The IMF Deadly Running Connect (IMF-DRC) app allows the user to celebrate personal achievements and get training advice while supporting a culture of running and physical activity across Indigenous Australia. One of our goals is to promote good health and resilience, using running as a means of achieving this. IMF-DRC is a rewarding, motivating way to track and evaluate fitness programs, assist run leaders and be part of a nationwide network.
The Indigenous Marathon Foundation
The Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) is a not-for-profit charity established in 2009 by world champion marathon runner Robert de Castella, which uses running to change lives.
The IMF includes a range of programs including the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP), Deadly Running Australia (DRA), FrontRunners, and Indigenous Communities for Activity and Nutrition (I-CAN).
As of 2018, the IMF, through the IMP program, has trained and mentored 75 Indigenous Australians across the finish line of major international marathons including New York, Tokyo, and Boston.
After they cross the finish line, our runners return home and continue to work with IMF to establish running groups and endorse the benefits of healthy living to their families, communities and Australia.
The IMF is committed to using running as a vehicle to promote health, drive social change and celebrate Indigenous resilience and achievement.
Deadly Running Australia (DRA)
As part of Deadly Running Australia, Deadly Fun Runs and Deadly Running Championships are held yearly. They are a series of short, regular, fun running and walking events that IMP Graduates organise in communities and regions to make running and walking easy and fun. Communities qualify teams to represent them at the National Deadly Fun Run Championships each July by holding at least four events in their respective communities. Men, women, boys and girls are now all training and running as they strive to get to Uluru and represent their families and communities.
Deadly Running Australia brings together the Deadly Fun Runs, the National Deadly Fun Run Championships, the Deadly Running Groups, Deadly Running Festivals, and Deadly Running coaches and Leaders.
It has grown from the successful Deadly Fun Run Series established back in 2012, continuing on and expanding on the voluntary work that IMP Graduates have been doing in their communities, along with passionate community-based volunteers, and organisations.
Deadly Running Australia focuses on whole of community participation, aiming to address chronic disease by increasing levels of physical activity, improve school attendance and academic performance, improve mental health and wellbeing by regular physical activity and setting, and create and support education, qualifications and employment at the local, regional and national level.
The core elements of Deadly Running Australia are the Deadly Fun Run Series, the National Indigenous Deadly Fun Run Championships, Deadly Running Groups and Deadly Coaches and Leaders.