Peak Endurance

Ok, strap in listeners for the top 12 trail/ultra races in Australia as judged by Ron and I. Based purely on races either Ron and I (or both) have done and biased towards the types of races we like. You may not agree, but that's ok! Let us know races you think deserve to be there!

My daughter Elizabeth comes on the pods to discuss the highs and lows of crewing at TDG. What wet well, what was hard and what we would do better next time. Essential listening for anyone wanting to crew at any race!

Ron and I discuss how my TDG race went...and what led to the DNF. We discuss lesson's learnt and what I would do differently.

Ron and I discuss my final preparations for TDG. It's getting real now!!!

Ron and I discuss strength training for runners: How often you need to train, when is the best time and the sort of work you need to do.

Have you lost your running mojo? Ron and I discuss 10 ways to spice up your running!

You've had your rest days, your legs feel fine, your blood markers would look fine too, and you're still snapping at your kids, can't sleep, can't focus, feel flat or wired for no reason. That's not laziness or being soft. That's a nervous system still in overdrive weeks after the race finished. This episode is about the recovery nobody talks about because it doesn't show up on a training log.

Isobel and Ron discuss Isobel's 100k race at the Elephant Trail Race in Port Macquarie and give updates on the tent and Tor Des Geants training

I don't really have a big why. And I've represented Australia three times, won Six Foot Track, run three Barkleys. So, either I've been doing it wrong the whole time, or the 'find your why' advice is oversold. The real question of the episode: is a why necessary, or just sometimes useful.

We live in a world where our watches tell us how we slept, how recovered we are, how hard we should train and even how stressed we are. While technology can be incredibly useful, many runners have become so dependent on it that they no longer trust what their own body is telling them.

In this episode, Isobel and Ron discuss why learning to run by feel is one of the most valuable skills you can develop, especially if you want to become a stronger trail and ultra runner. They talk about why pace and heart rate are often poor guides on technical trails, how perceived effort becomes your most reliable tool on race day, and practical ways to start reconnecting with your body's signals.

If you have ever cancelled a session because your watch said you were "unrecovered" despite feeling great, or pushed through exhaustion because the numbers looked good, this episode is for you.