08/04/2025
About five or six years ago, I was doing a training session on the Cooee–West Park path when I passed a young girl running. It was a pretty cold evening and I remember thinking, “She must love running to be out here training on her own.”
As I kept an eye on local results, I came to realise that runner was a young Ashley Fehlberg.
Fast forward to 2022, I had just began coaching some runners and Ash started strength training with me through my gym-based junior athlete development program. About six months later, she decided I should be her running coach.
At the time, her goals were to improve her XC results and get better at 5km races but it was fairly evident to me that she possessed qualities and potential to be a good middle distance runner.
That first season under my guidance, she dropped her 800m PB from 2:30 to 2:14 and surprised herself by placing 6th at the Australian Championships. She also took 30 seconds off her 1500m PB that season and , finished 11th at Aus champs.
Last year, she backed it up with 6th (5th Aussie) in the 800m and improved to 8th in the 1500m.
And now, this year, Ash has exceeded expectations and is a national bronze medallist 🥉 in the 800m and placed 9th in the 400m.
What makes this season even more impressive is that she’s done almost all of her training solo, just pure dedication, self-discipline and love for the sport.
Ash, I know how much you’ve put into this. The commitment and dedication both on/off the track to get the best out of yourself. I’m so happy for you for what you have achieved and for trusting me to help you achieve your goals.
If you had told that little girl I passed running alone five years ago that she would be a medallist in the 800m at Aus Champs I don’t think she would have believed it.
May as well try the 200m next season?
P.s can’t believe there was a quokka on the medal.
