Michael Lindeback founded the athletic group livsstil endurance as a passion project.
As a keen triathlete, he began coaching local athletes like Bec Cladingboel, Nick Woods, and the Guinan brothers, Liam and Jacob, last year.
While Mr Lindeback’s coaching roster has grown since, the main achievement has been organising free running sessions for the community over the past two or so months.
Mr Lindeback said the sessions came about organically as a by-product of coaching.
“It turned into this organised Tuesday morning track run. We get up to around 30 (runners) some mornings,” he said.
“Our mission is to get the community active and participating in running events, cycling, swimming — whatever it is, it might not even be overly physical.”
The weekly morning sessions at Jack Eddy Oval have become a popular fixture that cater for all fitness levels.
“We’ve got people who compete at world championships... and then we’ve got people who literally just want to get back into running,” Mr Lindeback said.
“Everyone loves it. I don’t know how we’ve done it, but we’ve attracted a really cool, supportive and accepting bunch.”
However, as winter approaches and the sun rises later in the morning, Mr Lindeback said Murray River Council had recently requested the group pay a weekly fee of $55 to use lighting at the oval.
A council spokesperson said the fee was standard and covers costs for cleaning change rooms and power operations.
Mr Lindeback said the cost was a hurdle for the group, and could potentially force running sessions to be discontinued.
“I really do not want to make people pay. That was the main thing about these run clubs,” he said.
Each Tuesday, Mr Lindeback travels from Kyabram and gets to the oval by 6am to run the hour-long session before returning to his teaching job.
He said the weekly fee and transport costs were not sustainable to cover alone.
Mr Lindeback said he would like to see the community continue to grow and keep accessible fitness opportunities available to all.
Sessions run every Tuesday from 6am at Jack Eddy Oval, Moama, and from 6.30am on Sunday from Johnny & Lyle, Echuca.
Those interested, and potential sponsors, can find more information on livstill’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
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