Welcome to Episode 288 of the Better With Running podcast. Your hosts, Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman, kick things off with a massive week of training and racing updates. Zac finally joined the "triple-digit club," logging over 100km for the week, Chris, meanwhile, shares his "heavy and sluggish" taper experience leading into the Bendigo 5km Frenzy, where he managed to break the 18-minute barrier (17:56) with a tactical masterclass, starting from the very back of the pack to stay out of trouble before picking his way through the field.

The atmosphere at the Bendigo 5km Frenzy was a major highlight, with the boys praising the unique track-side energy and commentary. A standout "only in local athletics" moment involved Jamie Soares, who realized at the track that his brand-new race shoes were actually two left feet, forcing him to compete in his daily trainers. On the drive home, the post-race vibes reached a peak when Chris spotted a local sprinting down the main road at 3:00/km pace while pushing a shopping trolley—a true testament to the athletic spirit (and occasional chaos) of Bendigo at 9:30 pm.

Returning guest Matt Miller joins the show to discuss his dominant win at the Frenzy, where he clocked a 15:45 PB in his first-ever competitive track race. Matt breaks down the tactical shift of moving with six laps to go to gap the field, proving that his speed is right where it needs to be despite being deep in marathon training. The conversation dives into the transition from high-intensity 5k racing back to the marathon grind, highlighting how these shorter "blowouts" provide a necessary mental break and a physical "ceiling raise" during long aerobic blocks.

The focus then shifts to Matt’s primary target: the Ballarat Marathon. Currently peaking at 105km per week, Matt provides a deep dive into his specific marathon workouts, including a grueling 35km long run featuring 3 x 4km efforts at race pace. . Looking ahead, Matt will use this Sunday's Wangaratta Half Marathon as a final hard stimulus to lock in his goal pace.

Closing out the episode, the trio looks forward to the 2026 XCR season, with Matt expressing his keen interest in representing Bendigo on the cross-country circuit. The episode ends on a lighter note with a heated debate over post-run recovery snacks; specifically, Matt’s controversial admission that he isn't a regular "Icy Pole" consumer. Despite the culinary rift, the boys wrap up with plenty of excitement for the upcoming winter racing schedule and the final weeks of the Ballarat build.

Matt was rewarded for coming on the show with a fresh pair of oats to get his kit sorted.

Partner Offer: By using the code Run2pb20 through the end of March, supporters of the podcast can grab 20% off their next kit upgrade. Go to www.oatrunning.com.au