The Coach's Note
The research, the why, and the real training behind getting faster and staying injury free. One note from Matty, straight to your inbox.
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MARA Expedition
Coaching for transcontinental runs, thru-hikes and multiday expeditions. The goals your mates call impossible. Five seats, by application, with your crew coached alongside you.
Men's Health Australia called Matty "the coach ultra runners call when taking on the impossible." This is that program.
The record
Eleven athletes have taken MARA coaching into the biggest events of their lives. Same method, different maps.
Nedd Brockmann, youngest to run Perth to Sydney, then 1,000 miles on a track. Alex Barbas, Sydney to Perth and back. James Naylor, Melbourne to Sydney. Lachy Cameron, Brisbane to Sydney. Sam Bamford, Melbourne to Adelaide. Peter Baines, across Thailand.
Joshua Coldray, TOR 330, 330km through the Italian Alps. Sam Williams, UTMB. Warren Proctor, TDS.
Caleb Heiner, the length of New Zealand. Emily Hull, Pacific Crest Trail, end to end.
Who this is for
A transcontinental run. A thru-hike. A multiday crossing. The event that needs a team behind it, not just a program.
UTMB, TDS, TOR, the hundred milers. Races where preparation depth decides the day, and a plan alone is not enough.
A thru-hike, a fastpack, the length of a trail or a country. Weeks on foot where the preparation decides whether it ends in a finish or a flight home.
The method
Your history, your timeline, your week, your event record. I connect directly with your physio and dietitian so we build one plan, not three. The gym work starts here too, aimed at the biggest killers of multiday efforts: shins, ankles and Achilles.
Long highway miles, running with your crew, rehearsing aid stops, making mistakes while they are cheap. Sometimes that is a backyard ultra, the most controlled way to practise chaos.
Enough time, enough volume, in the right order, so your body can sustain multiday work. Your head trains alongside your legs: daily hard tasks, cold showers, runs at hours you would never choose.
Your event runs off a playbook built for your crossing: hour-by-hour structure, crew roles, feet, fuelling, sleep, triage, and the protocols nobody wants to need. Every decision made before you put your shoes on.
During your event
Through your event window I am in daily contact with you and your crew, the model behind every crossing on the results page. Up to 21 days of daily support is included. Longer events like a thru-hike run on weekly check-ins, with daily support through the crux stretches we pick together. One athlete in their event window at a time, always.
The seat
Fortnightly calls, first in the queue for async feedback, full training analysis, and your program periodised to your start line.
I work directly with your physio and dietitian, review blood work alongside your professionals, and brief your crew before you go.
A bespoke expedition playbook and your event window included. Daily contact with you and your crew, start to finish.
$750 / 4 weeks. Five seats. September 2026 intake. By application.
The ladder
Custom
Self-sufficient, committed runners
Premium 1:1
Driven runners who want closer support
Everything in Custom, plus:
Expedition
Event-defined athletes: crossings, thru-hikes, big mountain ultras
Everything in Premium, plus:
$750 per four weeks. Five seats, by application, with the first intake in September 2026.
A minimum of 24 weeks between starting and your event, and ideally more. The foundations month is not optional, and nobody crosses a continent off a short build.
The mountain ultra racers on this page never crossed a continent either, so no. But Expedition is built around an event. If you are after a deeper level of coaching without a big goal on the calendar, Premium is the better fit, and the waitlist is open.
Daily contact with you and your crew for up to 21 days, included. Months-long events run on weekly check-ins with daily support through the hardest stretches. One athlete in their event window at a time.
A briefing before you go, their own roles in your playbook, and a direct line to me for the whole event. Your crew is your strongest asset, so they get coached too.
Apply
A few questions, that is all. Matty personally reviews every application. A handful of seats, by design. He reads every application within three business days, and if it is a fit, you talk.
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.
Ready to train smarter and perform your best? Explore the programs below.
Get in touchWe'll be in touch within 48hrs.
September intake: 5 Custom Program spots left. Premium 1:1 is currently at capacity.
Planning an expedition or big mountain ultra? Apply directly at Expedition
Please complete the form below to help us learn more about you and your goals.
