Built on the Run: Inside Team Telford
In Canberra, where wide roads meet open sky and the seasons shape the training year, Team Telford has quietly become one of Australia’s most respected middle and long distance running groups. Established in 1985, the group has built its reputation not on noise, but on consistency - a culture grounded in hard work, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the sport.
At the centre of it all are coaches Dick Telford and Robbie Bolton, who guide a diverse squad of athletes across open, junior, and para ranks. Dick Telford’s background as a leading sports scientist at the AIS still echoes through the group’s approach, thoughtful, measured, and always evolving, while Bolton’s day-to-day presence keeps the rhythm of training grounded and connected.
Over the years, that environment has produced an impressive list of athletes, many of whom are Australian representatives. Names like James Nipperess, Jordan Gusman, Lisa Ondieki, Lisa Weightman, Benita Willis, Micheal Shelley, Darren Wilson, Mizan Mahari, Cam Myers, Rorey Hunter, Jye Edwards, Andrew Lloyd, Kate Anderson, Carolyn Schuwalow, Susan Hobson, Sisay Bezabeh, Martin Dent, Nicky Carroll, Lisa Corrigan, Connor Whiteley. It’s a lineage that reflects both history and progression - athletes arriving at different stages, but all shaped by the same steady philosophy.
Training with Team Telford is built around familiar places and repeatable sessions. You’ll find the group at the AIS track, around Lennox Gardens by Lake Burley Griffin, or out at Stromlo, where much of the hard work gets done. Saturday mornings are a staple - kilometre reps on the cross country course at Stromlo, starting sharp at 9:30, no fuss, just work.
Sessions themselves are simple, but demanding. Half quarters - 4 x 400m with a 200m float - are a regular feature, alongside sets of 300s and 200s that sharpen speed without losing control. Then there’s Stromlo Hill - a sustained effort up the main road for 3.2 kilometres, often followed by hill repeats. It’s the kind of session that doesn’t need explaining, just a steady climb, a quiet group, and a shared understanding of what’s required. The benchmark effort, held by Mizan Mahari, is believed to sit somewhere near 11 minutes, a number that lingers in the background for those willing to test it.
When the training blocks demand more, the group heads higher. Perisher training camps have become a regular part of the program - a chance to step away, reset, and build fitness in thinner air, surrounded by nothing but mountains and miles.
Despite the calibre of athletes who’ve passed through the group, there’s a simplicity to Team Telford that remains unchanged. Sessions start on time. Effort is expected. Progress is earned. It’s a culture that doesn’t rely on hype - just a shared commitment to the work.
Decades on, Team Telford continues to do what it always has: bring good athletes together, give them the right environment, and let the running speak for itself.
