Liam is one week out from his 100 miler and the reality is starting to bite.

This week on In The Beginning, Courtney is back from Europe and the boys dive into Liam’s final UTA 160km race prep — nutrition bags, mandatory gear, night running, salt and vinegar chips, Pop-Tarts, crew spreadsheets and the growing nerves before heading to the Blue Mountains.

Courtney also shares what he learnt running in Europe with some of the best trail and endurance athletes in the world, including one big reminder for everyday runners: fast runners don’t always run fast.

The boys also build the unofficial In The Beginning Welcome to Running Kit Bag — the simple things every beginner runner actually needs before overcomplicating the sport.

Also in this episode:

• Liam’s 100 miler nutrition plan
• Why your crew should track what you actually eat
• Night running, spiders and mental lows
• Courtney’s Salzburg and Innsbruck trail running adventures
• Why European trail running feels so big
• The beginner runner toolbox
• “Run your run”
• London Marathon and the sub-2 barrier
• Carbon shoes, injury risk and athlete responsibility
• Wings for Life World Run
• Southern Cross Uni’s Gold Coast Marathon webinar
• Johan Botha’s Heysen Trail FKT attempt

Links mentioned:

Southern Cross University — The Final Kick: Getting You Race Ready
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-final-kick-getting-you-race-ready-tickets-1988292910619

Johan Botha — Heysen Trail FKT tracking / route info
https://fastestknowntime.com/route/heysen-trail

Wings for Life World Run
https://www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com

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Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

JET LAG, RHYTHM RUNNING & HALF MARATHON FUEL — GOLD COAST MARATHON SERIES

Courtney is back from Europe, jet lagged and already testing the rules of his marathon experiment.

This week we talk travel fatigue, why international flights can hit like a hard session, Courtney’s mountain running detour through Austria, and the big lesson he’s learning eight weeks out from Gold Coast: rhythm running matters more than ego pace.

We also get into practical half marathon and marathon tips — race nutrition, treadmill training, and why hills can be a smart strength tool if used properly.

Plus, Liam reveals a very specific rumoured Courtney marathon goal… and it is spicy.

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Courtney on Strava
Liam on Strava

Courtney is in Salzburg while Liam is off the tools for the week, so we’re bringing back the best educational moments from the 2025 Gold Coast Marathon Series.

This episode pulls together the key advice from Benita Willis, Britt Caling and Michael Shelley — covering goal setting, pacing, long runs, injury risk, recovery, nutrition, race morning, warm-ups, cadence and how to approach the Gold Coast Marathon course.

Whether you’re chasing your first marathon finish, aiming for a PB, or trying to sneak under three hours, this is a proper practical refresher before the big day.

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Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Gold Coast Marathon Series continues with Benita Willis from ‘Lace Up Running’ back in the coach’s chair.

With around 10 weeks to go, Benita breaks down where half marathon and marathon runners should be right now, how to structure the week, why hills matter, how to use parkrun properly, when to practise nutrition, what to do about niggles, and how to keep the whole build in perspective.

Liam also gets Benita’s take on London Marathon’s sub-2 breakthrough, super shoes, Courtney’s “experiment”, training around travel, and why the half marathon deserves way more respect.

A proper practical one for anyone building toward Gold Coast.

A different one this week.

After 83 episodes, Liam turns the mic fully onto Courtney Atkinson for the most in-depth chat we’ve ever had about his career, mindset and life in elite sport.

From the proudest win of his life in a schoolboys 3000m, to the biggest regrets of his Olympic career, to the handshake deal that started a 25-year relationship with Red Bull — Courtney opens up on the moments, decisions and personality traits that shaped everything.

There’s stories about racing Simon Lessing as a teenager, the mentality that both helped and hindered him, why he never fully accepted help, what drove him, whether he fulfilled his potential, and why he still believes building a huge aerobic base is one of the best gifts you can give a young athlete.

If you’ve ever wondered what really made Courtney Atkinson tick — this is the episode.

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Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Gold Coast Marathon Series is back for 2026.

After an unforgettable first year following Bronte’s journey from half marathoner to marathon finisher, Liam and Courtney return with Benita Willis from Lace Up Running, more first-timers, more experts, more half marathon focus and a brand new challenge for Courtney — The Experiment.

Whether you’re chasing the full, the half or just trying to make it to the start line healthy, this is your kickoff.

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Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney checks in from Hervey Bay after a few days boating on the west side of Fraser Is, while Liam gives a proper update on Miler training, his crew chief and why this week finally felt like a turning point.

The boys rip into some of the wildest stories in sport right now — robot half marathons in China, Paris Marathon going cup-free, the no-phone magic of The Masters, Hyrox taking over, and why Gout Gout continues to dominate headlines every time he steps on the track.

Plus, with the Gold Coast Marathon now inside 12 weeks, the big build officially starts next week.

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Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Every runner knows the feeling — the body is holding up, but the mind starts to feel the grind.

This week the boys unpack the ups and downs of a big training block, from breakthrough sessions and building fitness to the mental fatigue that can creep in when the repetition starts to bite. Liam reflects on his biggest week yet in the lead-up to the miler, while Courtney shares why time away from consistent running has him craving every session.

A broad chat on motivation, mindset, consistency and the reality of chasing big endurance goals.

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London Marathon has gone two days… and Liam reckons they’ve pinched the idea straight from the podcast.

This week the boys step into the “courtroom” to argue the case after London announced plans for a two-day marathon event — something first floated on In The Beginning back in Episode 60.

From there it rolls into one of the biggest conversations in running right now:

• should majors become two-day events?
• how do you split the field?
• locals vs internationals
• elite race vs fun run
• PB chasers vs phone runners

Plus a big Wings for Life World Run call-out — get involved, run for those who can’t, and be part of one of the best community events on the calendar.

WINGS FOR LIFE WORLD RUN CTA:Join the team and run with us. Every dollar goes towards spinal cord injury research - INFO HERE

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Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A French sailor exposes a warship on Strava, Cam McEvoy breaks a super suit record, Liam survives the Noosa 50K and suddenly realises the Mylar is no joke. Plus T100 wrap-up, listener shoutouts and a yarn about Woolworths selling HOKAs.

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Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠