Meet Your Coach: Bruno Lima

Meet Bruno Lima – A Father's Promise to the International Track

I didn’t spend my youth on the athletics track. In fact, until I was 30, my reality looked very different: I was a smoker, I enjoyed a drink, and I worked long, exhausting hours behind the wheel of a bus.

The turning point came when my wife became pregnant with our son. I made a firm promise to myself to quit smoking and drinking cold turkey, and to become the role model dad he deserved. My method was simple but brutal: I decided to start running to work.

It was anything but glamorous. It took me three grueling months just to build up the lungs and stamina to run three miles without stopping. But once I hit that milestone, I never looked back. Today, seeing my son compete as a county-level swimmer reminds me every day that leading by example works.

That initial grit laid the foundation for everything that followed. Joining Salford Harriers in 2013 and working under the mentorship of GB international runner Ian Grime taught me how to channel that raw determination into high-level athletic performance. I went from struggling through a three-mile commute to representing Portugal, reaching the World Masters 5000m final, and earning multiple European Masters medals.

Today, I still balance my elite-level training with a full-time career driving HGVs. As an England Athletics Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF), I help runners over 35 shatter their own ceilings. Whether you want to drop your 5k time, step onto the track for an aggressive 800m, or build bulletproof strength, I provide the exact blueprints I use myself.

Let’s get to work and find your fast.

The Athlete

Through discipline, consistency, and the invaluable mentorship of GB international runner and coach Ian Grime, I transformed myself into an international competitor. Today, I am proud to represent Portugal in the M40 category, competing in the 800m, 1500m, and 5000m events.

My career highlights include:

• European Masters Athletics Championships: Earning multiple podium finishes, including an indoor 3000m bronze (2022), indoor 3000m and outdoor 1500m bronze (2023), outdoor 5000m bronze (2025), and an indoor 1500m silver (2026).

• World Masters Athletics Championships (2018): Placing 7th in the highly competitive M35 5000m final in Málaga.

The Coach

Effective coaching requires more than just running fast—it requires a deep understanding of physiology, programming, and communication.

I hold an in-person Level 3 Personal Trainer diploma from TrainingFitness, as well as a Leadership in Running Fitness qualification through England Athletics. This formal education, combined with a decade of elite competition, allows me to build custom, data-driven programs for my athletes.

• Sport is a foundational part of my life and my family—I’m also a proud dad cheering on my son as he competes as a county-level swimmer. Whether you are chasing a new personal best, returning to the sport, or stepping onto the track for the first time as a masters athlete, I am here to help you train smarter and race faster..