Peak2Soon – Details, episodes & analysis

Coast to Kosci is Australia's premier ultra marathon, 240km from a beach near Eden all the way to the top of Australia then back down to Charlotte Pass.

Like last year this race is super stacked, and no doubt this year will throw up another surprise or two.

2022 Winner Rob Mason along with 2021-22 winner Maree Connor join me to talk about this year's race.

If you're following the race on social media don't forget to join the conversation using #coasttokosci2024. You can also follow all the action from this weekend's race here which will include live commentary and all the race updates.

Also really worth checking out Rob's podcast 'Mindset for Runners'

Lauren Theodore's running journey changed when she was given a wildcard entry into the 2022 edition of Coast to Kosci.

Having a couple of marathons already under her belt, as well an 80km race at Noosa, and the Larapinta 127km stage race, receiving an entry into the race was a huge leap of faith, but she repaid that faith by showing her trademark grit, finishing inside the top 20 women at Surf Coast Century, before spending 42 and a half hours on her feet for her first finish at Coast to Kosci.

Not bad for someone who just a few years earlier was balancing the start of her running journey while playing Aussie Rules and Netball. Since then she's completed another Coast to Kosci, the 2023 Southern Lakes Ultra, and an eye watering 250 miles at Cocodona (making her the first Aussie to finish that race I'm told!)

Having just completed her 'home town' ultra at the Great Ocean Road a few weeks ago, Lauren is now on track to claim her third finish at Australia's Premier Ultra. That would see her join some rare air, so far only 44 runners have three of more finishes at Coast to Kosci.

You can follow her adventures on instagram at theodorelauren.

This episode marks 60 episodes of the Peak2Soon Podcast, without your support none of this is possible, so thank you, if you love what I do, leave a review, so others like you can find and listen to the amazing humans on this podcast.

Mika Koelma is the co-founder of Hey Zomi, a company leading the way in menstrual health, period care solutions and education, which she founded with her sister Zoe. 

As a runner, she uses her experience in education to empower women to change the conversation around their own health.

Mika is not your regular entrepreneur, and her positivity radiates throughout this conversation, I hope you enjoy it.

If you want to know more you can find out more at heyzomi.

Ryan MacPherson is not your standard hybrid athlete, and his adventures in climbing and mountaineering which started in Canada have led him to some of the most incredible experiences you can have in life.

He breaks down the lingo behind climbing, and how this electrician from Australia fell in love with the mountains.

He's also an accomplished trail runner completing some of Australia's toughest trail races including a win at the Alpine Challenge 100 kilometre race, and an incredible fourth in the Great Southern Endurance Run 100 mile race of 2022.

You can see more of Ryan at ryanjmacpherson89 on instagram.

This is episode 50 of the Peak2Soon Podcast and I want to thank everyone for their support. Whether you've listened to a couple of minutes or the whole library, thank you so much.

Beth McKenzie is well known in the world of triathlon, and has now announced herself on the trails, following a stunning with at Ultra Trail Australia's 100 kilometre race, in just her second attempt at the distance.

But, what you'll learn is that Beth doesn't do things by halves, if she's going for something it's all in.

In this podcast she gives a blow by blow insight into her day out in the Blue Mountains, what it took to get there, and why pilates might be a secret weapon for success!

Tomorrow 12 groups of 6 runners will be going from the Gold Coast to Tenterfield more than 300 kilometres away. The concept has grown rapidly in this the second year it is being run.

But why? The Madness of Red Bull 24 Hour Race The Sun, the brainchild of Courtney Atkinson, this race is going to test the limits of even the best runners in this race.

The concept intrigues me because it feels like a relay version of Coast to Kosci. I've done a small preview with the information I have, to follow the race you can follow updates on @racethesun24hr, with it all kicking off at 6:29am AEST Friday May 31.

Would you do it? 

Joe Ward has recently come off a second placing at Australia's 24 Hour Championship, and last week had his long standing Fastest Known Time from Brisbane to Sydney broken.

We also talk about his work with Sean Bell who is currently ripping it up running across the country, and why he has put his hand up to be president of AURA.

Holly Ranson took the recent Australian 24-Hours National Championships by storm, running a new Australian Women's record in the process, along with a whole stack of new records along the way at the AIS in Canberra, which involved some incredible crewing from her partner Nic French.

That performance is just a small slice of what Holly has done in the ultra running and trail running space, with impressive performances in a range of different formats, including being one of the last one's left when Hysterical Carnage was called off in 2022.

She also has lived a very interesting life doing a variety of different jobs that have helped others, including her own business Mind, Body & Bowl Health Coaching.

Phil Gore is a household name in Ultra Running, making a name for himself as a Former World Record Holder in the Backyard Ultra format with 102 loops at the Australian Backyard Masters in 2023, which still stands as an Australian record.

More recently he set a new Oceania 24-hour record at the Asia-Oceania Championships in Canberra. In this podcast he gives some great insights into how to tackle your next Backyard Ultra, his meticulous planning, as well as how he became the runner he is today, which includes an impressive run streak of running five or more kilometres a day.

Phil also shares the tough decision he could be faced with next year after his great performance in Canberra. You can find him on instagram: @phil.gore.ultrarunner

Photo: By Three and You Photography

It's finally here the 24 Hour Championship for Asia and Oceania and Australia. Two epic races happening this weekend in Canberra, I give my predictions for the two races, and chat with race Director Matthew Eckford about the race weekend, and some things to look out for in Canberra.

What a stacked field, predicting this race isn't easy but keen to hear who you think will win it all when it's all said and done come Sunday morning!