Building Coaches, Not Just Athletes

At FAST Running, developing athletes has always been part of the vision.

But developing coaches matters too.

Strong sporting environments do not grow through athletes alone. They grow through people who learn, lead, mentor, teach, and help shape the culture around them.

That is something FAST Running has continued to build over many years.

Coaching Is Part of the FAST Culture

One of the strengths of the FAST environment is that coaching development is visible throughout the squad.

Athletes regularly see:

• coaches learning from one another
• senior athletes mentoring younger athletes
• assistant coaches leading sections of sessions
• developing coaches building confidence within the system
• female coaches leading athletes across multiple groups
• younger FAST Kids coaches beginning their own coaching journey

That matters because great coaching environments are rarely built overnight.

They are built through experience, trust, mentorship, observation, and consistency over time.

Steve’s Coaching Journey

FAST Running Head Coach Steve Dodt has been coaching since 1995.

Over that time, his own coaching journey has continued to evolve through practical experience, national-level coaching, and ongoing professional development.

That journey has included involvement with:

• World Athletics coaching education
• Australian Athletics coaching pathways
• ASCA professional development
• national championships
• international competitions
• athlete development across juniors, opens, para-athletes and masters athletics

Importantly, FAST Running has never stood still as a coaching environment.

The philosophy has continued to evolve alongside advances in sprint mechanics, strength and conditioning, sports science, biomechanics, and athlete wellbeing.

The result is a system where learning is expected — not resisted.

Building Leadership Within FAST

Today, FAST Running includes a growing group of coaches and emerging leaders helping shape the environment across multiple programs.

Coaches including Marijke, Matt, Ahmed, Nate, Eva and Daisy all contribute to the broader FAST environment in different ways.

Some lead event groups.

Some support performance athletes.

Some contribute to athlete wellbeing, communication, strength and conditioning, or technical development.

Others are still early in their coaching journey and building experience within the system.

That layered structure is important.

Because sustainable coaching environments require depth.

Female Leadership Matters

One area of significant growth within FAST Running has been the development of female coaching and leadership pathways.

Female coaches are now represented across multiple FAST programs including FAST Start, FAST Kids, FAST Accelerate and FAST Track.

That visibility matters for younger athletes entering the sport.

Young girls now regularly see female coaches leading warm-ups, mentoring athletes, assisting sessions, communicating with families, and helping shape the squad culture.

That representation helps create a stronger long-term pathway for both athletes and coaches.

FAST Kids and the Next Generation of Coaches

Some of the most exciting coaching development within FAST Running is happening inside FAST Kids and FAST Start.

Many younger coaches begin by helping support younger athletes in these programs.

They learn:

• communication
• organisation
• leadership
• movement coaching
• session structure
• athlete engagement
• group management

Over time, those experiences help build confidence and coaching capability.

Importantly, many of these younger coaches have themselves come through the FAST system as athletes.

That creates strong continuity within the squad culture.

The values remain consistent.

The language remains consistent.

The standards remain consistent.

More Than Delivering Sessions

At FAST Running, coaching is viewed as far more than delivering a training session.

Coaches help shape:

• confidence
• resilience
• leadership
• communication
• wellbeing
• culture
• community
• long-term athlete development

The best coaching environments are not built around ego.

They are built around people.

Running Excellence

One of the long-term goals of FAST Running is to continue creating an environment where athletes and coaches can both grow together.

Because developing better athletes without developing better coaches eventually limits the system.

Strong coaching creates strong environments.

Strong environments help athletes thrive.

That is part of what Running Excellence means at FAST Running.

Not simply producing performances.

But building people capable of helping others perform, develop, and grow long into the future.