Better with Running

In episode 276 of the Better With Running podcast, hosts Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman welcome Run2PB Coach Ned Buckell.

Ned brings a high level of academic expertise to his coaching, as he is currently completing his Masters of Exercise Physiology. The episode serves as a deep dive into Ned’s journey, exploring how he transitioned from a competitive junior athlete to a coach who balances scientific principles with real-world experience.

The conversation begins by painting a picture of Ned’s upbringing in a competitive household as the youngest of four boys. Alongside his twin brother, Matt, Ned’s introduction to running started as early as age five with Bendigo Little Athletics and cross-country racing. Listeners get an inside look at the long-standing relationship between the Buckell brothers and their mentor, elite runner Andy Buchanan, who began coaching them in Grade 6. This bond has evolved over moving from a teacher-student dynamic to a professional one where they now work together at the Verve Running.

A significant portion of the show is dedicated to a major turning point in Ned's life: a non-running-related injury that sidelined him for years. In Year 8, Ned contracted a severe staph infection that settled in his hip, leading to a month-long hospital stay, and complications like pneumonia and myocarditis. He shares the raw reality of spending 18 months on crutches and the grueling process of rebuilding muscle and fitness after missing a critical window of his junior career, on top of that after a return we hear about the decision to undergo and hip replacement and how he has been able to return to running after this.

Beyond his personal history, Ned discusses how his academic background in exercise science shapes his approach to coaching both senior and junior athletes. The episode highlights his focus on Strength and Conditioning (S&C) as a non-negotiable tool for performance and injury prevention.

Whether discussing the nuances of tendon stiffness or the mental health benefits of the sport, Ned’s perspective is one of resilience making this episode a must-listen for runners looking to understand the "why" behind their training.

This week on the Better With Running podcast, hosts Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman, start the show with a brief update from chrisos training and talk about the turf war on socials about callipos vs zooper doopers.

They then welcome back Run2PB Athlete Stephen Pate, he returns to discuss a phenomenal year of running, culminating in a massive three-minute personal best at the Melbourne Marathon 2025, clocking a 2:31:54. This follows a strong performance at the Ballarat Marathon and a 10k PB earlier in the year. Stephen shares insights into his training consistency through the winter, describing the mental side of the build as a "slog," yet acknowledging it felt better than his previous block. He credits his longevity and injury-free string of three marathon builds to cautiously increasing volume and the structure provided by his coach and training groups like the Ninch Track Club, which offer essential accountability and social support.

We get a detailed breakdown of his Melbourne Marathon race, revealing he was "seduced" into running with a massive 20-person pack, which included the lead female, for critical shelter and pacing efficiency in the first half. The mental crucible arrived around the 26-30km mark, a dark patch where he battled "inner voices" of self-doubt. He shares the raw self-talk and mental strategies he used to shut down the negativity and find his rhythm again, contrasting this intense focus with his less-stressed pre-race mindset compared to Ballarat. Steven's strong finish, where he passed multiple runners, is attributed to his consistent training and repeated hill work, which primed his legs for the taxing final kilometers.

Stephen confirms his dietary consistency, sticking to his famed steak poké bowls while maintaining a generally gluten-free approach, with the occasional pizza as a running fuel. We also hear about his preferred ASICS shoe rotation, favoring the Superblast for everyday miles and the Meta Speed Edge for races. Looking ahead, he is taking a short break to chase shorter-course PBs before shifting his full focus to training for the notoriously challenging, hilly Boston Marathon course

With thanks to Oat Running our partner,

Listeners of the show can get a a 15% discount using "run2pb15" at the check out. Visit www⁠.oatrunning.com.au

The episode kicks off with the hosts', touching on the ridiculously short two-day first test match in cricket and the start of the summer, which prompts nostalgic recollections of childhood ice creams, including Zac's lament over paying nearly $5 for a Calipo. In their running weeks recap, Chris reports a managed 39K week, focusing on recovery from a rolled ankle and a heat-impacted progressive long run, while Zac celebrates a strong 66K week—his highest volume since February—which included an important strength-building.

This weeks run2pb guest athlete is James Cousins, a dedicated Run2PB athlete who joined in 2023 via a referral from the Inside Running Podcast, starting with Coach Sophie Fitt before moving to Coach Brady. James has been "thriving" under Brady’s guidance, with the coach noting he is "very dedicated and diligent, a smart trainer who understands the purpose of workouts." This discipline has translated into serious results, including smashing his personal bests to a fantastic 1:23:25 Half Marathon and a 37:28 10K.

The discussion with James begins with his Origin Story and the topics that shaped his running journey. The hosts dive into his initial spark for the sport, the significant setback of recovering from a snapped clavicle in a bike accident, and the mental and physical process of transitioning from surgery to the marathon start line. he hosts also draw a comparison between his sign-up PBs (3:17 Marathon, 1:29 Half) and his recent breakthroughs, asking him to walk listeners through what "clicked" to achieve such drastic time drops.

James discusses the most significant benefits and differences he’s experienced since moving to a structured coaching environment with Brady, and his philosophy when approaching a tough session, explaining what makes him a "smart trainer." Looking to the future, the hosts challenge James on whether he is currently leaning more towards the speed of the 5K/10K or the endurance challenge of the marathon as he chases the sub-3 goal. The episode concludes with a series of quick-fire questions, covering everything from his current shoe rotation and favourite race he's done so far, to his preference between Ice Cream or Gelato .

With thanks to Oat Running our partner, Chris will be gifted some Oat Running Socks.

Listeners of the show can get a a 15% discount using "run2pb15" at the check out. Visit www⁠.oatrunning.com.au

In this episode, coaches Chris Armstrong (and Zacca Newman kick off with a race report from Chris's Sweat Vs Steam 10k. Chris finished in a solid 37:37, but recounts the chaos of the starting pack where he "was getting absolutely swamped, elbowed, kicked in the back of the legs by people who confused the 10K with an 800". His biggest challenge, however, came five minutes in when he planted his left foot in a pothole, and it "just crunched" , making a noise like "bubble wrap". The pain subsided, allowing him to finish a strong, even-paced race. It wasn't until after he had finished, and was feeling "pretty cooked, pretty delirious," The event was touted as a success with a massive effort from the run2pb community supporting the event and volunteers assisting, with $14338 being raised for Echuca Regional Health.

This weeks Run2PB athlete is Matt Miller, a 25-year-old business owner and former golfer who only began running seriously in January 2025. Fresh off apodium at the Sweat Vs Steam race. Despite his short time in the sport, Matt has posted impressive PBs, including a Marathon time of 2:40:22 at Gold Coast in July 2025, and a recent 5k PB of 16:03. The discussion covers his rapid progression, his background in golf, and his ambitious targets for 2026, which include the Ballarat and Melbourne Marathons and competing in XCR.

A key focus of the conversation is what Matt has learned from Chris's coaching, especially concerning his training structure. Matt shares that "without doubt, the biggest thing is being consistent" , admitting his training was "so sporadic"   Matt also reveals his enjoyment of interval sessions that he "wouldn't have thought to do anything like that"  The episode wraps up with a fun quick-fire round of questions.

With thanks to Oat Running our partner, Chris will be gifted some Oat Running Socks.

Listeners of the show can get a a 15% discount using "run2pb15" at the check out. Visit www⁠.oatrunning.com.au

This week on Better With Running, RUN2PB athlete Mel Townsend joins Chriso and Zacca for a discussion on her incredible versatility. Mel's running career began as a high school star before she transitioned to the US collegiate scene, competing for Northern Arizona University (NAU).We hear about her college running days and now transitioning to the trail running world.

Mel's 2025 season has been a massive success, marked by a conscious goal to race more, competing in twelve eventsand As a member of the Singletrack Team, she has thrived on the trails. Mel shares her passion for trail running, calling it "almost like a combination of all my hobbies outside of running combined, and then running as well." She also provides a candid look into the mental demands of ultra-racing, describing the experience as a "rollercoaster of emotions, of exhaustion, happiness, anger, sad, because there's so much time in your own head."

Mel talks about her goals for 2026 and takes on the quick questions, and reveals her garmin is still going strong!

In this week's episode of the Better With Running podcast, hosts Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman welcome back fellow Run2PB coach Forest Robinson for an honest and detailed conversation about navigating high-volume marathon training and his coaching time at Run2PB so far.

Chris talks through his week and offers a sincere apology. After years of good-natured mockery and "slanderous comments" about swimming pools, Chris admits he was "incredibly wrong." Following a recovery dip on a hot day, he confessed that the leisurely pool time was "absolutely magnificent", whilst Zacca continues to put down some consistent weeks.

The spotlight turns to Forest Robinson, who provides an in-depth update on his focused training block for the upcoming Valencia Marathon. After an unpredictable racing season, Forrest is laser-focused on his major target and gives listeners an exclusive look into his preparation, detailing a brutal 3x15 minute session. Beyond his own running, Forrest shares his rewarding journey since officially joining the Run2PB coaching community in July. He reflects on the challenges and joys of personalizing training plans for a diverse stable of athletes, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach that considers every runner's life demands, making this episode a must-listen for anyone striving for consistent, healthy running.

With thanks to Oat Running our partner, Chris will be gifted some Oat Running Socks.

Listeners of the show can get a a 15% discount using "run2pb15" at the check out. Visit www⁠.oatrunning.com.au

The legendary Brady Threlfall returns to the podcast alongside Chris and Zac for a massive episode!

Special guest Brady Threlfall joins the boys to discuss treating his first significant injury (hip and pelvis stress reaction) as a much-needed mental and physical 'reset' to his plans to come back stronger.

Plus, Brady gives a full, behind-the-scenes breakdown on the massive effort to revive the historic Sweat vs. Steam fun run, detailing the logistical and organisational challenges and his passion for keeping the Echuca Moama community event alive.

Finally, the show checks in with returning guest Jess Willis, fresh off a huge 2:46:02 PB at the Melbourne Marathon. Jess shares the challenges of her tricky training block, including illness and a foot injury, and reveals the coach-recommended "life hack" (involving Voltaren and Gladwrap) that got her back on the start line.

With thanks to Oat Running our partner, Chris will be gifted some Oat Running Socks.

Listeners of the show can get a a 15% discount using "run2pb15" at the check out. Visit www⁠.oatrunning.com.au

This week on the Better With Running podcast, hosts Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman dive into a comprehensive Melbourne Marathon special, reflecting on the huge turnout of over 105 Run2PB athletes on the road.

The episode features candid interviews with two athletes who achieved phenomenal success despite huge challenges. First, Liam Beecroft breaks down his 2-minute PB, going from 2:37 to 2:35:36. Liam recounts his dramatic final race week, which included a bad bike crash just days before the marathon He details how sheer willpower and a focused mindset allowed him to push past the bone bruising to execute his race plan. Liam also settles the important debate about race day attire and reveals what he was wearing on the course.

Next, Fraser Pope and his coach, James Telford, discuss Fraser's incredible 2:56:57 marathon time. Fraser shares his background, contrasting his old football warm-up (a single lap) with the dedication required to run sub-3 hours. Coach Telford explains their strategic approach to recovering from the Gold Coast Marathon only 14 weeks prior:. This measured approach allowed Fraser to execute a "metronomically" consistent race, proving that patience and trust in the process can lead to strong, back-to-back marathon finishes. The episode closes with appreciation for the running community that powered the day.

With thanks to Oat Running our partner, Chris will be gifted some Oat Running Socks.

Listeners of the show can get a a 15% discount using "run2pb15" at the check out. Visit www⁠.oatrunning.com.au

This week on the Better With Running podcast, hosts Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman are joined by Australian marathon record holder, olympian r and fellow Run2PB coach, Andy Buchanan, for a Melbourne Marathon race week special. Chris shares his latest training, detailing a 72km week capped off by a challenging progression session (2 x Mile, 2 x 800m, Mile, 800m) where he started conservatively and made each rep progressively faster. This segment naturally leads into a discussion about coaching philosophy, with Andy stressing that success is found in consistently putting in and absorbing the work, not overcomplicating a single session, a lesson he's imparted to Chris over the last five years.

The conversation takes a serious turn as Andy reflects on his planned World Championships campaign. He recounts a "blur" of travel and training, including a challenging heat prep camp in Cairns and his impressive win at the Sunny Coast Half. Andy addresses the inevitable follow-up question regarding the setback, offering his perspective on what went wrong and how he mentally reset after the disappointment.

With the focus now firmly on the future, Andy details the strategic balancing act of his Valencia build, and how he will attack it. The episode concludes with invaluable insights for all the athletes lining up at the Melbourne Marathon.

With thanks to Oat Running our partner, Chris will be gifted some Oat Running Socks.

Listeners of the show can get a a 15% discount using "run2pb15" at the check out. Visit www⁠.oatrunning.com.au