STAGE invited Patrick Sang, the coach who developed Eliud Kipchoge, the world-renowned marathon runner, along with experts to open the major forum of the year, STAGE Talks 2026. The event shares experiences to elevate running and aims to create the Running Experience Center, a comprehensive hub for runners to reach world-class levels.
Sutath Wongsuksiri, Managing Director & Co-Founder of STAGE Find The Real U.
Sutath Wongsuksiri, Managing Director and Co-Founder of STAGE Find The Real U, chaired the press conference announcing the grand STAGE Talks 2026 event at STAGE Find The Real U.
The event features Patrick Sang, the legendary coach behind Eliud Kipchoge—two-time Olympic marathon gold medalist in 2016 and 2020 and 11-time major marathon champion—along with leading Thai and international coaches, joining STAGE Talks 2026 to share experiences and elevate knowledge to international standards.
Also participating are Professor Emeritus Dr. Ulrich Hartmann, Director of Movement Science and Sports Training at Leipzig University, Germany; Günter Lange, Special Advisor on Education and Sports to the Ugandan Presidential Office; senior experts and speakers from World Athletics; and Joe Fukuda, a professional runner from the Adidas Runner team, who will join the discussion and share experience exchanges.
This seminar will be held on Saturday, 25 Apr 2026 GMT+7 at Chulalongkorn University.
Sutath Wongsuksiri, Managing Director & Co-Founder of STAGE Find The Real U, revealed that STAGE was founded with the intention to comprehensively raise the standards of fitness businesses in Thailand, providing a platform for everyone to showcase their potential.
At the same time, STAGE aims to promote the importance of systematic training to reduce injury risks and foster sustainable long-term exercise. This led to the creation of the Running Experience Center, a comprehensive hub for runners that combines all essential training components.
The center offers elevated knowledge on proper running techniques through workshops and seminars from expert coaches; physical fitness assessments including VO2Max testing and Functional Movement Screen analysis; personalized training program design and professional coaching for runners of all levels; alongside proper recovery and rehabilitation methods such as sports massage and red light therapy.
“We also offer runners world-class experiences by facilitating participation in major competitions like the World Marathon Majors (WMM), with systematic preparation before and after races. STAGE Talks is a key component, bringing together knowledge from speakers across continents to fully elevate the running experience of Thai runners to international standards.”
Sukanda Pichakorneksit, Brand Director of STAGE Find The Real U, revealed that last year’s STAGE Talks marathon seminar was well received by runners of all levels, creating a learning space connecting athletes, coaches, and experts from various fields, establishing it as a quality platform in Thailand’s running community.
This success inspired the expansion into STAGE Talks International Marathon Symposium 2026, a larger and more intensive international seminar gathering leading speakers from Thailand and abroad to present new perspectives on runner development and create a truly world-class learning experience in Thailand.
This year’s event is supported by multiple partners, including the Faculty of Sports Science at Chulalongkorn University, which opens participation to its students to attend the seminar and learn from distinguished speakers free of charge on 25 Apr 2026 GMT+7.
This allows attendees to apply the acquired knowledge to their field training, research, and personal development as sports scientists, athletes, or health and fitness professionals, benefiting their future careers. Proceeds after expenses will be donated as scholarships to youth under the 'Go Each Step' Foundation to support public benefit activities in society.
The 2026 STAGE Talks International Marathon Symposium features over 13 distinguished speakers from both Thailand and abroad who will share insights on the importance of proper training, development approaches, and inspiring athletes within teams.
Among them is Patrick Sang from Kenya, former Olympic silver medalist and legendary coach behind the success of Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon—two world-record-setting athletes. He is not only a coach but a key strategist in global human limit challenge projects.
Also participating are Professor Emeritus Dr. Ulrich Hartmann, Director of Movement Science and Sports Training at Leipzig University, Germany; Günter Lange, Special Advisor on Education and Sports to the Ugandan Presidential Office; senior experts and speakers from World Athletics; and Joe Fukuda, professional runner from the Adidas Runner team.
Additional speakers include Dr. Niwat Im-ong, former international sports coach; Ajarn Ekwit Saengpol, Thai national athletics coach and senior World Athletics speaker; Kru Din Sathaworn Janphongsri, Thai marathon legend and first Thai SEA Games medalist; Saipon Pimwaranrat Thanarunwat, veteran female Thai national marathon runner; “Coach Diao” Police Lieutenant Colonel Patikan Petsrichai, former Thai national athlete; and “Coach Bank” Satawat Saeng-in, Founder & Head Coach of Kids Go Tri.
Also joining are Associate Professor Dr. Chanawat Sanpasit, lecturer in Sports Performance Enhancement at the Faculty of Sports Science, Chulalongkorn University; Dr. Chatchanin Mayurasakorn, orthopedic surgeon at Bangkok Hospital; and Dr. Samitda Sangkha Pho (Dr. May), a rehabilitation and anti-aging physician at Mayclinic, all contributing their knowledge in the exchange.