LIZ and Martin Yelling have a fair few experiences in the world of elite sport that could be helpful for business leaders.

Liz knows what it’s like to train for the Olympic Games, only to be tripped while leading in the marathon and finish the race through the pain of a cracked rib.

Martin presents the UK’s favourite running podcast, Marathon Talk, and is the official coach of the London Marathon. He helps 50,000 people of all abilities complete the event each year and has also helped coach the likes of Eddie Izzard and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The Poole couple are set to speak to a leaders lunch held by the local business membership community Evolve on Friday, October 7, at Bournemouth’s Marsham Court Hotel, with the Daily Echo as media partner.

They now run Yelling Performance, which offers sports coaching and consultancy services to individuals and groups.

Among the lessons to be learned from elite sport, says Martin, is how to persevere when things don’t go to plan. “The story related to that is when Liz was running at the Olympic Games in Beijing,” he said.

After leading for much of the marathon that day in 2008, Liz finished 26th after running most of the race with a fractured rib.

“Things can come along, even with the best preparation and plans, and trip you up when you least expect it and we have to be able to adapt to that,” said Martin.

Anong their other coaching clients is Richard Whitehead, who was born without legs but set records in the marathon and half-marathon – only to switch to the 200metres for London 2012 because there was no Paralympic category for leg amputees.

“You don’t have to be heroic every day. Sometimes you need to just keep showing up every day," said Martin.

“It’s very important to show emotion and to be more open to failure and more open to vulnerability and fragility and to learn how that makes us a better athlete or a better business leader or better parent."

Liz followed her athletics career with setting up an interior design business. “She did have quite a long international athletic career but at the same time also learned how to change course and to adapt some of those skills to other things,” said Martin.

“It helps that she has an art degree. It’s transferrable skills.”

Martin is now chief executive of Stormbreak, a charity which seeks to help children’s mental health and wellbeing through movement. The role “takes up 80 per cent of my time and 150 per cent of my headspace,” he said.

“One in six children have a mental health issue. The waiting lists for support are long and families and children face a lot of struggles – and that’s only been magnified through the Covid pandemic.

“If we can do our bit by helping children feel more stable and that they can do something when they feel anxious or worried, then that will be a good thing.”

Evolve founder Warren Munson said: “Evolve’s Leader’s Lunches have become a staple on the local business calendar. They’re a great environment for business owners to mix and have fun over good food and an engaging speaker.

"This time we have two speakers in the form of Martin and Liz, and I’m really looking forward to hearing their perspectives on what’s required to perform at the highest level in athletics and, subsequently in life.”

Details can be found here.