Austin Newblom

“As a coach, my primary role is to guide athletes in making the best training decisions in the moment. This goes beyond creating a training plan; it’s about helping them learn and evolve their own processes so they get one step closer to the best version of themselves every day.”

Growing up, the only time I dared to run was during high school basketball practice… and I hated every second of it. Following in my parents’ footsteps, I studied accounting in college while spending my summers fighting wildfires and dreaming of becoming a smokejumper.

However, life took a sharp turn. In 2015, a motorcycle accident left me with a shattered arm and leg. After a long, grueling recovery process, I joined a hotshot crew in 2017. At the time, I was one of the slowest runners on the crew. Knowing I had to improve if I wanted any chance at becoming a smokejumper, I got serious. That winter, I started running local trails and for the first time, I wasn’t running to keep up with someone else’s pace. Moving at my own pace allowed the miles to click by, and I discovered a deep, unexpected love for the simple act of going farther and farther.

I continued pushing my limits through several ultramarathons, and seven years after deciding I wanted to be a jumper, I finally earned my spot as a smokejumper. Along the way, running gave me more than just a career. I met my lovely wife at the Greenhorn Ranch 50K and eventually, the long fire seasons away from home started to add up. At the end of 2024, I decided to step away from smokejumping and transition into a coaching career. Running started as a tool to become a better firefighter and ultimately I left firefighting to become a full-time coach.