Seven years ago, I wrote about my friend Courtney Chapman as she prepared to take on one of the most grueling endurance challenges in riding: the Shahzada 400, held in St Albans in the Hawkesbury region.

At the time, doctors had told Courtney she shouldn’t compete due to her autoimmune condition, Crohn’s disease. But she did it anyway.

Now, seven years later, Courtney joins me to reflect on that experience, and to explore how trauma can lead us to take on extraordinary feats of endurance.

Courtney is now a mental health advocate and educator who understands the importance of feeling safe, seen, and supported. Through her work with Mental Illness Education ACT, she shares her lived experience to break stigma and spark honest conversations. In her role within the Australian Public Service, she helps build trauma-aware environments where people can thrive, blending personal resilience with a deep commitment to community connection and hope-led change.

If you enjoyed this episode (or any others), please consider leaving a review, and if you’re able to support the show, you can do so for just $2 a month via the Peak2Soon Patreon:

👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone — support is always available:

📞 Medicare Mental Health Centre Canberra - 1800 595 212
📞 Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
📞 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 or https:www.beyondblue.org.au

Jordan Nukunuku suffered a heart break which kicked off his running journey, and it's been a journey of incredible ups and downs.

The young Kiwi from Rotorua recently won The Guzzler Ultra, after the first placed finisher was handed a time penalty, but it's a win at Brisbane Trail Ultra 110 kilometre race in 2023, after suffering an ACL injury in the months prior that shows how tough Jordan truly is.

A self described 'amateur dirt vert surfer' Jordan flashed onto the major scene with an impressive run at Tarawera 100 miler this year, only fuelling the fire in wanting to win his home major.

Jordan also took part in for what is now considered the last Down Under 135, an incredible endurance event that attracts the toughest long distance runners in Australia.

It's already a serious resume for the Spring Energy and Trainade Athlete, and I guarantee this won't be the last you hear of him.

[This podcast was originally published on The R4R Podcast | Road To Zero, a big thank you to Lonsdale Street Studio for having us, as such the intro will be a little different to what you're used to.]

Earlier this year Kim Elms and I connected again to talk about a solidarity run after a woman was assaulted on the trails at Tuggeranong Hill. It sparked a friendship that saw us front the media, highlighting a number of issues relating to running in Canberra.

Since recording this episode, lighting around Lake Burley Griffin is now being reviewed, and Kim has hit over 50 suburbs in Canberra so far.

In this episode we cover a range of topics some of which can be quite confronting, I want to thank Kim for being so open during the conversation, and for trusting me to help share her story.

I would also like to thank everyone for supporting the podcast, it wouldn't be where it is without you.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone — support is always available:

📞 Medicare Mental Health Centre Canberra - 1800 595 212
📞 Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
📞 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 or https:www.beyondblue.org.au

🔗 Connect with R4R
🌐 Website: https://www.runningforresilience.com
📸 Instagram:   / runningforresilience   
📘 Facebook:   / runningforresilience 
🏃‍♀️ Strava: https://strava.app.link/eGHjt285jTb

Katie Dall is ultra endurance athlete, personal trainer, and founder of Club KT, Brisbane's biggest run community empowering runners of all levels.

With an impressive racing resume that includes 100 kilometre and 160 kilometre trail finishes, backyard ultras, and podium spots across Australia, Katie opens up about how she got to where she is today.

We also talk about the power of community through her run club, the give and take of being a single parent and the steps she’s taking to support the mental wellbeing of her community.

Katie also recently came back from crewing her partner Toby at Cocodona250, and like me is running in the Race of the Decade at Dead Cow Gully next week.

I greatly admire what she's been able to do in Brisbane, so it was great to have a chat.

Chris Wilder won what could be the last edition of Australia's toughest ultra, it was redemption after a DNF in the race back in 2022. It is the cream on what is already a pretty impressive resume which includes a win in the BRUTUS, GUMBY, and AIS 24-Hour Track Invitational.

Throughout those victories has been a number of different adventures, including an incredible run along the GNW 250, and being part of Joe Ward's team when Joe won Coast to Kosci.

Combine that with an impressive run streak, his job as a doctor and being part of Ultra Mediocre Run Club and it's quite an impressive story. It was great to chat with a runner I admire greatly!

On the 19th of July 2025, Simon Dent and Todd Liubinskas will run from Brisbane to Sydney as part of the Lions’ Tour Down Under to raise money for Dallaglio RugbyWorks and The British & Irish Lions Trust. 

Joe Ward who previously held the fastest known time for the route is currently coaching the lads, and showing them what it takes to run one thousand kilometres in 14 days.

You can help the lads of reaching their fundrasing goal by hitting this link.

You can support the Podcast for as little as $2 via the Peak2Soon Patreon.

Gaby Villa is a sports nutritionist, dietitian and founder of IntensEATfit. She specialises in optimising performance for triathletes and ultra-runners by making food their best ally in sport and life. Over the past decade, Gaby has supported hundreds of athletes, including former backyard ultra world record holder Phil Gore, to overcome lack of energy and gut upset so they can fuel their bodies with confidence and race to their full potential. 

After overcoming her struggles with body image and weight concerns for several years, Gaby has witnessed and lived the benefits of seeing food beyond its nutrients. 

Gaby is on a mission to empower people to fuel with purpose while building a happy and strong body. She strives to contribute to a world that enables and promotes a healthy and active lifestyle for everybody.

This has been a podcast episode I've been looking forward to, I hope you enjoy!

Chantelle Smith has had an incredible 18-months in running. A win at Brisbane Trail Ultra 2023, saw her follow with a second placing at the Tarawera Miler, and then a sixth female finish at Coast to Kosci at the end of last year.

A brief running journey, which has seen highs paired with lows, and lessons in patience. 

Chantelle is another example of the running mums that are taking ultra running by storm.

In this chat she highlights how trying to fill the void saw her gain so much more, the challenges she's faced throughout her journey, how important open communication is with a husband/partner and the cramp that threatened her Coast to Kosci race.

Ella Clark's running journey started like all good ones do, with heartbreak. 

That first heartbreak lead her down the path of signing up to her first marathon at the start of 2018 and running it months later, a daunting task when you are only new to running.

From there Ella has only gone from strength-to-strength and in 2024 she completed not only a miler, but Australia's premier ultra marathon in Coast to Kosci.

But, throughout this interview it will come as no surprise at how she's been able to move through the distances, with an incredible determination and one of the most positive attitudes you will ever come across.

What a way to kick off season four. Thank you everyone for taking the time to support this home grown poddy.

Thomas White is an ultra runner, photographer, and filmmaker who has turned his passion for endurance sports into a journey of personal growth and adventure. Starting his running journey in 2016, remembering the pride of finishing a 3 kilometre run, Thomas quickly became hooked on the challenge and steadily built his distance, from 7 kilometre runs to completing his first half-marathon in 2018. His love for pushing limits grew, leading him to his first ultra.

After a setback with a serious stress fracture, Thomas took six months off to recover, using the time to explore cycling and walking. He made a triumphant return to ultra running in 2020 with the Summit Shoalhaven 55km, followed by a personal best at the Alpine Challenge 100km in 2021, where he placed 3rd with a time of 14:58.

This year he finished Coast to Kosci for a second time, finishing as the third male in the race and fifth overall.

Through his website and instagram, Thomas shares his experiences in ultrarunning, photography, and filmmaking, hoping to inspire others to embrace the outdoors and pursue their own adventures - no matter how big or small.

You can find more about him here.