Key is fun in training according to long-time coach
COACH'S CORNER:
GREG Wallace has coached athletics for the past 40 years.
He was a semi-finalist in the Stawell Gift in the 1970s and has volunteered his time to coach many young athletes who have gone on to win state and national medals.
Last year, he was chosen as the Daily News Bundaberg Rum Local Legend after long involvement in athletics,
touch, rugby league, cricket and golf.
He talks about his philosophy on coaching:
The main thing is for athletes to enjoy the training.
I tell athletes that it does take hard work to improve their personal best times or distances.
Bettering personal bests is a key in athletics. Everyone has different abilities and we talk about each athlete setting their own goals.
Often, athletes bring their friends and siblings to training.
Down the years, my squads have trained twice a week but I encourage athletes to do extra training themselves.
Conditioning and fitness is a high priority, that is where it all starts.
You need an aerobic background and then improving technique is the next priority.
Mitch Hayes is someone I trained in the mid 1990s and it is great to see he is still running and travelled from Sydney for this year's Pentath-run in May.
