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Military Coaching
SFET, ADF and special forces preparation, built to your exact test date. The 3.2km battle run, the beep test, the pack march, all periodised, all online.
Selection is won in the months before you turn up. Every program is periodised backwards from your test date, with the run, the carry and the engine all trained together.
Most trainable
The most common failure point in selection, and the most trainable. We build the speed and durability to run it in webbing, under 16 minutes and beyond.
Standard 10.1
Train comfortably past the 10.1 shuttle standard so the run does not cost you energy you need later in the day.
28kg, 90 min
Hold the required pace under roughly 28kg for the full 90 minutes, built progressively, not crammed.
The engine
The foundation underneath everything. We build it from where you are, not where you wish you were.
Non-negotiable
Strength work built in so you arrive on the testing day robust, not broken.
To your date
Every block is built backwards from your exact selection date, online through TrainingPeaks.
Your coach
A 2:48 marathoner with back-to-back sub-3s in one week at Paris (2:53) and Boston (2:56). Northburn 100 winner and two-time course record holder. Former Head Coach at Nike Run Club and an Australian Sky Running representative. Matty has coached athletes through military selection alongside runners who have crossed entire countries, with the same rigorous approach throughout: structured periodisation, strength built in, and a clear understanding of the why behind every session.
SFET training questions
The Special Forces Entry Test is the one-day physical and cognitive screening for entry to the Australian Army's special operations units, including the SAS Regiment and Commando units. It assesses push-ups, heaves, sit-ups, a 3.2km webbing run, a beep test, a swim, and a pack march.
You run the 3.2km in webbing with a weighted weapon, around 12kg, and need to be under 16 minutes to pass. Sub-15 is competitive. It is the most common failure point in selection testing and the most trainable.
The SFET shuttle run standard is level 10.1. For selection you want a comfortable margin above that so the run does not cost you energy you need later in the testing day.
The pack march is a 90-minute timed march under roughly 28kg. The standard is holding the required pace for the full 90 minutes, not a single fast effort. Longer marches come later on the selection course itself.
Allow a minimum of 12 to 16 weeks for a focused block, and longer if you are building an aerobic base from scratch. Every program here is periodised to your exact selection date.
Yes. Coaching is delivered online through TrainingPeaks, so you can train from anywhere in Australia for ADF, SASR, Commando, Navy, or police selection.
Tell Matty your selection date and where you are now, and he will map the block back from it.
Enquire to start
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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