RunBlogRun presents Danny Mackey, Head Coach of the Brooks Beasts Track Club
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Danny Mackey has coached the Brooks Beasts since its founding in 2013. Danny has a unique approach to coaching, and every time I speak with his athletes, they say he knows them, watches them, and gives them suggestions to improve.
I recently interviewed Marta Pen Freitas, who announced her retirement on October 23, 2026. A two-time Olympian and an athlete who competed for Portugal while representing the Brooks Beasts TC. She spoke about how Danny Mackey worked with her to find a program that took her personal circumstances into account as he built a training program for her. In 2024, Marta discovered that she had cancer. Danny worked with her to find a way for Marta to train, even while dealing with chemo and an aggressive way to help Marta return to health. Even while battling cancer, Marta, who made the decision to train and compete, set an indoor PB at the 800 meters, something that made her proud.
Coaching is both art and science.
I found this gem from Danny Mackey, recorded by our video team, The Shoe Addicts (AJ Felice, Mike Deering, and Adam Johnson-Eder), from the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. Danny has always been a resource, and his thoughts on training for the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters.
I suggest that coaches watch this one and take it in. Danny Mackey, as many of you know, has coached Josh Kerr since 2018, through both Olympic medals (bronze in 2020, silver in 2024), and World Champs gold at 1,500 meters (2023), and 3,000 meters indoors (2024 & 2026). In 2026, Josh Kerr set the World record in the mile, predicting it four months earlier, and won the Commonwealth Games mile and the Ultimage 1,500 meters champs. Danny also coached Brandan Miller to a 1:42:19 PB in the 800 meters.
In this video, we get, a bit inside the head of Danny Mackey, who observes like few others. Enjoy!