Better with Running – Details, episodes & analysis

In this week's episode, Chriso and Zacca recap their weekend at the Shepparton Marathon Festival, where Chriso supported athletes on his bike and Zacca cheered on runners. Chriso also shares his training progress for an upcoming half marathon.

This week special episode includes two #teamrun2pb athletes, Scotty Kennedy and Mel Hiscock.

Scotty talks to us about his journey since joining Run2PB in April 2023. Scotty has significantly increased his mileage and improved his 10km time. As a hybrid athlete, he uses running to prepare for Hyrox, DEKA, and Spartan events.

Mel Hiscock returns to the show, she joined Run2PB back in October of 2022 and has lowered her 5k time from 23:50 down to 22:15 and her half marathon time from 1:57:35 down to a new mark of 1:46:56 set over the weekend, we hear all about that race and her recent training progress.

Chris and Zacca share their training updates. Chris crushed some hill reps and enjoyed a long run banking 83km for the week in preparation for the Burnley Half Marathon. Zacca reflects on consistent weeks with workouts and sets his sights on increasing mileage, embracing the challenge. He also shares his experience running in the new Asics Kayano 31, discussing his impressions and the shoe's legacy with Chris.

This week's guest is Taren "Taz" Kirby, a Run2PB member since May 2020. Taz has achieved personal bests in distances ranging from 1500m to the Half Marathon, competing in track, road, and cross country races. Known for her consistency and determination, Taz faced a major challenge in mid-2023 with a breast cancer diagnosis. Demonstrating incredible strength, she completed treatment and is now cancer-free. Remarkably, she even set a new 5km PB of 26:31 in June 2024.

The episode dives into Taz's running journey, recent challenges, and her responses to Chris' "medium-quick" questions.

Show Announcements

The boys welcome new Run2PB coaches Matt and Ned Buckell, who will be training both senior and junior runners.

Check out their profiles:

https://www.run2pb.co/coach-mattbuckell

https://www.run2pb.co/coach-ned-buckell

The show partners with Personal Best Coffee!

The hosts will be taste testing coffee and sharing the brand's story in upcoming episodes. Learn more about Personal Best Coffee: https://pbcoffee.com.au/collections/all

Join Chris Armstrong and Matt Davy for a special 200th episode of Better With Running!

Coach Matt Davy kicks things off, sharing his recent running adventures. before a Surprise cameo! Hear from Run2PB Coach Gemma Maini about her Gold Coast prep and an exciting announcement: the ASICS x Run2PB Coaches Award is back! Gemma reveals the winner, a story of dedication and perseverance.

Chris recounts his epic day at St. Anne's XCR meet, his favorite cross-country event, sharing all the fun he had both on and off the course.

The Big Interview:

This episode features a pre-recorded interview with a true running legend, Steve Moneghetti! Zac and Chris sit down with Mona for an hour-long conversation, diving into his favorite races, unforgettable stories from his incredible career, and Chris's signature "quick-fire" questions.

A massive thank you to all the loyal listeners who have been a part of the Better With Running journey over the past 200 episodes!

This week on the Better with Running Podcast, its Melbourne Marathon race week edition!

In a training update, we hear from Chris about his taper week, as he puts the icing on the cake for his preparation, he openly talks through some struggles and doubts off the back of a session Zacca hits his biggest week since May, hitting 80k and with big improvements to his knee is starting to eye off races and enjoying resuming full training.

Zacca and Chriso swoon over Kipchoge  and his WR run in the Berlin Marathon, talking through some of the insane paces. We also hear about some of the quirky characters of the day, including the famous bottle man and also pineapple man.

We get an around the grounds on the #teamrun2pb athletes who towed the line at Berlin, including this weeks Run2PB hero of the Week – Edo, who managed to snag a huge 30+min PB along with getting an upgrade to the race hotel and snagging that famous viral photo with Kipchoge.

Chris and Zacca talk through the final week of Melbourne and tips for listeners regarding race week, race morning and the course breakdown, before wishing the community of 80+ athletes all the best ahead of the weekend.  You can come along to the after party here.

Run2PB Links:

Socials Run2PB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxkh-FgU2Wsork-18PfSUA

Find us here at: https://www.run2pb.co/better-with-running-podcast

Review on us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-with-running/id1506419354

This week on the Better With Running Podcast, once again Sophie Fitt, Marathoner and Run2PB coach joins

Zacca and Chris to talk through her Melbourne Marathon build up, as we edge closer to race day we hear about sophs long run and final workouts, along with her taper and nutrition plans.

Zac talks through the ongoing battle with his knee and the patience required to get results and momentum from his rehab program, he highlights a mini workout that surprisingly came out ok, but looks ahead to the changes he needs to make to get back moving forward with the help of his physio James Telford.

Chris details his final big long run and sessions and reflects on whats been an amazing training block and marathon build with his great training partner Anna Gee and the excitement he has for race day and seeing the whole running community on the day.

This weeks run2pb hero is announced, and its one of zacca’s athletes – Matty Morgan, who has overcome some obstacles of late with a return to running with a sacral injury but is now back and rolling including a podium on the trails.

Chris and Zac introduce Run2PB’s 20th coach to the community, Guy Walters is based in Newcastle, NSW. We hear about his success as a junior and how he got linked up with Scott Westcott Australian Olympian and the impact he has had on his running both on and off the track, Guy talks us through his pbs and what he is is most proud of, before we dive into his own coaching philosophy and favourite sessions

Run2PB Links:

Socials Run2PB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxkh-FgU2Wsork-18PfSUA

Find us here at: https://www.run2pb.co/better-with-running-podcast

Review on us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-with-running/id1506419354

This week on the Better With Running Podcast, Zacca and Chris provide an update on their training weeks.

We hear about Chris hitting a big long run and clocking 81ks as he continues to build for the marathon, he talks about how he continues to enjoy the challenge and process of training for a marathon once again.

Zacca reveals his new formal coaching setup, and how he is adapting to having sessions and runs set for him, before getting back on the boulevard for more choice words from cyclists and cars. His session of 5min reps is followed by a long run out at the flats with his athlete James Telford who successfully ticked off a strong long run whilst doing a physio consult in the process.

Zacca’s training partner and MUAC member, Steve Langdon, joins the guys for chat about all things sports psychology and in particular focussing on practical tips leading into the Melbourne Marathon around the taper week, pre race day nerves, visualisation and race day mental strategies. Steve also answers some questions about dealing with missing goal races and bouncing back, and also provides some helpful tips for how you can engage with your support network, family and friends as you get closer to race day.

Chris and Zac have a listener question from Rory Flanigan, Run2PB Athlete & Bendigo Bat  “Do you think Mona’s formula of double your half and add 7 minutes is a good way to calculate your goal?” The boys openly chat around the use of marathon predictions and formulas, they go into detail as to what they utilise and how they go about predicting goal times for the marathon.

Run2PB Links:

Socials Run2PB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxkh-FgU2Wsork-18PfSUA

Find us here at: https://www.run2pb.co/better-with-running-podcast

Review on us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-with-running/id1506419354

This week on the Better with Running Podcast, Chris and Zacca  are joined by Run2PB Coach, Fitzpod Podiatrist and Marathoner Sophie Fitt to hear about how her training is going leading into the Melbourne Marathon.

Soph digs into the past few training weeks, some sessions she has hit, mentally and physically how she is feeling as the race gets closer and her race goals. She reveals her plan for the longest run in prep including where it will be executed, goals of the session and the fuel on board, and how she will even recover with her special fav juice!

Sophie announces the Run2PB Hero of the Week.- Summer Merrie, after a P.B at Burnley, we hear about her running journey the highs and lows of going through marathon build and then getting redemption on the roads of Richmond. Sophie talks about how proud and inspired she is as a coach about how Summer has approached her running.

Zacca and Chris are joined by a special guest – Darren Templeton, Founder of the Run the Tan Showcase Event, we hear about Darrens running journey, his passion for starting this event and his why along with the plans for the event in 2023. Darren also invites listeners to his weekly run club, at the Tan, with a special guest  Olympian Eloise Wellings  and the chance to  joinScotty Orchard for a lap or two around the Tan Track. Scotty is taking on an incredible challenge - running 50 hours for his 50th birthday around the famous Tan Track and raising funds as part of Love Mercy to drill new water wells in northern Uganda.

Details here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CiHovE_MRVH/?hl=en

For more information and or to make a donation: https://scotty-orchard-50-for-50.raisely.com/

Check out the event: https://runthetan.net/

Chris give a training update with another big week in the bank for Chris including a 2:30 long run, whilst Zacca ticks off his return to workouts. Before the the boys finish up attacking a listener question on drugs in sport and if life bans should be in place, especially around taking prize money.

Run2PB Links:

Socials Run2PB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxkh-FgU2Wsork-18PfSUA

Find us here at: https://www.run2pb.co/better-with-running-podcast

Review on us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-with-running/id1506419354

This week on the Better With Running Podcast, Zacca and Chris open the show with a special guest joining them who is on an epic world record attempt, Erchana Murray Bartlett is running a marathon every day, making my way from the tip of mainland Australia (Cape York) to the toe (Melbourne) that’s 155 consecutive marathons for a total of 6,200kms to spread a very important message - Extinction is a CHOICE and she has partnered with the wilderness society to raise $62,000.

The boys try to get their head around how this was even conceptualised, the planning involved, if she has to do it without stopping, the fuel she takes on, highlights along the way and the journey plans.

Is an inspiring story from someone genuinely attempting something pretty crazy.

Zacca and Chris talk through their running updates, including Chris doing some marathon training to rekindle the feels of mara blocks to help his coaching and go on the journey with his athletes. Zacca continues to get momentum, although felt the wrath of joining a run mid way through on his sunday run.

The Run2PB Hero of the week is revealed with Run2PB Coach James Hansen, making headlines across the nation breaking the AU Parkrun Record runing 13:53, and the lads push for him to bring the ashes back and get the global record.

Zacca launches the driver over an article that he came across relating to Mark Zuckerberg hating on running in a podcast with joe rogan, and then digs up some history and examples of when he used to love running

Chris and Zacca both put the call out to Mark to join Run2PB and find the love of running.

Long Time Friend of the Show from Run Culture, Dane Verwey is back to chat to the boys about Binary Bias and Running by Feel, he talks through his definitions on the topics, experiences as a phyiso and coach, before they all riff on their own coaching experiences on the topic.

Show Links

You can support Erchana and follow her with these links

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tip_to_toe_2022/?hl=en

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/7453290

You can donate here https://gofund.me/80948fe8

Website:https://www.tiptotoe2022.com/#ABOUT

-

Dane is available at :https://www.runculture.org/

Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/run-culture-podcast/id1478354435

Follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/run.culture/

Zuckerberg Article: https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-joe-rogan-podcast-jogging-running-meta-daily-productivity-2022-8

Run2PB Links:

Socials Run2PB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxkh-FgU2Wsork-18PfSUA

Find us here at: https://www.run2pb.co/better-with-running-podcast

Review on us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-with-running/id1506419354

Chris gives us a recap of his pacing job at Ballarat as he ventured down for the first time, with a job of pacing elite marathoner, run2pb coach and regular BWR host, Sophie Fitt. They also finally meet for the first time in real life and get to share a race experience together. Zacca continues his rebuild and return to running.

James Hansen joins the boys for a catch up, last time they caught up was in April and James had his sights set on a few domestic road races, before heading to Europe, we get an insight into his life on the road in Europe  as an athlete trying to run fast times and the challenges of getting into races. 

James now back in Tasmania is preparing for a tilt at making the Australian Team for the World Cross Country Championships next year being held in Bathurst, and this weekend he lines up at the National Championships in Adelaide, representing Tasmania, we hear about his hopes for the race and then future race and training plans as he turns his attention to chasing down that Aus Singlet.

James answers a few listener questions his favourite training partners and mindset.

The boys highlight run2pb power couple. Rhys and Stacey as Run2Pb heroes of the week,  off the the back of their amazing adelaide marathon adventure. https://www.instagram.com/p/Chnwn7Ov8Zd/?hl=en

Before closing out with a random act of kindness from Serene, HK based athlete who went above and beyond to send her coach Isaac a birthday surprise.

Partners

Pillar Performance - 15% discount on a single product purchase. Use code: R2PB1

- 20% discount on the purchase of two products or more. Use code: R2PB2

- 25% discount on the purchase of three products or more. Use code: R2PB3

Must got to our landing page: https://pillarperformance.shop/pages/run2pb

Yarraville Running Company, shop online @ https://www.therunningcompany.com.au/yarraville/  https://www.instagram.com/therunningcompany_yarraville/?hl=en

Medal Displays helps you organise and celebrate your achievements with a range of display items made for runners!

www.medaldisplays.com.au

Premium, Fast and Sustainable Running Socks

www.oatrunning.com

Run2PB Links:

Socials Run2PB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxkh-FgU2Wsork-18PfSUA

Find us here at: https://www.run2pb.co/better-with-running-podcast

Review on us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-with-running/id1506419354

In this weeks episode of Better with Running Podcast, Zacca is back after an eventful two weeks and happy to have a spot on the mic alongside host Chris Armstrong.

We hear the latest on Chris’s nerve issues as he rides the roller coaster of managing a niggle, his sunday culminates with an epic impromptu long Sunday run, as he turns his attention to a pacing gig with Run2PB legend, Sophie Fitt as he makes his debut this weekend at Ballarat.

Zacca gives us a behind the scenes, play by play on a photoshoot with Melbourne Running Brand - Erniold https://erniold.com/ which tested his speed and form. We then hear how he has come off covid super motivated to get rolling again and wants to eye off the marathon again.

Katie Dall is recognised as this weeks Run2PB Hero of the Week, we hear about her being one of the OGs at Run2PB and how she using running as a way to help raise money for charities.

More details about how you can support her event and follow her journey to the Bali Ultra on https://www.instagram.com/club_kt/?hl=en

Chris and Zac discuss an article that they loved about G.O.A.T Eluid Kipchoge, which really resonated with them as both athletes and coaches.

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/running/eliud-kipchoge-marathon-workout-training-principles/?utm_campaign=&utm_content&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=Outside+Run-facebook

Partners

Pillar Performance - 15% discount on a single product purchase. Use code: R2PB1

- 20% discount on the purchase of two products or more. Use code: R2PB2

- 25% discount on the purchase of three products or more. Use code: R2PB3

Must got to our landing page: https://pillarperformance.shop/pages/run2pb

Yarraville Running Company, shop online @ https://www.therunningcompany.com.au/yarraville/ https://www.instagram.com/therunningcompany_yarraville/?hl=en

Medal Displays helps you organise and celebrate your achievements with a range of display items made for runners!

www.medaldisplays.com.au

Premium, Fast and Sustainable Running Socks

www.oatrunning.com

Run2PB Links:

Socials Run2PB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxkh-FgU2Wsork-18PfSUA

Find us here at: https://www.run2pb.co/better-with-running-podcast

Review on us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-with-running/id1506419354