The Aussie Runner Podcast

Damo & Jez talk to the 'Flying Fickel' ... a true people's champ of Aussie running … the legend, the one & only Bob Fickel! … the master of the race running streak, a man who recently celebrated running his 300th marathon, has 31 6ft track marathon finishes under his belt, 40+ City to Surf, 70+ ultra marathons, 30+ Canberra maras & a bonafide Blue Line Legend. Find out Bob's why, his adventures in the famous Sydney to Melbourne ultra-marathon with legends such as Cliffy Young, Yiannis Kouros & Pat Farmer. Also hear how this plucky septuagenarian still powers through his training & what he's planning next.

Geoff & Neil chat to the lovely Aussie ultra rep & International 24 hr team gold medal winner Nikki Wynd. Learn what a fantastic & broad running record she has across so many distances, in just over a decade she's notched up victories at 50km, 50miles, 100km, 100miles, 135miles, 6hrs, 24hrs & 48hrs. Notably taking on the gruelling hottest race on earth, Death Valley's Badwater 135 (mile) ultramarathon 3 times in total with 3 podiums & one a win! Listen to how Nikki trains, how she landed in the sport & how she's preparing for a return to Australia's premier long form road race, the legendary Coast to Kosci 240km.

Jez & Damo chat to Shaun Kaesler, the knockabout WA local legend responsible for bringing 200 miler ultra races to Australia. The man who gave up his construction business to build an impressive series of trail races in WA, to create the Delirious West 200 miler, the triple crownunder and his very own running shop. Jez kicks off the trail vs. road running debate early & Shaun puts him in his place and also shares a fascinating insight in to his journey through running, how it transformed him & how it's driven him to give so much back to the Aussie running community.

Geoff & Neil have a cracker-jack chat with THE runner you want with you in a dark alley … ex MMA cage fighting amateur boxer, Aussie rep, Guinness world record holder, AURA VP, 24 hr treadmill vomit specialist Matt Eckford, a man who's perfectly translated the discipline required for excellence in martial arts, deployed it to 24 hr track racing, often trains 100% on a treadmill & carries a mantra of 'Whilst I can be beaten, I will never be broken'. Listen for some Aussie running gold.

Damo & Jez ask … what is the 440? … take 1 former iron man bronze medalist, 1 former rugby player, a solution borne out of the depths of Trent & Todd's dark periods of life & you have something very special … something that is now a global running movement but started out when a troubled man looking for some answers decided to get up early & run up a hill in the dark with his mates … listen to how this simple idea has helped hundreds of people, how it all started, how these stellar Aussie legends grew their mateship & how the boys can help you nail your next city to surf.

Geoff & Neil speak to Ewan Horsburgh … AURA president, long standing Aussie ultra distance rep, running community stalwart, Blue Mountains local & self confessed coffee loving shoe fiend. The boys learn about his recent run at the Western States 100 mile race in the US, previous victories at various ultra disciplines, winning the Coast to Kosci 240km race 3 times back to back, his role at AURA & way back when, the journey he took from normal running to the dark side :-)

On the eve of his first 200 mile race Jez & Damo speak to one of our ultra running stalwarts & local legends, Kevin 'Brick' Heaton. Under his belt sit 13 x 6ft track, 11 x Ultra trail Australia & 11 Coast to Kosci 240km races finishes. A man that once got helicoptered rescued out of the Blue Mountains mid race with a totally ripped off quad, only to toe the start line of a 240km run 6 months later. Brick generously shares his mental mindset for overcoming injury & achieving exactly what you want, when to walk in an ultra & of course, why this fantastic running community battler is called Brick.

Geoff & Neil speak to THE ironman of the moment, Under Armour athlete Ali Day. Learn how a massive, almost inconceivable, comeback from injury led to a unique history making 6 from 6 wins in the 20/21 championship. Hear about the crazy monkey bar incident that saw him break both wrists and surgery that saw 24 plates & screws turn Ali in to a REAL ironman. Ali talks about his journey from nippers to the highest level of surf competition, how running plays a key part of his training regime, what distances he'd love to tackle competitively in the future and why surf life savers are fascinated by sprinting across sand for a bit of garden hose :-)

Jez & Damo talk to top bloke, US based Queenslander & Dual Olympian Patrick Tiernan … the man that left NOTHING in the tank at the Tokyo 10,000m and established master of road, track & cross country running. The boys learn how Pat came to terms with a performance that resonated with the nation but left him not trusting his body, what the marathon is doing to talented 10,000 runners and … hold the front page! … the boys get a big scoop ;-)

Neil & Geoff speak to Aussie Comm Games & World Champs rep Sarah Klein. A very driven athlete that lives & breaths the marathon, learn about the single biggest challenge to her identity, a 4 year ban from competition, how did she cope, why the ban was reduced to 2 years, what led to it & what she would have done differently if she could go back in time. Hear how she's educating athletes about the testing processes so they don't go through the same nightmare, how she's back & focusing on pulling on the green & gold once more, a lovely Aussie athlete with a fascinating story & a booming return to the sport she truly loves.