Deadly app to track runaway success of indigenous fitness

A running app could be used to measure the activity of indigenous people across the nation, says marathon legend Rob de Castella.

Coach TJ Cora, left, with Uluru runners Deloris Williams, Colin Chong and Dusty Willett. Picture: Reg Hatch

A simple running app may become the first tool that measures the activity level of indigenous Australians across the nation, according to champion marathon runner Rob de Castella.

With hundreds of Deadly Runners, the legendary sportsman will take part in a ­12km relay around the base of Uluru this weekend. The National Deadly Fun Run championships are an annual celebration of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation that de Castella founded in 2010 to promote healthy activity and goal-setting among indigenous youth. It will also celebrate a secret new weapon — the Deadly Running Connect app.

Teenagers such as Deloris Williams, Colin Chong and Dusty Willett, who will try to keep up with “Deeks” on the Uluru run, can now use the app created by a group of runners in partnership with global tech charity partner Tata Consultancy Services.

“Most of the communities we work in have access to wi-fi,” said de Castella, and many indigenous teenagers own one or even two mobile phones “so we want to use this app to celebrate achievement”.

Users sign up for coaching plans delivered via the app while entering their own personal training scores. By aggregating data, the foundation will track changes in fitness and weight and even the impact of coaching tips — from Uluru to Redfern.

Seventy-five indigenous foundation graduates have run in the New York, Tokyo or Boston marathons.

Graduates tracked by Social Ventures Australia gained work, improved mental health and increased self-belief. “We know physical activity addresses every single chronic disease, physical and mental,” de Castella said.

“So if we can mobilise more kids with this app, if we can have whole communities running and walking, we will see amazing change.”