With just 3.5 weeks to go to the Gold Coast Marathon, Bronte bounces back from pneumonia to clock a half marathon PB, Benita from Lace Up Running shares taper wisdom and pacing strategies, and the crew navigates start zones, carb loading, and race-week nerves.

Contact Benita at ⁠Lace Up Running⁠

Bronte on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠

This week Liam spills coffee on a $50K radio desk and doesn't get fired, Courtney recalls his weirdest Olympic photo shoot, and we ask: has ultra-endurance gone too far? Introduce the new catch cry "Don’t go longer—go harder".

Plus the final week of Polar 🚨 GIVEAWAY 🚨

We’re giving one lucky runner the ultimate setup — a Polar Pacer GPS running watch AND H10 heart rate strap 🎁

Whether you're training for your first 5K or lining up for your next marathon, this combo will level up your running game. Huge thanks to the legends at Polar Australia for making it happen.

HOW TO ENTER:

1️⃣ Subscribe to In The Beginning podcast

2️⃣ Leave us a comment on Spotify or Apple

3️⃣ That’s it — you’re in the running!

We’ll draw the winner next week. Go on, treat your future self.

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠

SHOW NOTES:

Amateur runner interviews - @Jamie Runs Strong

This is just a marathon without the permits 

This has to stop! - The Ultra murph

This episode is brought to you by Southern Cross University, naming sponsor of the 10km event at the Gold Coast Marathon.

We dive into both the physical and mental prep for the Gold Coast Marathon with two experts from Southern Cross University. Dr. Gabe Fernandez, senior physiotherapist, breaks down why Achilles and calf injuries are so common and how to build strength and endurance leading up to race day.

And Dr. Melanie Clark, post-doctoral research fellow, shares mental strategies for staying focused and calm during training and how to handle setbacks like injuries or bad training days.

Plus, we talk about the exciting new physiotherapy course launching at Southern Cross University next year and their long-running support of the Gold Coast Marathon.

Tune in for actionable tips, injury prevention insights, and a fresh perspective on running mindset.

It’s a big chat. We kick off with our first-ever giveaway thanks to the legends at Polar, before diving into the Gold Coast Suns ‘nepo baby’ drama, Courtney’s next marathon mystery, Kiwi endurance grit, tech in shoes and sailing, and Liam’s update after officially pulling out of GCM.

🚨 GIVEAWAY TIME 🚨

We’re giving one lucky runner the ultimate setup — a Polar Pacer GPS running watch AND H10 heart rate strap 🎁

Whether you're training for your first 5K or lining up for your next marathon, this combo will level up your running game. Huge thanks to the legends at Polar Australia for making it happen.

HOW TO ENTER:

1️⃣ Subscribe to In The Beginning podcast

2️⃣ Leave us a comment on Spotify or Apple

3️⃣ That’s it — you’re in the running!

We’ll draw the winner in 2 weeks. Go on, treat your future self.

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠

With five weeks to go, Bronte smashes her 30K run (despite being sick), our coach from Lace Up Running, Benita Willis warns against getting too ambitious with marathon pace, and Liam makes the tough call to pull out of the race.

Plus, a deep dive into race gels, aid station strategy, and why planning your fuel matters more than you think.

Contact Benita at Lace Up Running

Bronte on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠

Courtney’s bouncing back, Liam’s breaking down (again), and Bronte’s smashing the 30K!

This week, the team dives into the wild world of the Enhanced Games, the madness of UTA trail jams, and William G’s run across Australia—beers, banter and record-breaking.

Plus: Strava’s new labels, the mystery of mismatched racing shoes, listener shoutouts from Scotland and a very big guest tease.

One of us is running, one of us isn’t, but the pod rolls on.

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠

Show Notes:

Enhanced Games

Salomon Golden Trail - Great Wall Race

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Gold Coast Marathon?

We chat with Ryan McDonald, Athlete Services and Elite Program Manager, about everything from elite athlete demands to course tweaks, crowd science, and how to make the most of race day.

Whether you're running, spectating, or just curious, this episode has all the insider tips you need to know for this year's Gold Coast Marathon.

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠

This week, Courtney and Liam kick things off with the top 5 running songs as voted by 500 runners – are they the perfect playlist picks or total misses?

Then it’s back to the treadmill as they share their recovery runs, training tweaks, and Strava hacks as the Gold Coast Marathon looms closer.

Plus, they dive into the Gold Coast Pro’s surprise venue switch and what it means for future comps, and the buzz around Wrexham AFC’s upcoming Aussie tour

#running #marathon #fitness

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠

SHOW NOTES:

TrackHouse Running Songs

It’s a full house in the studio this week as Courtney returns, and Bronte gears up for her longest run yet – a 30K mix of trail and road. 

Benita shares essential advice on how to handle race day shoe choices, pacing strategies, and how to stay mentally tough when the going gets tough.

Plus, Courtney’s back with some perspective on dealing with injury setbacks and how to reset goals with just seven weeks to go until the Gold Coast Marathon.

Tune in for training insights, runner confessions, and a bit of banter to keep you going.

Contact Benita at ⁠Lace Up Running⁠

Bronte on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠

In this week's episode we go down some rabbit holes! Topics include:

• ​Trail Running vs. Eco-Tourism: Are we sacrificing raw adventure for accessibility?
• ​Aussie Records: Sam Clifford and Izzy Bat-Doyle smash 10K national records — but why aren’t they household names?
• ​Highs and Lows: From record-breaking splits to gut-wrenching injuries — the rollercoaster of elite endurance sports.
• ​Strava Predictions: Can AI really predict your marathon time after a month off running?
• ​Wings for Life World Run Wrap-Up: 71km to win — why the global charity run brings out the best in athletes.

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠

SHOW NOTES:

Sam Clifford

Cam Wurf

My Issue With Modern Hiking - Better Hiking

ASICS Speed race Tokyo