Mobile personal trainer & running coach in Wellington

Strength, fitness and running coaching in Wellington, built around you.

I'm Eli Tanoi, a Level 4 qualified personal trainer and competitive distance runner. I come to you with a structured programme, practical nutrition advice and the accountability to follow through.

Get in touch See services

Eli running a road race along the coast in a black singlet and bright blue shoes

Level 4 Certificate in Exercise: NZIS Health and Fitness Personal Trainer
Mobile personal trainer: At your home or private gym
1st place in 2026: Honest10k and Mad Max Marathon
Combat sports medallist: Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Who I work with

Whatever your starting point

Whether you're taking your first steps or chasing a performance goal, the programme is built around you.

Starting out or building a base

New to training, coming back after a break, or wanting a solid foundation of strength and fitness? We start exactly where you are. Sessions are encouraging, clear and achievable, so you build confidence as well as fitness.

Training for a sport or event

If your sport demands specific or unusual movements, your programme will be built around them. Expect a structured, progressive plan, honest feedback and hard work.

Beginner and intermediate runners

Working towards a 10k, a half marathon or your first trail event? I coach long-distance road and trail runners with a plan that fits your goal race and your week.

Services

Coaching that fits how you train

Two ways to work together, both built around your goals, your schedule and your experience.

Mobile — I come to you in Wellington

In-person personal training

$100per week

One-on-one coaching at your home or a private gym you have access to, anywhere in Wellington. Built for people developing base fitness, or preparing for a sport that needs specific, less common movements.

A 70-minute in-person training session each week
A personalised strength and cardio programme
Nutrition advice that fits your goals and routine

Enquire about training

For beginner and intermediate distance runners

Running coaching

Enquirefor pricing

Structured coaching for road and trail running. Whether it's your first 10k or a faster half marathon, you get a plan built around your goal race, your schedule and your current fitness.

A training plan built around your goal event and weekly schedule
Coaching from a runner who races everything from 5k to the marathon, plus trail
Remote or in person, whichever suits you

Enquire about coaching

Where I train

I'm based in Wellington, and all in-person sessions take place in Wellington, New Zealand. If you think you're close enough, just get in touch. I can sometimes make exceptions for the northern suburbs, Petone and nearby areas.

Space you'll need

You don't need a big space or a full gym. Sessions work in a private or home gym, a backyard, a deck or garage, or a smaller indoor area. I can prepare workouts for a space as small as 2m x 2m.

Equipment

We can use any equipment you already have, so you can repeat the workouts on your own between sessions. I can also bring small equipment where needed: kettlebells, dumbbells, a skipping rope or a foam roller. A pull-up bar is possible too, if you have a suitable door frame.

Prefer to train remotely? Remote personal training and running coaching are available. Pricing depends on what you need, so get in touch and we'll work it out together.

How it works

From first message to first session

Get in touch
Send an enquiry with your goals, your training history and anything I should know, such as injuries or past experience.
Plan together
We talk through what you want to achieve and how you like to train, then I build your programme around it.
Train and progress
Sessions and your programme get under way. I keep track of how you're going and adjust as you improve.

Eli smiling and waving to the camera while running a forest trail race

Qualifications and experience

Level 4 Certificate in Exercise: Health and Fitness Personal Trainer, New Zealand Institute of Sport (NZIS)
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Competed in two tournaments: 1st place no-gi and 2nd place gi
Judo: Bronze medal, Junior Men's U81kg, New Zealand North Island Championships
Training others: Experience training people in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Distance running: Racing since 2023, from 5k to the full marathon, plus 25k trail and a 70km road relay

About Eli

Built on martial arts, proven on the road

I'm Elisha (Eli) Tanoi, a Samoan/Kiwi personal trainer and running coach. I grew up in martial arts: Kyokushin Karate and Taekwondo as a child, Judo as a teenager, and Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as an adult. That background taught me discipline, body awareness and how to train towards a specific outcome.

I took up distance running in 2023 and have raced everything from 5k to the full marathon, plus trail events and a 70km country-road relay, winning the Honest10k and the Mad Max Marathon Running Festival in 2026. I race for Wellington Harrier Athletic Club.

I'm now working towards becoming a national-level elite runner and representing Samoa in long distance running. That shapes how I coach: I know what consistent, structured training takes because I do it myself.

Eli holding his winner's medal in his teeth inside the Mad Max Marathon Running Festival photo frame — After winning the 2026 Mad Max Marathon Running Festival in Broken Hill

Results

I train the way I coach

Racing keeps me honest. These are some of my results since taking up distance running in 2023.

3rd male

Mount Maunganui Half Marathon

2026 · 5k

1st

Mad Max Marathon

2026 · 5.5k

1st

Honest10k (June)

2026 · 10k

Next race

2026 Auckland Marathon · Half marathon

Goal: Becoming a national-level elite runner and representing Samoa in long distance running.

Full race history (15 races)

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Year	Race	Distance	Result
2026	NZ Road Relay Championships	10.6k leg of a 70km, 7-leg relay	Wellington Harrier Athletic Club
2026	Wellington 10k Road Champs	10k
2026	Mount Maunganui Half Marathon	5k	3rd male
2026	Mad Max Marathon	5.5k	1st
2026	Honest10k (June)	10k	1st
2026	Faultline Ultra	25k trail
2026	Round the Bays	8.4k
2025	Whanganui Three Bridges	Quarter marathon
2025	Wellington Marathon	10k
2025	Faultline Ultra	24k trail
2024	Kapiti Half	Half marathon
2024	Hutt Valley Marathon	Half marathon
2024	Wellington Marathon	Marathon
2024	Round the Bays	5.5k
2023	Auckland Marathon	Half marathon

FAQ

Common questions

Where do you train people?

I'm a mobile trainer, so I come to you: at your home, or at a private gym you have access to. All in-person sessions are in Wellington, New Zealand. Remote coaching is available too.

Which areas do you cover?

I'm based in Wellington and all in-person training takes place here. If you're not sure whether your suburb is close enough, send an enquiry and we'll work it out. I can sometimes make exceptions for the northern suburbs, Petone and similar areas.

How much space do I need to train at home?

Less than you might think. Many Wellington homes are compact, so I plan around what you have: a home or private gym, a backyard, a deck, or a small indoor area. I can build a workout for a space as small as 2m x 2m.

Do I need any equipment?

No. If you already own equipment, we can build it into your sessions so you can also do the workouts on your own. Otherwise I can bring small equipment such as a kettlebell, dumbbells, a skipping rope or a foam roller. A pull-up bar can be used if you have a suitable door frame.

What qualifications do you hold?

I hold a Level 4 Certificate in Exercise (Health and Fitness Personal Trainer) from the New Zealand Institute of Sport (NZIS). I also bring years of martial arts training and competition, and my own distance running experience.

What does $100 per week include?

A 70-minute in-person training session each week. A personalised strength and cardio programme. Nutrition advice that fits your goals and routine.

I'm a beginner. Is that okay?

Absolutely. Building a first base of fitness, or coming back after time away, is exactly what I enjoy helping with. We start from where you are and progress at a pace you can keep up.

Do you coach track or middle-distance events?

My running coaching focuses on long-distance road and trail running for beginner and intermediate runners. If you're after track or middle-distance coaching, get in touch and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit.

Do you offer remote coaching?

Yes. Remote personal training and running coaching are both available. Pricing depends on what you need, so send an enquiry and we'll work out what suits you.

Contact

Let's talk training

Tell me about your goals, your current training and any events you have coming up, and I'll get back to you to talk through how we can work together.

Prefer email? Write to contact@coacheli.co.nz