hello
Welcome to OutLAST Training (Leith Athletic Strength and endurance Training), by David Leith.
My focus is in helping endurance athletes of varying training backgrounds and fitness levels, varying life schedules and limitations, to train logically, systematically and safely towards achieving their athletic goals.
Who
am I?
I am an Exercise Scientist (MSc), registered Biokineticist and Strength and Conditioning specialist (CSCS, NSCA). I practice independently out of The High Performance Centre at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, and the Crossfit Impi facility, both in Cape Town, South Africa. After completing my Honours and Masters Degrees in Exercise Science, as well as my Honours Degree and internship in Biokinetics at the University of Cape Town (UCT), I underwent an internship at the Research Institute for Olympic Sport (KIHU, Finland) where I worked with top Finnish endurance runners in optimising endurance training prescription. I have over 7 years of experience in both online coaching of endurance athletes and in rehabilitation and sport-specific strength and conditioning. I have worked with all types of endurance athletes, ranging form world-class competitive trail runners to weekend warriors and everything in between and have helped clients build up to complete and compete in all types of extreme races including various Marathons and Half-Marathons on road and trail, Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans Ultra, Washie 100 miler, UTMB 100 miler, Tor de Geants 330km, Patagonman and Swedeman extreme triathlons, Ironman Austria, Cape Epic, to name a few.
Training Theory
I believe there is no one size fits all or generic approach to training, no magic pill and no overnight success. True progress and long-term success comes from consistency, simplicity (i.e. doing the basics well) and believing in the process.
I believe said process should be informed by a combination of basic scientific principles, ongoing scientific developments, intuition, first-hand experience and insights from members of the endurance community.
I try my best to apply these principles and insights to the individual and to keep refining his or her training plan based on how their bodies respond. I believe that I am uniquely poised in that I am well qualified and experienced in providing comprehensive training plans for endurance athletes that include both their endurance training prescription and rehab / prehab / strength and conditioning programmes that are specific to their needs and the demands of their target races.
If you would like to start your training towards a particular goal race or to improve your fitness in general, or if you are merely looking to rehab an existing injury and/or build strength and resilience to help prevent injury during your training, please don’t hesitate to contact me and we can set up a consultation.
In-person Biokinetics / Strength and Conditioning
Consultation and Physiological Assessment
Consultation and Physiological Assessment with Rehab / Strength and Conditioning Programme
In-person Strength and Conditioning Sessions
Online Endurance Coaching Packages
Online Running (Road / Trail) Coaching
Online Multi-sport Coaching
Note: All online coaching is delivered via the Training Peaks app. This is a specialised platform designed to help endurance coaches and athletes track their training progress. For optimal use of the platform you will need a sports watch to upload your workouts to your watch and then sync the resulting data from each session back to Training Peaks for analysis. Your training updates will be made on a weekly basis and there will be a weekly check-in to discuss how your training is going, how your body is responding and potential changes in life schedule that may influence your training routine. This allows for the coaching to be more flexible and adaptable.
RACES COMPLETED
Percy Driver, TOR des Geants 330km, 2023
Solize Downing, Washie 160km, Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans Ultra, to name a few
Barry and Shirley Emms, UTCT 35km
Justin Howlett and Candice Royal, Berlin Marathon 2024
Sebastian Keating, the Grand Raid, Reunion, Diagonale des Fous (171km, 10500m d+)
Arnaud Dalais, Trail de Bourbon 100km, Ironman Austria 2023, Swedeman and Patagonman Extreme Triathlons 2024
“I’ve started training with David in 2021. I was looking for a good coach in ultra trail running and in triathlon. In 2021 I was a beginner in triathlon and my longest trail running was 50km.
David started training me in 2022 I did a 110km trail run with an elevation of 7000m. In 2023 he trained me for an Ironman and in 2024 for 2 extreme triathlon Swedeman and Patagonman.
The 4 challenges were a success.
I think David excel in endurance training, keeping you without injuries and he has a good understanding of the life balance which is very important to progress.
I considerably progressed in 3 years with his coaching.
Beginner, Amateur or Pro, I highly recommend David in your day to day training as well in your challenges.”
Percy Driver, TOR des Geants 330km, 2023
"The TOR des Geants has been in my bucket list since I started running back in 2010, when I finally felt ready and signed up for the 2020 edition (which got cancelled due to COVID) I didn’t know yet, but I embarked with my family on this incredible adventure of self-discovery and challenge. Three years later, I’m glad to have crossed paths with David Leith who brought me to the start line of the TDG at the peak of my form. Things would have been totally different if I had run in 2020. I believe the personalised training and follow-up (sometimes very hard), prepared me physically but also mentally to go through all the challenges that this type of race can put you through. Percy Driver – bib 343 – Finisher TOR des Geants 2023"
Contact Me
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly.