Running Coaching for Kids, Teens and Young Adults
What We Do
H.R Athletics members compete in Cross Country, Track, and Road events
Our method and structure ensures our members
- Receive the right level of training
- Aim for suitable goals
- Improve performance in running and all other sports played
- We encourage participation in a wide range of sports to develop all-round movement skills, fitness capacities, social engagement and enjoyment
What We Do
H.R Athletics members compete in Cross Country, Track, and Road events
Our method and structure ensures our members
- Receive the right level of training
- Aim for suitable goals
- Improve performance in running and all other sports played
- We encourage participation in a wide range of sports to develop all-round movement skills, fitness capacities, social engagement and enjoyment
Coaching Structure
Our coaching structure provides a model to develop athletes to their full potential
- Seasonal plan – we follow a structured plan according to the time of year and adjust training accordingly
- Session structure – training sessions are structured using sport science principles to maximise benefits
- Events – we participate in a range of competitions over the year to provide variety to the running experience
Coaching Structure
Our coaching structure provides a model to develop athletes to their full potential
- Seasonal plan – we follow a structured plan according to the time of year and adjust training accordingly
- Session structure – training sessions are structured using sport science principles to maximise benefits
- Events – we participate in a range of competitions over the year to provide variety to the running experience
Competition
HR Athletics is affiliated with Athletics NSW as a registered club, enabling our members to compete in Athletics NSW events. This is the governing body for athletics in NSW
Our members also participate in
- Park Run
- Road Events/Fun Runs
- H.R Athletics Winter Cross Country Series held from February to July each year
Some Of Our Members
Liam O’Brien, 17
Liam started with us over 8 years ago after placing 12th in his first Zone Cross Country. He’s come a long way since then, competing in the last 4 National Cross Country Championships, and in the 2019 NSW 3000m Championship.
Sam Goldin, 15
Sam recently joined us with a long term goal to make the team for the Maccabiah Games, Israel, 2021. He’s also aiming to continue his cross country and distance track competition at national level.
Alex Harvey, 13
Alex represents his school in cross country and track events and is a regular Park Runner, with a PB of 19 minutes and 55 seconds. When he’s not setting his own Park Run PB, he’s pacing his mum to her next PB.
Owen Dalton, 12
Harriet Sweeting, 14
A very versatile athlete, Harriet competes in a range of events, including 1500m on the track, cross country races, and triathlon. In 2019 she placed 9th in the 2019 CSSA Triathlon
Will Carter, 12
Another versatile athlete in middle distance and sprints. Will raced the 200m at the NSW Championships in 2019, and was also just 1 place away from area cross country selection.
Jack Dalton, 12
Jack is a long term member and a regular competitor at Area Cross Country and Athletics. A step up in training and competition has seen his results improve dramatically, in particular in our winter cross country series, with a current pb of just under 13 min.
Max Bregozzo, 10
Max is a versatile runner with bundles of energy for sprints and distance. He competed in Area Cross Country in 2019 and was the most consistent competitor at our Winter Cross Country Series in 2020, consistently clocking in the 12 min range.
Lachie Sheather, 10
Skye Blair, 11
Skye recently competed in her first Athletics NSW event, the NSW Short Course Cross Country Champs, placing 26th in the U/12 2km. She’s been a consistent performer at our 2020 Winter Cross Country Series, and always puts in 100% at training.
Will Hadfield, 10
Another versatile athlete at sprints and distance, Will came 7th in the 100m final of Area Athletics 2019, and competed in Zone Cross Country 2019. He is another of our athletes who has benefited from Online Coaching.
Arabella Handley, 12
Arabella has a competitive nature which she combines with a fun loving attitude. She loves competing in sprints, distance, and surf events.
Our Team
Richard Sarkies
Head Coach
Richard has been running and coaching in the sport he loves for over 30 years. He has a wealth of experience coaching, having conducted junior running coaching for the last 7 years, including regular stints in primary and secondary schools
Whilst he’s trained several state and national level athletes, Richard believes it’s important that all juniors, whatever their level, develop a love of exercise
Richard's qualification and roles
- Bachelor of Human Movement, University of Wollongong
- Level III Middle/Long Distance Track, Athletics Australia
- Level II Strength & Conditioning, Australian Strength & Conditioning Association
- Level II Sprints/Hurdles/Relays, Athletics Australia
- Roseville College Athletics Coach
- Lectured for 7 years at TAFE NSW, Certificate III and IV in Fitness
Richard also continues to enjoy competing on the road, track, and cross country in events ranging from 1500m to the marathon. He completed the 2019 Sydney Marathon as part of a fundraising campaign for The Indigenous Marathon Foundation, raising $10000
Kirsten Todd
Head Coach, Adults
Kirsten has a real flair for zeroing in on exactly what our clients need and want, and providing that in a simple and seamless fashion
She’s on a mission to have more women be astounded by their own achievements. She loves sharing her 18 + years of coaching experience with runners of all abilities.
Kirsten quit corporate life early this century after returning from a stint in Hong Kong. Since then Kirsten has gained extensive experience in personal training, massage therapy, nutrition and running coaching. She has lectured in health and fitness at Nature Care College.
She came to age group running after the birth of her second son Saxon, 13 years ago, and her focus has been on running coaching ever since.
She’s competed at a high level in a number of sports including rugby union, beach sprinting and surfboat rowing. So, running has not always been the main event, but an integral part of her training.
When she’s not helping others with their running, you’ll find her in local fun runs, at the beach, or on the soccer pitch with the mighty Wakehurst Over 40’s!
Evan Hamele
Photography/Video, Admin, Race Assistant
Evan displays creativity and style to our video and photo shoots and editing, and is meticulous when it comes to any data work that we require. He also assists with conducting our winter cross country series
A super keen soccer player with a aptitude for hard work and dedication, he goes beyond the minimum by regularly practising his goalie drills outside of team training
What some of our members say
Sam, 15 yrs,St Ives…….
”I recently came on board with HR Athletics, with one of my main aims to qualify for the Maccabiah Games, Israel. By attending the face2face sessions, I know exactly what certain drills and interval sets are in the written program, having seen Richard explain and demonstrate at our training venue”
Harriet, 14, Belrose…..
”this is my 4th year with the club, having started in the young beginners group and progressing to the older advanced one now. I really enjoy the group atmosphere, finding it motivating to push myself more than I would by myself. My overall fitness, times, and consistency in training keep improving as a result”
Liam, 17yrs, Frenchs Forest…..
”I have been with HR Athletics for the last six years and my running has improved tremendously. I have been able to achieve much more than I ever expected with Richard as my running coach. Before I joined I could only make it to Zone cross country and Zone athletics. Richard’s running sessions have improved my fitness and made me a better runner. My most memorable experience was making it to National Cross Country in 2016, and have repeated this for the past 4 years .
The reason I first joined this athletics club was because I came second at my school cross country and I was determined to win it the following year. Richard has always been prepared to give me extra one on one running sessions in preparation for a race. I value Richard not only as a running coach, but a friend as well. I highly recommend Richard as a running coach to anyone”
Our Connections
