Peak Endurance

By Isobel RossSports Running

Peak Endurance episodes

May 12, 2020 Hoka One One IsoRun Festival Special: Jim Walmsley, Darcy Piceu, Tim Tollefson and Mike Wardian
Episode 43 is an exciting one! On the weekend 2/3rd May, Hoka One One held the IsoRun festival that consisted a 5k, 10k 21k and 64 k all run at different times over the two days. Athletes could choose which or all of their races they participated in. Doing all meant you were part of the 100k slam.
Participants ran in every state and territory of Australia, as well as almost 20 countries around the world including Denmark, Portugal, Zimbabwe, Brazil, the USA and Thailand. At last count, the Hoka team received and processed 1,037 finisher results. The all-embracing tone for the festival was set by David King with his worldly Welcome to Country, a moment that was shared with running friends near and far.
I myself participated in the slam. I had been on reduced kilometres due to a change of focus in my training and trying to get over post-GSER niggles. I had also just two days before slipped down my stairs in a moment of being uncoordinated and distracted and badly bruised my coccyx. This hurt tremendously throughout the run. In spite of this, I completed the slam and felt fantastic to be a part of a larger community. To me that is what these sort of event is all about.
As part of ensuring this event encompassed the worldwide running community, Hoka athletes from America were involved in this race. I was fortunate enough to be able to interview a few of these.
Jim Walmsley needs no introduction, but I will anyway! Jim was named ‘ultra runner’ of the year for four years in a row by Ultrarunning Magazine. He is the course record holder of some of the most competitive ultras in the world, including Western States, Tarawera and the Lake Sonoma 50. For the Isorunfest , Jim ran the marathon.
Darcy Piceu is a mum, professional ultra runner and therapist/counsellor who lives and trains in Boulder Colorado. She has been running for over 19 years and racing ultras for most of that time. With over 100 ultra races under her belt, she has finished many of these in the top 3. She has won the Hardrock 100 3 times as well as many other tough races, as well as holding the FKT on the John Muir Trail (which is 222 miles). For the isrunfest, Darcy ran the full slam. She was fifth female.
TimTollefson is a physical therapist at the Mammoth SPORT Center and Performance Lab. Tim is the 2014 USATF 50K Trail National Champion, the 2016 3rd Place UTMB (Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc) winner, and a two-time Olympic Trials marathon qualifier. He completed the marathon distance run.
Mike Wardian is a prolific racer who I recently interviewed when he won the Quarantine Backyard ultra. He followed that achievement with a 12 hour run the following weekend. For the isorunfest Mike ran the 100k slam and was fifth male. My interview with him had to fit in around his latest events, 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours. Does he ever rest???
I really hope you enjoyed this Hoka One One Isorunfest special! Later in the week I will be putting out a podcast with the male winner of the 100k slam, Dion Finocchiaro.
Dion lives in Melbourne andis a very accomplished runner, as well as being a down-to-earth and humble guy. I’m sure you’ll enjoy that one too!
Now is the time in your training to prepare to prepare. Training is about long-term development. You can’t decide four weeks before a race that you want to start training for it. Training starts now, months ahead of time. If you want quality, structure training email or DM me to get started.
If you have enjoyed this podcast please support it by going on over to apple podcasts to subscribe, rate and review. This lifts the visibility and credibility of the podcast and enables me to continue getting high-profile athletes on!
1 hr 2 min
May 05, 2020 Travis Macy: the ultra-mindset applied to the COVID crisis.
Episode 41 is with Travis Macy, a finisher of over 120 ultra endurance events in 17 countries. Travis is a speaker, author, coach, and professional endurance athlete. He is the author of The Ultra Mindset: An Endurance Champion's 8 Core Principles for Success in Business, Sports, and Life, and he set a record for Leadman, an epic endurance event consisting of a trail running marathon, 50-mile mountain bike race, Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race, 10k road run, and Leadville 100 Run, in the Rocky Mountains. About 18 months ago, I read his book ‘The Ultra Mindset’, which outlines his 8 core principles for the ultra mindset. I thought it would be interesting to go through them with Travis in relation to ultra- running and also to life during COVID. I hope you enjoy our discussion. Travis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travismacypublicfigure/ Travis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travismacy/ Travis website: http://www.travismacy.com/ Don’t forget to get on over to apple podcast to rate and review! Thanks for your support. I really think this quarantine time is a great time to do for some self-reflection. In spite of everything feeling out of control in this moment of COVID, you are actually in a position of power within yourself and how you react to this situation. As they always say, control the controllables. You can do this with structured and well-planned training with Peak Endurance Coaching. Email me at [email protected] and lets get your training moving in the right direction. Have a great week of training, stay safe, stay fit, look after your loved ones, and remember; we are all in this together.
Link to Travis' book here
59 min
May 01, 2020 Lucy Bartholomew; an amazing athlete with such a positive outlook!
Episode 40 is a chat with the amazing Lucy Bartholomew. For such a young athlete she sure has accomplished a lot. It helps that she started racing at the young age of 15. Check out her website in the show notes to see all the races she has competed in and podiumed at. There are too many to mention, but a few from 2018 are 1st & Course Record Two Bays 56km, 1st Female & Course Record, Tarawera 60km and 1st Female & Course Record, Shotover Moonlight marathon. You can see the pattern! I hope you enjoy our conversation!
Isn’t Lucy amazing? So mature for such a young woman. I think she is dealing with the set-backs of this time in a very positive manner. A take away for me is that she is seeing this year as a time to get stronger and fitter so she can have an even bigger impact in 2021. Fingers crossed UTMB goes ahead for her!
As always, I would greatly appreciate your support by going over to Apple podcasts to subscribe, rate and review!
If you want to be ready for the race season that is looming and looks huge for October, start your training now…it’s really not that far away! Send me an email at [email protected] we can start getting you stronger and fitter now!
Have a great week of training, stay safe, stay fit, look after your loved ones, and remember; we are all in this together.
Lucy’s website: https://www.lucybartholomew.com/
Lucy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucybartholomew17/
Lucy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucy_bartholomew/
30 min
April 28, 2020 Stuart Hinds: soft tissue therapist
This podcast is the third in a series on the different physical therapies that runners can use to help keep them running. Today I am talking to Stuart Hinds, a leading Australian soft tissue therapist with over 27 years’ experience in professional practice. He regularly lectures on remedial soft tissue techniques at Victoria University (Melbourne, Australia), and is internationally recognized for his work with the Australian Olympic Teams (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012). Stuart has pioneered his own technique for treating hip pain and dysfunction (the NAT Hip Technique) and regularly publishes articles in local and international industry journals and mainstream publications relating to soft tissue treatments and musculoskeletal dysfunction. In 2016, Stuart was awarded a lifetime membership with Massage & Myotherapy Australia for his significant support and contribution to the industry.
A big take away for me was that Stuart does not think massage rollers are the best alternative for massage. Spiky balls are much more effective. However, in this time of COVID-19, anything is better than nothing. Stuart can be found for massage here: http://www.bstt.com.au
I hope you are all coping well with Quarantine. These are difficult times. Keep up your training to ensure you are healthy, both phycially and mentally. If you’re thinking of getting coaching for your next race or adventure, shoot me an email at [email protected] I know it feels like things will never return to normal, but before you know it, races will start up again. You don’t want to be behind the 8-ball and have to work on your base from scratch. A well-planned program will ensure you are ready to get race ready! We can work together to help you reach your goals and be the fittest, happiest runner you can be!
Don’t forget to get on over to apple podcast to rate and review! Thanks for your support.
Stay safe, look after your loved ones and have a great week of training! Remember, we are all in this together!
38 min
April 24, 2020 Mike Wardian: Quarantine Backyard Ultra Winner.
Episode 38 is an interview with Michael Wardian. Michael Wardian is an American marathoner and ultra-marathoner. He won the 2008, 2009 and 2010 US 50 km championships and the 2011 US 50 mile championship. In 2008, he won the U.S. National 100 km championship. Mike is known for the large number of marathons and races he participates in, often with little to no recovery time. During a 45-day span in 2006, he won four out of five marathons he raced. In 2007, he ran 13 marathons (not including ultra-marathons), and seven marathons in a span of nine weeks (winning three).] March 2008 Mike won the National Marathon in Washington D.C. on a Saturday, and then finished third at a marathon in Knoxville, Tennessee the very next day. In 2008, Michael ran a total of 53 races. He set the world record for fastest marathon while pushing a jogging stroller from May 2007 to November 2009. In January 2017, Mike ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents in a record average speed of 2:45. He is also a former record holder of the fastest Marathon on a treadmill, as well as setting the record for fastest indoor 200-meter track marathon record, with a time of 2:27:21 in 2010.
To this unbelievable list of achievements (and believe me there are many more I didn’t mention) Michael can also add being the winner of the Quarantine backyard Ultra. He completed 63 laps in 63 hours with a total of 262.5 miles (which is 422.625 kms for those of us in Australia!!) Mike shares with us the details of the race, and how he is dealing with quarantine in general.
Mike on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwardian/
Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikewardian/
Don’t forget to get on over to apple podcast to rate and review! Thanks for your support.
I really think this quarantine time is a great time to do for some self-reflection. In spite of everything feeling out of control in this moment of COVID, you are actually in a position of power within yourself and how you react to this situation. As they always say, control the controllables. You can do this with structured and well-planned training with Peak Endurance Coaching. Email me at [email protected] and lets get your training moving in the right direction. Have a great week of training, stay safe, stay fit, look after your loved ones, and remember; we are all in this together.
44 min
April 21, 2020 Coaching Roundtable
Episode 37 is another Coaches Roundtable. We really tried to avoid Coronavirus talk too much (as I think we’ve all heard enough) but it truly is hard to avoid, so you will hear some references to it. This episode we focused on goal setting for short and long term, as well as looking at rest/recovery again, especially in relation to these times. I really hope you enjoy the podcast!
I really enjoyed this discussion, and it was interesting that it helped Daniel feel better; I hope it did the same for you.
Now I know I said last podcast that my next podcast would be an interview with Mike Wardian. The sound quality was not so good so I will be re-recording the interview with him this week and putting it out on Friday. I’m sure it will be worth the wait! If you have any questions you would like me to ask him, DM me on socials or send me an email [email protected] would love your input.
Please, don’t forget to get on over to apple podcast to subscribe, rate and review! It really helps the podcast to become more visible and helps me attract more high-profile guests. Thanks for your support.

I really think this quarantine time is a great time to do a life audit. How long have you been telling yourself you’re going to focus on your training, become more committed and focused? How often have you thought about how much you want to do a certain race, but haven’t because you don’t feel you would be able to manage it? Well, if this quarantine has taught me anything is that we can’t take anything for granted, and it can all be taken away from us in the blink of an eye. This will end, so start planning for the future now. Actually get committed and focused in your training now, decide to do that challenging race (next year obviously!!). You can do this with structured and well-planned training with Peak Endurance Coaching. Email me at [email protected] and lets get your training moving in the right direction.
Have a great week of training, stay safe, stay fit, look after your loved ones, and remember; we are all in this together.
1 hr 13 min
April 16, 2020 Quarantine Backyard Ultra wrap-up with Dave Proctor
Episode 36 is a Quarantine backyard ultra follow up interview with Dave Proctor. Dave and I talk about the difficulties in putting on such a race, and also how such events can bring people together during difficult times.
I was so sad to hear that Dave had gotten negative mail and messages. If you had a positive experience with the Quarantine Backyard Ultra, I implore you to message Dave with some positivity. I know he would greatly appreciate it during these tough times. His contact details are in the show notes. Other than the controversy surrounding the end, I felt there was a lot of positivity and good will around the event. I only saw upbeat posts from people involved in the event. I really hope Dave puts on another, hopefully I might be ready to join in by then!
I’m very excited to announce that my next episode is an interview with the winner of the Quarantine backyard Ultra, Mike Wardian. He is another awesome and friendly guy. I really enjoyed chatting with him, and I hope you enjoy listening to it!
Outrun rare website: https://outrunrare.com/
Dave on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.proctor.750
Dave on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daveoutrunsrare/
Don’t forget to get on over to apple podcast to rate and review! Thanks for your support.

I really think this quarantine time is a great time to do a life audit. How long have you been telling yourself you’re going to focus on your training, become more committed and focused? How often have you thought about how much you want to do a certain race, but haven’t because you don’t feel you would be able to manage it? Well, if this quarantine has taught me anything is that we can’t take anything for granted, and it can all be taken away form us in the blink of an eye. This will end, so start planning for the future now. Actually get committed and focused in your training now, decide to do that challenging race (next year obviously!!). You can do this with structured and well-planned training with Peak Endurance Coaching. Email me at [email protected] and lets get your training moving in the right direction.
Have a great week of training!
36 min
April 14, 2020 Brooke Stratton; Olympic Athlete
Episode 35 is a chat with Brooke Stratton. Brooke is an Olympic athlete who is the current Australian & Oceanic Record Holder in long jump. Brooke started her career at the Nunawading Little Athletics centre at the age of 5. She competed at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and later at the 2016 Summer Olympics finishing seventh.
Her personal best in the event is 7.05 metres set at the Perth Track Classic on March 12, 2016, breaking the 14-year-old Australian record held by Bronwyn Thompson.
She was selected for the Australian Athletics team (in long jump) at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Queensland placing 2nd
Brooke Stratton is not my usual athletic interviewee as she is not an ultra runner. However, I felt that her story is very relevant to all distance, trail and ultra runners. Brooke was, until very recently, preparing herself for her A-event of the year; the Tokyo Olympics. As devastating as it is for us when our local 50k is cancelled, Brooke’s situation puts our own in perspective. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to prepare for an event for years and to have that cancelled. I thought a chat with an Olympian would be the best way to find out. I hope you enjoy our conversation
24 min
April 09, 2020 RED-s discussion with Brodie Sharp from the The Run Smarter Podcast
Episode 35 is a chat with the host of The Run Smarter Podcast, Brodie Sharpe Brodie is a physiotherapist and the owner of the Breakthrough Running Clinic. He aims to help runners expand their running knowledge and become faster, healthier, smarter runners. Ideal for injured runners & runners looking for injury prevention and elevated performance. This podcast covers tips and tricks to overcome your running injuries, interviews with leading researchers, other running podcast recommendations, reviewing running books and much more.
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-run-smarter-podcast/id1494778818
In this interview, we discuss RED-s. Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is a syndrome in which disordered eating (or low energy availability), amenorrhoea/oligomenorrhoea, and decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis and osteopenia) are present. RED-S is the broader, more comprehensive name for what was formerly known as female athlete triad (or simply the triad), which was a condition seen in females participating in sports that emphasize leanness or low body weight. As it was also seen in males, the name was changed to the comprehensive term RED-S.
RED-S is a serious illness with lifelong health consequences and can potentially be fatal.
RED-S is a serious mental and physical condition, so please be mindful of this when trying to help someone that you suspect has this condition. Feel free to message me for tips on how to talk with someone about this. Not that I am an expert, but having experienced it I may be able to help with suitable ways to approach the topic.
Please don’t forget to get on over to apple podcast to rate and review! It really does help me get more high profile guests on the podcast! Thanks for your support.

I know it feels like things will never return to normal, but before you know it, it will, and this time in quarantine will be a memory. A well-planned program will ensure you are fit, strong and ready to sharpen up for race season! I heard a great quote on a podcast recently that sums up my philosophy for training: “Sow whilst the others aren’t and you shall reap whilst the others can’t” Email me at [email protected] and we can work together to help you reach your goals and be the fittest, happiest and healthiest runner you can!
Have a great week, stay safe, stay fit, look after your loved ones and remember; we will get through this as we are all in this together.
40 min
April 07, 2020 Dr Tracy Alloway, PhD
Hi and welcome to the Peak Endurance Podcast. My name is Isobel Ross and I am the coach at Peak Endurance Coaching. Today I speak with Tracy Alloway. Tracy Packiam Alloway, PhD, is an award-winning psychologist, professor, author, and TEDx speaker. She has published 13 books and over 100 scientific articles on the brain and memory. She is an Associate Editor for the journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology and the journal of Educational & Developmental Psychologist, and is on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Research in Reading. Her research is in the TOP 10 Cited list by Scopus and cited over 1000x. She blogs for Psychology Today and Huffington Post. I hope you enjoy our conversation Where we discuss the following: How do we find the motivation to train when there are no races and we are only allowed to run close to home? how do we (as people and runners) deal with the uncertainty of these times, when we don't know what the future holds? how do we plan for the future when we don't even know how long we will be in lockdown? (we are currently in stage 3 lockdown) How do we deal with getting through the day, let alone the week/month?
I do apologise in advance; there was a bit of technical issue at the start, you can’t hear Tracy as she describes some of her background. I couldn’t hear her either, but the microphone symbol on my laptop showed she was still recording so I didn’t get her to repeat what she said, s o my apologies there. I think you still get the main idea.
Tracy Alloway on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtracyalloway/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TracyPackiamAlloway/
Website:https://tracyalloway.com/
31 min

About Peak Endurance

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Welcome to the Peak Endurance podcast, where we talk all things endurance, mainly running! You will hear from athletes, experts in the field and also myself on all topics designed to help you reach…