Started As A University Dropout, Now We’re Here
I was a fresh-eyed teen, having just graduated high school, eager to continue my studies at university. I enrolled in a double degree of criminology and psychology and had dreams of being a forensic psychologist.
What I thought was going to be the most interesting thing in the world turned out to be dead-boring to me, I couldn’t handle it. And so 6 months in, I said “fuck this” and dropped out.
When I told my parents, they were supportive but also wanted to know if I had a plan.
“What are you going to do for the rest of the year?”
“What about your future?”
I didn’t have an answer.
Then, shortly after, I attended a fitness expo and stumbled across the opportunity to do a Cert III and IV in fitness and become a personal trainer (PT).
One way or another that became the answer.
The course was 3-months and by the time I finished I had secured my first job as a PT at the end of that same year in a commercial gym.
After about 3-months there I grew tired of the negligent, inattentive, careless, and deceptive strategies I saw being used by other PTs (in all honesty, I probably was no better), and wanted to explore health and fitness related to high performance, which was quickly becoming my passion.
Next thing you know, I was back at university and studying a Bachelors Degree in Exercise and Sports Science.
Back To School
During my time doing my undergraduate degree, I flipped between future career aspirations.
I went from physiotherapist, to podiatrist, to exercise physiologist, and after all of that work experience, I realised that none of those paths were for me.
Instead, I found myself falling naturally into the role of a strength and conditioning (S&C) coach. I loved the pursuit of achieving high performance in my own training and wanted to extend that passion outward.
After completing my degree I did two things:
I signed up for my Masters in S&C, and
I started doing work experience as a S&C coach at two different NRL clubs.
After a short spell at the Cronulla Sharks, I got a role at the Wests Tigers and remained there for 2 seasons.
During my time there, I realised I had different things to offer as a coach and wanted to have more impact at an individual level. Not only did I want to train athletes, from amateur to professional, but I wanted to train non-athletes who just wanted to achieve high performance in their personal lives.
Work, Work, Work, Work, WORK!
I took a job managing a performance gym at The Entrance, which was an almost 2 hour drive north from Sydney. At the same time, taking on another role as a S&C coach for a semi-professional rugby team up there, The Entrance Tigers. That team went on to win the premiership in my second season as head S&C coach.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, I was already working a weekend job at Marconi Sports Club, which was mainly night shifts. I was working 80+ hours a week, sleeping at the gym, and finishing off a Masters Degree, which I completed 6 months after starting the new role.
It was a lot of work, not a lot of sleep, but a very critical time of growth in my life. I spent 18-months in this role before I had achieved some financial goals and wanted to restore some “balance” to my life.
Following some success, it was time for me to move on, and I landed a role as a powerlifting coach at Adonis Athletics in Granville, which aligned with my aspirations and interests at the time, to lift some heavy iron!
Prior to my shift to become a runner, I was competing as a powerlifter, and coaching other powerlifters and athletes at the same time. At my peak powerlifting days, I could deadlift 300kg… how times have changed.
Fast forward a couple of years, I had built momentum in my role as a coach, and my private client base had grown, coaching athletes and non-athletes alike, across a diverse range of sports and fitness goals.
I moved away from the gym, coaching the Adonis athletes remotely, and ran private in-person S&C sessions for other team sport athletes outside of Adonis. During this time, my online clientele continued to grow and opportunities started to arise.
And We’re Off!
In the Summer of 2022, I married the love of my life, and had already begun to find my stride as a runner. I gradually moved away from in-person coaching as my online business was thriving, and as newly weds, my wife and I took a shot at life on the road - The Van Life.
We bought a van, decked it out, and embarked on a journey around Australia, living out of our portable home. I worked as an online coach on the road. At this point, I was working mostly with endurance running athletes, which aligned with my own endeavours and new passion as a runner.
During this time, my business continued to flourish, and I also signed up to complete a Masters Degree in Counselling, to upskill and explore my passion for good mental health, and how I could integrate this into my role as a coach.
Our journey finally landed us on the other side of the country after almost 2 years on the road, and we set up base in Perth.
We bought an apartment, I graduated with my Masters in Counselling, and I started a job as a part-time youth counsellor.
Where To From Here?
A full-time coach, part-time counsellor, and a competing ultra marathon athlete, I have gained a lot of experience throughout my journey thus far.
And the journey has just begun!
As I move forward, I foresee myself working with many more endurance athletes, and anyone wanting to improve their life through the medium of running.
I will also begin to integrate counselling into my online services, with my new qualifications and experience as a counsellor. The body and mind in harmony is the most powerful tool we have, something which I have learned through my own experience, and something I wish to share with my clients.
Perth is fantastic, but I intend on taking my ultra marathon journey global, as well as my coaching, seeking to expand my worldview and soak in the essence of a variety of experiences.
I think so long as you follow your passion, it doesn’t matter where you start or which direction you go, you’ll end up somewhere great.
My career has taken countless twists and turns. There have been moments to look back on with a sense of pride, things I miss having within my work, and times I could have gone about differently, but nevertheless, I am incredibly grateful for every experience in my journey thus far.
And I will continue to relish the opportunities I have as a coach to share my purpose, passion, and knowledge with you.
And if you want to know what’s possible for you, feel free to reach out to me to discover what I could do, as a coach, to help you on your journey.
Yours in running and in life,
Daniel Lucchini
