Mental Burnout to Marathon Breakthrough: How Ben Cooper Transformed His Life Through Endurance Training
This blog is based on Episode 312 of the Purple Patch Podcast. Hear directly from Matt and Ben here.
When Ben Cooper first approached Purple Patch Fitness, he wasn’t looking to become a marathon runner. He wasn’t even sure what he was looking for.
He was a 6’4”, 230-pound former rugby player whose experience with endurance sports was, before Purple Patch, precisely zero. Externally, his life looked like the textbook example of success, complete with a bright career and growing family. He had a deep commitment to his family and colleagues.
But he also had an equally deep sense of fatigue and mental depletion after years of personal challenges. Ben was stuck, exhausted, burned out, and overwhelmed.
With a young son at home, a high-pressure job as Managing Director at a real estate private equity firm in London, and the accumulated mental strain from the past few years, Ben was, in his own words, “surviving, not thriving."
So he reached out to Purple Patch.
Two years later, Ben had crossed the finish line of three marathons, dropped nearly 50 pounds, and transformed his mental health, daily energy, and outlook on life.
This case study walks through Ben’s journey from the edge of burnout to the heart of high performance—and it holds vital lessons for every time-starved athlete navigating the chaos of modern life. This is a story of how sport can become a catalyst for life transformation.
The Challenge: Burnout, Anxiety, and a Life Out of Balance
When Ben first approached Purple Patch Fitness in 2020, he was not looking for performance gains. He was looking for a way out of a hole.
The demands of his job were staggering: frequent travel, long hours, and relentless professional pressure. His son had just been born prematurely during the COVID lockdowns, adding another layer of stress and emotional weight.
The impact on his mental health was profound. Ben had a history of managing anxiety and depression, but this was different. He was depleted.
Sleep was poor, energy was lower, and he had slipped into a loop of work, exhaustion, and numbness. When his coach, Matt Dixon, suggested setting a physical challenge, Ben simply couldn’t imagine it. Trekking with friends or a weekend hike? It felt beyond reach.
That first chapter didn’t stick. Ben wasn’t ready. But something had begun to shift.
That initial introduction to coaching with Purple Patch, though ultimately short-lived, served a critical purpose. It gave us a starting point. We could see the outlines of what might be possible.
It also exposed a hard truth: even the best coaching can’t override the need for readiness. Ben had to take care of himself first. He stepped back, took a bit of time off work, and began to recover.
Train smarter with training insights from Purple Patch delivered straight to your inbox:
The Intervention: A Marathon Goal and a Whole-Life Coaching Approach
A year later, Ben came back with a goal: he wanted to run the London Marathon for a charity that had supported his family during his son's time in intensive care. That single point of purpose changed everything.
This time, things were different. We began with a simple framework: build consistency, stabilize energy, and then layer performance on top.
Rather than jumping into high-volume marathon training, we focused on creating a sustainable training ecosystem around Ben's complex life. His plan wasn’t rigid. It was plastic, designed to adapt to his travel, work, and family schedule. Here’s a peek at some of the key components:
Each week was co-created based on his calendar of work and personal commitments
Running sessions varied in format (intervals, hill work, long aerobic efforts), and were lower in total volume than traditional marathon plans
We heavily integrated swimming, rowing, cycling, and strength training to support durability and reduce injury risk
The main goal was to help him show up stronger in all aspects of life – getting to a marathon finish line was secondary
Consistency, not perfection, was the top priority.
Equally important was the non-exercise side of the puzzle. We focused on:
Sleep quality and quantity
Basic nutrition framed around energy management, including protein intake, post-workout fueling, and hydration – not trying to blindly cut calories, but instead fueling for performance
Weekly planning. The Sunday Special habit, a key tool for all Purple Patch athletes, became sacred
Ben described it best: "It wasn’t about doing everything at once. It was layering habits, one after another, until the whole system started to hum."
The value of this type of coaching goes beyond the workouts – but it also helps athletes get more out of the sessions they are prescribed. A big part of what we did was help Ben learn how to manage himself: using sport to become more resilient to stress, more intentional about his time, and more connected to what he wanted out of life. That is the heart of Purple Patch coaching.
The Results: From Surviving to Thriving
The effects were striking. Let’s take a quick look at what happened over the course of the next two years as Ben and Matt applied these principles:
3 marathons in 12 months
Finishing his initial goal, the London Marathon, in under 4 hours – an impressive feat for someone that hadn’t run prior to this journey
Nearly 50 pounds lost
Better sleep and recovery
Improved energy, mental health, and mood
But the impact went far beyond race medals or weight loss.
The biggest difference has been the shift in how Ben shows up as a father, husband, and leader at work. He has greater focus, steadier energy, and a renewed ability to be fully present.
He describes the effect of training as "sandpapering off the rough edges” of his day.
This didn’t come from a commitment to hitting a certain number of miles or hours each week. It came because his coaching approach was built around a foundation of health, energy, and connection.
Ben has rediscovered the joy of doing hard things. He reconnected with a version of himself he hadn’t seen since his rugby-playing youth. He’s able to show up better for those who rely on him.
The marathon turned out to be the start line of a much bigger journey.
To quote Ben directly:
“I think this is training my brain to think differently. Exercise has made me more adaptable; it made me more resilient. I genuinely think it's made me a better employee. It's made me way better father. Exercise just helps to make every day easier. It just makes things better. I'm a happier, more engaged person for doing this. It's super profound. I'm fully all in.
There is something incredibly powerful about just placing one step in front of the other, and seeing what the world is going to give you that day and what your body is ready for, and the positivity that brings to me is amazing.”
Takeaways for Time-Starved Athletes
Ben’s story isn’t about being extraordinary. It’s about taking one step at a time, and doing the ordinary things consistently:
Start with movement: You don’t need a race on the calendar. Just start moving. That’s the catalyst.
Build from consistency: Performance follows from consistency, not intensity.
Make simple, accessible goals: Go to bed 30 minutes earlier. Take a walk after work.
Create plasticity in your plan: Rigid training plans fail in dynamic lives. Adaptability is your edge.
Prioritize sleep and fuel: Energy, resilience, and mental clarity all begin with rest and recovery.
Take on a challenge: Having a personal goal adds purpose. Purpose fuels momentum. It doesn’t need to be a marathon – but it should be something that’s outside your comfort zone.
Layer habits sequentially: Don’t try to change everything at once. Build the base, then add layers. Allow each small win to build momentum.
Enlist a coach who gets it: You don’t need someone barking orders. You need a guide who understands your reality and adapts to your schedule. Who knows how to get creative and prioritize the sessions and habits that will actually move the needle.
Ready for Your Next Chapter?
Ben didn’t just run a marathon. He ran himself back to a fulfilling life. This is what we do for athletes that join Purple Patch, whether they’re 1:1 coached or part of our Squad programs.
If Ben’s story resonated with you, it’s time to take your first step:
Email us at info@purplepatchfitness.com or use the button below to book a free needs assessment call. Let’s build your breakthrough.