My story
Meet your coach.
My name is Michael Larter. I'm originally from the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal and I've lived in Cape Town since 2018. After battling with my mental health for years, I joined the running community and it changed my life entirely.
The beginning
Running gave me back my life.
Running helped me get healthy, grounded, and gave me a sense of belonging when I needed it most. Not long after, I began taking it seriously, hired a coach, committed to structured training, and set myself an ambitious goal: to run across countries to raise funds and awareness for mental health.
What started as a personal lifeline became a mission. And a method.
My coaching belief
Your potential is far greater than you think.
I don't put ceilings on athletes or dismiss goals because they sound unrealistic. If you're willing to show up, do the work, and stay curious through the hard parts, I'll believe in your goal, even when it feels out of reach.
Running has taught me that limits are rarely physical. Most of them are learned. My role as a coach is to help you unlearn them.
What I've done
Full length of Japan: 3000kmSolo
From the northernmost point to the southernmost point of Japan in 73 days: entirely alone and self-supported, pushing a pram with all equipment and supplies.
Ultra-Trail Cape Town: 100 miler
One of Africa's toughest ultras. Completed in 42 hours. Run two weeks after finishing the Cape Town to Namibia crossing.
Cape Town to the Namibian border: 772km
14 days. On foot. To raise funds and awareness for mental health. The run that made everything else possible.
Training log
Every run, no filter.
I train the way I coach: consistently and in the open. This is my recent training straight from Strava, so you can see what the work actually looks like.
Follow me on Strava ↗Follow along
Behind the scenes, in real time.
Training days, trail runs and race journeys as they happen. This is where most of the story gets told.
Follow @michaeluncharted ↗Want to train with someone who has been where you are?