A man wearing running gear and a race bib 633 stands inside a large tent filled with yellow backpacks labeled 'KAILAS'. Other volunteers or participants are visible in the background.
Naomi Brand, elite trail runner coached by Erin van Eyssen at Flat Rock Endurance, runs Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB 120km and finishes 5th female. Naomi is also a coach at Flat Rock Endurance.
Stuart Mac, the race director of Ultra Trail Cape Town (UTCT), is coached by Erin van Eyssen at Flat Rock Endurance, crosses the Western States Endurance Run finish line in under 20 hours, running a top time in his in that year.
Heleen Mills, trail runner coached by Erin van Eyssen at Flat Rock Endurance, finishes 3rd at Gran Trail Courmayeur 106km in Aosta Valley in Italy.
Ayesha Makim Specker, trail runner coached by Toni McCann at Flat Rock Endurance, finishes 3rd at Ultra Trail Drakensberg 100km in South Africa
Two men smiling and greeting each other at a race event under a tent with a banner reading 'Skyrunning Serra' in the background. One man is wearing an orange shirt and a black cap, and the other man is dressed in black with a backpack.
Two men with beards and wearing beanies and sunglasses are standing on a blue running track at an outdoor stadium, with people in the background.
A woman running uphill on a rocky trail in a mountainous landscape, smiling and wearing athletic gear including a cap, shirt, shorts, colorful socks, and bright orange trail running shoes.
A man running down a rocky trail on a mountain with dry grass, under a partly cloudy sky.

About
Flat Rock Endurance

What started in 2017 as a small group of runners under Erin van Eyssen’s guidance, built steadily through trust, referrals, and long-term relationships to the diverse group of international athletes and coaches that Flat Rock is today.

We coach all runners, on all surfaces – from first-time runners to athletes preparing for mountain ultras, stage races and road events.

Some of our athletes are working towards podiums and qualifiers. Others are trying to run consistently around demanding careers and family life. Some are returning from injury. Some are training for their first marathon. Some simply want a healthier, more sustainable relationship with the sport.

Our philosophy

Coach the human first.
Training does not happen in a vacuum. Most runners are balancing training alongside work, family, travel, stress, interrupted sleep, shifting schedules, and the unpredictability of normal life.

Training should support life, not consume it.
Flat Rock coaching adapts to the person behind the data — not the other way around. Plans evolve as life evolves. Progress is built through consistency, context, and long-term thinking rather than perfection. Sustainable performance over burnout.


Consistency matters more than perfection.
We believe the fundamentals matter most: show up consistently, sleep well, eat to fuel your training and recovery, and avoid injury. The rest is detail. Missing sessions and setbacks are treated as part of the human experience, not failure.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to our coaches round table on the Trail Culture Podcast

Endurance sport should add to life — not consume it.

That approach may be quieter than much of modern coaching culture. But we believe it leads to better outcomes, stronger relationships, and athletes who continue showing up long after a single race cycle ends.

Flat Rock has always been community-driven, and it remains one of the things we value most.

Flat Rock has also always been deeply community-driven.

What started in Cape Town now stretches across South Africa, Europe, the US and beyond. Wherever you’re racing, there’s often another Flat Rock athlete who has been there before — sharing race intel, route advice, gear recommendations, encouragement, lift shares.

Preparing for difficult things alongside people who genuinely understand the process matters more than most runners realise. For many athletes, that community becomes as valuable as the coaching itself.

A group of nine smiling people, dressed in athletic clothing, posing outdoors in front of a mountain, trees, and parked cars during daylight.
Four men posing in front of a waterfall with water cascading down a cliff in a lush forest setting.
A group of seven people standing together on a blue running track, smiling with arms around each other, in an outdoor stadium with stands and a large canopy overhead, during daytime.
A group of nine people smiling outdoors during the daytime, with hills and a cityscape in the background.
Four friends taking a selfie outdoors near a city and hillside, with a white SUV in the background, under cloudy skies.
Group of nine people dressed in athletic clothing, standing arm in arm outdoors on a mountain trail, with cloudy sky and scenic landscape in the background.
A group of nine people standing together in a parking lot with a mountain in the background, clear blue sky, and green trees.
A group of six people smiling for a selfie on a blue outdoor running track, with a stadium and gold-colored building in the background.
A group of nine people outdoors at dusk, dressed in athletic gear, smiling, with some wearing headlamps and a 'COFFEE' sign behind them, on a hilly road with foggy mountains in the background.
Group of six smiling people taking a selfie on a foggy trail during a hike.
A group of people in athletic gear posing for a selfie in a parking lot with a mountain in the background during sunset.
Four people taking a selfie outdoors on a trail with a hillside covered in bushes and trees in the background, during what appears to be sunset or sunrise.
A group of five hikers taking a selfie at the top of a mountain with a view of the ocean and a mountainous island in the background on a sunny day.
Four people taking a selfie outdoors with a cloudy sky and trees in the background. They are dressed in athletic clothing and appear to be participating in a running event, with a flag that says 'CRREE' next to them.
Group of seven runners in athletic gear taking a selfie outdoors in front of a mountain at sunset.
A group of six friends taking a selfie in a parking lot with a tall mountain in the background during sunset.
A group of nine people, dressed in athletic clothing, standing together outdoors at sunrise with a city skyline and fog in the background, posing for a photo after a run.
Group of nine runners smiling and posing for a photo at an outdoor track and stadium.
Group of five smiling friends taking a selfie outdoors in the evening with a dark sky and streetlights in the background
A group of smiling people sitting at an outdoor cafe table, holding cups of coffee, with mountains and trees in the background.
Group of seven runners taking a selfie outdoors during sunset, with green hills and trees in the background.
Group of six runners taking a selfie with a mountain in the background, parked cars, and trees in a parking lot on a sunny day.
Four women in athletic clothing smiling and laughing outdoors with a mountain in the background.
Group of people standing on a track field at an outdoor stadium at sunset, smiling and posing for a photo.


FOUNDER & HEAD COACH

Erin founded Flat Rock in 2017 and has coached athletes across road, trail and ultra-running for nearly a decade. His coaching philosophy centres on long-term development, sustainable performance, and helping athletes build consistency without burnout.

Known for his calm, grounded approach, Erin believes people are already hard enough on themselves. Coaching should provide clarity and perspective — not more pressure.

Erin van Eyssen

Two men sharing a joyful moment at an outdoor event, with a mountain in the background. One man has a beard, wearing a black shirt, a backpack, and a headlamp. The other man is wearing glasses, a green beanie, and a navy sweater, and is smiling as he touches the first man's shoulder.
Meet our other Coaches

Ultra Trail Cape Town Shakeout Run