COACH'S CORNER - Level 3 Coaching Course Info by Nick Muxlow
January 28, 2026
Level 3 Trail & ultra running coaching course information
Belair National Park, Adelaide
After a long-awaited hiatus, the Level 3 Trail and Ultra Running Coaching Course returns. Set against the iconic trails of Belair National Park, just minutes from Adelaide. Over two immersive days, coaches will come together in one of South Australia’s most historic trail running locations to deepen their knowledge, sharpen their skills, and connect with likeminded practitioners in the trail and ultra community.
This course is designed to go well beyond generic endurance coaching. It dives into the realities of trail and ultra running—terrain, fatigue, fuelling, psychology, risk management, and the art of preparing athletes for events that demand resilience as much as fitness.
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for trail and ultramarathon coaches who want to refine their craft and work more effectively with athletes targeting longer and more demanding events.
It is specifically suited to coaches working with:
- Runners aged 18 years and older
- Athletes pursuing performance-focused goals in trail running and ultra-distance events
- Events on any surface, over marathon distance and beyond
Course content
The Level 3 Trail and Ultra Running Coaching Course blends theory and hands-on practical sessions, ensuring coaches leave with knowledge they can immediately apply in real-world settings.
Key areas of focus will include:
- Trail running skills and technical movement
- Nutrition and hydration strategies for ultra-endurance
- Equipment selection and management
- Training programming across varying terrain and distances
- Psychology and mental strategies for ultra-endurance performance
- Safety, risk management, and duty of care in trail environments
What you’ll cover
- Coaching principles and applied theory
- Athlete analysis and effective feedback
- Practical, on-trail coaching sessions
- Technology and data implementation
- Micro-, meso- and macro-cycle planning
- Nutrition and hydration considerations for long events
- Safety and risk management in trail and ultra settings
- Trail running skills development
- Psychology for ultra endurance performance
Course facilitator: Nick Muxlow
The course is facilitated by Nick Muxlow, one of Australia’s most experienced and respected endurance coaches.
Nick is an IAAF Level 4 Run Coach, Head Coach at The Ultra Journey and author of Run Fit, Journey to 100, and Journey to Kona, and has coached over 40 podium finishers across road, trail, and ultra-distance events. He holds a double degree in Education and Human Movement, spent 15 years as a Health and Physical Education teacher, and brings over 20 years of coaching experience to the course.
Nick is also the owner of The Run Shop, a former Australian Trail & Ultra Team representative at the Trail & Ultra World Championships in Thailand, and a former ASCA Level 1 Strength & Conditioning Coach. His work has been featured in Trail Running Magazine, and he is widely known for helping athletes not only improve performance, but finish their races strong, confident, and smiling.
Location & accommodation
Participants are welcome to stay where ever they wish. However, for those needing it the recommended accommodation is Belair National Park Holiday Park, located within the park itself and just a short walk from the course venue. The park is approximately 30 minutes from Adelaide Airport, making it easily accessible for interstate participants.
Accreditation
On successful completion of the course, participants will become an accredited Athletics Australia Level 3 Trail and Ultra Coach.
Course details
- Dates: Saturday 23 May 2026 8:30am – 9:00pm (optional group dinner) & Sunday 24 May 2026 (8:00am – 5:00pm)
- Location: Belair National Park, Adelaide
- Cost: $300
- Bookings: https://www.athleticssa.com.au/events/323831
Nick Muxlow is a Level 4 IAAF Running Coach, author of 3 books on endurance events including ‘Journey to 100’, a guide for athletes preparing for their first 100km ultramarathon and a coach to the coaches facilitating the IAAF Level 3 Run Coaching Course. Nick is also the founder of The Run Shop where he loves to talk about all things running.
If you would like to be coached by Nick, check out our AUTRA Endorsed Coaches Page here.
Your voice matters. Help shape the future of our sport
Race results for 2026 Southern Sydney Track Ultra, 3M3D, Ultra Adelaide and Boyne Valley 50.
The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater
AUTRA are excited to announce our national championship events for 2027!
Greg Wilson recaps his time at the 2026 New Zealand 6 Day Ultra
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IN OTHER NEWS
Your voice matters. Help shape the future of our sport
Race results for 2026 Southern Sydney Track Ultra, 3M3D, Ultra Adelaide and Boyne Valley 50.
The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater
