Bryant Bandits

Welcome to the Bryant Bandits Running Club!

The Bryant Bandits are a competitive running club led by experienced coach Matt Koenigs. Whether you're a youth athlete or an adult runner, the Bandits offer year-round guidance to help you develop as a runner. 

About the Club

Our club provides individualized training and support to help runners achieve their personal goals.

• Practices: Held twice a week during most of the year, with extra sessions in the summer for additional group training opportunities.

• Commitment: This is a structured program, not a drop-in club. While attending every practice isn’t mandatory, regular communication with Coach Koenigs about your overall training plan is essential. Guidance for solo training is provided via conversations, texts (with parents), or emails (with parents).

How to Join

Joining the Bryant Bandits is simple and open to everyone!

1. USATF Membership: Register for a USATF individual membership and affiliate with the club (USATF Club #36-9626).

2. Membership Fee: Structured membership tiers are offered to accommodate varying levels of commitment and support for our athletes.  

3. Requirements:

   • Be able to jog for at least 20 minutes.

   • Practices involve running in the woods, so safety and staying in groups are priorities.

   • Complete the club liability waiver 

   • Complete the Tree Farm Liability Waiver and put it in the box at a trailhead

Meet the Coach

Coach Matt Koenigs brings over 20 years of coaching experience across all levels, from youth to post-collegiate athletes. Highlights of his career include:

• College Success:

  • Coached teams to 5 NWAC Cross Country Championships.

  • Named NWAC Coach of the Year six times.

  • Restarted the track program at Everett Community College, led Trinity Lutheran College’s teams to national top-10 finishes, and helped launch the Edmonds College Track & XC programs.

  • USATF Certified Coach - career accomplishments pathway 

• High School and Middle School Experience:

  • Coached multiple levels and earned recognition as PTSA Outstanding Educator in 2019.

• Competitive Achievements:

  • Former 4A District Champion in cross country and track.

  • 6-time USAT All-American triathlete with podium finishes at world championships.

Coach Koenigs combines his experience as a competitive runner and multi-sport athlete with his passion for teaching to create a supportive and effective training environment.

Training Philosophy

The Bryant Bandits’ training program follows the Lydiard system, emphasizing:

• Aerobic Base Building: Gradual mileage increases and conversational pacing for long-term development.

• Periodization: Training is structured into phases for peak performance.

• Running Drills: Inspired by top swimming and running coaches, drills are incorporated into training to improve running economy and prevent injuries.

For young runners, the focus is on safe and gradual progress, with most running done at an easy pace to build a strong foundation. Group training sessions are social in nature, as runners run together at a conversational pace with the team focused on skill development rather than on high intensity training. 

Practice Times / Locations

Team Practice Calendar 

SATURDAY March 29 - ALL GROUPS @ 9:00 AM at Arlington HS Track

FRIDAY/SATURDAY April 4/5 No Practice (3 Bryant Bandits competing at Oregon Relays in Eugene). Make up practices THUR April 3 @ 4:00 PM and SUNDAY April 6 @ 9:00 AM (elite) & 10:00 AM (development) 

Youth Elite Squad: Year round Saturdays* at 9:00 am & Fridays at 4:00 pm, we also run on Mondays during the off-season (between track & XC) at 4:00 pm.(but see winter schedule). 

• Winter (Nov 1-Jan 31):  Fridays/Mondays @ 3:20 pm. 

• Summer (July/Aug):  Monday, Wednesday, Saturday @ 9:00 am. Summer locations vary, but are all in Arlington. 

• No 4:00 pm Friday practices July/Aug (heat).

• Tryout required to join elite squad. 

• May also participate in Youth Emerging Elite Squad group runs, but must stay with the group 

• Practices last about 1 hour. 

• NO MONDAY practices from 4/14, beginning again June 9

Youth & Emerging Elite Squad: Year round Saturdays* at 10:00 am. 

• No tryout necessary. Geared toward newer and younger runners.

• Runners are developed from this group to the Youth Elite Squad. 

• Practices last about 45 minutes

Adults: Saturday @ 8:00 am

Volunteer Assistant Coaches: with current USATF membership, background check and current Safe Sport training adults may run with the youth teams to provide extra supervision and support.  

*XC season: to prevent potential conflict with your HS and MS programs, and so that you can focus on performing for your school, the club will take a break in September and October. 

No Practice Dates: March 14 (Fri),15 (Sat)

Location: all practices unless otherwise noted are held at the Pilchuck Tree Farm, meeting at the equestrian lot located at 6700 272nd St., Arlington WA 98223. Be sure to park only in designated car parking - do not park in the horse trailer parking spaces. 

Club Philosophy

We are dedicated to supporting the competitive seasons of both high school and middle school athletes. Our training sessions are designed to foster a social environment focused on skill development, ensuring that we complement, rather than conflict with, your school programs.

We respect the commitments of school teams, and our activities will always take a backseat to any school obligations. If there’s ever a scheduling conflict between our club sessions and your school sports, please prioritize your school commitments. During the competitive season, athletes are encouraged to focus solely on their school teams and refrain from competing with our club.

Coach Koenigs is committed to nurturing local running talent and collaborating with community running programs. Our club philosophy is rooted in partnership with local schools and teams to enhance the running experience for everyone. We look forward to supporting your journey in running!

Contact Us

Email bryantbandits@gmail.com for more information about joining the Bryant Bandits Running Club. Let’s hit the trails together!