Terms of Coaching

1. Who these terms are between

These terms are between Pace Theory and you, the athlete. If you're under 18, they're between Pace Theory and your parent or guardian, who accepts them on your behalf.

You accept these terms when you complete our intake form and make your first payment.

2. The service

Pace Theory provides 1:1 run coaching: a training program built around your week, a check-in call every fortnight, and messages with us on WhatsApp in between, with replies within 24 hours. Strength and fuelling guidance is part of the program. Either of our head coaches, Sami Merhi or Seth O'Donnell, may deliver your coaching.

3. Coaching is not physiotherapy

Coaching provided through Pace Theory is not physiotherapy, medical treatment, or rehabilitation. Any physiotherapy services arranged through PhysiPro are subject to separate terms and are provided by Seth O'Donnell in his capacity as a registered physiotherapist, not as a Pace Theory coach.

4. Your health

By starting coaching you confirm that you're medically fit to train, and that you've told us about any injuries, conditions or medications that could affect your training, as asked on the intake form. Tell us straight away if anything changes. If you're unsure whether you're fit to train, see a doctor first.

5. Junior athletes

A parent or guardian must accept these terms for any athlete under 18, and give consent for media use and for us to message the athlete directly. Youth coaching is for athletes under 16 and has its own price (below).

6. Prices and payment

• Month to month: $249 per month, no lock-in.
• Six months upfront: $1,344.60 ($224.10 per month).
• Youth (under 16): $299 per month.
• Youth (under 16), six months upfront: $1,614.60 ($269.10 per month).
• All prices are in Australian dollars.
• Payments are processed by Stripe.

7. Holding your spot before you start

Your payment reserves your spot. You can pay now to secure a spot and start on a later date we agree. Your coaching term starts on that start date, not the payment date.

8. Cancelling

• Month to month: Cancel any time by email or WhatsApp. You keep access until the end of the period you've paid for. No notice period.
• Six months upfront: If you cancel, we refund the remaining full months at A$224.10 each.
• Youth six months upfront: If you cancel, we refund the remaining full months at A$269.10 each.

9. Pausing your coaching

You can pause your coaching for injury, illness or travel, for up to 8 weeks in any 12 months. Just ask us by email or WhatsApp. Billing pauses during the pause and restarts automatically at the end.

10. Results, photos and quotes

We'd love to share your progress, but only with your permission. Media consent (results, photos, quotes and call clips) is a separate checkbox on the intake form, and saying no doesn't affect your coaching. You can withdraw it at any time, and we'll remove your content within 14 days. A parent or guardian gives this consent for juniors.

11. AI tools

We use AI tools, including Claude, to help analyse your training data and draft parts of your program. A coach reviews and approves everything before it reaches you. AI is never used for medical diagnosis. You can opt out at any time. See our Privacy Policy.

12. Call recordings

We may record and transcribe calls so we can coach you properly and keep accurate notes. We'll always tell you before we record, and you can ask us not to.

13. Your program

Your training program and our materials stay Pace Theory's. You have a personal licence to use them for your own training; please don't share or resell them.

14. Liability

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or changes your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

15. If a coach steps back

If your coach can no longer coach you, the other head coach will take over your coaching.

16. Changes and disputes

• We'll give you 14 days' notice of any change to these terms.
• If something goes wrong, talk to us first and we'll try to sort it out together.
• These terms are governed by the law of Victoria, Australia.