About
Surf Life Saving kid, ultra champion, marathon coach. The runner and the frameworks behind Matty Abel Running Academy.
I have spent more than a decade racing at the sharp end across road, trail, mountain and multi-stage ultra formats. MARA is built on that experience, on my own coaching frameworks, and on one belief: run and feel your best, stay injury free, and understand the why behind every session.
The story
It started with morning runs around the block with my mum, and summers in the surf at Queenscliff Surf Club. Running was never a chore, it was just part of the day.
Around 2011 I moved into trail running and ultra marathons and found the place I loved most: long days in the mountains, racing the clock and the terrain. I still love both road and trail, and I coach both.
Mountain ultra
Winner of the 100km mountain race in New Zealand in 2012, where I broke the course record, then broke my own record again in 2013.
Desert ultra
Second place across the 250km multi-stage race through the Simpson Desert.
National honours
Australian representative at the Sky Running World Championships.
Road
A 2:35 in 2017, a personal best of 2:48 in Sydney in 2024, then back-to-back sub-3 marathons in one week: 2:53 in Paris and 2:56 in Boston.
Coaching
Former Head Coach at Nike Run Club, and President of Vipers Run Club. I have coached everyone from first-time marathoners to athletes running across entire countries.
I coached Nedd Brockmann, who ran 1,000 miles around a track and became the youngest person to run from Perth to Sydney.
Philosophy
Enable runners to run and feel their best. Keep them doing the right things, avoid the stupid stuff, and stay injury free. No ego, no shortcuts, just sustainable and structured progress.
Structure
Every program is periodised and built to the individual. Structured progression, no exceptions.
Strength
Strength training is part of every program. It is the injury-prevention layer most runners skip.
Female physiology
Programming that understands the menstrual cycle, because not all athletes are the same.
Data that matters
Bloods as a foundation for understanding what is happening inside the body, especially iron, cortisol and testosterone.
Understanding
Athletes always understand the physiological purpose of their training, explained in plain language.
Community
Beyond coaching, I co-founded Vipers Run Club, a men's running and mental health community on Sydney's Northern Beaches. We started it because blokes were not connecting outside the pub, and running turned out to be the answer. Side by side, not face to face. What began as a few mates running laps of Snake Hill in Manly is now one of Sydney's most recognised run clubs: 150+ members, more than $500,000 raised for charity, and 50+ trained Mental Health First Aiders.
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Recognised with a NSW Government Community Service Award, acknowledged in the NSW Parliament, and named among the Northern Beaches Council Citizens of the Year 2026 for the Move for 60 movement and mental health campaign.
This community wellbeing work has been recognised by the NSW Government and acknowledged in the NSW Parliament, including the Move for 60 campaign for movement and mental health, which funded crisis support and counselling services.
ABOUT MATTY
Australian Sky Running representative. 2:48 marathoner (Sydney, 2024). Back-to-back sub-3 marathons in one week at Paris and Boston in 2026. Featured in Men’s Health Australia. Athletes I have coached include Nedd Brockmann. Current partners include YoPRO, New Balance and Therabody.
Matty Abel has spent more than a decade at the intersection of elite performance and everyday running, coaching 1,000+ athletes to run smarter, race stronger, and go further than they thought possible.
A former Australian representative at the Sky Running World Championships, Matty brings firsthand experience across road, trail, and ultra-endurance events, including a personal marathon best of 2:48 and back-to-back sub-3 marathons in a single week in 2026: 2:53 at Paris and 2:56 at Boston. His deep understanding of the physical and mental demands of endurance sport lets him connect authentically with every athlete he coaches.
Matty combines science-backed training systems with a human-first approach that prioritises both performance and longevity. He is dedicated to helping athletes of all levels unlock their full potential.
EXPERIENCE & CREDENTIALS
Matty is a former Head Coach at Nike Run Club. Today he partners with brands and organisations including YoPRO, New Balance, Therabody, Fitness First and Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club, building training programs and running culture that last.
His work has been featured in Men’s Health Australia.
“The Coach Ultra Runners Call When Taking On the Impossible.” (Men’s Health Australia)
COACHING PHILOSOPHY
Matty’s coaching blends data-driven precision with a personalised, athlete-first approach. Every program is built around the belief that sustainable performance comes from balance, combining structure, strength, recovery, and mindset.
Whether guiding everyday runners or high-performing athletes, Matty’s mission is simple: to help people train smarter, perform better, and build a running life that lasts.
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