Coach Spotlight: Ιοannis Vafeiadis of VG Distance Runners

From ceremonial marches in the Greek Presidential Guard to becoming a popular endurance coach, Ioannis Vafeiadis has forged an impressive path — rooted in curiosity and resilience. Today, with the help of EndoGusto, Ioannis has built a successful coaching business pushing athletes to reach their limits

🏃‍♂️ A Running Start in the Unlikeliest of Places

Ioannis’s entry into running was serendipitous. In 2012, at the age of 24 and serving in Greece’s elite Presidential Guard, he was urged by an officer to enter an 8km race. It was his first formal event, and he excelled. That spark led to a string of weekly races and the realization that this wasn’t just a pastime—it was a passion.

After his military service, a job at a sports store proved pivotal. A coach, hearing Ioannis had clocked 17:30 in a 5K without structured training, immediately saw promise. He encouraged him to explore shorter, speed-focused track events like the 800m and 1500m—shifting Ioannis’s focus toward speed over endurance.

👨‍🏫 From Athlete to Student

The momentum was strong—but not without setbacks. A serious bout with compartment syndrome, along with venous insufficiency in both legs caused him to undergo surgery. Although the problem is now resolved, at the time it forced Ioannis to pause his athletic aspirations. Rather than walk away from the sport, he shifted inward, diving deep into learning the science behind endurance training.

Ioannis began frequenting the Eugenides Foundation library, borrowing advanced coaching texts and wrestling with terminology foreign to him at first. A friend with a degree in physical education helped decode the jargon, and that support propelled him forward. He enrolled in multiple coaching institutes, improved through academic study, and attended lectures at TEFAA—Greece’s top physical education university.

What began as recovery soon turned into reinvention.

💼 Turning Passion into Profession

Parallel to his studies, Ioannis began coaching a handful of athletes. Demand grew, and what started as a part-time hobby transformed into a thriving full-time business. His coaching style—speed-based, personalized, and results-oriented—quickly set him apart.

During the pandemic lockdown, Ioannis wrote his first book on endurance coaching (Προπονηση αντοχης μεγαλων αποστασεων, για αρχάριους και προχωρημένους δρομείς), outlining his unique system. Though initially rejected by publishers, he self-published—and within a month, broke even on the first 1,000 copies. The book is now in its fourth reprint. He’s since begun translating and publishing major international coaching works for Greek-speaking audiences(Η αντοχη της ταχυτητας. Η επαναστατική νέα μέθοδος προπόνησης για μαραθωνίους και ημιμαραθωνίους), helping democratize access to elite-level training knowledge.

🧪 A Coaching Philosophy Grounded in Speed and Efficiency

Ioannis’s approach defies endurance coaching orthodoxy in the best ways:

• Low volume, high intensity: Athletes train smarter—not more. With only three sessions a week, one client cut their marathon time from 4 hours to 3.
  
• Anaerobic work for aerobic athletes: Sprint intervals and max-effort bursts (e.g., fartlek sessions) help stimulate deeper adaptations often missed by traditional methods.
  
• Speed-first foundation: Ioannis believes endurance should be built on top of speed, not the other way around.
  
• Holistic programming: Multi-system training ensures athletes activate all muscle fiber types and improve across the board.
  
• Injury prevention through structure: No workout is dangerous when intelligently designed. It’s frequency—not intensity—that causes breakdown.
  
• Digital-first coaching: Tools like EndoGusto have helped Ioannis move from notebooks to scalable systems, multiplying his income fivefold and improving athlete outcomes.
  

And perhaps most importantly, Ioannis believes training should never feel like an obligation. When the process becomes joyful, sustainable progress follows naturally.

🏞️ A Life Rebuilt Around Purpose

Today, Ioannis lives in the mountain town of Karpenisi with his wife, as they prepare to welcome their first child. The move out of Athens symbolizes more than just lifestyle—it reflects the freedom and fulfillment his coaching career has brought him.

By combining old-school discipline with cutting-edge tools, Ioannis Vafeiadis is showing that endurance is not just about going far—it’s about doing so with education, intention, and a passion for good results.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ioannis.vafeiadis1988
VG Distance Runners: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1648203242148311