Kel Walker

Interview with Kel Walker from October 2023

By Bianca Ratje

What inspired you to become an athletics coach and how has your personal journey in the sport shaped your coaching style and philosophy?

Kel had always been very sporty playing Rugby League, golf, tennis, cricket, baseball, squash and Rugby League Refereeing in Queensland.

After leaving school Kel spent 20+ years in Defence and Law Enforcement, so she was always reasonably fit and active person. Kel moved to Sydney with the Australian Federal Police in 2003 and met her current partner in 2005. She was regularly running the City2Surf, and Kel got involved.

After running 10 of them Kel’'s personal trainer challenged him to run a half marathon and then after achieving that goal, he decided to undertake a marathon. Kel has since completed 10 half marathons and marathons. Kel was also very heavily into parkrun.

In 2016 he decided to undertake his first Athletics Australia coaching course to give back to the sport that caught his attention later in life. Kel started coaching some private clients and fell in love with it. He decided that it was going to be something that he could continue throughout his life and into retirement.

In 2022 Kel completed 10 years as a Sports Administrator at an Inner Sydney Golf Course and the coaching was getting busier, so he decided to leave the Golf Course and take on coaching full-time as ‘My Run Team’. Since then, has had four athletes go through to Sate Championships (two in Primary and two in Secondary) over the past two years. Last year primary sprinter went through to his first Nationals Championships in Brisbane.

This year he is hoping that his two primary sprinters will progress. Kel has had a 14 year girl middle-distance runner already qualify with National Qualifying times.

Kel believes that the coaches of his past have helped him to be the coach that he is today.

What brings you the most enjoyment or satisfaction out of athletics coaching?

Kel loves watching his athletes achieve their goals through hard work and fun.

Kel has been working with his 14-year girl middle-distance runner for a little over 18 months now. She has worked hard in her training and has progressed quite well. She started off being the first female across the finish line in a local 5km fun run, then competed in her first Athletics NSW Juniors Championships in 2023 in the 800m where she was disqualified for touching the lane lines. She was devastated at the time, but we went through the process of an appeal, and she watched the video that clearly showed that she was extremely close to the lane lines. She accepted the decision and learnt from it. Since then, she made it through to State in Cross Country and performed well. Unfortunately, she did not progress.

After Cross Country season she went into Athletics and made it through to CHS State Championships in the 800m. She ran brilliantly in her heat after being boxed in at the end of the first lap. She moved around the leader to be seeded 1st in the final beating other girls that have always been faster than her. In the final she again ran a brilliant race finishing second after being outkicked at the top of the final straight. She then went onto Athletics NSW All Schools and ran brilliantly again achieving three National qualifying times including the 2000m steeplechase that she ran for the first time. She now believes in her ability to be competitive and works even harder in training to ensure that she will be competitive at Nationals and NSW juniors in 2024.

Who and where are you coaching?

Kel coaches a variety of athletes. He has primary school age kids from 8 years old up to mature adult recreational runners. The disciplines also vary from short sprints, middle-distance through to the marathon. As previously mentioned, some of Kel’s middle-distance kids do the steeplechase as well.

Kel coaches online (anywhere. But mainly in Southeast Queensland now) as well as face-to-face and at a couple of Sydney schools (Trinity Grammar – Cross Country and Middle-distance, and SCEGGS Darlinghurst Cross Country).

Generally, Kel is willing to travel where is necessary for my athletes. He does train the majority in the Inner West but has clients at The Ponds and Castle Hill as well.

Our Squad training (sprints and middle-distance) is at St Luke’s Oval in Concord or SOPAC on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6-7pm. Now Kel is also helping coach athletes from other ball sports such as Rugby, Rugby League, basketball, cricket, and Soccer.

In your experience what makes a great track and field athlete? What are some common traits you have observed in your athletes?

Passion for their event and a desire to improve.

They have a strong work ethic and love to have fun at what they do even when the session is really challenging.

They are self- motivated by their goals.

What have your greatest successes been as a coach?

Being a part of Trinity Grammar School’s CAS Team and achieving their 6th Championship in a row. Watching the boys put in the hard work at training and then excel on the track.

Also having four athletes likely to reach Nationals this year and this is growing within the stable of athletes.

Do you work with any other coaches or have a support network?

At Trinity Grammar School Kel works with a lot of great coaches across the entire Track & Field discipline, but Dani Andreas of Pulse Performance and Matthew Wade (Head of Athletics) are both great coaches and have helped him to grow as a coach along the way. Other Coaches throughout Kels past that have helped to shape him are Sean Williams of SWEAT Melbourne and Warren Williams from Up and Running in Sydney

What do you hope is next for your coaching journey?

 The Vision for My Run Team and Kel is to be able to help guide many more athletes to achieve their goals as well as having multiple athletes go on to represent their State and Country at National and International events.

Kel believes that he does have a potential Olympic athlete already in the stable but would love to be able to reach and guide many others. He would love to have a reputation within the athletics community as being a well-respected and knowledgeable coach at the forefront of Australian coaching.

Are you taking on new athletes?

Kel is always open to coaching new athletes from athletics and other ball sports. There are plenty of spots at our Squad training at present that athletes can join and start their progression towards their athletic dreams.

As mentioned before our squad training is at St Luke’s Oval in Concord and Sydney Olympic Park in Home Bush on Monday and Thursday nights from 6-7pm. Kel also has one-on-one coaching sessions both before and after school as well as on school holidays throughout Sydney including, Leichhardt, Balmain, Ashfield, Hunters Hill, Moore Park, The Ponds, Castle Hill, Petersham, Lewisham, Hurlstone Park, Strathfield, and Concord.

If you’re wishing to find out more about Kel and his team you can either go to their website https://myrunteam.com or social media pages.

Instagram – My Run Team

Facebook – My Run Team.

Kel can also be contacted through the ‘Find a Coach’ page on the Athletics Australia and Athletics NSW websites.

Kel is also willing for people to contact him directly via email Coach_Kel@myrunteam.com or on his mobile 0401 762 285.