What People are saying

Working with Stu has genuinely transformed my running—and honestly, my life. I started training with him in May 2024 (after he supported me for about six weeks leading up to MidSouth), and from the start he brought such a thoughtful, holistic approach to coaching.

We began by getting clear on my goals: getting faster and building my mental strength. He’s supported every part of that journey—helping me strengthen my mindset, build confidence in my abilities, and understand how to fuel, hydrate, and recover in ways that make running feel sustainable and joyful. I love running, but burnout is real, especially when you’re racing multiple events a year. With Stu, though, I’ve felt grounded and excited about training in a way I didn’t expect.

I didn’t realize how much I needed this kind of support until I had it—it’s been a complete game changer. I truly feel like I hit the coach jackpot on the first try, and I cannot recommend him enough!

— Devin, 38

Working with Stuart for the past year has completely transformed me as a runner. In just six months after my previous marathon, he helped me cut a full hour off my marathon time, something I never imagined possible. From nutrition to technique, Stuart broke everything down in a way that never felt overwhelming. Instead, every step of the process made me more excited, more confident, and more capable.

He's an equal parts coach and hype man, always knowing exactly how to push me while keeping training fun and motivating. Stuart helped me build confidence not just in my pace and form, but in myself to feel like a competitive runner.

At some point, I'm planning to take on an ultramarathon, and honestly, I can’t imagine anyone else preparing me for such a huge goal. If you’re looking for a coach who’s knowledgeable, supportive, and genuinely invested in your success, Stuart's your guy!

— Jona, 36

Last year, I had the opportunity to be coached by Stuart McDonald. He was able to custom design a program that fit within my busy schedule. Coach McDonald was available once a week via phone or zoom to go over the upcoming sessions. He asked me for feedback and how my body was responding to the workouts, the exercises and the running programs. His coaching was dynamic where he was able to make subtle adjustments on the fly as my Marathon race was approaching. 

One thing I loved about coach McDonald was that he was able to program the workouts straight into my Garmin. I was not aware that one could do that. But that was super cool. If you are looking to PR on your next race, or run injury-free, you need to interview a few coaches. Working with Coach McDonald was the right choice for me. I recommend his coaching system 100% percent. ”

— Alex, 54