About Me

I’m Simon Bucknell, a former middle-distance runner, multisport and endurance athlete, and coach. My journey in competitive running took me across New Zealand, where I achieved multiple national titles before earning a track and field scholarship to Rice University, one of the top NCAA Division 1 programs in the U.S.
 

Like many athletes, I faced setbacks—injuries meant I never reached my dream of competing at the Olympics or Commonwealth Games. Instead, I shifted my focus to multisport and adventure racing, and at just 24, I lined up for one of the toughest endurance events on the planet: the Speight’s Coast to Coast.
 

Now, I channel that same passion into coaching, helping others reach their goals—whether it’s their first race, a new personal best, or a world-class endurance challenge. I’ve been coaching runners, multisport, and endurance athletes for over a decade, combining first-hand experience with a strong academic background.
 

I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Exercise Science and a Diploma in Athlete Development, including practical experience at High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ). My expertise spans both endurance training and strength & conditioning, allowing me to provide a holistic approach that helps athletes run stronger, stay injury-free, and perform at their best for years to come.
 

No matter your goal—whether it’s completing your first 10K, setting a personal best in the New York Marathon, or taking on the Kathmandu Coast to Coast—I can help you get there.

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Key qualifications include:

- Diploma in Athlete Development (AUT - Auckland, New Zealand)

- BA in Sport Management (Rice University - Houston, Texas)

- Postgraduate Diploma in Sport and Exercise (AUT - Auckland, New Zealand)

          - Including: Practicum at High Performance Sport NZ Laboratory​