Philip Man

Coaching style & skills

My coaching style is built on consistency, clarity, and trust.

I coach people as individuals, not numbers in a session. Everyone turns up with different abilities, pressures, and confidence levels, and my job is to meet people where they are — then help them progress safely and steadily. Sessions are structured, purposeful, and challenging, but never chaotic or intimidating.

Reliability matters in coaching. I believe people progress best when they know what to expect and who they can rely on. I show up every session, set clear expectations, and lead from the front. That consistency encourages people to commit, stay accountable, and build confidence over time.

I’m calm under pressure and comfortable taking responsibility. Whether coaching large groups, supporting athletes on race day, or leading the Backyard Race Team, I make decisions clearly and communicate them simply. I enjoy environments that require focus and problem-solving — especially when people are tired, challenged, or doubting themselves.

One of my strengths is recognising potential in others. I’m good at seeing what people are capable of before they see it themselves, and I enjoy helping them develop both physically and mentally.

At its core, my coaching isn’t about quick wins or motivation that fades. It’s about building resilience, confidence, and habits that last — on the training field, on the start line, and in everyday life.

• Coaching approach: Structured, consistent, people-first
• Strengths: Calm leadership, clear communication, reliability
• Specialisms: Obstacle course racing, group coaching, confidence building
• What matters most: Trust, accountability, long-term progress

Racing career & competitive experience

I found obstacle course racing in 2018, and stepped into competitive racing in 2023. Since then, OCR has shaped the way I approach training, resilience, and performance under pressure.

Across 3 competitive race seasons, I have achieved 24 Age Group podium finishes — including 8 race wins, 3 second places, and 13 third places. In total, I have logged 200+ event entries, including the London Marathon.

I have also raced at major European and world-level events including Spartan Kulmbach (Germany), Trifecta World Championships, Sparta, Greece (twice), and the Spartan Ultra World Championships in Morzine, France (2025).

Most wins have come at Beast distance, with podiums across all distances. When I run Open races, it’s for the fun and the shared experience with friends.

My story

My life and work have always been built on responsibility, consistency, and doing things properly.

I have spent over 25 years working within the building and engineering world. Early in my career, I worked as a specialist equipment operator on major infrastructure projects, including the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Heathrow Terminal 5, and St Pancras Station. Those environments taught me discipline, precision, and the importance of teamwork on high-pressure, high-profile projects.

Over time, I realised that large construction sites were not where I wanted to spend my working life. I’m a countryside man at heart, and I wanted a more personal, grounded way of working. I’m not a stereotypical site operative — I value calm, trust, and long-term relationships far more than noise and ego.

Moving into private work allowed me to use what I do best: seeing solutions, adapting to different challenges, and delivering work to a consistently high standard. My clients value that they can come to one person for almost any project, knowing it will be approached carefully, priced fairly, and completed properly. Trust is central to that. I spend a great deal of time in people’s homes, often around families and their private lives, and I treat that trust with absolute discretion and respect.

One of the defining periods of my working life was spending over 12 years working predominantly for a single family, renovating a period property room by room. The work was carried out respectfully to the building’s history while also modernising the property with full rewiring and high-end networking throughout the house and outbuildings.

Alongside this, I developed a strong interest in electrical and networking systems and in the direction the industry is moving, particularly around renewables and smart technology. These are areas I intend to continue developing and formalising as part of my professional growth.

A serious accident later in my life reshaped my outlook, reinforcing the value of consistency, patience, and resilience. Those principles underpin how I coach, how I work, and how I lead people.

Whether I’m coaching, working professionally, or leading a team, reliability is non-negotiable. People depend on me to show up, take responsibility, and deliver to a high standard. At this stage of my life, I bring experience, perspective, and a varied skillset that only comes with time — value that I’m proud to offer to any team, client, or organisation.

Race Team leadership

The most important part of the Backyard Race Team is community.

We are a team of people supporting athletes — not athletes supporting a team. Every member, regardless of age, ability, or experience, is valued equally. The environment we build is one where people feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to become the best version of themselves in demanding conditions.

My role as team lead is to protect and guide that culture. I focus on creating an environment where individuals push themselves, but never feel isolated or overlooked. Training, race days, and events are about shared effort, mutual respect, and collective growth — not ego or hierarchy.

Alongside that community focus, I take responsibility for organisation, communication, and standards. From training structure and race preparation to expectations around conduct and presentation, clarity and consistency are essential. Athletes perform best when they feel supported and understand what’s expected of them.

I’m calm under pressure and comfortable making decisions in challenging environments, whether managing logistics on race weekends, supporting athletes through difficult moments, or adapting plans when conditions change. That steadiness allows the team to stay focused while maintaining the supportive culture that defines us.

Commercial partnerships

We work with commercial partners who align with our values and understand the importance of authenticity, consistency, and long-term relationships.

A partnership with the Backyard Race Team is not about logos alone — it’s about representing brands in a way that feels genuine and credible. We take pride in how partners are presented at events, across digital platforms, and within our wider Backyard community. Clear communication, reliability, and mutual respect sit at the heart of every relationship.

Our aim is to build partnerships that grow over time, benefiting both the brand and the people who make up the team.

Professional background

Alongside Backyard, I have a long and varied professional background built around responsibility, problem-solving, and trust.

My working life spans large infrastructure projects, private high-end residential work, leadership roles, and hands-on delivery. Across all of it, the same principles apply: reliability, clear communication, attention to detail, and taking responsibility for seeing a task through properly.

I work well independently or as part of a team, adapt quickly to new environments, and bring a calm, considered approach to pressured situations. I take pride in representing people and organisations properly and in delivering work to a consistently high standard.

• Work style: Skilled multi-trade — capable across most types of private residential work
• Clients: Individuals and families (private work rather than construction sites)