In this episode, Hayles and Jussie are deep in their Gold Coast Half Marathon training block and for once… it’s actually feeling good. Think threshold sessions, cruisy easy runs, and mixing in cross-training without completely flogging themselves.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a normal week without a bit of chaos. Jussie shares how her long run didn’t quite go to plan after an Anzac Day dawn service turned into chatting, catching up… and somehow a mid-run rum shot which brings back the Wheel of Fortune (or Misfortune) accountability segment.

The girls then dive into “things only female runners understand” and honestly, if you know, you know. From pre-run toilet anxiety, sports bra battles, and planning your life around hair wash days… to safety strategies, choosing between shorts or tights, navigating period runs, chafing, and mapping your run based on toilet locations it’s all in there.

They also touch on a couple of conversations happening in the running world right now, including the backlash around Nike’s Boston Marathon signage and a clip from an Australian running podcast that sparked discussion around how women are spoken about in sport. It’s an honest chat about respect, inclusion, and the kind of running community we actually want to be part of.

They wrap things up with a few recommendations, including some running content they’ve been loving lately, plus recent gear purchases.

00:00 Cold Open Setup

Hayleys Youtube recco links https://www.youtube.com/@_Clayton_Young_ 

https://www.youtube.com/@micawoodruns 

Women’s Running Collective

This week on the pod, Hayles and Jussie are back with a very real chat about the runs that just… don’t hit 😅

We kick things off with a catch-up on training life. Including a few changes to race plans, the start of Gold Coast Half Marathon prep, and a very close call during a threshold session (yes… a toilet emergency was involved 😂).

We also shout out the incredible One More Step Foundation, founded by Josie Flynn, a Sydney-based walk/run community supporting those affected by cancer. What started during Josie’s own treatment has grown into something truly special 💛

The main chat dives into why running can feel really hard sometimes and how to actually deal with it without spiralling. From recovery and fueling to sleep, stress, and running too fast (we’ve all been there), this episode is your reminder that a bad run doesn’t mean you’re a bad runner.

We finish up with weekly recs, life chats, and a fun new accountability system for our training block (it may or may not involve a bit of chaos 👀🎡).

00:00 Lycra Cold Open

Nicole the nutritionist we mentioned in this weeks ep

https://www.instagram.com/total.balance.nutrition/?hl=en

In this episode of the Women’s Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are back recording from Hayley’s house thanks to a few technical hiccups and fully in the thick of NSW school holiday chaos.

The girls chat about what running looks like when routines go out the window travelling, juggling kids, and trying to fit it all in when life feels a little all over the place.

It’s also day one of Gold Coast Half Marathon training, with plenty of honest chat around where they’re both at, including Jussie being on the fence about UTA this year, with the reality of logistics, travel and cost all playing a part.

The episode dives into some big (and very relatable) conversations:

Is running becoming too expensive?

Do we actually need goals?

Would you still run if no one could see?

There’s also plenty of classic WRC moments a throwback to running in the 90s, a random skateboarding chat, listener questions, and a very funny scrunch-bum tights situation that you’ll definitely relate to.

The girls also shout out runners from the Canberra and Hobart Marathons, including a huge PB from Sarah Hartley 👏 and chat briefly about the ASICS Superblast 3 before sharing some winter gear recommendations.

As always — it’s real, relaxed, and a reminder that running doesn’t have to look a certain way to count.

00:00 Sponsor Spotlight

In this episode of the Women’s Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are back chatting all things winter running and let’s just say… it’s been a week.

From chaotic training schedules to freezing mornings in Lithgow (we’re talking below zero 🥶), the girls share what training has looked like lately including hill sessions, Sandhills reps, sub-threshold efforts, and navigating running while travelling.

They dive into the reality of winter running and how to actually get out the door when it’s cold and dark from setting your gear out the night before (or even sleeping in it 👀) to lowering expectations and focusing on consistency over perfection.

There’s plenty of practical chat around layering properly how to stay warm without overheating, what pieces actually make a difference (hello vests, gloves and arm sleeves), and why dressing for warmer than it is can be a game changer.

Hayles and Jussie also talk about why winter running can actually be so good  from building mental toughness to enjoying those quiet, peaceful mornings and how staying motivated often comes down to community, goals, and giving yourself a bit of grace.

They cover some really important winter safety tips, especially for women running in darker conditions including visibility, route choices, sharing your location, and always trusting your gut.

And because winter = sickness season, they chat through how to avoid getting run down — from getting out of sweaty clothes quickly, fuelling properly, prioritising sleep and recovery, to keeping on top of the simple (but important) hygiene habits. They also touch on supplements like vitamin C, zinc, olive leaf extract and astragalus.

To wrap things up, the girls share their latest product recommendations, including ASICS Superblast 3, Vert powdered gels, and some winter run staples from LSKD.

As always it’s real, relatable and all about helping you feel supported through every season of running.

00:00 SUPERBLAST 3 ASICS sponsor message

Links

Hayleys new LSKD running shorts

https://www.lskd.co/products/elite-run-high-rise-7-short-pockets-black

https://www.lskd.co/products/aeroflx-long-sleeve-skimmer-half-zip-white-white

JUSSIE VERT GEL recco linkhttps://vertnutrition.com.au/products/vert-fuel-powder?srsltid=AfmBOorz75-QFasYZLokxK0EQu209YLAN-dhr1gOzT9kwFiEvaHyISKB

Run My Way: NSW Research on Women’s Running Safety + What’s Next

In this episode of the Women’s Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie take you behind the scenes of a really powerful night at the newly upgraded Sydney Olympic Park track, where they were invited to a female-only track event hosted by the We Run Foundation in collaboration with the NSW Office of Sport and Transport for NSW.

The night centred around the Run My Way program, a three-year initiative focused on understanding and improving safety for women when it comes to running.

Hayles and Jussie share what it was like being in a space filled with women, running under lights, and hearing directly from researchers, leaders and everyday runners about the very real barriers women face.

The research shared on the night was eye-opening with findings showing that 95% of women consider safety a major factor when choosing where to run, 70% have felt unsafe while running, and 50% have experienced harassment. The girls unpack what this actually means in real life from choosing well-lit routes, running at certain times, sticking to familiar places, and the mental load that comes with it.

They also share some of the stories from women in the community, which are powerful, confronting and incredibly important conversations to be having.

The episode dives into what’s next including proposed initiatives like awareness campaigns, safer running hubs, and better-connected, well-lit running routes — and how these changes could help more women feel confident to get out the door.

Hayles and Jussie also reflect on the importance of community, the power of running together, and how spaces like this where women feel safe, seen and supported are exactly what the running world needs more of.

As always, they wrap things up with their recommendations and a few final thoughts from the event.

Timestamps

00:00 Sponsor Message

Jussie recomends https://www.werunfoundation.org/

Training Smarter, Not Harder: Hills, Recovery & Running Myths (Women’s Running Collective Ep. 76)

In this episode of the Women’s Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie catch up on the week that was from Jussie’s hill-heavy training as she builds towards UTA 50K, to Hayles sharing how special their International Women’s Day community run was, raising funds for a local oncology unit and women’s shelter.

From there, the conversation shifts into something we see all the time in the running world  the pressure to do more. More kilometres, more sessions, more intensity. Hayles and Jussie chat about why sometimes the smartest thing you can do as a runner is actually train smarter, not harder.

They talk about the influence of social media, the pressure that can come from Strava comparisons, and training apps that sometimes push unrealistic mileage without considering real life things like injuries, work, family life, or even menstrual cycles.

The girls then dive into some of the most common running myths they hear from the community like the idea that more kilometres always equals better performance, that you need to run every day to improve, or that strength training will make you bulky. They also chat about misconceptions around running ruining your joints, needing a certain body type to be a runner, or thinking you need expensive gear to get started.

To wrap it all together, Hayles and Jussie break down what they believe are the four key pillars of training well: consistency, speed and hill work, strength training, and rest. Along the way they chat about adding strides, fartlek sessions, cross training, and making sure you’re fuelling and recovering properly.

The episode also features sponsor mentions for the ASICS Superblast 3, plus their weekly recommendations including recovery sessions, planning for the Gold Coast races, and a lifesaver for busy weeks: The Dinner Ladies.

Timestamps

00:00 Sponsor and cold open

International Women’s Day: Trailblazing Women Who Changed Running (Plus UTA Training, Superblast 3 & Weekly Recos)

THANKYOU to our very first legit sponsor ASICS AUSTRALIA

Hayles and Jussie are back on the mic for another episode of the Women’s Running Collective and kicking things off with a little life catch-up. Jussie has just returned from Europe where she managed to squeeze in runs through Vienna in the snow, a run through Istanbul, and even a bit of skiing along the way.

Back home, the girls chat through their latest training block down in Forster from Sandhills sessions to sub-threshold reps, ladders and hill work as Jussie continues building strength for UTA.

They also dive into the difference between running in the cold vs the heat (and which one they’d choose), before sharing the excitement around their International Women’s Day community 3K/5K event which sold out super quickly and will raise funds for a local women’s shelter and oncology ward.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Hayles and Jussie highlight some of the incredible women who helped shape the sport we all love today.

From Kathrine Switzer’s iconic Boston Marathon moment in 1967, Bobbi Gibb running Boston unofficially in 1966, Joan Benoit winning Olympic marathon gold in 1984 just weeks after knee surgery, Alice Moore’s incredible Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra finish, and the powerful “New York Six” protest in 1972 that helped fight for equality in women’s distance running.

They also chat about the ASICS Superblast 3, share their weekly recommendations (including a Disney love story, “Fun Clothes Friday”), and wrap things up with a practical tip for runners about menstrual cups via PutACupInIt.com.

As always a mix of running chat, community vibes, and a few laughs along the way.

Timestamps

00:00 Sponsor Intro Superblast 3

With Leanne Pompeani, Jemma Pollard & Izzy Batt-Doyle

Hayley hosts the Women’s Running Collective solo this week (while Jussie is off travelling ✈️), bringing you a special episode recorded at the ASICS Superblast 3 launch in Sydney.

Across the episode, Hayley shares short, powerful interviews with three of Australia’s elite female runners Leanne Pompeani, Jemma Pollard, and Isobel Batt-Doyle diving into performance, mindset, resilience and what it truly takes to compete at the top.

Leanne opens up about her move into marathoning, highlights from the 2025 Sydney Marathon, a scary heatstroke collapse at World Cross Country, and her sights set firmly on Olympic qualification in 2028.

Jemma celebrates her blistering 51.73 PB in the 400m, reflects on competing at the World Championships in Japan, and walks us through what a training week looks like balancing track sessions, gym work and cross-training.

Izzy shares her shift toward the marathon and road racing, her high-mileage Boston build, why recovery is non-negotiable, and offers powerful advice about avoiding comparison in the age of Strava and social media.

Hayley also discusses Ironman’s recent ban on personal recording devices in races — and whether major running events could follow suit — before giving her honest Superblast 3 review and previewing the upcoming Women’s Running Collective International Women’s Day charity event.

00:00 Welcome & solo host setup

Hayley shares her thoughts on the ASICS Superblast 3 from first-run impressions to how it performs across easy runs, workouts and longer efforts.

Details on the upcoming Women’s Running Collective International Women’s Day event, where all proceeds will support local women’s charities.

Episode 73: How to Hack Dopamine to Get Out the Door (Plus: Running in the Snow + A Beautiful Listener Story)

Yes… we re-recorded this one. 😅

Hayles:

Jussie:

Also… Jussie is about to head to Austria 🇦🇹 with plans to run in Vienna (possibly in the snow?!) and then onto Istanbul. If you have snow and ice running tips, please send them our way.

Why is it so hard to get out the door some days, even when we know we’ll feel amazing after?

Enter: dopamine.

We unpack:

What dopamine actually is (a reward-based neurotransmitter)

How it drives desire, habits and repeat behaviours

Why it plays a role in everything from training consistency to doom scrolling

The good news? You can work with your brain instead of fighting it.

Protein + tyrosine-rich foods

Magnesium

Good sleep hygiene

Regular exercise

Reducing chronic stress

Your brain chemistry matters. But so does your environment.

Lay your gear out the night before

Book the class

Lower the bar (10 minutes counts)

Make starting easy.

Train with a friend

Join a group

Say your goal out loud

Social commitment is powerful.

Bad weather? Build grit.

Tell yourself you’re just doing two minutes. Momentum does the rest.

Train first. Get it done before your brain negotiates its way out.

Leverage your morning cortisol spike and delay your phone avoid that early dopamine hit from scrolling before you move your body.

Pair runs with your favourite podcast

Gamify your goals

Rotate rewards

Vary your routes

Anticipation creates dopamine. Build that in before the workout.

We read the most beautiful email from Emma a working mum of three in her late 30s navigating renovations, raising a child with additional needs, and using running as an anchor for her mental health.

She shared:

Training toward 10K goals

Sizing up in her ASICS shoes after a year of pins and needles (we’ve all been there)

Completing the Afterglow Trail Run — a nighttime trail 10K in Victoria raising awareness about women’s safety

Her ride-or-die: a supportive sports bra from She Science

Her golden advice: run slower

Emma also asked to hear from other mums juggling similar life stressors. So we’re putting that call out to you, our community is stronger when we share.

❄️ Jussie wants your snow and ice running tips.

After Josh had a bike crash recently, the alert came through immediately  thankfully he was fine, but it was a powerful reminder that these features matter.

We might be recording next week while Jussie is overseas stay tuned.

As always, thank you for being here. Train your brain. Lace up anyway. And if motivation dips, remember, you can outsmart it.

Happy running 💛

Episode 72: Busting Negative Self-Talk, Getting Back Into Training & The “so close but not Sub-20” 5K

Okay first things first… yes, we know. The mic situation. 😅

Hayles jumps on at the start to confess to a full technical microphone fail which makes her a little tricky to hear. We debated binning the episode… but decided the convo was too important not to share. Thanks for sticking with us it will be fixed by next week, promise.

And can we just say… 72 episodes?! What is happening. We are so grateful you’re still here with us.

Jussie:

12K long run in beautiful Coffs Harbour

Spicy hill sessions (why do we do this to ourselves?)

Hayles:

Camping weekend

Ran the 5K leg of a team triathlon in hot, hilly conditions

Our team placed 1st female + 2nd overall 

Now… the drama.

Did Hayles run sub-20?

According to Strava… no

Post-holidays slump is real. Jussie chats about struggling to find rhythm again while building toward the Ultra-Trail Australia 50.

Motivation dips. Hills get skipped. The inner critic gets loud.

Which leads us into the heart of this episode…

We unpack the work of Ethan Kross and his books Chatter and Shift — and how his tools can actually help runners.

Because negative self-talk doesn’t just affect elite athletes. It shows up for:

Mums returning to training

Women chasing time goals

Anyone comparing themselves on social media

Anyone who has ever thought “I’m not good enough”

Sound familiar?

Instead of “I can’t do this,” try:

Using “you” or your own name creates psychological distance and helps you coach yourself instead of criticise yourself.

Small pre-run routines signal calm and control:

Same playlist

Same warm-up

Same mantra

Rituals reduce anxiety and ground your nervous system.

Wish

Example:

Wish: Finish UTA strong

Outcome: Feel proud crossing the line

Obstacle: Skipping hills

Plan: Tuesday = non-negotiable hill reps

Simple. Practical. Powerful.

Fast-forward to the finish line. How will it feel?

Then time-travel backwards to your “ace in the hole” the toughest thing you’ve already conquered. You’ve survived worse. Your brain just needs reminding.

Look at photos of people who support you

Spend 13 minutes in green space

Engage your senses: scent, music, touch

Your body needs regulation before your mind can shift.

When a friend spirals:

Listen

Validate

Share perspective

Offer small practical help

Add appropriate affection

Don’t judge. Don’t immediately fix. Just be with them.

(And practice doing that for yourself.)

The shame spiral of self-criticism is heavy. And we know so many women carry it silently.

If this episode does one thing, we hope it helps you realise:

Thanks for being here for 72 episodes. We love this community more than you know.

Now we’re off to pick up our kids. 💛

Hayles & Jussie