In her own words.
I started working with Coach Marco in 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, and he has been an integral part of virtually every meaningful running accomplishment I’ve had since.
Our first objective was a 50K ultra. Once we accomplished that, I set my sights on qualifying for Boston. He developed the strategy, I trusted the process, and we got the BQ. From there, the progression continued: he coached me to a 3:20 marathon, followed by a 3:13, and ultimately a 3:08 — three consecutive breakthroughs that I attribute in large part to the precision and structure of his coaching.
What distinguishes him as a coach is the combination of meticulous planning and an uncompromising approach to the work itself. There is a purpose behind every workout, every progression, and every phase of a training cycle. Nothing is arbitrary. At the same time, he has a decidedly no-nonsense, no-BS philosophy. There is a bit of a David Goggins mentality to his coaching: discipline matters, consistency matters, and when the work needs to be done, you do the work. He won’t indulge excuses or tell you what you want to hear simply because it is easier. He holds his athletes accountable and expects them to rise to the standard they are capable of.
That combination — thoughtful, highly individualized planning coupled with genuine accountability — is rare. He understands that meaningful improvement in endurance sports is built over years, not weeks, and he approaches coaching accordingly.
I’ve dealt with some frustrating injury setbacks since 2024, which have temporarily interrupted the trajectory we built together. Navigating those setbacks has only reinforced the value of working with someone who knows my history, understands both my strengths and limitations, and is willing to take the long view rather than chase short-term results.
We’ve gone from a 50K, to a Boston qualifier, to a 3:08 marathon together. The next chapter is running a sub-3 hour marathon. It is an ambitious goal, but given what we’ve already accomplished together, I can’t think of anyone I would trust more to build the roadmap to get me there.
— Yasmine Djawadian