ATHLETE TESTIMONIALS
I am honoured to have worked with athletes of all levels, from complete first timers to World Champions - the satisfaction gained from helping someone improve their technique and see them achieve their individual goal, be it running to the end of the street or win a National title, is immense and I am proud to have been a part of their journey.
Here are a few comments from some of the athletes that I have coached:
Julian Matthews (Commonwealth Games Finalist and Olympian) - 'Jonno was able to identify minor yet potentially significant technical areas for me to improve along with important postural, bio-mechanical and range of movement issues. At my level of competition, any slight improvement that results in an improvement of even 10th's of a second could mean the difference between going home with a medal or not. Jonno was instrumental in helping me reach the final of the 1500m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and compete in the Olympic 1500m at the Rio Olympics and has made a big difference to the techniques of the younger up and coming athletes at the NZ National Academy of Distance Running. I look forward to working with him as I train towards Tokyo 2020'
Greg Lautenslager (Coach/Director at NZ National Academy of Distance Running and four times US Olympic Trialist) - 'Jonno has great knowledge of his craft and I have learned much from him...he has worked with more than 40 of my runners over the past three years and we have reaped the rewards of that work. Improved form and strength from the younger runners is making a big difference in their development, helps them stay injury free and their performances have improved dramatically.'
Steve Price (NZ Warriors and Rugby League Legend) - 'Having been forced to retire from professional rugby due to a foot injury, I totally agree with Jonno’s philosophy on ensuring maximum foot strength, mobility and a technique that reduces impact and stress while increasing speed and endurance. In my opinion the work that Jonno does with athletes is vital to both help prevent injury and increase performance for all athletes of any sport that involves running, directly or indirectly.'
Jared Lautenslager (U20 NZ Junior 3000m Champion 2017) - 'Since I started working with Jonno in 2013 I have seen incredible improvement in my running technique resulting in winning the NZ Junior 3000m title this year. Without Jonno I don't believe I would have achieved this or much of the other great success I had in recent years. With his help I have developed the efficiency in my running form so that I can both run faster and also prevent injury - I have also learnt a huge amount about nutrition and conditioning and I owe Jonno much credit for a lot of my success because I wouldn't have made it to the top without him and his teachings.'
Cameron Jones (Youngest ever Winner of the 2 Day Coast-to-Coast Multi Sport Event 2017) - 'When I first met Jonno (in 2013) I didn't really enjoy running and as it turned out that wasn’t a surprise to Jonno as my technique meant that I was over-striding, landing on my heels and had a slow cadence - all of which made running feel heavy and uncomfortable to me, not to mention slow. Since then my running has become noticeably faster and much more efficient meaning I can run much further than I used to while using less energy. Jonno's coaching improved my performance but more notably the enjoyment I now get from running. Now I actually look forward to going for a run, knowing I will get home without any injuries and will not be doing any damage to my body that could surface in the future. I now feel light and springy on my feet! Without Jonno’s coaching I would not have been as successful an athelte as I am and with his continued help I know that I can have a long and injury-free career and win many more races.'
Cameron D L'Isle (Elite NZ Orienteering U21 Team member and NZ Secondary School National Champion) - 'Improving my technique so drastically in one session had immediate flow-ons for me to my next race a few weeks later. I was able to set a new course record as well as taking the win by a large margin at the race, making a significant breakthrough. I attest much of my improvement at this event to Jonno’s first session with me...because of the improvements I have made in these sessions, I feel that other athletes in my sport would greatly benefit from his coaching.'
Paul Iffil (Former EPL player with Millwall, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace; and A-League with Wellington Phoenix, currently with Tasman United) - 'The Paul Ifill Football Academy has been up and running for the past couple of years and in that time Jonathan has been a huge help with any player that has needed additional support for their running style. I first met Jonathan in 2015, where he was keen to show me how to adjust my running technique to help avoid injury, which has resulted in me being able to run faster at 35 years old! I have every faith in Jonathan and his keen eye and skill set and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to help prevent injury, become more efficient and therefore gain more speed by improving their running technique.'
Neil Eddy (1st AG Barcelona Ironman 2016, World Triathlon AG Champion 2014, 220 Triathlete of the year 2015) - 'It is no coincidence that my running improved with the work I did with Jonno and since then we have continued to work on my technique improving my running style to become a more efficient runner. Jonno has an extremely hard working attitude, his knowledge and understanding is incredible and makes complex things so easy to understand and I would highly recommend him to any elite athlete.'
Michael Birchmore (British Middle Distance AG Triathlon Champion) - 'In 2011 Jonno analysed my running as I have always suffered from injuries - he noticed many errors which were the cause of my pain and we worked together to correct this making me a more efficient and quicker runner. Since then my personal bests have dropped every year and with Jonno's continued help I am planning my first Ironman in 2017.'
Katherine and Dave Lowrie (World first to run the 6504 mile length of South America) - 'During our run in 2012 Jonno worked on our technique remotely via Skype, email and short videos...quickly and clearly transforming our running through drills, exercises, video and audio cues. Working with Jonno was extremely rewarding and in fact life changing and we are looking forward to working with Jonno on our future expeditions.'
Izzy Neal (2015 NZ Secondary Schools 400m Champion, 2015 South Island 100m, 200m & 400m Champion) - 'In 2013 Jonno corrected my running technique that had been causing me injuries. Since then Jonno has continued to monitor my technique as well as offer good clean dietary advice and help with strength and conditioning and continues to play a crucial role in my development towards qualifying for the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Championships in The Bahamas. Jonno has unique knowledge and skills and shows dedication and care beyond the call of duty to any athlete who asks for help.'
Paula Canning (2016 NZ Half Marathon Masters Champion, 2016 NZ Mountain Championships overall Champion, 11 times winner and record holder Nelson Half Marathon - 'Over the past three years Jonno has analysed my gait, and filmed my races, showing me exactly where I can improve my running. This has helped me to practice, improve my technique and become a faster, more efficient runner. His clever analogy has prevented me from becoming injured and has enabled me to continue to run well, placing in many National events as well as selection for the New Zealand World Mountain Running Team in 2014 and 2015 at the age of 42 - 43. Jonno’s specific skill sets are providing youth and aged with the tools and knowledge for future success in all sports.'
Brodie Hewlett (High Performance Coach to double gold medal Paralympian Liam Malone; U20 All Blacks and Tasman Makos Performance Analyst) - 'Jonno has worked with a number of high level athletes, particularly within the NZ Distance Running Academy, using his unique skill-set in running technique analysis...it is difficult to find such specialists that are trusted to work with elite performers so to have Jonno’s expertise available has been highly valuable. In addition, Jonno has additional skills to offer in other areas of athlete conditioning such as advice on footwear, nutrition and holistic athlete wellness and for these reasons he is a huge asset to NZ sport, both working with novice and experienced, young and old.'
Cheryl Young (Australia North Face 100km -First Kiwi woman home, 2nd in 40-49 age, 8th overall; Motatapu Adventure Race 2015 1st place; Loop the Lake Winner 2013, 1st 40-49 2014) - 'I had always been a person who was highly active in sport, especially running. However I had got to the point where my body was so broken I could not run at all. My knees gave me too much pain to make running enjoyable and my feet ached. Thanks to Jonno's support and advice I now run pain free and have amazingly strong feet which I never imagined was possible. I have gone from wearing, and thinking I needed, very supportive shoes, that included heel supports and orthortics, to wearing minimalist shoes and being pain- free. I have completed training schedules recently that have meant I have been doing around 200km of running per week and I have managed to stay injury-free. It seems not that long ago I would have just been happy to be able to run to the letter box pain-free. I never dreamed that I could go from being so broken, to being so fixed through changing my style and throwing away my traditional running shoes. I wholeheartedly recommend Jonno to both elite athletes and Mums who just want to get fit.'
Sam Mackay-Wright (NZ U18 Cross Country Champion 2015) - 'To have someone with Jonno's specialist knowledge was invaluable to me turning my form into a variable that could be properly controlled and perfected; thus giving me an edge over my competitors. As I worked to shorten my stride and increase my cadence, my efficiency increased, leading to less strain on my body and more speed. What however was more important for me was the impact it had on my durability. During my final high school cross-country season I miraculously passed through injury free and without this traditional barrier to hold me back I finally achieved the success I had believed I was capable of.'
Dave Keen (Runner-up 2016 Loop the Lake) - 'I have always had a passion for running and the outdoors and can think of nothing better than a day in the mountains running on the trails. The biggest issue for me, like many runners, has always been injuries. Since meeting Jonno in 2013 however I have had the most sustained period of injury free running of my life, all at an age (42 now) when you expect to be more prone to injuries. Jonno’s influence on my running is a outcome of his ability to identify and remedy technical running faults. This includes the type of shoes you wear, your stride length, your foot strike and your running posture. I continue to work with Jonno to this day and find his input invaluable for me to be able to run how I can. Not only am I running injury free but I am running some of the fastest times I have ever run during a period of my life when I am supposed to be getting slower! I put this improvement down to Jonno’s expertise. '
Julie Kitchen (14 time World Muay Thai Champion) - 'Running is an important part of my training regimen and working with Jonno I learnt how to run with an efficient technique that complimented my barefoot sport. Jonno has an excellent understanding of natural movement and running bio-mechanics and is passionate about helping athletes of all abilities to reach their potential - I would thoroughly recommend Jonno to any athlete that incorporates running in their training as improving their technique will enhance their performance and reduce any injury potential.'
James Miller (British National Aquathlon AG Champion 2015) - 'Jonno’s knowledge and passion for running technique, natural movement, biomechanics and natural footwear is contagious and inspiring - his input has been invaluable in my progression as a competitive triathlete and also in my overall awareness in form and gait to reduce my risk of injury and to improve my overall enjoyment of running'
Here are a few comments from some of the athletes that I have coached:
Julian Matthews (Commonwealth Games Finalist and Olympian) - 'Jonno was able to identify minor yet potentially significant technical areas for me to improve along with important postural, bio-mechanical and range of movement issues. At my level of competition, any slight improvement that results in an improvement of even 10th's of a second could mean the difference between going home with a medal or not. Jonno was instrumental in helping me reach the final of the 1500m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and compete in the Olympic 1500m at the Rio Olympics and has made a big difference to the techniques of the younger up and coming athletes at the NZ National Academy of Distance Running. I look forward to working with him as I train towards Tokyo 2020'
Greg Lautenslager (Coach/Director at NZ National Academy of Distance Running and four times US Olympic Trialist) - 'Jonno has great knowledge of his craft and I have learned much from him...he has worked with more than 40 of my runners over the past three years and we have reaped the rewards of that work. Improved form and strength from the younger runners is making a big difference in their development, helps them stay injury free and their performances have improved dramatically.'
Steve Price (NZ Warriors and Rugby League Legend) - 'Having been forced to retire from professional rugby due to a foot injury, I totally agree with Jonno’s philosophy on ensuring maximum foot strength, mobility and a technique that reduces impact and stress while increasing speed and endurance. In my opinion the work that Jonno does with athletes is vital to both help prevent injury and increase performance for all athletes of any sport that involves running, directly or indirectly.'
Jared Lautenslager (U20 NZ Junior 3000m Champion 2017) - 'Since I started working with Jonno in 2013 I have seen incredible improvement in my running technique resulting in winning the NZ Junior 3000m title this year. Without Jonno I don't believe I would have achieved this or much of the other great success I had in recent years. With his help I have developed the efficiency in my running form so that I can both run faster and also prevent injury - I have also learnt a huge amount about nutrition and conditioning and I owe Jonno much credit for a lot of my success because I wouldn't have made it to the top without him and his teachings.'
Cameron Jones (Youngest ever Winner of the 2 Day Coast-to-Coast Multi Sport Event 2017) - 'When I first met Jonno (in 2013) I didn't really enjoy running and as it turned out that wasn’t a surprise to Jonno as my technique meant that I was over-striding, landing on my heels and had a slow cadence - all of which made running feel heavy and uncomfortable to me, not to mention slow. Since then my running has become noticeably faster and much more efficient meaning I can run much further than I used to while using less energy. Jonno's coaching improved my performance but more notably the enjoyment I now get from running. Now I actually look forward to going for a run, knowing I will get home without any injuries and will not be doing any damage to my body that could surface in the future. I now feel light and springy on my feet! Without Jonno’s coaching I would not have been as successful an athelte as I am and with his continued help I know that I can have a long and injury-free career and win many more races.'
Cameron D L'Isle (Elite NZ Orienteering U21 Team member and NZ Secondary School National Champion) - 'Improving my technique so drastically in one session had immediate flow-ons for me to my next race a few weeks later. I was able to set a new course record as well as taking the win by a large margin at the race, making a significant breakthrough. I attest much of my improvement at this event to Jonno’s first session with me...because of the improvements I have made in these sessions, I feel that other athletes in my sport would greatly benefit from his coaching.'
Paul Iffil (Former EPL player with Millwall, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace; and A-League with Wellington Phoenix, currently with Tasman United) - 'The Paul Ifill Football Academy has been up and running for the past couple of years and in that time Jonathan has been a huge help with any player that has needed additional support for their running style. I first met Jonathan in 2015, where he was keen to show me how to adjust my running technique to help avoid injury, which has resulted in me being able to run faster at 35 years old! I have every faith in Jonathan and his keen eye and skill set and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to help prevent injury, become more efficient and therefore gain more speed by improving their running technique.'
Neil Eddy (1st AG Barcelona Ironman 2016, World Triathlon AG Champion 2014, 220 Triathlete of the year 2015) - 'It is no coincidence that my running improved with the work I did with Jonno and since then we have continued to work on my technique improving my running style to become a more efficient runner. Jonno has an extremely hard working attitude, his knowledge and understanding is incredible and makes complex things so easy to understand and I would highly recommend him to any elite athlete.'
Michael Birchmore (British Middle Distance AG Triathlon Champion) - 'In 2011 Jonno analysed my running as I have always suffered from injuries - he noticed many errors which were the cause of my pain and we worked together to correct this making me a more efficient and quicker runner. Since then my personal bests have dropped every year and with Jonno's continued help I am planning my first Ironman in 2017.'
Katherine and Dave Lowrie (World first to run the 6504 mile length of South America) - 'During our run in 2012 Jonno worked on our technique remotely via Skype, email and short videos...quickly and clearly transforming our running through drills, exercises, video and audio cues. Working with Jonno was extremely rewarding and in fact life changing and we are looking forward to working with Jonno on our future expeditions.'
Izzy Neal (2015 NZ Secondary Schools 400m Champion, 2015 South Island 100m, 200m & 400m Champion) - 'In 2013 Jonno corrected my running technique that had been causing me injuries. Since then Jonno has continued to monitor my technique as well as offer good clean dietary advice and help with strength and conditioning and continues to play a crucial role in my development towards qualifying for the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Championships in The Bahamas. Jonno has unique knowledge and skills and shows dedication and care beyond the call of duty to any athlete who asks for help.'
Paula Canning (2016 NZ Half Marathon Masters Champion, 2016 NZ Mountain Championships overall Champion, 11 times winner and record holder Nelson Half Marathon - 'Over the past three years Jonno has analysed my gait, and filmed my races, showing me exactly where I can improve my running. This has helped me to practice, improve my technique and become a faster, more efficient runner. His clever analogy has prevented me from becoming injured and has enabled me to continue to run well, placing in many National events as well as selection for the New Zealand World Mountain Running Team in 2014 and 2015 at the age of 42 - 43. Jonno’s specific skill sets are providing youth and aged with the tools and knowledge for future success in all sports.'
Brodie Hewlett (High Performance Coach to double gold medal Paralympian Liam Malone; U20 All Blacks and Tasman Makos Performance Analyst) - 'Jonno has worked with a number of high level athletes, particularly within the NZ Distance Running Academy, using his unique skill-set in running technique analysis...it is difficult to find such specialists that are trusted to work with elite performers so to have Jonno’s expertise available has been highly valuable. In addition, Jonno has additional skills to offer in other areas of athlete conditioning such as advice on footwear, nutrition and holistic athlete wellness and for these reasons he is a huge asset to NZ sport, both working with novice and experienced, young and old.'
Cheryl Young (Australia North Face 100km -First Kiwi woman home, 2nd in 40-49 age, 8th overall; Motatapu Adventure Race 2015 1st place; Loop the Lake Winner 2013, 1st 40-49 2014) - 'I had always been a person who was highly active in sport, especially running. However I had got to the point where my body was so broken I could not run at all. My knees gave me too much pain to make running enjoyable and my feet ached. Thanks to Jonno's support and advice I now run pain free and have amazingly strong feet which I never imagined was possible. I have gone from wearing, and thinking I needed, very supportive shoes, that included heel supports and orthortics, to wearing minimalist shoes and being pain- free. I have completed training schedules recently that have meant I have been doing around 200km of running per week and I have managed to stay injury-free. It seems not that long ago I would have just been happy to be able to run to the letter box pain-free. I never dreamed that I could go from being so broken, to being so fixed through changing my style and throwing away my traditional running shoes. I wholeheartedly recommend Jonno to both elite athletes and Mums who just want to get fit.'
Sam Mackay-Wright (NZ U18 Cross Country Champion 2015) - 'To have someone with Jonno's specialist knowledge was invaluable to me turning my form into a variable that could be properly controlled and perfected; thus giving me an edge over my competitors. As I worked to shorten my stride and increase my cadence, my efficiency increased, leading to less strain on my body and more speed. What however was more important for me was the impact it had on my durability. During my final high school cross-country season I miraculously passed through injury free and without this traditional barrier to hold me back I finally achieved the success I had believed I was capable of.'
Dave Keen (Runner-up 2016 Loop the Lake) - 'I have always had a passion for running and the outdoors and can think of nothing better than a day in the mountains running on the trails. The biggest issue for me, like many runners, has always been injuries. Since meeting Jonno in 2013 however I have had the most sustained period of injury free running of my life, all at an age (42 now) when you expect to be more prone to injuries. Jonno’s influence on my running is a outcome of his ability to identify and remedy technical running faults. This includes the type of shoes you wear, your stride length, your foot strike and your running posture. I continue to work with Jonno to this day and find his input invaluable for me to be able to run how I can. Not only am I running injury free but I am running some of the fastest times I have ever run during a period of my life when I am supposed to be getting slower! I put this improvement down to Jonno’s expertise. '
Julie Kitchen (14 time World Muay Thai Champion) - 'Running is an important part of my training regimen and working with Jonno I learnt how to run with an efficient technique that complimented my barefoot sport. Jonno has an excellent understanding of natural movement and running bio-mechanics and is passionate about helping athletes of all abilities to reach their potential - I would thoroughly recommend Jonno to any athlete that incorporates running in their training as improving their technique will enhance their performance and reduce any injury potential.'
James Miller (British National Aquathlon AG Champion 2015) - 'Jonno’s knowledge and passion for running technique, natural movement, biomechanics and natural footwear is contagious and inspiring - his input has been invaluable in my progression as a competitive triathlete and also in my overall awareness in form and gait to reduce my risk of injury and to improve my overall enjoyment of running'
