FROM battling mental illness to tackling the world's longest trail run, Redlands ultra runner Kieron Douglass is using his own experiences to inspire runners at Victoria Point State High School to step out of their comfort zone.
Every Friday morning, Douglass coaches runners at the school to help them not only improve their running, but develop qualities like courage and resilience.
"I teach them proper warm-up techniques to prevent injury, a few little tricks of the trade, energy-savers, I give them a few quizzes to get their minds stimulated, then I take them through the course," he said.
"I try to leave them to their own devices (and let them) use their minds to see if they can push through by themselves."
Douglass, a former Victoria Point State High School student, said the lessons were not just applicable to running.
"It's more about pushing them out of their comfort zones whether in sport or in school, and hopefully they can use it in their life," he said.
"I'm hoping sharing my story about what I went through growing up, still going to school and dealing with those pressures helps them build resilience."
After suffering from depression and anxiety as a child, Douglass turned to running as an escape.
A turning point in his life came when he finished a school cross country in heavy Doc Marten boots, having been unable to afford running shoes.
"I know that my experience through doing running and school cross country I was able to find my purpose and I felt strength after doing my first ever cross country, and I've carried that with me into my personal life as well."
He said the students had been pushing hard each week. Some had never run more than a kilometre before but were now completing five or six one kilometre circuits each session.
It comes as Douglass prepares to tackle a new challenge in the Simpson Desert Ultra, a gruelling 160 kilometre slog in western Queensland.
"I'm still pushing out of my comfort zone, still learning, still growing. I've never done a sand race so it's definitely going to be a challenge," he said.
He has also re-entered the 500 kilometre Wild Earth Ultra Trail on the Gold Coast after bowing out of the course at the 350 kilometre mark with an injury last year.
