthur Lydiard and Percy Cerutty and polished through modern approaches and technology, this is a program that will enable your athletes to compete on equal footing with the best, whether the target is a world record breaker from Kenya or the top runner in your conference.
The full Run With The Best program is presented, a long term plan which emphasises a stage-by-stage build up with equal attention to endurance and speed development. The system works - as shown by the many sample training schedules and performance progressions in the book of runners who trained under Benson and Ray. Read it and see what it takes to "run with the best".
Our Programs
Each athlete receives an individual program and is charged a fee for the program. Athletes living in Melbourne have
the additional benefit of being able to attend squad training sessions. Athletes training in any other part of the world
receive personalised attention via the weekly submission of their training diaries. The following programs are available
to all athletes of both sexes and all ages and abilities.
Run With The Best programs are periodised into Base, Pre-Competition, Competition, Recovery and Transition phases. Our programs are based on the philosophies of coaching legends Percy Cerutty and Arthur Lydiard as well as Tony's experiences with the East African athletes and coaches as well as his 40 years of coaching experience and running with the best. For an individual program designed for your level and event or to join one of our coaches for individual coaching or squad sessions contact us at contact@runwiththebest.com
Open Age
Marathon/Ironman Run - Levels 0 to 4
Half Marathon/Half Ironman Run - Levels 0 to 4
5k/10k Road/Triathlon Run - Levels 0 to 4
5k/10k Track - Levels 2 to 4
1500m/5000m Track - Levels 2 to 4
800m/1500m Track - Levels 0 to 4
2k/3k Steeplechase - Levels 0 to 4
The levels are based on competency and experience not ability. A level 0 athlete is a beginner with little experience and/or background training. A Level 4 athlete is either an elite athlete or an athlete capable of training the equivalent numbers of hours per week as an elite athlete.
High School/Under Age
RWTB also offers programs for Year's 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Training is also based on competency and experience. An
experienced Year 8 may train at Year 9 level and an inexperienced Year 8 may be assigned a Year 7 program while very good
Year 11 or 12 athletes may have graduated to an Open Age program.
To view sample programs please click on any of the links below.
Marathon/Ironman Run
Half Marathon/Half Ironman Run
10k Road/Triathlon Run
5k Road/Triathlon Run
5k/10k Track
1500m/5000m Track
800m/1500m Track
2k/3k Steeplechase
Video Analysis & Technique Training
“Tony Benson is inspiring, a great character who makes learning easy! A true champion and educator.”
Tony started doing RWTB Video Technique sessions in 2003 and since then approximately 400 people have sought assistance.
In addition Tony's expertise has been accessed by many organisations including schools such as the Australian International
School (Singapore) and the elite sports program sector at Maribyrnong Secondary College, the Australian Physiotherapy Association,
the Diabetes Foundation, Little Athletics clubs, Triathlon club, etc.
In the case of the run technique sessions every person, from raw beginners and athletes undergoing rehabilitation to coaches who were former world record holders, has acknowledged the benefits of Tony's advice and were amazed to find they were now running more effortlessly and, as the photos below show, the average runner can also improve dramatically.
Your initial video session will focus on technical improvement at slow to normal speeds. A session normally takes about 1:30 hours and you will leave with a CD and a T-Shirt. Follow up sessions to check technical progress and/or to introduce higher speeds usually take 1 hr.
Once you are running like the best choose a program so you can run up to your best!
If you are interested in attending a Run Correction and Technique session contact Tony at contact@runwiththebest.com.
Testimonials from two coaches who have RUN AHEAD OF THE REST
Perhaps the best testimonies come from two former elite Kenya athletes who attended IAAF Level 2 Regional
Development Coaches Courses in 2002 and 2003. Patrick Sang (former world No 1) told me the extra technique
focus he applied to Eliud Kipchoge (#807 on the left), assisted him the 2003 World 5000m Championship and Moses Kiptanui
(#260 on the right), named the 3000m steeplechaser of the 20th century, said he would have run 3 to 6 seconds faster had
he been aware of RWTB technique.
Check out the story of
Richard and the New York Marathon. This
is one of the most successful technique/training programs ever conducted, involving rehabiliating a
runner who wanted to run the New York marathon but had been told he should never run again. He
ran the race non-stop, except for some photo shoots with New York firemen, despite having started
with an achilles tendon injury, a re-constructed knee and a totally wasted left calf muscle.
Video demonstrations
Novice runner demonstrating improvements
Contact Us
You can contact us by emailing us at;
contact@runwiththebest.com
Achievements
Coaches
TestimonialsOur Achievements
Over the past 40 years Tony has coached over 1300 athletes and triathletes of both genders and of all ages and abilities. At the
elite end there have been medallists in the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Triathlon World Championships, those who
have achieved selection onto Olympic and World Track & Cross Country Championship teams as well as Asian record setters, winners
of Australian track, triathlon and duathlon Championships and qualifiers for major non-Track & Field events like the Hawaii Ironman.
Run with the Best is not just a story of the elite however. To say that around 99% of the all the athletes who followed this program for 3 months or more improved their performance significantly would not be overstating the situation. In fact personal bests, performing at the top levels of their age groups or divisions and qualifying for prestigious events like the Hawaii Ironman, the New York Marathon and World Age Group Championships are routine.
For more on our athletes click here.
Our Coaches
Tony Benson ASM
Tony, with co-author Irv Ray, wrote the first addition of Run With The Best in 1996.
This extremely successful coaching book was the culmination and summation of his athletic career. It was re-published in 1998.
Prior to focussing on athletics Tony was an outstanding multisport athlete at St Patrick's College in Ballarat, Victoria, who chose to pursue running post high school at 20 years of age. Over the next 10 years he, and his wife Raylene, combined marriage, raising a three children, teaching, studying, building their home and training to secure selection on in the Australian 1972 Olympic team.
Following his retirement from running Tony qualified as a Level 5 Athletics and Level 3 Triathlon who has coached at the very highest levels as well as establishing two very successful businesses - International Athletic Exchange and Benson's Running & Triathlon.
Athletic career
Tony was a 1972 Olympic 5000m Representative, the 5th ranked 5000m runner in the world in 1971, a Pacific Conference Games
1500m Gold Medallist. He also run a sub 4 minute mile, held the Australian 2000m record, recorded the 8th fastest 3000m (7:50.2)
of all time and the fastest ever 'best on record' road 10k in 1971 of 27:37. His major victories were in IAAF Stockholm, Oslo,
Cologne, Bakersfield and Los Angeles. He is the last Australian runner to win a major IAAF Grand Prix 5000m race.
Coaching career
Australia Track & Field Coaches' Association National Consultant who has lectured for the IAAF/IOC in Africa, Asia and
the Pacific, including five tours of Kenya, held the Head Coach position for the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth
Games and Asian Games teams and the National Coaching Director positions for the Philippines and Australia.
Tony is also a Level 5 Track and Field coach and a Level 3 Triathlon coach who has coached athletes into the Olympic Games and
World Championships and triathletes to World Elite Championship level as well as co-authoring the acclaimed coaching book
"Run With The Best".
Frances Lipscombe
Frances' lifelong interest in athletics and in particular running started at age 10
when she became involved with Little Athletics. Frances ran at Junior state championship level
running at most distances up to the marathon as a club and recreational runner.
With Tony's encouragement as mentor and colleague Frances began coaching in 2005 and has coached 2 talented juniors to National All Schools Championships (top 10) and 5 juniors to State All Schools Championships (including 2 medallists).
Frances is an ATFCA/ Athletics Australia accredited Level 4 middle distance and distance coach. Currently as head coach and program manager of EPS Running, Frances coaches all level of athletes from recreational adults looking to run their first marathon, club runners, school groups to juniors on a pathway to elite.
Testimonials
Endorsements from experts about RUN WITH THE BEST
“This (Run With The Best) is not only the 'why' but also the 'when' and the 'how' of the art and science of running.”
“I have no hesitation in recommending all coaches read this book. ”
“If you are a high school or college coach who wants their athletes to run their best when it counts most, Run With The Best will help you to achieve dramatic results.”
“(Run With The Best) is a must for every track & field coach.”
“The first season (using) the Run With The Best program saw remarkable (improvement) in the preparation and peaking (of the team). Since then, I have seen similar results at all levels of ability. ”
Comments from those who participated - Comments for attendees at a Run Technique Clinic organised by Paul Visintini & PhysioSports
“Excellent authority on running technique and tuition in Tony Benson.”
“Tony Benson is inspiring, a great character who makes learning easy! A true champion and educator. ”
“Wow – that WAS good.”
“Gosh, I’ve got no regrets coming down from Mt Martha for this; so glad I brought my running coach along to hear it too!”
“After that, I’m even thinking I might start up running again, this way sounds like I wouldn’t have any injury to stop me.”
“Tony Benson (is) a truly credible and excellent teacher (who) revealed how powerful and useful his acquired knowledge really is on technique and style for most effective and injury-free running! ”
Comments from those who know - the athletes
“A coach in a class of his own.”
“Triumph of a Goal. Thanks so much, Tony.”
“Thanks so much”
“My coach, my mentor. Could not have done it without you.”
“Could not have got here without you.”
“I thought 50 minutes for 10k was an ambitious dream. To run sub 46 minutes something I never dreamed of achieving.”
“Olivia has been selected in the State team to compete in Newcastle in August. Thank you both for the fantastic work you did with her as part of the rehabilitation of her hamstring.”
“As soon as I signed up to run my first marathon I knew I would need help to improve my running technique and get a training plan developed. My uncle recommended EPS and I soon had an appointment with Tony and Frances for a video technique session. In just that first one hour session I could feel that I had totally changed the way I was running and was on track to start running with a much more efficient technique. Since then I have been attending group training and following my training plan and I feel well on track to complete my goal.”
“I began training with EPS (Frances Lipscombe) in August 2010 to get back on track after an Achilles injury as well as ongoing knee complaints. After a technique training session with Tony Benson I discovered that my running technique had a lot to do with my ailments and he referred me to Frances for ongoing training.
Beginning coaching with Frances was the best thing I have ever done. In the months that I have been training with Frances I have noticed a huge improvement in my running as well my recoveries and my race times. When I run now I am constantly thinking about the wrongs and rights of my style and I am running far more efficiently.
Frances is not only there during our training sessions to encourage and give feedback but she is also available over the phone, whenever I need advice on my program or such.
Never have I felt better in my running and I can feel the improvement every day! My knowledge, understanding and ability have improved vastly in such a small amount time and I thank Frances for being such a great coach! ”
News
Sharon Norton "Happy with my swim. Got a flat on the bike and the legs were a bit trashed by the time I started the run. Couldn't go as hard down the hills in case my tyre rolled off so subsequently lost speed to get up the otherside. Very happy not to have a DNF against my name when it happened in the first 20km of the bike."
All this and Sharon finished 4th in F45-49 age group and was the 48th female overall.
Jo Charge ran her race in 4:50.04. Her quote "I had an awesome race. enjoyed all of it, even the pain.."
Mark Dunphy did not have such a happy time but completed the 42.2km in 4:58.4. His quote"...Not great but happy to be done. Quite ill in the second half of the race and had to walk a lot."