Coaches Corner- Suzi Graves

Suzi has been part of the athletics world since 1973, first as an athlete, now as a coach. Based in Perth, she leads a vibrant squad of para and able-bodied middle- and long-distance runners. Her coaching is grounded in connection, community and a love of the sport that’s lasted over 50 years.

Tell us about yourself?

Hi, my name's Suzi Graves. I started athletics in 1973 in little athletics and competed for many years after that in the 400, 800 & 1500m.

I coach middle and long distance here in Perth, and am originally from Sydney, but I’ve been in Perth about 19 years. I've also been team manager for WA for about 13 years and I've got a healthy mix of youngsters, new to the sport that raced here in the juniors, and six seniors, half para, half able body.

How did you get into coaching?

I'm also a school teacher, so I started coaching while I was still racing as an athlete way back when I was in Sydney in 1989. When I moved to Perth, my youngest son, Luke Graves, wanted to start training with me and I said, only if you can get six of your mates. And then he brought six of his mates, and then that soon became mates and siblings, and then that became friends of friends, and the squad just grew like that. So that's how it started here in Perth.

What’s it like coaching a squad that includes both para and able-bodied athletes, and how do they support or learn from each other?

In the distance runners, as everyone knows, they're very social creatures, so it's not too hard to organise. The entire squad is grouped based on ability, age, experience, and they have their training mates during reps in a training session. But it’s really not difficult at all.

My female Maddie Heady would probably talk the ears off anyone during a long run on Sunday and the others, yeah, it's really no big difference. My two boys Josh and Will have just been named in the Australian team for the Deaflympics to be held in Tokyo this November.

Along with 4 of my other athletes who have made an Australian team – we are excited to bring this number to 6.

What do you love most about coaching?

Their reactions. My three juniors who were new to the sport, and have been running since October — we did everything in our power to get them to qualify to have a home national experience, and they were seventh, ninth, and tenth. The reactions for those kids that have been running no longer than six months to achieve feats like that were just thrilling, really. It was really good.

What is it about athletics that’s kept you engaged for so long?

I love it. I'm a creature of habit. I still train myself, not so much competing anymore, but I just love the routine. My squad routine is very much based on my father's squad, Con Hartgers, and yeah, we are much more like a family. I've got my three paras racing today (at nationals) and about half a dozen of my ables are here just to yell and cheer them on as well. Our squad feels like one big family.

How do you create that community and family environment in your squad?

We celebrate ourselves and what we can achieve, rather than who we have to beat or what we can do better. Then when we get to that next level, then we look at the extra percent here and there. It's all about doing your best, coping with pressure, just learning that it's not defining you — it's part of you, and that if you enjoy this, then that's part of you as well.

How do you teach your athletes to handle pressure? 

A lot of little jokes while we are warming up just to chill out and relax, and timed bathroom breaks and then have a little laugh. They just don't take it too seriously, if they're not frightened to do their best, it makes it easier to actually do your best. And that's what we focus on. Just what can you do to make yourself a better athlete.

Have you faced any challenges over your years of coaching? How did you overcome them?

Being a female distance coach, it's a rarity. There's not that many in WA. So sometimes it is a little bit trickier to have new parents know that you've been in the sport for over 50 years, know that you've been running for over 50 years, coaching for about 30. I guess women don't tend to speak out as much as their male counterparts about their past successes.

What advice would you give to young coaches? 

Just believe in your knowledge, believe in your experience, and be true to yourself at all times. Your athletes will get it and they're the ones that you really need to have trust from.

Lastly, what’s been your best moment in coaching — if you can pick one? 

I can't. Every year there's always a highlight. For example, one of my new kids, these championships (nationals), I had a goal for him because he was ranked something like 15th or 16th, and my goal was, you know, let's try and be the first WA.

And I said, what's your goal? And he goes, "Oh, top 10." And I went, "Oh, great goal. Okay." He ended up coming seventh, and first WA, because he had no fear, no expectations, no pressure, and just ran for the joy. That is just so heartwarming.