The story of RUNZING began in 2010 when Matt and Emily
met during an Egmont Athletics winter group run.
Their shared passion for running brought them together,
taking them on an adventure they could have never imagined.
After briefly attending university in New Zealand, Matt and Emily hopped on a plane to Flagstaff, Arizona.
Here they started their new journey as student-athletes at Northern Arizona University.
This was their first time travelling to the United States and training at elevation (7,000ft above sea level).
They spent the next three years in college working with world-class coaches and amazing teammates.
The experience highlighted the importance of team culture, accountability, and enjoying the process.
Matt was signed with the professional team HOKA Northern Arizona Elite in 2019.
They then spent a further six years in Flagstaff.
At the end of 2024, after nine years in the U.S., Matt and Emily moved back to New Zealand.
Back in their hometown, New Plymouth, they have continued their running careers, diving deep into coaching.
"Emily and I have been fortunate to work with incredible coaches during our running careers. They showed us different training philosophies and approaches to working with athletes.
After absorbing this knowledge over the years,
we are ready to share what we have learned with others. "
Matt Baxter (Co-founder/Coach)
If you are interested in Personalised Coaching
or joining our High School Team TEAM RUNZING,
we'd love to hear from you!
