HE’S 79 years of age, can straddle a bike faster than nephews Gary and Shane Sutton, and trains kids to run – and trains them to run fast.

Seasoned long-distance runner and trainer, Ronny Clissold, has a stable of young athletes on the rise.

The impressive 15-strong roster, affectionately known as Ronny’s Runners, includes 10-year-old Marley Legg, seven-year-old Bella Boland and 12-year-old Kate McDonald.

All three are regional, State or national competitors.

Kate, the Moree Midget, firmly has the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games in her sights.

She was recently named in the top 10 runners nationally in her age group for 800m and 1500m at the Australian All Schools Championships at Sydney’s Olympic Park and later broke a five-year Moree Park Run record.

Marley and Bella also competed at the Olympic Park Nationals.

Marley finished midfield in the 1500m girls 8-9-10 years’ final and Bella was unplaced in her heat of the eight-years’ 100m.

Ronny’s Runners became “official” at the inaugural Moree Run the Plains Carnival in September when Victorian Chemical Company – Vicchem – sponsored team singlets.

Casey Smith, whose son Will trains under Ronny, said the teamwear became popular after Ronny’s Runners held their own at Run the Plains.

“The singlets were an idea from one of the parents, and made especially for Ronny’s Runners,” Casey said.

She says Ronny has created a running family.

“The kids are keen to train to win, but equally as excited when their friends do well,” Casey said.

The camaraderie Ronny fosters was showcased during Kate McDonald’s trip to the nationals late last year.

“Ronny was with Kate, so he delegated training to the parents – gave them an outline of what was to be done – but all training stopped so the livestream of Kate’s 1500m race at the nationals could be watched,” Casey said.

“Not much stops Ronny’s training, and while Kate’s 1500m wasn’t the race that stops the nation, it certainly was enough to disrupt training,” Casey smiled.

Last year, Kate broke four records at the Moree Public School athletics carnival, two of which have stood since 1999, and Marley broke the 200m and 800m records.

In April, Marley won the Moree Public School cross country, an event she’s won for three consecutive years in her age group.

Marley also represented Moree Public School at the zone carnival at Gravesend in May, and again won her age group.

Kate, Marley and Bella were earlier this year selected to represent the north-west division at the NSWPSSA State cross country championships at Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

Marley’s mum, Keira Legg, “discovered” Ronny about 12 months ago – and Ronny discovered Marley.

“We are very fortunate to have stumbled across Ronny’s Runners at the start of last year,” Keira said.

“We were looking for something extra to help with Marley’s running and, without a doubt, found it with Ronny.”

Keira, Moree Public School sports co-ordinator, said Ronny’s methods focus “on the whole child”.

“I don’t think there are many people who would argue that Ronny, as a coach, knows how to get the most out of his athletes – his current record with state and national runners proves that,” Keira said.

“Ronny’s methods are old-school, dating back to his army life, which I honestly believe is just what our kids need.

“He focuses on the whole child, not just running technique and fitness, which they get in abundance, too.

“Ronny will always support the mental side of running, which is more than half the battle. He sees potential, and fosters it,” she said.

“Ronny is an amazing asset to our town and we are so fortunate. He is humble, and asks for very little – just that the kids turn up and have a go.

“We can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for our daughter, and our little running family,” Keira said.

Casey Smith echoes Keira’s admiration for the man who single-handedly makes 80 the new 60.

“Nothing is ever too much for Ronny, whether the child has been running for a day or for 10 years. He takes time to coach each and every child,” Casey said.

“Ronny asks for nothing other than respect, and expects the kids to train hard, and in all conditions.

“Training is very rarely cancelled, and never a walk in the park. It’s often said – you have to race in the rain, so you need to train in the rain.”

The Moree Midget, Kate McDonald, has the world at her feet – literally.

Kate’s mum, Skye, said Ronny’s coaching abilities are nothing short of extraordinary.

“Over the years, Ronny has passed on his professional, athletic knowledge to  hundreds of kids,” Skye said.

“He always maintains his goal is to make every kid not only a better athlete, but a better person as well.

“Under his leadership, many of these kids have made it to state level, and a few have gone to the nationals. He promotes sportsmanship and camaraderie. All of his kids work as a team with a common goal to support each other, whether it be a training session or a race event.

“That’s the Ron Clissold way,” Skye smiled.

“Moree is very lucky to have a man so willing to give up his time to help these kids achieve their dreams.”

Skye said Ronny’s success as a trainer is testament to his hard work and unwavering dedication as a long-distance runner – a sport he took up nearly 50 years ago.

“At age 32, Ronny put on his running shoes, and off he went,” Skye said.

“True to his obsessive nature, his passion became all-consuming as he endeavoured to be the best he could.

“Since committing to the sport, he has run an incredible 76,500 kilometres, and every kilometre is documented in his little black book.

“If you ask him what he ran on any particular day between 1980 and now, he can recite how far he ran, the location and the time he ran it.”

In fact, the mileage and kilometre rate Ronny has documented over the last half a century is the equivalent of five laps around Australia – one lap every 10 years.

“Ronny would run kilometre after kilometre, day after day, year after year – in rain, hail or shine,” Skye said.

“When he ran, he didn’t care to wear a shirt on his back and often cut the toe box out of his shoes to help with the blisters.

“It’s fair to say, he certainly isn’t ready to hang up the boots just yet. Although he may not run quite as much as he used to, he still gives it a crack,” she grinned.

Ronny trained young athletes quite a while ago, but a health scare forced him to slow down a bit – a big call for a man with tens of thousands of miles in his legs.

But the call-up to return to the training ranks rang loud and clear about two-and-a-half years ago.

“I had pretty much retired when I had my heart complaint and operation,” Ronny said.

“A fellow by the name of Bill Adams gave me a call and asked if I could train his son, Digby, and it all started from there.

“Once I started training Digby, other people got to know I was back and approached me – that’s how it all came about,” he said.

He now has upwards of 15 talented young athletes on his roster – and there are no fees or charges.

Again, that’s the Ronny Clissold way.

“I’m just happy to train them,” he said

“The main rule is, no swearing and no arguing. Anyone can turn up and ability doesn’t matter.

“We’ll teach them, and if we can’t make a better runner of them, we’ll make a better person of them.”

After-school training sessions are held three days a week for about an hour.

“We change our training venues around, mainly because of cross-country, park runs and track runs,” Ronny said.

“At the moment, we’re chasing the shade and train down alongside the cemetery and golf club.”

Ronny took to running back in the late 1960s, when he worked alongside Moree boxing coach, Trevor Coulton.

“I was helping Trevor, and sometimes we’d run out to Boolooroo Bridge and back for road work, and think nothing of it,” Ronny said.

About this time, Ronny was called up to army training at the Jungle Training Centre at Canungra, Queensland, where Australian soldiers trained for the Vietnam War.

“I started running when I went to the army in 1968,” Ronny said.

“I was married, and all the other guys were single. They used to go to the canteen and get on the grog, but I couldn’t afford that because most of my money went back home.

“I was running one day, and a bloke called Ian Roberts called me aside and asked if he could run with me. We used to run one mile out and one mile back, towards Beechmont mountain at the Gold Coast,” he said.

“After we went for a run, Ian asked if I minded him giving me a few tips. It turned out he was the Queensland university 1500m champion.

“The main thing I’ve always remembered and always stuck by, is to train 45 minutes a day for five days a week.

“It doesn’t matter what sort of training, as long as you’re kept moving. I’ve stuck to that routine pretty much, apart from extending the time to about an hour,” Ronny said.

Ronny ran his first Gold Coast Marathon in 1979, and became a regular.

Twenty years ago, he finished third in his age group in a field of more than 100 runners.

“I’ve never finished on the podium but always managed top-six,” Ronny said.

“In 2005, I made up my mind I was going to go for it. I started training and I knew what time I had to run to win it.

“I was quite happy with running third, and when we got back to Moree I had a bit of a burn in the chest.

“I went to the doctor and straight away, I was sent to get a stent put in. The doctor told me I shouldn’t have been able to run around the block, let alone a marathon,” he chuckled.

World champion cyclist and Olympic Gold medal-winning coach, Gary Sutton, said Ronny was a quiet achiever.

“Like many great coaches, uncle Ronny can speak to athletes. He gives advice from his own experiences, and what he’s learned from his own mistakes,” Gary said.

“For me, he is the quiet achiever. He’s willing to give advice when needed, and he’s a person to listen to because he knows what he’s talking about, and knows the sport so well.”

Gary said his uncle was straightforward, with a wealth of knowledge and understanding.

“He keeps his programs and advice very simple, and doesn’t over-complicate things,” Gary said.

“Uncle Ronny is big on technique. Like most sports today, if you’re not technical, you’re on the back foot from the start,” he said.