Peak2Soon

When Covid hit Maddy Reynolds needed an escape. She began going on short runs with her housemates, which saw them run a marathon around Sydney.

But unlike her housemates Maddy pushed on in her running journey by finding solitude in the trails, the challenge of navigating rough terrain, and taking in the breathtaking beauty of nature, which became the perfect antidote to the uncertainty of those times.

It's led her on an incredible journey which saw her quit her job at one of the biggest investment banks in the world, and move to the Pyrenees in France to chase the dream of being one of the world's top trail runners.

Recently, she finished as one of the top 30 females globally at OCC, this episode takes a deep dive into Maddy's rapid rise, and how sometimes in life you just have to take that risk and back yourself in.

Stephen Parker has been a runner for most of his life. It's led him on some incredible adventures, particularly in the Backyard Ultra space where he has been involved in some iconic races, two of which involved some Australian women's running history.

His passion though has led him to write a book There is No Finish which is aimed at runners, and anyone interested in a great sporting story.

It introduces the exploding world of the Backyard Ultra, a new ultramarathon format. Birthed from the high school musings of Lazarus Lake, renowned for the Barkley Marathons, the running event has spread globally—to over eighty countries— with sky-rocketing numbers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this chat with Stephen, in what will no doubt be the first of many he undertakes before his book launches October 12.

You can find more information here

Michael O'Brien's world changed when he took on the challenge of 75 Hard. The gruelling fitness challenge that requires a real mental and physical commitment from people.

From there, after never being a particular sporty individual he got the running bug, which saw him run nine marathons, before joining the Bravehearts 777 Challenge, where people run seven marathons in seven states/territories in seven days.

Now he's recently completed a 100 kilometre race here in Canberra which has him once again in pursuit of his limits.

Mark Trbojevich is the Principal Chiropractor at Peak Health Canberra.

After a number of injuries, he sought a career in combining his passion for health and fitness, with his other passion of helping people.

He's the man that keeps me, along with a host of other runners in the game. He's also looked after World Champions, and some of the best athletes from a wide range of sports.

You can see more on Mark here.

Kaiti Primrose is a hybrid athlete who has played a number of sports, but found long distance running through the influence of her dad and in 2021 did her first 777 Bravehearts Marathon event.

That year's event provided some of the toughest lessons she will ever face in the sport of running, but it didn't deter Kaiti from coming back, seeing her now raise a total of $50,000 for the Bravhearts Charity.

I caught up with Kaiti ahead of this week's event, and how she's been preparing to once again run seven marathons in seven days in seven different states and territories in Australia.

You can donate to Kaiti's cause here.

Isobel Tait has had an incredible running career, from humble beginnings, Isobel has gone on to win some of Australia's great ultra races including Six Foot Track and Great Southern Endurance Run Miler.

She has represented Australia 3 times at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships, and has raced twice in the Barkley Marathons. If that wasn't enough she also holds the fastest known time for climbing Victoria's 7 highest peaks in one run.

Taking all her experience, Isobel brings that now to her coaching, bringing a philosphy backed by the latest science.

You can follow her at PeakEnduranceCoaching on Instagram.

Mika Koelma is the co-founder of Hey Zomi, a company leading the way in menstrual health, period care solutions and education, which she founded with her sister Zoe. 

As a runner, she uses her experience in education to empower women to change the conversation around their own health.

Mika is not your regular entrepreneur, and her positivity radiates throughout this conversation, I hope you enjoy it.

If you want to know more you can find out more at heyzomi.

Ryan MacPherson is not your standard hybrid athlete, and his adventures in climbing and mountaineering which started in Canada have led him to some of the most incredible experiences you can have in life.

He breaks down the lingo behind climbing, and how this electrician from Australia fell in love with the mountains.

He's also an accomplished trail runner completing some of Australia's toughest trail races including a win at the Alpine Challenge 100 kilometre race, and an incredible fourth in the Great Southern Endurance Run 100 mile race of 2022.

You can see more of Ryan at ryanjmacpherson89 on instagram.

This is episode 50 of the Peak2Soon Podcast and I want to thank everyone for their support. Whether you've listened to a couple of minutes or the whole library, thank you so much.

Beth McKenzie is well known in the world of triathlon, and has now announced herself on the trails, following a stunning with at Ultra Trail Australia's 100 kilometre race, in just her second attempt at the distance.

But, what you'll learn is that Beth doesn't do things by halves, if she's going for something it's all in.

In this podcast she gives a blow by blow insight into her day out in the Blue Mountains, what it took to get there, and why pilates might be a secret weapon for success!

Tomorrow 12 groups of 6 runners will be going from the Gold Coast to Tenterfield more than 300 kilometres away. The concept has grown rapidly in this the second year it is being run.

But why? The Madness of Red Bull 24 Hour Race The Sun, the brainchild of Courtney Atkinson, this race is going to test the limits of even the best runners in this race.

The concept intrigues me because it feels like a relay version of Coast to Kosci. I've done a small preview with the information I have, to follow the race you can follow updates on @racethesun24hr, with it all kicking off at 6:29am AEST Friday May 31.

Would you do it?