Elite triathlete turns coach to inspire next generation

PROFESSIONAL triathlete Courtney Gilfillan has switched her focus to coaching in an effort to promote healthy living and wellness while passing on knowledge to the next generation.

Her program is aimed at adults and children, and she hopes to fill a gap in the market where aspiring junior athletes can stay and train locally.

She established Gilly’s Coaching and Wellness with her partner Jack Gill, which mainly runs from their base at Murwillumbah.

Gilfillan has more than a decade of experience. She is an elite runner with a Level 3 advanced running coach for sprints, middle-distance and long-distance running.

“Helping people find purpose and meaning through being active is something I’ve been passionate about for a long time,” she said.

“I want to give something back to the community and make sure kids don’t have to travel to the Gold Coast or further away for this sort of training.

“When I was growing up that was what you had to do and it can be really hard for the kids and the families.

“I really want to make a difference and help the parents.”

The pair will run a track and field holiday clinic with workshops at Ballina, Kyogle and Murwillumbah in January.

The main program they run now is a weekly group session, where they meet at the Tweed Regional Gallery and train along the rail trial.

They take an adult class each and coach the juniors together.

A big part of what they do is aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle for children.

They have already been active in schools, where they will continue to work next year.

“I’m at the pointy end of my career now and this is what I’m finding the most rewarding,” Gilfillan said.

“It can be a lonely journey and a long process as a professional, any guidance or support I can share with the kids who want to get to that level is valuable.

“We’re not just a competitive platform, a lot of what we do is around education and healthy living.

“It’s trying to get kids away from the controllers and into an active program where they can learn new skills and build resilience.

“You don’t have to be a runner, our training provides a strong base for most sports.”

Coaching and program information can be found at gillyscoachingandwellness.com