Explore every episode of the podcast Peak2Soon

Ryan Downs is only new to the sport of ultra running, but in a short space of time he's set big goals and hit them.

Running his first ultra at BRUTUS last year, Ryan got a taste for what its like to go long. Last year he also completed an incredible run streak, which he took on 10 years since he lost his mother Tereze following a five year battle with cancer.

This year Ryan become one of a small handful to secure 30 laps at the GUMBY at Blue Range Hut in the ACT. An achievement so incredible for someone so new to the sport.

His next big challenge is Ryan's Long Run 220km+ staged event over three days October 9-11th from Wagga Base Hospital, where Ryan's mum was born to Gungahlin Cemetery, where she is buried. A physical line drawn between beginning and farewell.

Everyone who donates goes into the draw to win incredible prizes, and your support will go directly to Rise Above. A charity that financially supports families with loved ones battling cancer.

As always thank you for your support.

Edwin Smith's journey into running didn't start with a marathon or a grand race, it began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdowns in place and little to do, he decided to run laps around his home in Sydney. What started as a casual pastime quickly turned into a passion that has transformed his life. In this podcast I talk with Edwin about his growth in running, which has seen him go from running newbie to completing a 100K run with friends.

But, Edwin is also a specialist in social media working on shows like Survivor and I'm a Celebrity have helped him have a great understanding of how social media works. With his @running_with_edwin page continuing to go from strength to strength on instagram.

He is also entering his first backyard ultra, so it was good to talk about how he is preparing for that.

**Trigger Warning**  This piece discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. 

For help in a crisis call 000. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Running for Resilience is a project in Canberra that recently set out the goal to have the Nation's Capital suicide free by 2033.

It's Founder Matt Breen is one of the most optimistic people you'll ever meet, but the death of his father to suicide and then his mother's cancer diagnosis in 2019 rocked him.

The group saved me in a tough time and I'll forever be grateful to Breeny and the crew for that, this wasn't an easy conversation, but one I think is as important as any I've had so far.

Sam Harvey is an incredible athlete who wants to dominate the world of Ultra Running.

Some were surprised by his recent result at Dead Cow Gully, smashing his previous best with 101 loops, before he was medically pulled from the event, but for anyone that has followed the rising New Zealand star, they would've known he was right in the mix to win the event.

With big goals on the horizon, Sam speaks so openly about the challenges associated with backyard ultra running, his battles with his mental health, his training, and his nutrition.

He also gives a unique insight into his result at Dead Cow Gully, his mindset and his goals going forward. I am so grateful to Sam for speaking so openly, it was a refreshing chat.

For those who may be listening with children there is explicit language used at times during this conversation. 

You can follow him on Instagram at: cloudlander_nz

Photo Credit: @charliespagalli

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

Allicia Heron is an incredible ultra athlete who most recently broke the Australian Women's 48-hour record in Taipei posting an incredible 361.160 kilometres.

It follows a whirlwind couple of months where she placed third at the Asia and Oceania Pacific 24-hour event in India, being part of an incredible Australian team that took gold for the women, before turning it around for a second placing behind Maree Connor at Coast to Kosci.

Allicia shares her insights following the race in Taipei as well as how she balances life as a working mum, with being one of Australia's premier ultra runners. It's an insightful chat that was a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy!

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

**Trigger Warning**  This piece discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. 

For help in a crisis call 000. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Alison To is an ultra runner inspiring many through her sheer determination which she shares on her instagram ali_runs_an_ultra. But her story is one that's been a rollercoaster, 

Many will relate to Alison using running as a form of release, and she's not shy to share the mental challenges and depression that she's faced, but she does so with a sprinkling of humour throughout. 

Truth is she's an absolute joy who has a big heart. A proud woman of asian heritage, she's breaking down cultural stereotypes as she prepares for her next big challenge in the Race Across Scotland.

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

One of Australia's most respected politicians Dr Andrew Leigh was recently crowned Australia's fittest politician.

For those that live in Canberra it would come as no surprise, as if you're up early enough you'll catch Dr Leigh running on the trails somewhere between Mount Ainslie and Mount Majura.

Dr Leigh shares his wisdom in this podcast, and a journey that's seem him run sub three hours in all six marathon majors, and most his running took him to South Africa's Comrades Marathon. 

But, it hasn't always been easy, injuries and an aging body have led to different challenges, but as Dr Leigh explains, sometimes it's not about racing our younger selves, the journey is much more satisfying than that.

Brooke Thomas is a star on the rise, and while she won't admit it she's one of the top trail runners in the world.

Recently, Brooke was the last woman standing at Arrowtown Backyard event, nearly placing her directly on the New Zealand team for the Satellite World Championships. 

That ends what has been a big year, which includes a fourth at UTA in her first showing, and being in the Top 40 women who finished this year's CCC at UTMB.

What's perhaps most incredible about all of this is that just over a decade ago, she was diagnosed with a heart condition and became the recipient of an inserted cardiac pacemaker, oh and I haven't even mentioned that she holds the women's record for the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail.

There's more to her, but you'll have to listen to this episode to find out!

The Ultra Mediocre Runners of Canberra, is one of those run clubs you feel has been around for ever, but it might surprise you to learn that the club is just a few years old. 

Born out of a couple of mates running together during the pandemic, the club now boasts over 50 members, which includes a couple of national champions, and the club also hosts the country’s toughest backyarder, The Gumby. 

I enjoyed this chat with a handful of the club's members after they recently introduced two new races to the Canberra Trail Running Scene, in BRuTUS and The Knife.

You can check them out at www.ultramediocre.run.

If you want to support the course you can at here and don't forget you can support the pod for just $2 a month at the Patreon.

James Sieber is the 2023 Archie winner down at Mt Buller, but his journey to this point is one of great interest.

Born into a family of skiiers, James gave up the sport and moved down under with his now wife Shivonne. This chat was a lot of fun, talking about technical downhill running, the Victorian Alpine region and winning blocks of wood!

James is a down to earth guy who is now giving back to the sport as a coach and it was a lot of fun to talk about his journey so far on the Peak2Soon Podcast, I know you'll all get a lot out of this one.

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

It's not often you can sitdown with a dietitian the calibre of Lauren Nash shoot from the hip with questions.

An incredible knowledge base that is only growing, Lauren also known as the thexfitdietitian is a performance dietitian that has worked with some of the world's leading athletes across a wide variety of disciplines.

This was an insightful conversation, that delves into a range of different topics that is bound to benefit runners of all abilities, on their journey in the ultra world.

Don't forget you can support the pod for just $2 a month at the Patreon

Maree Connor's story is simply incredible, after being faced with the difficult situation of requiring major back surgery, since then she's made just about every post a winner.

An incredibly strong willed individual, Maree has completed and won some of Australia's toughest ultras including back-to-back victories in the Coast to Kosci.

She loves talking about running as much as me, so this was a true joy to chat about Maree's journey, the iconic beer selfies and her dream of one day representing Australia.

All this just weeks out from the biggest race of her life at Badwater 135. If you want to support Maree as she becomes the 20th Aussie to race at Badwater, you can donate below which is the fundraiser her friends started to help her realise her dream of racing in the world's toughest ultra:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-toughest-foot-race-on-the-planet

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

Ultra running is not just about the physical challenge; it’s a profound journey that tests the limits of mental resilience and community spirit. In this episode I dive into the experiences of Tom Curry, a passionate ultra runner, who recently completed the UTA Miler. His journey is not just about crossing the finish line, but about the lessons learned along the way.

In this you'll learn that a DNF isn't the end of the world, and see that Tommy’s reflections offer valuable insights for both seasoned and aspiring ultra runners.

You can follow Tom on instagram at T0m_Runs.

Don't forget if you liked this episode to share and rate so others can also find it.

It's not often you get to sit down and chat to one of Australia's best ultra runners and throw whatever questions you like at them, but that's exactly what I got to do with 2022 Coast to Kosci Winner Rob Mason.

The win in the grueling 240km endurance race was Rob's sixth attempt, seeing a 12-year dream realised in the process. What many didn't know is that despite being such a respected ultra runner, Rob until recently didn't identify himself as a runner, so this podcast explores how he overcame those obstacles to be the runner he is today, as well as juggling his time as fireman, husband and loving father.

Rob also talks about what's next for him, and it's worth noting the day after our chat Rob set the new Fastest Known Time for the 16 Highest Peaks in Australia, absolutely epic!

You can find Rob at RobMasonRuns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, he's also sharing his tips and tricks on his own podcast 'Mindset for Runners' https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mindset-for-runners/id1593071800

Photo of Rob taken by Nathan Damcevski post C2K.

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

On the 19th of July 2025, Simon Dent and Todd Liubinskas will run from Brisbane to Sydney as part of the Lions’ Tour Down Under to raise money for Dallaglio RugbyWorks and The British & Irish Lions Trust. 

Joe Ward who previously held the fastest known time for the route is currently coaching the lads, and showing them what it takes to run one thousand kilometres in 14 days.

You can help the lads of reaching their fundrasing goal by hitting this link.

You can support the Podcast for as little as $2 via the Peak2Soon Patreon.

In late 2015, Mark’s close family friend and neighbour Frank was diagnosed with Cancer. Frank unfortunately passed away a few short months later. 

Mark was really struggling but like most blokes kept it in and started drinking heavily. To try and combat his depression and gain some control back over his life he signed up for his first marathon in Sydney in 2016. 

He's many things a husband, father, ultra runner, mental health ambassador, motivational speaker, but most of all he's a good bloke.

His story is one that proves what's possible when you set your mind to something, dream big, and then go out and try and achieve it, even if in the moment it seems impossible.

This year he finished second at Coast to Kosci, in what was a thrilling race, he shares an insight into his second effort at that race, as well as a new secret weapon he's using for his mindset.

Katie Dall is ultra endurance athlete, personal trainer, and founder of Club KT, Brisbane's biggest run community empowering runners of all levels.

With an impressive racing resume that includes 100 kilometre and 160 kilometre trail finishes, backyard ultras, and podium spots across Australia, Katie opens up about how she got to where she is today.

We also talk about the power of community through her run club, the give and take of being a single parent and the steps she’s taking to support the mental wellbeing of her community.

Katie also recently came back from crewing her partner Toby at Cocodona250, and like me is running in the Race of the Decade at Dead Cow Gully next week.

I greatly admire what she's been able to do in Brisbane, so it was great to have a chat.

Some on the east coast ultra running scene may never have heard of Michael Hooker until he blew some of the best runners out of the water with an incredible run at the recent AIS Track Invitational.

The run put him as the A Qualifier for the Australian team that's heading to Taiwan for the World Championships in December. It's worlds away from where Michael was in 2017, faced with the prospect of potentially never running again.

It's an incredible story of never giving up on yourself, and shows that sometimes life has a way of taking us down a path we never expected.

You can follow his journey on Instagram at hooks09.

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

Heather Hawkins is an incredible woman. 

After beating Ovarian Cancer at 47, she found running, and what started as laps around Sydney's Centennial Park, soon became winning the North Pole Marathon at minus 42 degrees celsius and plane hopping to run seven marathons across the globe in just 168 hours. 

An inspirational woman and an incredible athlete, who discovered it can often be the low points in our lives that become our most significant turning points.

You can connect with Heather on her socials:

Instagram: heather_adventurousspirit
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherHawkinsAdventurousSpirit
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAS6C6soR8kVLdT3WBMoL9w
LinkedIn: Heather Hawkins (Adventurer and Author)

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

What more can you say about Cassie Cohen? Already building such an impressive ultra running resume that others could only dream about, and she's still in her 20s.

But it's her humble nature and ability to overcome adversity that will continue to win her admirers. I learnt a lot in this chat with Cassie, and thoroughly enjoyed her deep insight into her ultra running journey in the last couple of years, and the challenges that have come from training for big races while working on tiny pacific island nations.

She's a gem and such a positive force in the sport, I can wait to see what she does in the near future.

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

Running became a love for so many of us during the pandemic, and for Jake Pearce it's seen him go on an incredible journey.

From hitting the wall in his first attempt at a marathon, just a year later he was running the Atacama Trail during a trip to the Americas with his girlfriend, and a love for the trails saw him race with the highest mountain in the Americas as his backdrop, in an incredible initiation to the sport of trail running.

Now he's hoping to take down Australia's highest peak in December at Ultra Trail Kosciuszko.

You can follow his journey at getawaysticks.ultra

Don't forget you can support the pod for just $2 a month at the Patreon

Ben Bailey is heading back to Coast to Kosci in the hopes of claiming his third pin on the Akubra from his fourth attempt.

The last few years have seen Ben complete some mind bending races including the Unreasonable East 200 Miler, Bigfoot 200 Endurance Run, Tahoe 200 Mile Endurance Run and earlier this year the Arizona Monster 300. 

It's an incredible resume that also includes a handful of finishes at UTA 100 as well. Ben shares his wisdom, including the great pride that he has at recently becoming a grandfather.

This episode kicks off this year's Road to Coast to Kosci series, where I'll chat to some experienced campaigners, and first timers, and as always your support is very much appreciated.

Seven years ago, I wrote about my friend Courtney Chapman as she prepared to take on one of the most grueling endurance challenges in riding: the Shahzada 400, held in St Albans in the Hawkesbury region.

At the time, doctors had told Courtney she shouldn’t compete due to her autoimmune condition, Crohn’s disease. But she did it anyway.

Now, seven years later, Courtney joins me to reflect on that experience, and to explore how trauma can lead us to take on extraordinary feats of endurance.

Courtney is now a mental health advocate and educator who understands the importance of feeling safe, seen, and supported. Through her work with Mental Illness Education ACT, she shares her lived experience to break stigma and spark honest conversations. In her role within the Australian Public Service, she helps build trauma-aware environments where people can thrive, blending personal resilience with a deep commitment to community connection and hope-led change.

If you enjoyed this episode (or any others), please consider leaving a review, and if you’re able to support the show, you can do so for just $2 a month via the Peak2Soon Patreon:

👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone — support is always available:

📞 Medicare Mental Health Centre Canberra - 1800 595 212
📞 Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
📞 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 or https:www.beyondblue.org.au

Amber and Blaine Bourke are incredible siblings and next month they are releasing a book 'To the Limit'.

The book is a conversation between the pair about pushing limits and letting go. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the book, and after reading it have both Amber and Blaine on the podcast.

Amber is a world class free diver, and a former elite sychronised swimmer, she has been at the top of her chosen sports for the past two decades.

For Blaine he has been a national 24-hour champion, captured the hearts of the ultra running community recently at Hardcore Harry's King of the Hill, and just last week won the Noosa 100.

This is a conversation I deeply enjoyed with two amazing athletes, I hope you enjoy it, and don't forget to look out for the book!

Gaby Villa is a sports nutritionist, dietitian and founder of IntensEATfit. She specialises in optimising performance for triathletes and ultra-runners by making food their best ally in sport and life. Over the past decade, Gaby has supported hundreds of athletes, including former backyard ultra world record holder Phil Gore, to overcome lack of energy and gut upset so they can fuel their bodies with confidence and race to their full potential. 

After overcoming her struggles with body image and weight concerns for several years, Gaby has witnessed and lived the benefits of seeing food beyond its nutrients. 

Gaby is on a mission to empower people to fuel with purpose while building a happy and strong body. She strives to contribute to a world that enables and promotes a healthy and active lifestyle for everybody.

This has been a podcast episode I've been looking forward to, I hope you enjoy!

Chantelle Smith has had an incredible 18-months in running. A win at Brisbane Trail Ultra 2023, saw her follow with a second placing at the Tarawera Miler, and then a sixth female finish at Coast to Kosci at the end of last year.

A brief running journey, which has seen highs paired with lows, and lessons in patience. 

Chantelle is another example of the running mums that are taking ultra running by storm.

In this chat she highlights how trying to fill the void saw her gain so much more, the challenges she's faced throughout her journey, how important open communication is with a husband/partner and the cramp that threatened her Coast to Kosci race.

Allie Corripio achieved something at Coast to Kosci 2024 that many thought wouldn't be done for years, if at all, she broke the Women's Race Record.

But, she didn't just beat it she smashed it.

The 2020 effort completely shattered by Allie, who in doing so has now raised the bar, following her incredible duel with overall winner Benn Coubrough and third placed Cassie Cohen at the back end of the race.

In this podcast Allie talks me through her rapid rise in ultra running, which she has done while balancing her job as an equine vet and as a young mum. As you'll find out it hasn't always been smooth sailing, which makes the achievement even more impressive.

I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to chat with Allie so soon after the race, and have her break the race down bit, by bit, giving you all an intricate look into what went into the record breaking feat.

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.

Michael O'Brien's world changed when he took on the challenge of 75 Hard. The gruelling fitness challenge that requires a real mental and physical commitment from people.

From there, after never being a particular sporty individual he got the running bug, which saw him run nine marathons, before joining the Bravehearts 777 Challenge, where people run seven marathons in seven states/territories in seven days.

Now he's recently completed a 100 kilometre race here in Canberra which has him once again in pursuit of his limits.

Isobel Tait has had an incredible running career, from humble beginnings, Isobel has gone on to win some of Australia's great ultra races including Six Foot Track and Great Southern Endurance Run Miler.

She has represented Australia 3 times at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships, and has raced twice in the Barkley Marathons. If that wasn't enough she also holds the fastest known time for climbing Victoria's 7 highest peaks in one run.

Taking all her experience, Isobel brings that now to her coaching, bringing a philosphy backed by the latest science.

You can follow her at PeakEnduranceCoaching on Instagram.

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.

Sascha Meyer's journey is one of great interest. Working as a mechanic for some of Germany's most iconic car brands he decided he wanted more out of life.

That led him to a trip down under and a move that's changed his life, with that discovering a love of running just a couple of years ago, he's about to attempt to shatter Joe Ward's Brisbane to Sydney FKT in July this year.

This is the story of why he's doing it, and how this former car mechanic's life flipped upside down from the moment he ran his first half marathon.

Zac O'Neil already has such an impressive ultra running resume, but the way he goes about it may surprise you.

With wisdom well beyond his years Zac talks about longevity in the sport and how he wants to be running well into his octogenarian years and beyond. He shares how he's completed Australia's toughest ultra twice, as well as some news that he's now linked up with one of the world's leading dietitians and his company.

This was a lot of fun and you can follow Zac's incredible journey here.

Claudine Chi is a winning mindset coach and 16-time national and international karate champion. In this open conversation Claudine shares her insights on the importance of mindset in achieving personal and athletic goals. She discusses the intrinsic nature of mindset coaching, the common challenges we as humans face, and the significance of self-belief. Claudine emphasises the need for mental training alongside physical preparation, the impact of self-talk, and the invisible barriers that hinder self-belief. Through personal anecdotes and examples from her coaching experiences, this is a conversation I believe will inspire listeners to unlock their potential and embrace the journey of personal growth.

If you want to work with Claudine you can at: www.claudinechi.com/journal.

Lisa Sherman wears many hats including incredible ultra runner and nutritionist. She's also about to add Race Director, where as you'll find out in the pod the pandemic forced other plans onto Lisa, which has since seen the creation of I'm Still Standing in Sydney, bringing another offering to those who would like to try the format and live on the East Coast of Australia.

She also added an Akubra to her collection of hats, yes, she's a finisher of Australia's most elite ultra Coast to Kosci. Throw in a Six Foot Track completion, being a senior run leader of Boobs on the Run among other achievements and it's a pretty stacked resume.

I hope you enjoy this one, the 40th episode of the Peak2Soon Podcast, on what is the Pod's 1st Birthday, none of this is possible without your support, so wherever you're taking this in, I hope you enjoy it.

Dillon Rinn did something last year that no one had done in the history of the Elephant Trail Race, he became the race's first ever Ultra Elite Finisher, completing the 217km gruelling race.

It gave him multiple finishes at the event, having completed a 100 miler in the first year the race existed, not knowing what he was in for, then coming back a few years later to create a World Record in becoming the first person to carry a 30 pound vest for 100 kilometres.

But, there was something missing, and last year Dillon ran 50 ultras in a row to kick off the year, which set him down a path to the country's toughest ultra 'Coast to Kosci', and a top four finish.

An impressive story, and one we'll all take a lot from.

You can support the Podcast for as little as $2 a month here.

This is an unedited insight into the mindset of the World's Best Ultra Runner, that wants to break the 48-hour world record this weekend in Canberra.

Camille Herron is an absolute joy, and while being a champion runner, she's also a champion person. I was able to go out and have a chat to Camille, hit record on the laptop and get an incredible insight into how the world's best prepares for a 48-hour race.

Not even the thunder and lightning outside could deter Camille's spirit, this was a lot of fun and I'm thankful for Conor organising the opportunity to speak to Camille. We're all pushing for Camille to break the world record this weekend!

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

The 20th edition of the great race promises to be an absolute classic. It will be hard to top last year's heart stopping finish between Ben Coubrough and Allie Corripio, but 2025 has that feel about it.

A huge field will start on Friday, with a great mix of newcomers and experienced campaigners. 

Two time women's champion Maree Connor joins me for a bit of fun to talk about this year's race, we both love it, and I hope you enjoy it.

If you're travelling to this year's race be safe, and most of all I hope you love the magic that this race brings.

The final episode in this series in the lead up to 2025's edition of the Great Race.

Zed Zlotnick finished the race in 2022, joining the Coast to Kosci family with a determined finished, spending more than 45 hours out on course.

Growing up in South Africa, Zed has completed the Two Oceans Marathon five times, and the Comrades Marathon (Down) twice.

But, after moving to Australia and connected with an incredible group of endurance runners, Zed himself has completed some amazing feats, including 14 Six Foot Track finishes, multiple 48 hour track races, backyard ultras and he is also part of the 100 Marathon Club.

It's not just his finish at Coast to Kosci though that links him to Australia's great race. He was part of the legendary Jane Trumper's crew for her 10th finish, helped Adrian Whatmore put a crew together in 2023 and this year will be back crewing his mate Ben Munro in his first attempt at the race.

Throughout this chat Zed speaks with humour and shares some insights into a life time of running. I loved this one and I hope you do too!

Matt Pilley is coming back to Coast to Kosci for the third year in a row, and he's already had incredible success in his two starts at the race being on the male podium in year one, and then finishing as the second male behind Benn Coubrough.

Now, a father to Hugo, this year's lead up is a completely different ball game for Matt, who as you'll find out in this podcast will be bringing another experienced team to Coast to Kosci.

With nothing to hide Matt shares a number of his tips and tricks for the race, so if you're a first timer to the race this is a must listen.

Jordan Nukunuku suffered a heart break which kicked off his running journey, and it's been a journey of incredible ups and downs.

The young Kiwi from Rotorua recently won The Guzzler Ultra, after the first placed finisher was handed a time penalty, but it's a win at Brisbane Trail Ultra 110 kilometre race in 2023, after suffering an ACL injury in the months prior that shows how tough Jordan truly is.

A self described 'amateur dirt vert surfer' Jordan flashed onto the major scene with an impressive run at Tarawera 100 miler this year, only fuelling the fire in wanting to win his home major.

Jordan also took part in for what is now considered the last Down Under 135, an incredible endurance event that attracts the toughest long distance runners in Australia.

It's already a serious resume for the Spring Energy and Trainade Athlete, and I guarantee this won't be the last you hear of him.

Thomas White is an ultra runner, photographer, and filmmaker who has turned his passion for endurance sports into a journey of personal growth and adventure. Starting his running journey in 2016, remembering the pride of finishing a 3 kilometre run, Thomas quickly became hooked on the challenge and steadily built his distance, from 7 kilometre runs to completing his first half-marathon in 2018. His love for pushing limits grew, leading him to his first ultra.

After a setback with a serious stress fracture, Thomas took six months off to recover, using the time to explore cycling and walking. He made a triumphant return to ultra running in 2020 with the Summit Shoalhaven 55km, followed by a personal best at the Alpine Challenge 100km in 2021, where he placed 3rd with a time of 14:58.

This year he finished Coast to Kosci for a second time, finishing as the third male in the race and fifth overall.

Through his website and instagram, Thomas shares his experiences in ultrarunning, photography, and filmmaking, hoping to inspire others to embrace the outdoors and pursue their own adventures - no matter how big or small.

You can find more about him here.

Ella Clark's running journey started like all good ones do, with heartbreak. 

That first heartbreak lead her down the path of signing up to her first marathon at the start of 2018 and running it months later, a daunting task when you are only new to running.

From there Ella has only gone from strength-to-strength and in 2024 she completed not only a miler, but Australia's premier ultra marathon in Coast to Kosci.

But, throughout this interview it will come as no surprise at how she's been able to move through the distances, with an incredible determination and one of the most positive attitudes you will ever come across.

What a way to kick off season four. Thank you everyone for taking the time to support this home grown poddy.

Stephen Parker has been a runner for most of his life. It's led him on some incredible adventures, particularly in the Backyard Ultra space where he has been involved in some iconic races, two of which involved some Australian women's running history.

His passion though has led him to write a book There is No Finish which is aimed at runners, and anyone interested in a great sporting story.

It introduces the exploding world of the Backyard Ultra, a new ultramarathon format. Birthed from the high school musings of Lazarus Lake, renowned for the Barkley Marathons, the running event has spread globally—to over eighty countries— with sky-rocketing numbers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this chat with Stephen, in what will no doubt be the first of many he undertakes before his book launches October 12.

You can find more information here

Jonathan Ash shares his journey from a novice runner to a two time winner of backyard ultras, which has also seen him become the second Australian to run 100 loops in a backyard ultra. He discusses the mental and physical challenges of that format, the importance of learning from past experiences, and the dynamics of crew support in races. Jashy highlights the significance of enjoying the process of running and the unique aspects of backyard ultras, including the mental game and recovery. He reflects on his experiences in various races, including his first 100K in the Blue Mountains and Big's Backyard Ultra World Championships, highlighting the camaraderie and community within the ultra running scene.

I hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did!

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!

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

Each year a run takes place for the Bravery Trust charity called 'The Bravery Trek'.

This year Ambassador and Veteran Murray Bruce and Canberra running Icon Singh Talwar took part in this year's edition, which was 4 marathons in 4 states in 44 days.

This podcast takes on a lot of their wisdom and gives you an insight into The Bravery Trek and why they both take part. If you'd like to support them you can do so here.