Coach Profile: Warren Williams

17 Dec 2019

Coach Profile: Warren Williams

A significantly growing trend in 2019 has been the increase in athletes participating in Athletics NSW recreational runs, primarily in winter, but also on the track. Coaching squads, like Warren Williams’ ‘The Run Squad’ have been key contributors to this increase in participation numbers. At the 2019 Athletics NSW Awards, Williams was named the Recreational Running Coach of the Year.

In support of his nomination, his squad said some amazing things about Warren:

-he is not only coaching running but he is changing lives!
-he is deeply committed to giving back to the community in every respect of his life.
-he often doubles as a babysitter when I have to bring my baby to training! I have never had a coach like him.
-a truly inspirational person on so many levels!!
-knows your strengths and weaknesses as well as your limits
-he has taught me the love for the sport and the love for training.
-he makes everybody feel like a champ and even the smallest achievements are noted and acknowledged.
-He has built a community of runners in Centennial Park. It is something truly special and I cannot wait to lace up my runners to get there. It is my happy place.

Let’s hear from Warren himself….

How did you get into Coaching?

I am a school teacher of more than 30 years and have coached in numerous school sports over the years to State and National Level including rugby league, swimming, triathlon, surf lifesaving and of course athletics and cross country.

Coming from a Triathlon background myself and later focusing on running as a Masters Athlete the progression into run coaching was a natural transition.

I began supporting my own running coach in his business more than 10 years ago and then ran that squad for almost four years. The desire to improve my own coaching skills led me to start my own group The Run Squad in August this year.

Tell us about your new group The Run Squad:

The Run Squad is a recreational running group based in Sydney’s Centennial Park and caters for runners of all ages and ability. Members range from eight years old to 72 and currently the squad consists of around 140 members from beginners to elite athletes who participate in all distances from teens running 100 metres on the track to ultra runners running 100 miles.

The Run Squad is aligned with the junior squad “Up And Running” which I co-coach with my son Jordan. Juniors have to opportunity to train either with the junior squad or the adult group so it works out well for them with their busy schedules around school. There are up to 11 sessions available to the juniors each week.

This year we were very proud to have 28 Juniors at the NSW All Schools Cross Country and nine making it through to the Australian Cross Country Championships as well as a number racing at the National Track and Field Championships and Triathlon Championships. We also have two Para Athletes in the group who love training with the able bodied juniors and are a great inspiration to us all.

Both the junior and senior squads are very inclusive with a very positive and supportive atmosphere where runners are treated with respect and equality regardless of ability.

What does your week of coaching look like?

My week as a coach is super busy and has become a seven day per week job.

The Run Squad sessions train on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings in Centennial Park and include speed interval, hill and endurance sessions. We have a recovery run on Wednesday mornings and a long run on Sundays.

On Monday and Friday mornings Jordan and I coach for a Girls School and I do tailored technique sessions on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with some juniors.

Of an afternoon Jordan and I coach the “Up And Running” juniors on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the park and also a track session on Wednesday nights along with the adults.

On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons I have a group of junior triathletes who I coach on the bike and in summer we add run/swim sessions on Friday evenings.

So I guess you could say it’s a pretty solid schedule.

I understand you coach and have a full-time job as a teacher?

Yes, I am a fulltime teacher and House Coordinator at a Catholic Boys College and facilitate quite a bit of the Sport there.

On top of that I am a professional musician and perform with my brothers Darren and Andrew and our five-piece band.

Life gets pretty crazy at times!!!

Tell us about some of the athletes in your squad?

The squad is very diverse not only in age but in ability and intended running goals, so the program needs to cater for all types of runners. Most of the group sessions have three starting points for the different levels and the same finishing point so all runners feel very much a part of the group. We get up to 90 runners at some of the sessions so there is a great atmosphere. It’s awesome to be a part of the community spirit not only as an athlete but for me as a coach.

Some of the notable senior runners include Master’s Champions Brad Sharpe and Louise Arnott, Rhett Gibson (UTA50 winner), Glenn Lockwood veteran of more than 200 marathons, top trail runners like Sara Rathborne, Sarah Ludowici and Gerber Koster, as well as great road and club runners like Amy Lam, Steve Johnson, and Anita Keem. Then there is Audrey Hall who recently represented Australia in the World Mountain Running Championships in Argentina.

Amongst the juniors we have Piper Simpson the Australian U11 800 and 1500m Champion, great NSW representatives and national level track and cross country runners such as Lachlan Stanfield, Oliver Freeman, Allegra McGivern, George Verco, Max Russell and Julian Wiley. James Tirado is a vision impaired athlete who has represented Australia at the Oceania Games and Aaron Keith is a palsy Athlete who has represented Australia in Denmark in the new Para Sport of Race Running. Also there is Grace Henry and Paris Tier both national level triathletes, and surf sport national champion Sophie Ferenczi.

In your career as a coach can you tell us about some highlights or special moments?

There are so many highlights across all age levels and abilities. It’s equally as exciting to see some of the everyday runners achieve PBs as it is to see the elites grab a national medal. I try to get to as many races as I possibly can and will happily jump on a plane to see runners compete interstate.

Why coach?

In 2010 I was diagnosed with an electric cardiac condition which doctors believe derived from decades of endurance training. After several months of unsuccessful medical procedures and drug therapy I was given an implanted Cardiac Pacemaker to manage the condition and haven’t looked back.

Because I could no longer compete at the level of intensity that I had in the past as a triathlete and later a state level Master’s runner coaching was a natural progression to stay in the sport and it gave me a new outlook and attitude toward running and I became passionate about improving other runner’s ability rather than focus on my own.

Although the heart condition was very confronting and stressful initially it like coaching has opened many doors for me. I became an Ambassador for the US medical company Medtronic and ran in their Global Heroes Team in Minneapolis in the US 10Mile Championships in 2013. I then went on to captain the team in 2014 and 2015 and was an Athlete’s Mentor in 2016. I am also an Ambassador for the Australian Heart Foundation and captained their City2Surf Team in 2017 and 2018.

Enjoyable aspects of coaching?

Just being around great people on a daily basis in a very positive environment makes it all worthwhile. Coaching the squad is often a big release from the stresses of the classroom as a teacher particularly in my House Coordinator Role where I often deal with some quite complex issues for the boys and their families.

Both the adult and junior squads are very social and we are always planning things together outside of running. I have developed a great network of friends over the years and many of them have become part of my family.

Do you have any advice to other coaches?

Treat all runners in your care as equals. Everyone deserves the same time and respect regardless of how good they are.

Build an environment that caters for everybody and is easily adaptable to change and variety. The easiest way to lose people is to not being able to change and meet their needs.

Keep it fresh and don’t be scared to try something new, if it doesn’t work people will still appreciate your initiative.

And finally LISTEN, you are there for your runners, they aren’t there for you.

Coaching philosophy?

The moto of our junior group is “We Make Running Fun”. That’s the essential philosophy that I operate by. If people are having fun running, then they will continue to improve regardless of what level they are at.

For more information on the squads visit www.therunsquad.com.au and www.upandrunning.sydney

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Warren Williams with member of his Run Squad.