At FAST Running, we live by a simple but powerful principle: you must earn the right to run.
This isn’t just a motto — it’s a mindset, a preparation process, and a sign of respect for the art and science of running. Whether you’re a sprinter, jumper, footy player, or weekend jogger, this principle matters. And if you’re transitioning from a sedentary day, moving from general fitness to performance, or preparing to unleash speed on the track — it’s absolutely essential.
What Does It Mean?
“Earning the right to run” means preparing your body and mind for the work ahead — not just lacing up and taking off. It’s a systematic readiness process that primes your nervous system, switches on your movement patterns, protects against injury, and maximises performance.
As sprint coach Stu McMillan of ALTIS puts it:
“The warm-up is not the thing before the thing. It is the thing.”
At FAST, this process starts before every single session. No one is above it, and no one is too experienced to skip it. It’s how we safeguard our athletes and elevate performance.
Why It Matters More Than You Think
Too often, runners come from:
- A full day of sitting at a desk
- A rushed school drop-off or work meeting
- A casual jog or walk and expect to hit top-end sprint speeds…
But speed doesn’t forgive laziness. Sprinting is the most powerful, coordinated movement the body can perform. Demanding that kind of output without proper preparation is like flooring the gas pedal on a cold engine — sooner or later, something gives.
Earning the Right: What It Looks Like at FAST
At FAST Running, earning the right to run shows up in many ways:
- A focused warm-up: Movement prep, drills, posture priming, sprint mechanics, and progressions — not just stretching and strides.
- Clothing choices: Dressing for the session, not the weather — especially in cold Canberra winters. Layers are your friend.
- Coach debriefs: We don’t just run. We walk + talk. We listen. A FAST debrief clarifies intent, checks readiness, and sets technical goals.
- Nutrition: Fuelling appropriately before and after training. Sprinting on empty isn’t brave — it’s risky.
- Mental preparation: Switching on, locking in, and being ready to train with purpose.
Even our youngest athletes learn early: you must prepare to perform.
Learning from the Best
Legendary coach Dan Pfaff once said:
“Injury is just the body’s way of telling you that you skipped steps.”
That’s why earning the right is embedded in our culture. It’s the foundation of our pursuit of Running Excellence — whether it’s the first session of the season or the final warm-up before Nationals.
Every Session. Every Athlete.
No matter your level — beginner, elite, or returning from injury — you earn the right to run before every rep, every set, every session.
At FAST Running, we don’t leave performance to chance. We build it from the ground up, every day.
Because when you respect the run, the run gives back.
— #RunningExcellence | #FASTforSport | #EarnTheRightToRun
Comments are closed