FAST50: Sprinting for the young at heart

Sprinting and running FAST isn’t just for the younger generation. The FAST Running squad features a number of Masters aged-athletes who are dedicated to staying fit and enjoy the art of sprinting.

One of these likeable Canberra runners is our very own Head Sprint Coach, Steve Dodt. Like his FAST team mates Florence, Sue, Phoebe, Marijke, Brendan, and Kos, Steve enjoys the exhilaration of running with a head of steam and trying to perform at his best.

Steve’s journey to sprinting as a Masters Athlete is as unique as anyone else in FAST Running. As a junior athlete Steve enjoyed competing and stopped serious sprinting when he became a parent at the age of 26 years. Whilst he dabbled in exercising in the intervening years, trying everything from doing nothing, to playing as a goalie, chancing his hand in throwing, and even doing trail running in the wilds of Canberra, his true passion as and always will be sprinting.

Now as a fifty year old, Steve has the 9-5 grind, the sitting for long periods, the lack of mobility in his muscles he once had as a teenager, and the constant battle of dividing his attention between his home | work | life balance. But he still gets a thrill from watching others run FAST and the thought of “What If…?”.

In December 2023, Steve decided to make a return to sprinting. He went from walking/jogging 16 kilometres a day at a slow steady pace to the FAST lanes of the AIS. Steve’s body wasn’t 100% ready however, and he soon learned that he should apply some Masters thinking to his sprinting.

The last 4 weeks have been difficult as he suffered a number of lingering sorenesses for a variety of reasons. So Steve has been in the gym, building strength in the joints and muscles that help you run. Working out in the gym is now where he spends most of his time exercising for sprinting. Steve’s sessions focus on core, mobility, power, load, and compound training.

As the new year has now arrived, and the more competitive members of FAST Running prepare themselves for racing, Steve and his fellow Masters athletes are focussed on body preparedness, the rigours of sprinting is more intense than the art of jogging on an ageing body. Indeed Steve’s journey is a 5-year plan where he hopes to be a fresh face in the M55 Age Group (55 ‐ 59 years).

Training sessions are therefore more group oriented and fun. The success of completing training is a success in itself at this entry level to sprinting as a Masters Athlete. The camaraderie and social nature make for a stronger community feel and group dynamic. Everyone in the group is their own individual with their own plan to return to running. There is plenty of support from one another with a common understanding as to the needs of the Masters Athlete.

Steve’s journey is one that he is happy to share with others. He truly believes that with the right approach and a dash of patience, something he has become better at with age, he will be ready to be at his new best and doing more of what he loves surrounded by others with a similar goal.

For more information on being a FASTER Master and joining the FAST & Active running group, please contact FAST Running for further information.