Episode 67 is our New Year’s Special — a bit of a look back, a bit of a laugh, and a thank you to everyone who’s been part of the In The Beginning family this year.

With Liam away in Japan, Courtney jumps on solo to wrap up what 2025 actually looked like: the Gold Coast Marathon series and Bronte’s journey to the start line, Benita’s calm, no-hype coaching. Doubts, sickness, missed sessions and all.

We roll through some of the biggest moments of the year: sitting down with Jelly Roll before his first Aussie show, marathon gold from Michael Shelley, Matt Hauser’s world title season, physio tips from Britt Caling, plus plenty of blunders, banter and laughs along the way.

No fake motivation. No influencer noise. Just effort over ego.

Happy New Year legends — 2026, let’s get after it.

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Merry Christmas 🎅

Most importantly, a massive thank you to the In The Beginning community. Your messages, questions, voice notes and support are the reason this podcast exists — and the reason we keep turning up each week. We wouldn’t do this without you.

Liam's going to be trading Christmas Day runs for Disneyland in Tokyo, while Courtney dives deep into Strava’s backend data to unpack what 2025 really looked like for runners.

We break down the anti-doom-scrolling stat (2 minutes on Strava = 1 hour of activity), the world’s most logged shoes (ASICS Novablast, Nike Pegasus, HOKA Clifton), SEQ vs Sydney run culture, Gen Z lifting for aesthetics, and why blokes jump straight to marathons while women dominate half-marathon training.

Plus:

🎄 The most intimidating sports to try

🎄 Why multi-sport athletes are the most consistent

🎄 Liam nearly concussing himself texting while running

🎄 UTA Miler prep and a Noosa Ultra Trail 50K qualification locked in

🎄 Favourite moments from a huge year of the podcast

A proper end-of-year wrap with plenty of running, laughs and perspective.

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A voicemail from friend of the show Dr Benny Walters sparks one of our biggest conversations yet — ego, ageing, PBs and why Courtney refuses to declare a goal time for the marathon and T100 10K GOLD COAST - ⁠⁠⁠⁠ENTER HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .

The boys unpack:

• Is ego essential in elite sport — or something you eventually let go of?

• Courtney’s honest take on racing, ageing, and not knowing where the body’s at

• Brad “The Croc” Bevan stories from the glory days (including a very borderline shoulder 👀)

• Marathon integrity: does a GPS watch make you sub-3 if the official time says otherwise?

• Jess Stenson’s incredible new Australian marathon record at Valencia

• Alex Yee’s mind-blowing 2:06 marathon — should he switch from triathlon?

• Olympic retirement funding — who should get it, and who shouldn’t?

• Jelly Roll on Rogan, consistency as the real magic, and a massive Bali run for charity

  
  

Plenty of laughs, strong opinions, and classic In The Beginning zig-zagging — but it all comes back to one question: why do we race at all?

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The T100 World Series is launching on the Gold Coast — and there’s a fast, flat 10K for the RUNNERS finishing in Surfers Paradise - ⁠⁠⁠⁠ENTER HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ .

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The Gold Coast Marathon sold out in 24 hours — so today we’re celebrating, laughing and calling out the chaos. We break down the rise of the new “Marathon Integrity Unit” policing fake GPS times, why chip time > Strava time always, and why influencers blocking them is the funniest subplot in running right now.

Benita Willis is officially BACK as our marathon coach, and we unpack her midweek wisdom on planning your next 30 weeks. Plus: how to avoid getting scammed for Gold Coast entries, the sneaky Toowoomba preference loophole, and why the T100 10K in March is the perfect bridging race. Join our team: In The Beginning Podcast.

We also get into Strava’s dodgy “AI athlete intelligence”, Courtney’s first proper speed session back, Liam nearly getting influenced into running Pages Pinnacle, new trail shoe teasers, your Spotify Wrapped (Taylor Swift… really?!), and the huge news — we’re finalists for Best Sport Podcast at the Australian Sports Commission Awards.

Heaps of laughs, a bit of chaos, and plenty of running chat. Strap in.

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If you’ve just signed up for the 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon – welcome to the club, legends!

Courtney and Liam are back with Gold Coast Marathon ambassador and Aussie distance great Benita Willis from Lace Up Running to answer the big question: “I’ve entered… now what?”

30 weeks out, we cover:

• Why you should NOT be in marathon shape by April

• How to break your build into phases: 5K/10K/half now, marathon block later

• Walk–jog plans and base building for absolute beginners

• Long runs by time, not distance (and why 90 mins is plenty for now)

• Strength work, summer training, Christmas parties and not cooking yourself in December

• T100 10K on the Gold Coast in March is the perfect test event in your preparation - enter here

Hit play, take a breath, and lock in a smart 30-week game plan – not a hero December.

Contact Benita for training support at ⁠⁠⁠Lace Up Running⁠⁠⁠

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What’s harder: a sub-3:30 marathon or breaking 100 in golf? Courtney and Liam go to war over the ultimate endurance vs skill debate.

We also get stuck into:

• 🏁 Our T100 Gold Coast stuff-up – no In The Beginning run team… yet

• 🏃‍♂️‍🎓 Schoolies Run Club – 1 runner, full TV crew, all-time flop

• 🌲 Courtney’s trail running starter pack: PBJF – Phone, Backpack, Jacket, Filter (and yeah, water)

• 🏔️ Liam’s UTA Miler reality check – Reedy’s savage voicemail, listener roasting, and the 50km qualifier problem

• 🥪 New Balance toasties at Queenstown Marathon – when run brands go fully off-script

• 🏃‍♀️ Philadelphia teens getting reduced charges for training for a half marathon – smart ?

Big opinions, a bit of chaos, and plenty of running chat.

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Show notes:

Outside Article

The boys are back on the Goldie and things get spicy this week.

We kick off with the T100 triathlon circus — Dubai edition.

Courtney drops a wild Thailand race story of his own (featuring cops, stray dogs and a dodgy 30km detour), and the lads unpack how course meltdowns happen even at pro level.

Then it's into the big talking point: race entry prices hitting $500. Should running be subsidised? Are events becoming music-festival expensive? And what does the future look like now that cereal brands are spamming Strava challenges?

Plus:

• Liam officially hits “mid-life crisis mode” and signs up for the UTA 100-Miler.
• Schoolies Run Clubs?!
• Banks launching “runner savings accounts”.
• Travis Barker’s run event, squeaky On Clouds, Parkrun race day, Strava fatigue & heaps more.

A big, sweaty, trail-flavoured episode. Strap in.

The T100 World Series is launching on the Gold Coast — and there’s a fast, flat 10K for the RUNNERS finishing in Surfers Paradise - ⁠⁠ENTER HERE⁠⁠ .

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The T100 World Series is launching on the Gold Coast — and there’s a fast, flat 10K for the RUNNERS finishing in Surfers Paradise - ENTER HERE .

Bondi run-club takeover (community or chaos?), athlete vs influencer lines, Vaporfly DQs on the track, ON’s “squeaky shoe” lawsuit, trail tips for bigger runners, Perth marathon with no expo, and Liam teases a big running announcement next week.

Aussie endurance chat with a smile — runners assemble.

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Strength in the gym, freedom on the run. We kick off with Courtney’s “stretch under weight” recovery hack, deload weeks, and a salty swim at The Spit.

Then: Strava crown drama—listener Paddy nicks one of Courtney’s segments—plus the running boom (Sydney Marathon’s mega ballot) and Liam’s spicy pitch for two-day marathons.

We celebrate the big-unit brigade with Ty Dowker’s new 100-kg “Over the Century Club” category at the Burleigh Swim Run — happening Australia Day weekend. Sign up here 👉 Burleigh Swim Run 2026.

There’s a full Noosa Tri debrief (Matt Hauser flying, a stolen front wheel… yikes) and somehow we end up in the Tinder universe.

Plus: Kipchoge’s plan to run a marathon on every continent, and Diplo’s 5K run-and-rave movement sweeping the globe.

Hit play, have a laugh, then go chase a crown (or a coffee).

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Jelly Roll week was something else. Liam and Courtney debrief on the wild ride that saw them chatting running with a global music star just hours before his first Aussie gig.

From Jelly’s “I know nothing, so I know everything” quote to his newfound AFL fandom, the boys unpack the mayhem, the meaning — and his Brooks running shoe revelation.

Then it’s into the big stories in endurance this week:
🏃‍♂️ Treadmill World Champs announced (Run X, 2026)
💪 Fitness racing joins triathlon’s Olympic umbrella
🏎️ Supercars finals & fitness crossovers
🥇 Courtney’s Olympic blazer dilemma
🚴‍♀️ Noosa Triathlon preview – the legends, the first-timers & “Fitness Christmas” vibes

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