In the Beginning Podcast

This week Liam's copped a roast on Triple M but bounces back with Gold Coast Marathon finish line duties alongside Pete Murray. We talk Western States 100 (Winner Caleb Olson & lots of shoe prototypes), Faith Kipyegon’s sub-4 attempt and the madness of Dead Cow Gully (800km!) Plus: prize money at City2Surf, Sydney Marathon’s stacked field, and marathon-week MARANOIA is kicking in. Follow t...

Marathon pacing—it’s not just about data, it’s a full-blown psychological battleground. In this episode, we dig into the eternal risk vs reward debate: go out hard and risk blowing up, or play it safe and maybe never know? Plus, we share mates’ race-day bets, wild bib-swap scams, ring finger theories (yep, really), massage therapy with a side of life coaching, and advice for buying bikes off Faceb...

Twelve weeks of training, sweat, setbacks and breakthroughs… and now we’re here. In our final episode before the Gold Coast Marathon, Bronte reflects on her taper, mental prep and pacing plan (hello, 4:30 pace group). Lace Up Running Coach Benita Willis shares key strategies for race week, from nutrition to mindset, and explains why you  don’t need everything to be perfect . Courtney and Liam weig...

This week we recap the wild highs of Red Bull Race the Sun — frost, sprint finishes, and why it’s our favourite kind of chaos. Courtney and Liam share the races they’d relive, from China to Red Bull Defiance. Trail running 101 for beginners, thoughts on socks, the Big Five Marathon, and… is Liam back in for Gold Coast? Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Cou...

In this weeks Gold Coast Marathon Series Episode we have two-time Comm Games champ Michael Shelley joining the pod to unpack his iconic Gold Coast Marathon win, give us all the pro-tips to run the Gold Coast Marathon route, old-school training methods, racing without a watch, and why his coach told him a marathon is just about “getting tired.” A must-listen for first-time marathoners and running p...

Congratulations Polar prize Winner - Jacqui Bladier This week Courtney is in NZ but got his hands full today with Red Bull Race the Sun 24hr event on. Liam is back running and rediscovering how good it is to quieten the mind. We also cover the post running smoking trend, a world map myth, age vs performance and a few listener catchups. Our local event for the week is from the central NQ's Mile...

With just 3.5 weeks to go to the Gold Coast Marathon, Bronte bounces back from pneumonia to clock a half marathon PB, Benita from Lace Up Running shares taper wisdom and pacing strategies, and the crew navigates start zones, carb loading, and race-week nerves. Contact Benita at ⁠Lace Up Running⁠ Bronte on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Courtne...

This week Liam spills coffee on a $50K radio desk and doesn't get fired, Courtney recalls his weirdest Olympic photo shoot, and we ask: has ultra-endurance gone too far? Introduce the new catch cry " Don’t go longer—go harder ". Plus the final week of Polar 🚨 GIVEAWAY 🚨 We’re giving one lucky runner the  ultimate setup  — a  Polar Pacer GPS running watch  AND  H10 heart rate strap  🎁 Whether yo...

This episode is brought to you by Southern Cross University , naming sponsor of the 10km event at the Gold Coast Marathon. We dive into both the physical and mental prep for the Gold Coast Marathon with two experts from Southern Cross University. Dr. Gabe Fernandez , senior physiotherapist, breaks down why Achilles and calf injuries are so common and how to build strength and endurance leading up...

It’s a big chat. We kick off with our first-ever  giveaway  thanks to the legends at Polar , before diving into the Gold Coast Suns ‘nepo baby’ drama, Courtney’s next marathon mystery, Kiwi endurance grit, tech in shoes and sailing, and Liam’s update after officially pulling out of GCM. 🚨 GIVEAWAY TIME 🚨 We’re giving one lucky runner the  ultimate setup  — a  Polar Pacer GPS running watch  AND ...

With five weeks to go, Bronte smashes her 30K run (despite being sick), our coach from Lace Up Running , Benita Willis warns against getting too ambitious with marathon pace, and Liam makes the tough call to pull out of the race. Plus, a deep dive into race gels, aid station strategy, and why planning your fuel matters more than you think. Contact Benita at Lace Up Running Bronte on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠...

Courtney’s bouncing back, Liam’s breaking down (again), and Bronte’s smashing the 30K! This week, the team dives into the wild world of the Enhanced Games, the madness of UTA trail jams, and William G’s run across Australia—beers, banter and record-breaking. Plus: Strava’s new labels, the mystery of mismatched racing shoes, listener shoutouts from Scotland and a very big guest tease. One of us is...

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Gold Coast Marathon? We chat with Ryan McDonald, Athlete Services and Elite Program Manager, about everything from elite athlete demands to course tweaks, crowd science, and how to make the most of race day. Whether you're running, spectating, or just curious, this episode has all the insider tips you need to know for this year's Gold Coast Marat...

This week, Courtney and Liam kick things off with the top 5 running songs as voted by 500 runners – are they the perfect playlist picks or total misses? Then it’s back to the treadmill as they share their recovery runs, training tweaks, and Strava hacks as the Gold Coast Marathon looms closer. Plus, they dive into the Gold Coast Pro’s surprise venue switch and what it means for future comps, and t...

It’s a full house in the studio this week as Courtney returns, and Bronte gears up for her longest run yet – a 30K mix of trail and road.  Benita shares essential advice on how to handle race day shoe choices, pacing strategies, and how to stay mentally tough when the going gets tough. Plus, Courtney’s back with some perspective on dealing with injury setbacks and how to reset goals with just seve...

In this week's episode we go down some rabbit holes! Topics include: ​ Trail Running vs. Eco-Tourism:  Are we sacrificing raw adventure for accessibility? ​ Aussie Records:  Sam Clifford and Izzy Bat-Doyle smash 10K national records — but why aren’t they household names? ​ Highs and Lows:  From record-breaking splits to gut-wrenching injuries — the rollercoaster of elite endurance sports. ​ Strava...

Eight and a half weeks out from race day and Liam’s calf is cactus. Again! So we brought in one of the best — Olympic team physio and Gold Coast Physio & Sports Health director  Britt Caling  — to unpack how to stay unbroken on your marathon build. In this episode: – Bone stress, calf dramas & the U-curve of injury risk – Why “just running” isn’t enough: strength, sleep & activation ti...

Courtney’s back in the studio, Liam’s (sorta) back from injury, and the pod is back in full swing. We chat rites of passage in elite sport—are locker room hazings a thing of the past? Plus, stories from Lightning Ridge (spoiler: it’s no resort) and a load of Strava-fuelled chaos from Tinder run clubs to Cliff Bar nightclub ads. Also on deck: Courtney’s retro triathlon kit breakdown (radars + rad s...

9 weeks to go til the Gold Coast Coast Marathon and on this episode: ​Bronte Langbroek hits a half-marathon wall ​ ​Benita Willis from Lace Up Running teaches why running  slow  wins marathons ​Liam Flanagan battles calf injury blues + pool running fails ​Nine weeks to go — mindset, mistakes, and motivation! 🎧 Perfect for first-timers, comeback runners, or anyone stuck in the injury trenches. Con...

This Week: ​Courtney pulls 6Gs (and holds his guts) ​Strava buys Runna App — big move ​Boston: winner gets flattened, still wins ​Alex Yee’s marathon debut + secret shoes ​Group runs = fewer bonks ​Pooping beats podiums (for running fame) 🎧 Up next on Wednsday: Gold Coast Marathon Series with Benita on strength + pivoting your marathon goal Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast...

Zone 2, HRV & the Truth About Heart Rate Training — Presented by Polar - key partner of the Gold Coast Marathon. This week we’re joined by Jon Easdown — sports scientist, Polar solutions specialist — to break down the science behind heart rate zones, recovery data, and wearable tech. From zone 2 training and lactate thresholds to heart rate drift and the gold-standard chest strap, Jon shares p...

Liam and Courtney unpack a pacing scandal at the Canberra Marathon—how far off is  too  far off your pacing target? They dive into the rise of Aussie sprint stars, and whether a little rivalry between Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy could take things up a notch. Plus: ▪️ Race report from Nike’s After Dark Half Marathon 🌙 ▪️ Retro running gear chat ▪️ Strava heatmap hacks ▪️ And the Uno-inspired tip...

Strap in — we're kicking off a 12-week sprint to the Gold Coast Marathon! In this first episode, Courtney and Liam tee things up with Aussie marathon royalty and Olympic legend, Benita Willis, who’s steering the ship as coach for the crew. We’re also joined by Bronte Langbroek — brand new to the marathon game and ready to give it a red-hot crack. From Bronte’s goal to run the whole way to Liam gun...

We’re chatting: 🍺 AFL controversy — Darcy Fogarty’s beer tattoo & the marketing madness 🎽 Grand Slam Track? Hot or Flop? + a listener’s London Landmarks Half story 🎉 Ryan Kelso’s big pitch for the Armidale Running Festival (with a possible custom  In The Beginning  brew!) 👟 Gear chat, training updates & more Subscribe and join the run! Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast⁠ Co...

In the Beginning.. Runs Gold Coast Marathon We’re kicking off a special Gold Coast Marathon series, and to start things strong, Liam and Courtney have a yarn with Aussie running legend and coach  Benita Willis . In this ep, we chat through some big goals (yep, including Liam eyeing off a sub-3 marathon 😅), what it  really  takes to prep for race day, and how to juggle training with everyday life....