In rain, hail or shine, Nadine Hunt turns up at training with a smile on her face, ready to run.

With a stopwatch in hand, she has empowered people of all ages and all shapes and sizes to become "deadly runners".

Back in 2011, Ms Hunt and training partner Bianca Graham became the first Australian Indigenous women to compete in the New York Marathon.

The experience changed Ms Hunt's life and she's spent every day since working to inspire others to love running.

Originally from Cairns and a descendant of the Yam Island and Kaanju people, the 29-year-old moved to Canberra in 2012.

She was a new graduate of marathon champion Robert de Castella's Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) scholarship program.

Just 12 months earlier Ms Hunt didn't describe herself as a runner.

With the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, Ms Hunt worked to establish the Deadly fun run series in remote communities. ( Supplied: Indigenous Marathon Foundation )

Since her debut in New York, she's run countless half marathons and a handful of full marathons including Frankfurt, Tokyo, Boston and the Great Barrier Reef.

She also spent much of past decade working with IMP as the Deadly Running Australia manager setting up running events in some of the nation's most remote Indigenous communities.

Run, sweat, inspire

As part of the NAIDOC Canberra and district awards, Ms Hunt was recognised for her role as coach of the deadly runners in Canberra.

"It's a runners and walkers group for people of all levels," deadly runner Mikala Sedgwick said.

"One of the oldest in the group Lynn Leon is 53 and has run numerous half marathons along with a full marathon with the help of Nadine.

"Nadine coaches the Canberra group outside of her work responsibilities and all in her own time."

The Canberra group meet as much as five times each week to run together.

"I can remember when running for just 30 seconds was hard for me," Ms Sedgwick said.

"I started just after having my first child back in 2013 and was quite overweight and not in a good fitness space.

"Just from being involved in the group I've lost over 10 kilos, my fitness ability is so much better and I'm stronger and healthier.

"She's made me become a healthy role model for my son."

Deadly running groups like the Canberra group have been established all over the country. ( Supplied: Nadine Hunt )

Ms Sedgwick said while the focus was on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, deadly running groups were open to anyone.

"We're all about reconciliation and everyone coming together.

"The group caters for everyone no matter what their goals are and it's an inclusive group that welcomes people with disabilities."

The Canberra and Queanbeyan deadly runners groups comprise of around 50 members.

"Nadine has this incredible way of making us all believe in our own abilities," Ms Sedgwick said.

"She set up goals with us that were realistic and established plans that would allow us to reach those goals.

"We have a bunch of runners who have just completed their first half marathon at the Gold Coast Marathon Festival."

Ms Hunt recently returned to Cairns to be closer to family but has continued to mentor her Canberra deadly runners.

"Even from Cairns she's providing that support to the group," Ms Sedgwick said.

This year's NAIDOC Week theme is "Because of her, we can", which celebrates the contributions made by past and present Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to their communities.