Globe trotting Matt sprinting the sand in Zanzibar

When Matt van der Lugt isn’t hitting the gym or Australia’s fastest track, he’s on holiday in the beautiful tropical paradise of Zanzibar.

The Zanzibar Archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean 25km off the coast of Tanzania (East Africa), is a breathtaking spot to escape from the world. Matt enjoy’s the clear, turquoise-blue water; shallow sandbars; and the many small, nearly deserted islands virtually unvisited by tourists. When visiting, Matt recommends exploring the World Heritage Site of Stone Town, Zanzibar City’s old quarter. Or just go beach to beach between tiny fishing villages—each one’s better than the next he says!

When in Zanzibar, the Amaan (Amani) Complex is the place to train. The stadium holds 20,000 people and features a 400m synthetic surface.

Matt has recently joined the FAST & Active program and has already discovered benefit to his running form and speed. The 64-year old is retired and hopes to convert his strength and conditioning training into power for sprinting. Now working with Canberra Sprint Coach, Steve Dodt, Matt has been guided on the right running drills to use to improve his acceleration and performance. Matt hopes to take that knowledge and compete with ACT Masters Athletics next season as his training and transition to sprinting continues.