Reflecting and Evolving in Coaching for 2025

As coaches, we make countless decisions. Evaluating, adjusting, and reevaluating strategies, especially during the racing season when the pace is high. It’s only when the running calendar slows down that we have the space to step back, reflect, and assess the decisions we’ve made. This period of reflection is crucial for growth, both for us as coaches and for the athletes we support.

2024 brought exciting advancements in sports science, particularly in running and ultra-trail disciplines, which continue to attract significant attention. Staying informed and engaging with this research not only deepens our understanding but also sharpens the strategies we bring to every athlete’s plan. As we head into 2025, we’re embracing these insights to refine our coaching and explore new training opportunities.

Reflecting on 2024: Shifts in Our Coaching Focus

Over the past year, athletes seeking coaching have been evolving, with more of you setting your sights on the marathon distance. Hungry Runner has traditionally been a home for ultra-distance enthusiasts, but recently, we’ve seen a growing number of road runners joining us and we’re loving this new dynamic. The variety in goals and distances is enriching our community, pushing us to continually adapt and refine our coaching approaches.

We’ve also been reflecting on the role of strength training in running performance. There’s often an expectation for exercises to directly and immediately translate into more power and speed on the road or trail. However, we’ve seen that many runners hit plateaus not because they lack effort, but because of underlying limitations, whether in mobility, stability, or foundational strength. Addressing these areas with a more thoughtful, tailored approach to strength training is a game changer for many of you.

Another aspect we’ve observed is the increasing importance of community for our coached athletes. Training can be a solitary pursuit, but having a supportive, non-judgmental environment to share questions, experiences, and challenges makes a world of difference.

Areas of focus for 2025

1. Holistic Strength Training This year, we’re revisiting our approach to strength training by placing a stronger emphasis on general strength before progressing to specific, performance-focused exercises. Building a solid foundation ensures that as athletes push for faster times or longer distances, their bodies can better handle the increased stress and demands. This shift is about preparing you for long-term success, not just short-term gains.

2. Running Economy and Form Many of you have noticed new training blocks in your programs, and that’s no coincidence. We’re prioritizing strategies to improve running economy, one of them is focusing on maximal running speed as it improve efficiency at all paces. Additionally, we’re enhancing running form through targeted strength work, drills, and high-velocity movements to ensure you’re running not just faster, but also with good biomechanics.

3. Race Nutrition Over the past years, sports science has made significant advancements in understanding the benefits of high carbohydrate intake during prolonged exercise. We’ve been challenging you to increase your intake during training and races to 60–90 grams per hour, even if it requires some discomfort during practice. The results have been amazing, you managed to race harder but also adapt to these higher intakes. This is an area of training we’re excited to continue exploring together in 2025.

4. Building a Townsville Running Squad For some of our coached athletes, we’ve introduced an additional group session and the response has been great. In 2025, we plan to expand on this success by offering more opportunities for group training and learning. This will include additional group sessions for our Townsville locals, while also involving our non-local athletes through run camps and interactive group Zoom chats focused on training themes. It’s all about fostering a sense of community and shared progress, no matter where you’re based.

Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

While these changes can present exciting opportunities, they also come with challenges. Implementing holistic strength training requires patience and a willingness to invest time in foundational work before seeing results. It’s not always easy to slow down, but the payoff is worth it.

Focusing on running economy and form means dedicating time to drills and high-velocity efforts, which can be intimidating or uncomfortable for some athletes. However, these practices are essential for long-term improvement.

Race nutrition, too, requires a mindset shift. Pushing the boundaries of carbohydrate intake can be uncomfortable at first, but the benefits are undeniable. It’s about trusting the process and staying consistent.

Personal Growth as a Coach

For us as coaches, shifts in training strategies push us to grow as well. We’re continually learning, experimenting, and adapting to ensure we’re providing the best possible support for each athlete. This journey of growth is one we’re pleased to share with you.