Meet Tom Johnson: From Run Clubs to Marathon Goals

Social runner, functional training fan and first-time marathon hopeful, Tom brings a fun, community-first approach to fitness.

After finding his stride through Melbourne run clubs, Tom is now building towards his first marathon in 2026, fuelled by good coffee, smoothies, strength sessions and plenty of social kilometres. Discover more about Tom’s training, goals and go-to Bulk picks below.

Hey, I'm Tom

I'm a Melbourne-based social runner currently training for my first marathon.

My relationship with fitness hasn’t always been straightforward, and it took me a while to find the right active outlet. That changed in 2023 when I started running properly, drawn in by the social side of run clubs after moving to Melbourne. I needed friends, a reason to get moving, and a community to be part of - and running ticked every box.

Since then, I’ve stuck around for the kilometres, the coffee catch-ups, the walks around the Tan, and the good people that come with it all. For me, fitness is as much about connection as it is about training. A healthy social life keeps me recharged, motivated, and full of the right amount of whimsy.

In 2026, I’ll be taking on my first marathon, and I can’t wait to see what I’m capable of!

Outside of running, you’ll probably find me documenting my day-to-day life, sipping coffee, playing board games, or planning the next big run. Follow along for the training, the chaos, and everything in between.

Tom’s Approach to Nutrition

Back in 2019, I decided to cut out sugar. Not from every single food, but refined sugar everywhere I didn’t need it. I stopped having chocolate, lollies, soft drink, desserts, flavoured yoghurt and super sugary cereals.

I’ve followed some version of that approach ever since, with varying levels of strictness, and I’ll die on this hill. For me, sugar is a luxury, and it’s very addictive. I don’t think you need so much of it in your diet, and there are plenty of healthier sweet alternatives that can help with cravings. For now, honey is my go-to sweetener - whole food, natural sugar, and very easy to love.

Outside of that, I keep things pretty practical. I don’t love cooking, so I meal prep as much as I can to make life easier during the week. Having meals ready to go helps me stay on track without needing to think too much about what I’m eating every day.

That said, I also love eating out. I try to keep an eye on my calories throughout the week and leave room for dinners out whenever I’m invited.

Average Daily Calorie Intake: 2200

Is there a type or style of diet you follow? Carbs aren't my favourite. I find I can get most of the energy I need from good protein and fibre. Carbs seem to make it harder to keep the food off my hips, so I try to minimise them

Are there foods you avoid? Why? Probably just eating too much cheese. I love it, but let’s just say there’s a limit before things start going downhill.

Are there foods you crave? Peanut butter. With honey. On a spoon. And like, five tablespoons of it in one sitting.

What's your go-to cheat meal? I have a lot of cheat meals, that's why I try to keep my normal diet low sugar and low carb. If I'm under my calories I can afford more pizza and burgers.

My Day on a Plate

My days can change a lot depending on training, work, social plans and whether I’m eating out, but breakfast is the one routine I’ve kept pretty consistent.

I’ve religiously lived off two smoothie options for the last few years, both using Vanilla WPI.

Option 1:

Option 2:

The rest of my day is a little more flexible, but starting with a smoothie helps me get a solid protein hit in early and keeps things easy.

Weekly Workout Plan

At the moment, my training is focused around my Runna plan as I build towards my first marathon. I’ve been following it for a few weeks now, and it gives me the structure I need to keep progressing with my running without having to overthink every session.

Running is the main focus, but I still like to mix things up where I can. Strength and conditioning classes are a favourite because they help me feel stronger, fitter and more balanced overall. They’re also a fun way to train in a group environment, which suits me perfectly.

I’m also planning to add reformer Pilates into the mix. I think it’ll be a great way to support my running, improve control and mobility, and keep my body moving well while the kilometres build.

For now, it’s all about staying consistent, getting the runs done, and building towards that marathon start line feeling as prepared as possible.

Latest Results

Do you have any medium/long term goals you're working towards?

My marathon! I haven’t run one before, but I can’t wait to smash it out.

I’m not sure what comes next after that just yet. I can’t really see myself working towards an ultra, because that amount of time on my feet doesn’t sound fun. I’m more likely to focus on bringing my marathon time down and seeing how much I can improve. A sub-3 marathon would be unreal.

Have you had any exceptional results (in competitions or otherwise) in the last few years? Let us know what they are!

Not yet. I’m still fresh to the competition scene, but I’m looking forward to getting involved and seeing what I can do.