THIS IS TOMMY TREES
Published: 08/04/2025, by: Alex Courbat | Photography: Joseph Ironmonger
Running has always been in Tommy’s blood, but his journey with the sport hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride. As one of Sports Direct’s new ambassadors, we caught up with him to chat about his Olympic dream, finding purpose, and how he’s reinvented himself as a coach.
Running runs in the Trees family’s blood. Tommy’s not even 30, yet he’s already spent nearly two decades living and breathing the sport. Growing up as the son of Mike Trees, a well-known running coach and triathlete, Tommy was already racing 5Ks when most kids his age were learning how to tie their shoes.
But Tommy’s journey with running hasn’t been a smooth ride. Early on, he was determined to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a professional triathlete, with one big goal: making the Olympics. That all changed when he joined the University of Leeds and began training alongside some of the world’s best: Alex Yee and Alistair Brownlee. Not familiar with them? Well, between the two of them, they’ve claimed the last three Olympic gold medals in triathlon – just that!
“It was always Olympics or nothing for me,” Tommy admits. “But when I saw athletes like Alex and Alistair, I realised they were on a whole different level.” That was a tough one to swallow. Tommy had spent years building up the idea of becoming an Olympian, but suddenly, that dream felt like it was slipping away. “When I realised it wasn’t going to happen, I just quit.”
For the next three years, Tommy took a break. To protect his pride, he even convinced himself he hated running. “I kept telling myself I’d never liked it. For a couple of years, I made myself believe I was forced into it, that I never really enjoyed it.” On top of that, a persistent knee injury added to his frustration. Even if the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong, the pain lingered, and Tommy struggled with feeling disconnected from the athlete he once was. “I was used to being the fast one, and when I couldn’t keep up, I just couldn’t handle it. Instead of slowing down, I stopped altogether.”
“I was running half marathons by the time I was 12,” Tommy shares. “It’s always been a part of my life. I can’t imagine not being involved in it, even when I’m 30 or 40 years old.”
But then, during the first COVID lockdown, something clicked. “I realised running wasn’t just about competition – it was also about how good it made me feel. It’s part of what brings me happiness.” At the same time, gyms closed and with everyone looking for ways to stay active outdoors, running became very popular. “All my mates were getting into it, and I thought, ‘There’s definitely something here.’” Tommy noticed a gap in the market for online coaching, so in 2020, he decided to turn his passion for running into a new career as an online coach.
These days, Tommy’s approach to coaching is all about the journey, not just the finish line. “I always remind my clients that they’re not professionals – this is supposed to be fun! You’re paying for the races, so enjoy the process,” he says.
And for Tommy? Running has also become a form of meditation. With the sounds of The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and the Foo Fighters blasting in his headphones, Tommy finds his rhythm and clears his mind with every stride. “It’s my time to clear my head. I run twice a day, usually solo. It’s that one or two hours where I can forget everything else and just be at peace.”
But, while his relationship with running has evolved over the years, there’s one thing that Tommy could never really run away from – his competitive spirit. Shortly after diving back into running, he set himself a new challenge: a marathon in under 2 hours 30 minutes. “When I got back into it, I set the goal for a sub-2:30 marathon. In December, I ran 2:29:41. I beat my target by 19 seconds after 11 marathons of training. That moment in Valencia was the best of my life.” But Tommy’s not done yet. His next goal? A sub-2:20 marathon in the next four years. The goals have changed. The drive hasn’t.
From a young runner with Olympic dreams to a coach, Tommy’s journey has been all about realisation and growth. He’s learned that running isn’t just about crossing the finish line first – it’s about enjoying every step of the journey and setting new goals along the way. And if there’s one thing Tommy knows for sure, it’s that he’ll never stop running toward the next big challenge.
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