Thanοs Konstantinidis: Run Smart, Enjoy the Process
“Run now that you can. Do what’s doable today, and tomorrow takes care of itself.”
In the mountainous seaside town of Kavala in Northern Greece, you’ll find Thanos spending his days training people in the gym and his evenings at the track—coaching young rising stars, Paralympians, and amateur endurance enthusiasts as he helps establish a vibrant running scene for this growing city. With a lifetime of coaching exposure, his formula is simple and hard-won: consistency beats bravado, and enjoyment is the engine of endurance.
Seeds sown early on
Thanos grew up surrounded by track and field. With both parents as coaching role models, coaching wasn’t abstract, it was dinner conversation. After a youth spent on the track, focusing on the 400m hurdles, he studied Physical Education and Sport Science.
After graduating, he returned home to Kavala and committed himself to coaching at the club where his athletic journey began, OKA Kavalas. Although his experience was in sprints and hurdles, a need at the club turned his attention to distance. It opened a new chapter for him as an athlete, too: he tested long-distance training principles on himself first, refining them as he applied them to his athletes. The experiments stuck. Today he specializes from 1500m to the marathon, working with athletes from elite competitors to first-time 5K runners.
“The hurdles taught me rhythm. Endurance is rhythm you can hold.”
The pivot that broadened his lane
With distance coaching under his belt, he now balances three worlds—running his gym, coaching in person at the stadium and on Kavala’s coastal path, and supporting remote athletes through EndoGusto. The mix keeps him close to day-to-day realities while giving him a broader view of how different lives fit training in.
In a town that hasn’t historically prioritised running, he’s leaving a mark by building community, running alongside his athletes, and organising camps, activities that directly support the health and fitness of local residents.
Philosophy, in practice
- Run smart miles. Miles matter when they’re smart. You don’t need “more”; you need the volume that suits you and brings you joy.
- Enjoy the process. If training feels like punishment, it won’t last. Some days take more effort to get out the door, but joy helps you clear that resistance.
- Consistency → Confidence → Results. Consistency brings results—but not at the expense of listening to your body. A rest day when needed keeps joy in the equation and prevents burnout.
Carpe diem
Beyond coaching, Thanos plays guitar in a local band and lives by his general philosophy: make the most of today. Do that, and you stay open to what life offers while still creating a future full of possibility.
If you find yourself travelling through Northern Greece, look for EY.GYM, the first running club of Kavala, and join them for a jaunt along the coast.
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