The Best Athletics Podcast

Fresh off a 3 minute PB at the Berlin Marathon, Sam Griffiths joins Nick for a chat about the race, his running journey and just how far he can take it.

They dive into Berlin and the pursuit of sub 2:20, Sam’s infamous 125km weeks, how his training has evolved and when he first realised he had the potential to run seriously fast.

They also chat about getting into running and progressing, balancing strength work with high mileage, body composition and performance, and the big question: what would Sam choose sub 14:30 for 5K, sub 30 for 10K or sub 2:20 for the marathon?

Plus… who wins a 400m race between Nick and Sam? 👀

And finally, what’s next for Sam?

Fresh off an outstanding performance at Comrades, Nick, founder of Best Athletics, sits down with elite runner George Kusche to discuss training, racing, fuelling and what it takes to perform at the highest level.

From race day tactics to balancing training and recovery, George shares practical insights that runners of all abilities can apply to their own training.

In This Episode

00:00 – 01:31 Intro & first reactions

01:31 – 02:32 Which is harder: the Up Run or the Down Run?

02:32 – 07:30 When did George know the record was possible?

07:30 – 10:51 Experiencing Comrades from the front of the race

10:51 – 15:36 Fuelling strategy on race day

15:36 – 19:30 Did the race unfold as planned?

19:30 – 25:00 The relationship between speed and ultramarathon performance

25:00 – 34:30 A deep dive into George's training

34:30 – 37:20 Balancing training, life and performance

37:20 – 39:50 Sleep, recovery and daily habits

39:50 – 41:40 Life as a full time athlete

41:40 – 44:40 What's next?

44:40 – 46:30 The best advice George has received

46:30 – 48:44 What everyday fuelling looks like

48:44 – 52:23 Outro

💙 Whether you're training for your first 5K or your next ultra, this episode is packed with insights from one of the sport's most exciting athletes.

🎧 Listen now and let us know your biggest takeaway

Nick Bester, the coach and founder behind Best Athletics, joins Jake from Ran to Japan to talk training, recovery, motivation, and chasing marathon dreams. They cover everything from 280k weeks and smart cross-training to fuelling, heat adaptation, and whether YouTube helps or hinders performance. A must-listen for runners who love to train hard and smart.

In this episode, Nick Bester sits down with Cole Gibbens to unpack an incredible run at the Berlin Marathon going sub 2:30 despite tough conditions.

We dive into how the race unfolded, handling the heat, and what it’s like to experience Berlin compared to London.

We also cover the realities behind the performance: tummy issues, training blocks, mileage for mental health vs. overdoing it, and whether chasing the kind of mileage we’ve seen from the likes of Ran to Japan is worth it.

We chat coaching (and a possible announcement 👀), calorie monitoring, and social media from Insta to YouTube.

Plus, what it’s like stepping into the world as a sponsored adidas athlete, and what’s next in terms of training philosophy: mileage or more quality?

An honest, insightful look behind the grind, the mindset, and the future 🙌🏽

In this episode of the Best Athletics Podcast, Nick Bester sits down with Robin Hughes, founder of Getahead an app that provides Mental Training Plans, to explore the often-overlooked side of performance - your mindset.

They dig into questions every runner has wondered:

• Is there such a thing as mental talent, just like physical talent?
• Can you actually train your mental strength to push further?
• How much untapped potential lies in your mind?
• What’s the ideal pre-race mindset?
• Are some people simply untrainable from a mental perspective?

Whether you’re chasing PBs or just starting out, Robin shares practical insights to help you level up your mental game.

📲 Follow Robin: @getaheadmindset

In this episode, Best Athletics founder Nick Bester sits down with strength and conditioning coach Kate from Valere Endurance to unpack everything runners need to know about strength work.

From how often you should train, whether you really need a gym, to tackling persistent injuries like Achilles pain. This conversation is packed with practical advice. Kate shares her expert insights on injury prevention, muscle maintenance beyond age 25, and the one exercise no runner should skip.

Whether you're a beginner or elite, this episode will help you build a stronger, more resilient running body.

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your running community. To learn more or work with Kate, follow @running.on.island.time on Instagram or visit the Valere Endurance website for details on their programs and contact info. Thanks for listening – and remember, strength is speed in disguise!

https://www.valereendurance.com/

In this episode, Aubrey sits down with Nick Bester, founder of Best Athletics, for an honest and energising conversation about the running journey and everything that comes with it.

From humble beginnings to performance running, they dive into:

• 🏃‍♂️ How they each got started in running
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Balancing training with fatherhood, marriage, and work
• 📈 Nick’s transition into coaching and building a thriving community
• 🤝 The mindset behind celebrating others’ wins
• 🔥 Nick’s new coach and what’s next for his own journey

It’s real talk about the highs, the hard bits, and why this sport is bigger than running.

Follow & Connect:

• 🎧 Aubrey – @bigger.than.running
• 🎧 Nick – @justalilbester
• 🏃‍♂️ Best Athletics – @bestathletics

Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts |

Founder of Best Athletics, Nick Bester, catches up with standout BA athlete Christa Cain fresh off her incredible performance at the 2025 Island Games—where she brought home three golds and a bronze and set a 10,000m record.

They chat about:

• How it felt to race at the Island Games
• Managing the quick race turnarounds
• Her favourite distance to race
• Balancing training with more time off work
• Her thoughts on improvement, future goals, and go-to race shoes
• Plus, her ultimate post-race treat

Follow Christa’s journey

@christasjc 🇮🇲 Island Games Champion 🏃‍♀️ 5K: 16:33 | 10K: 34:53 | HM: 75:27 | Marathon: 2:37:25

In this episode of the Best Athletics Podcast, Nick Bester sits down with rising athlete Jack Kavanagh to unpack his journey from casual runner to serious competitor. Jack shares how he got into the sport, the year on year progression that’s propelled him forward, and what a typical high mileage training week looks like.

They dive into:

• Jack’s favourite workouts
• His nutrition and fuelling strategies
• Life with support from ON Running
• Top tips for runners chasing big improvements
• And his bold future goals — including a sub-2:30 marathon

Give it a listen on your easy runs or during your commute - it’s packed with practical insights, inspiration, and honest reflections from an athlete on the rise.

In this episode, Nick chats with elite South African distance runner Adam Lipshitz fresh off a standout performance at one of the most competitive London Marathons to date.

They dive into:

Finishing 12th in London – was a top 10 on the cards? Adam’s early start in running and when he knew he had real potential? Whether he balances work or lives solely off professional running. His recent switch to adidas – and how that transition’s going. The reality of drug testing in elite running + experiences with PED offers. What it’s like training in Umhlanga. Does he actually enjoy running – or is it just a job? What’s next + what he believes he’s truly capable of. His side project: Social Runners Club – how it started and where it’s going

A raw, honest, and insightful chat with one of South Africa’s most exciting rising stars.