Southland runner Hannah Miller turns hand to coaching

Hannah Miller the athlete has achieved a lot as an athlete.

Three New Zealand championship titles (U20 crosscountry, SW marathon, SW 10k road plus third for SW crosscountry), US athletic scholarship, Oceania championships, NZ representative, fastest marathon and half marathon by a NZ woman so far this year, numerous crosscountry and track successes while in America, not to mention BA and Masters degrees from American universities.

However, there is now another string to the Gore raised (now Wellington domiciled) athlete – Hannah Miller the coach. All that experience is being put to good use in guiding one of Southland’s the most exciting young distance running prospects, her young cousin Millie McFadzien.

McFadzien has raced sparingly this year but every outing has resulted in a win. In the Southland secondary schools crosscountry champs the 14 year old St Peters Gore student broke the record for her grade, the Southland crosscountry champs had her taking the U16 title ahead of Siena Mackley (who brilliantly won the U20 -at age 14 -national mountain running champs) and she easily won the U18 6km at the recent Clyde to Alex road races with cousin/coach Hannah winning the SW 10k.

How is this coach/cousin working? We asked both. Their responses in their own words:

Millie on Millie.

“When I was younger I was really bad at athletics and by the end of the day I would be crying because I didn’t enjoy it that much. It wasn’t till I started doing longer distances that I began enjoying it.

“I started doing a bit of training last year for Southland Primary Cross Country which was just a run most days. Same this year for Southland Secondary Schools Cross Country.  I didn't start training with Hannah till a week or so after Southlands.

“I have Crohn’s disease so quite tired a lot but I find after a run I always feel more energetic. I also love the challenge and pushing myself to the limit. But I think what I really like about the sport is the actual racing.

“Ultimately, I’d love to represent New Zealand at the Olympics, but that is well in the future. Meanwhile I have a lot to learn.

Millie on Hannah.

“Hannah couldn’t be better as a coach.  She always knows what to say before a race giving me confidence every time. She never makes me nervous, only excited! I know she’s a very busy lady. So I’m very grateful for her time and thoughts.

Hannah on Millie.

“Millie is a huge talent but mostly she’s hard working and I recognize a lot of myself in her. She is willing to do the work and ask why to further her understanding; so it is really a joy to help her on her journey. She is gritty and fiercely competitive but also has a wise head on her shoulders and is starting to understand how mental the sport is and her ability to frame tough days in a positive light will see her go far.

“I love just chatting about how things are going with her, often her insights act as a reminder for myself to enjoy and appreciate the process in my own running.

“As long as Millie is enjoying her work and is a happy healthy athlete curious to keep racing and testing herself I feel we are in a good space.

“I think it’s important to integrate other sporting commitments and make the process fun. Over the winter we used Netball and Basketball as speed sessions to aid her running rather than doubling up burning out. I feel a huge responsibility to make sure she has a good experience in this sport.

“It’s very easy to become fixated on perfection as a distance runner. Having personally battled an eating disorder I know how destructive it can be to both performance and general quality of life. As a young coach I have an opportunity to help grow the next generation of female athletes and shape the conversations and processes they engage in.

“I think being family enhances the coaching bond by allowing honest and frank conversations off the bat. And I’m excited to have a family member to drag out for a run on Christmas day!