Lily Canter
Lily Canter is a UK Athletics running coach and the founder of the Great Bowden Runners club. She has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years and currently specializes in running and fitness. She regularly contributes to Runner’s World, Well+Good, Fit&Well and Live Science. She also writes about health and wellbeing for the South China Morning Post.
Lily was formerly a personal finance journalist, shortlisted for the Headline Money Awards in 2021. She wrote news and features for The Guardian, The Times, the Telegraph, Metro, The Mail on Sunday, Moneywise and loveMONEY.
These days Lily can usually be found on the trails testing running shoes, canicrossing with her dog Zippy or heading to multi-day ultra races. Her biggest racing achievements to date are placing second in the Ultra Challenge 100km in the Lake District and third in the Peak District Marathon.
She has a BA in English Literature, an MA in Print Journalism and a PhD in Journalism Studies. She is also co-host of the award-winning podcast Freelancing For Journalists and teaches feature writing, podcasting and freelancing to university students. Lily is the co-author of two books: Freelancing For Journalists, and Digital Journalism Studies.
Latest articles by Lily Canter
What Is A Good 10K Time?
By Lily Canter last updated
If you’re preparing to race the distance for the first time, find out what 10K time to aim for, or see how your PR matches up with average times
What Is A Good 5K Time?
By Lily Canter last updated
We gathered data from parkrun, Strava and others to identify average 5K times by location, sex and age
What Is The Average London Marathon Time? We Have The Results By Age And Gender From 2023
By Lily Canter last updated
Discover how quickly people completed the 2023 and 2022 London Marathons with this exclusive data
What Is A Good Marathon Time?
By Lily Canter last updated
We got our hands on exclusive data from the TCS London Marathon, and matched it with results from Strava and others, so you can work out what to aim for
What Is A Good Half Marathon Time?
By Lily Canter published
Are you trying to figure out what time to put down on your race entry? These average half marathon times will help you make a decision
Fartlek Training Explained With Workouts And Expert Tips
By Lily Canter published
Add some intensity to your running with Fartlek
Get Faster With Plyometrics For Runners
By Lily Canter published
Use our expert explainer and sample workout to become a faster, more powerful runner
I Swapped My Car For An E-Bike For Five Days Before World Car Free Day—Here’s What I Found
By Lily Canter published
There’s no way an e-bike could entirely replace my car, but it improved some journeys
Long-Distance Running Tips From A Running Coach
By Lily Canter published
How to start long-distance running, and how to get faster
Why All Runners Should Be Cross-Training, And How To Incorporate It Into Your Running Plan
By Lily Canter published
Add some variety to your routine and get faster, stronger and more efficient
Everything It’s Worth Knowing About Running With Water
By Lily Canter published
Staying hydrated will help your running, but working out the best way to carry water while running is trickier than it first appears
Blisters From Running Are The Worst—Here’s How To Prevent And Treat Them
By Lily Canter published
We asked podiatrists and an Army Reserve paramedic who covers endurance events to recommend tips and products to prevent you from developing blisters when running
How To Train For An Ultramarathon
By Lily Canter published
Expert advice on making the transition from road marathons to 50km off-road and beyond
Get the Coach Newsletter
Sign up for workout ideas, training advice, reviews of the latest gear and more.