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Ultra Trail Coach Kristian Morgan

My Journey and Coaching Philosophy in Ultra and Trail Running

Pushing Human Limits in Ultra Marathon Running and Beyond

I’m Kristian Morgan, an ultra runner and coach

I’m driven by a passion for pushing human limits. I’m currently the third fastest to run the Appalachian Trail, the longest hiking trail on earth, 2197 miles. Beyond the AT, I’ve completed over 150 marathons and ultras, lived and trained at altitude in Ethiopia, earned six podium finishes at the Thailand North Face 100K races, and set the South West Coast Path FKT in 2020 (since surpassed). Every challenge has taught me invaluable lessons about endurance, resilience, pacing, nutrition, and mental toughness

Learn more about my coaching approach

Close-up of a smiling man wearing a white cap outdoors on a sunny day

11,500+ Miles On The The Appalachian Trail

Pushing the limits across 2,190 miles.

In 2022, I achieved the 3rd fastest time ever recorded on the iconic 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail—one of the most demanding endurance challenges on the planet. The attempt required total mastery of pacing, nutrition, injury prevention, sleep strategy, route management, and the mental stamina to keep moving day after day across relentless terrain. You can read more about how I coach runners for multi-day and ultra-distance events on the Coaching page.

A man running on a dirt trail in a wooded area. He is wearing an orange long-sleeve shirt, dark shorts, a black cap, and a black backpack. A sign on a tree indicates the trail is part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Training in Ethiopia: Shaping My Coaching Philosophy

Living and training in Ethiopia was a transformative experience

Which reshaped not only my running but also my approach to coaching. Immersed in a culture where running is a way of life, I learned the power of simplicity, consistency, and deep connection to the body. Observing and training alongside some of the world’s best distance runners taught me that success comes from listening to your body, respecting recovery, and embracing the small, daily habits that compound over time. These lessons now form the foundation of my coaching philosophy: training that is intentional, sustainable, and deeply rooted in the human potential for endurance and resilience. See how this philosophy shapes my coaching

Group of five people standing outdoors during daytime, including three women, a young girl, and a man, smiling, with tents and trees in the background.

6 x Time Podium Finisher – Thailand North Face 100k

Speed and strategy in tropical ultra racing

Competing in Thailand’s North Face races required a different skill set: heat adaptation, hydration strategy, and racing at speed over technical terrain. Earning six podium finishes taught me how to balance intensity with precision and how to excel in unpredictable environments. As part of my work as a running coach, I help athletes develop similar strategies.

Man wearing a blue race shirt and hat, flexing his arms in a victory pose at a marathon event in Thailand, with a race bib number 50 and a smile on his face.

Marathon & Ultra Race History (2000–Present)

Two Decades of Endurance Running Across the Globe

Free Inquiry Chat

Run & Ultrarunning Coach Kristian Morgan | 100+ Marathons & Ultra Marathons Completed

Since 2000, I’ve completed over 100 marathons and ultra marathons, spanning fast city courses, rugged mountain trails, and multi-day stage races. Explore full coaching programs. This comprehensive race history highlights my experience, endurance, and dedication, showcasing milestone performances, personal bests, FKTs, and notable ultra events. Watch more athlete success stories. Whether you’re an aspiring ultrarunner or looking for a coach to guide your journey, this archive demonstrates the depth of knowledge and practical experience I bring to training, race strategy, and long-distance running success.

  • Mar - Vietnam Ultra marathon 75k - 8h 24m - 11th

    Jan - Thailand North Face 100k - 12h 47m - 4th

  • Dec - UTMB Chiang Mai Thailand 50k - 5h 57m (2nd in age category)

    May - Appalachian Trail Northbound FKT - DNF

    Jan - Thailand North Face 100k - 13hrs 31mins

  • Aug - Appalachian Trail Southbound FKT 45d 4h 27m (fastest in world)

  • Jun - Appalachian Trail North FKT 44 days, 4 hours, 54 mins (2nd fastest in world)

  • Jul - Appalachian Trail FKT - DNF

  • South West Coast Path FKT

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 10) - 111 miles

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 9) - 53 miles

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 8) - 66 miles

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 7) - 61 miles

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 6) - 56 miles

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 5) - 56 miles

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 4) - 53 miles

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 3) - 57 miles

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 2) - 64 miles

    Sep - SWCP FKT (day 1) - 71 miles

    Feb - Thailand North Face 100k 11hrs 13mins - 3rd

  • Oct - Rodopi ultra trail 100 miler 26hrs 10 - 5th

    Jan - Thailand North Face 100k 10hrs 30 - 2nd

  • Oct - Rodopi ultra trail 100 miler 29hrs 6 - 22nd

    Aug - UTMB 100 miler 30hrs 28 - 134th

    Appalachian Trail FKT pacing

    Jul - AT FKT (day 15) - 15 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 14) - 35 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 13) - 21 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 12) - 37 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 11) - 35 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 10) - 35 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 9) - 31 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 8) - 25 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 7) - 33 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 6) - 34 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 5) - 35 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 4) - 31 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 3) - 34 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 2) - 24 miles

    Jul - AT FKT (day 1) - 24 miles

    Jun - South Downs Way Trail Marathon 3hrs 3 - 4th

    Jun - Olympus Mythical Trail 100k 16hrs 48 - 2nd

    May - Ultra Trail Snowdonia 50 miles 13hrs 48 - 10th

    Jan - Chiang Mai 50k 4hrs 50 - 11th

    Jan - Thailand North Face 100k 9hrs 48 - 2nd

  • Nov - Druid Challenge Ridgeway multi-stage ultra (day 3) 3hrs 58 - 6th (3rd overall)

    Nov - Druid Challenge Ridgeway multi-stage ultra (day 2) 3hrs 34 - 2nd (3rd overall)

    Nov - Druid Challenge Ridgeway multi-stage ultra (day 1) 3hrs 49 - 1st (3rd overall)

    Oct - Rodopi ultra trail 100 miler 29hrs 15 - 21st

    Sep - Tor Des Geants 200 miler 132hrs 55 - 217th

    Aug - North downs way 100 miler 18hrs 18 - 3th

    Jul - Ronda del cims 100 miler 39hrs 52 - 17th

    Jun - V3K ultra 35 miles 9hrs 46 - 34th

    May - Transvulcania ultra 46 miles 10hrs 20 - 191st

    Apr - Madeira Island Ultra Trail (MUIT) 72 miles 22hrs 12 - 174th

    Mar - Endurance Life Sussex ultra 34.5 miles 5hrs 18 - 4th

    Feb - Transgrancanaria 125k 16hrs 52 - 39th

    Feb - Thailand North Face 100k 10hrs 52 - 3rd

  • Nov - Palermo marathon 2hrs 49 - 9th

    Oct - Suffolk ultra 4hrs 55 - 3rd

    Aug - Wolverhampton marathon 2hrs 50 - 1st

    Aug - Woldingham trail marathon 3hrs 33 - 1st

    Aug - Cheddar gorge trail marathon 3hrs 58 - 1st

    Aug - Thames Meander trail marathon 3hrs 38 - 41st

    Aug - North downs way 100 miler 22hrs 2 - 20th

    Jul - Twilight 50k road ultra 31 miles 4hrs 24 - 3rd

    Jul - Snowdon trail marathon 4hrs 24 - 12th

    Jul - Lakes sky ultra 37 miles 9hrs 10 - 13th

    Jul - Chiltern ultra 31 miles 4hrs 22 - 3rd

    Jul - Scafell Pike ultra 27 miles 4hrs 35 - 5th

    Jul - Man v lake trail marathon/OCR

    Jul - Enigma need for speed trail marathon (day 2) 3hrs 31 - 4th

    Jul - Enigma need for speed trail marathon (day 1) 3hrs 27 - 4th

    Jun - Great Barrow Challenge trail marathon 3hrs 56 - 4th

    Jun - The Picnic trail marathon 4hrs 42 - 7th

    Jun - South Downs Way 100 miler 19hrs 33 - 20th

    May - Grand Union Canal 145 mile DNF 94.5 miles 16hrs 32

    May - Richmond park trail marathon 2hrs 50 - 1st

    May - Bewl Water ultra 37.5 miles 4hrs 53 - 1st

    May - Stroud trail marathon 4hrs 1 - 5th

    May - Three Forts ultra 27 miles 3hrs 15 - 2nd

    Apr - Marathon De Sables multi-stage trail marathon/ultra 27hrs 9 - 22nd

    Jan - Dover ultra 35 miles 5hrs 10 - 1st

  • Nov - Broad meddow multi-stage trail marathon (day 2) 3hrs 42 - 6th

    Nov - Broad meddow multi-stage trail marathon (day 1) 4hrs 17 - 1st

    Nov - Meon Valley trail marathon 3hrs 47 - 10th

    Nov - Palermo marathon 3hrs 49

    Oct - Autumn 100 miler 27hrs 36 - 154th

    Sep - Cotzwold Challenge trail marathon 4hrs 22 - 1st

    Sep - Shindig in the Shire trail marathon 3hrs 58 - 1st

    Sep - Farnham Pilgrim trail marathon 3hrs 39 - 25th

    Aug - North downs way 100 miler 21hrs 59 - 16th

    Jul - North downs way trail marathon 3hrs 28 - 2nd

    Jul - Chiltern ultra 31 miles 5hrs 55 - 45th

    Jul - Croydon trail ultra 31 miles 3hrs 54 - 2nd

    Jul - Great Barrow Challenge trail marathon 4hrs 43 - 33rd

    Jun - 209 South Downs trail marathon 3hrs 13 - 4th

    Jun - Boot Bash trail marathon 5hrs 43 - 30th

    Jul - Northants ultra 35 miles 5hrs 4 - 19th

    May - The Ox trail marathon 3hrs 30 - 4th

    May - North downs way ultra 50 miles 9hrs 35 - 52nd

    May - Stroud trail marathon 4hrs 36 - 5th

    Apr - Shakespeare marathon 3hrs 32 - 117th

    Apr - Ashford trail marathon 3hrs 12 - 3rd

    Apr - Paris Marathon 6hrs 37

    Mar - Thames Meander trail marathon 3hrs 7 - 9th

  • Sep - Wolverhampton marathon 3hrs 43 - 70th

    Aug - Salisbury 54321 trail ultra 31 miles 4hrs 16 - 9th

    Jul - Fairland Valley Spartan Challenge ultra 31 miles 5hrs 36 - 21st

    Jul - Croydon Ultra UK 31 miles 4hrs 24 - 5th

    Mar - Addis Ababa marathon 3hrs 49

  • Nov - Palermo marathon 3hrs 19 - 13th

    Sep - Bacchus trail marathon 3hrs 23 - 4th

    Sep - Wolverhampton marathon 2hrs 56 - 7th

    Aug - Salisbury 54321 ultra 31 miles 3hrs 48 - 1st

    Mar- Rome marathon 3hrs 59 - 4851st

    • Aug - Kuranda to Port Douglas ultra 40 miles 6hrs 1 - 4th

    • May - Belfast marathon 3hrs 32 - 437th

  • Nov - Palermo marathon 3hrs 42 - 87th

    Sep - Wolverhampton marathon 3hrs 38 - 84th

    Apr - Jurassic coast oner 82 miles DNF 31 miles 8hrs 25

    Apr - Brighton marathon 3hrs 57 - 1545th

    Mar - Jurassic Coast Challenge multi-stage marathon (day 3) 5hrs 5

    Mar - Jurassic Coast Challenge multi-stage marathon (day 2) 5hrs 25

    Mar - Jurassic Coast Challenge multi-stage marathon (day 1) 4hrs 29

    Feb - Thames Trot ultra 50 miles 7hrs 27 - 16th

    Jan - Capital to Country ultra 45 miles 7hrs 44 - 51st

  • Nov - Palermo marathon 3hrs 27 - 39th

    Sep - Wolverhampton marathon 2hrs 56 - 11th

    May - Belfast marathon 3hrs 21 - 187th

    Apr - London marathon 3hrs 25 - 3633rd

    Apr - A Coventry Way Challenge ultra 40 miles 8hrs 23 - 47th

    Mar - Glasgow to Edinburgh ultra 55 miles 8hrs 17 - 18th

    Feb - Thames Trot ultra 50 miles 7hrs 10 - 5th

    Jan - Winter Tanners ultra 30 miles 6hrs 47

  • Nov - Florence marathon 3hrs 20

    Nov - Palermo marathon 3hrs 25 - 49th

    Oct - Dublin marathon 3hrs 21 - 1568th

    Oct - Clarendon trail marathon 3hrs 23

    Sep - Atlantic Coast trail multi-stage trail marathon (day 3) 5hrs 6 (3rd overall)

    Sep - Atlantic Coast trail multi-stage trail marathon (day 2) 3hrs 50 (3rd overall)

    Sep - Atlantic Coast trail multi-stage trail marathon (day 1) 3hrs 29 (3rd overall)

    Sep - High Peak ultra 40 miles 6hrs 23

    Sep - Robin Hood Marathon 2hrs 57 - 24th

    Sep - Wolverhampton marathon 2hrs 55 - 9th

    Aug - Salisbury 54321 trail marathon 3hrs 50 - 30th

    Aug - Ironman triathlon marathon 3hrs 58

    May - Edinburgh marathon 3hrs 28 - 781st

    May - Belfast marathon 3hrs 2 - 50th

    Feb - Rugby ultra 35 miles 4hrs 44 - 24th

    Jan - Portland coastal trail marathon 4hrs 21

  • Oct - Dublin marathon 2hrs 57 - 197th

    Oct - Clarendon trail marathon 3hrs 21 - 8th

    Sep - Wolverhampton marathon 3hrs 1 - 21st

    May - Belfast marathon 3hrs 8 - 68th

  • Oct - Dublin marathon 3hrs 6 - 330th

  • Apr - London marathon 3hrs 31 - 4983rd

  • May - Belfast marathon 4hrs 21 - 672nd

  • Sep - Wolverhampton marathon 4hrs 10

    May - Belfast marathon 3hrs 57 - 523rd

  • May - Belfast marathon

  • Sep - Wolverhampton marathon

  • Sep - Wolverhampton marathon

Bio Page FAQ

  • My journey into coaching grew from a lifelong passion for running and a desire to help others reach their potential. After years of personal racing, studying training methods, and coaching runners of all abilities, I realised I could make a bigger impact by guiding athletes toward smarter, more sustainable progress.

  • Training in Ethiopia transformed my understanding of endurance. I learned the power of rhythm, patience, community, and consistency. Those principles became the backbone of my coaching approach — blending Ethiopian wisdom with modern performance science to build strong, resilient runners.

  • While much of my experience comes from trail and ultra running, I coach runners across all distances. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or preparing for a mountainous 100-miler, the principles of smart, structured training apply to everyone.

  • From trail races to multi-day efforts and long-distance challenges, I’ve spent years exploring what the human body and mind can achieve. These experiences help me design training that is both realistic and deeply effective.

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