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Ron and I discuss the pros and cons of having 'runner' as your identity. We delve into when this is a good thing and when it goes too far. • The aim isn’t to care less about running. It’s to make sure running isn’t carrying all the weight on its own. A broader identity makes you a better runner. You make clearer decisions on race day, you recover properly instead of panicking, and you can take a DNF without it breaking you.

Ok, strap in listeners for the top 12 trail/ultra races in Australia as judged by Ron and I. Based purely on races either Ron and I (or both) have done and biased towards the types of races we like. You may not agree, but that's ok! Let us know races you think deserve to be there!

My daughter Elizabeth comes on the pods to discuss the highs and lows of crewing at TDG. What wet well, what was hard and what we would do better next time. Essential listening for anyone wanting to crew at any race!

Ron and I discuss how my TDG race went...and what led to the DNF. We discuss lesson's learnt and what I would do differently.

Ron and I discuss my final preparations for TDG. It's getting real now!!!

Ron and I discuss strength training for runners: How often you need to train, when is the best time and the sort of work you need to do.

Have you lost your running mojo? Ron and I discuss 10 ways to spice up your running!

You've had your rest days, your legs feel fine, your blood markers would look fine too, and you're still snapping at your kids, can't sleep, can't focus, feel flat or wired for no reason. That's not laziness or being soft. That's a nervous system still in overdrive weeks after the race finished. This episode is about the recovery nobody talks about because it doesn't show up on a training log.

Isobel and Ron discuss Isobel's 100k race at the Elephant Trail Race in Port Macquarie and give updates on the tent and Tor Des Geants training

I don't really have a big why. And I've represented Australia three times, won Six Foot Track, run three Barkleys. So, either I've been doing it wrong the whole time, or the 'find your why' advice is oversold. The real question of the episode: is a why necessary, or just sometimes useful.

We live in a world where our watches tell us how we slept, how recovered we are, how hard we should train and even how stressed we are. While technology can be incredibly useful, many runners have become so dependent on it that they no longer trust what their own body is telling them. In this episode, Isobel and Ron discuss why learning to run by feel is one of the most valuable skills you can develop, especially if you want to become a stronger trail and ultra runner. They talk about why pace and heart rate are often poor guides on technical trails, how perceived effort becomes your most reliable tool on race day, and practical ways to start reconnecting with your body's signals. If you have ever cancelled a session because your watch said you were "unrecovered" despite feeling great, or pushed through exhaustion because the numbers looked good, this episode is for you.

Isobel and Ron talk about what Isobel is doing for her training for Tor Des Geants. They discuss the daily and weekly work required and the fact that big races take a lot out of you.

Ron and Isobel chat with Kerryn Bell about the Southern Lakes Ultra, a 7day, 6 stage multi day event in New Zealand. If you've ever thought about doing a multi-day event but don't want to have to go all the way to the states or Europe, then this one is for you! Kerryn gives us all the details on how the race works and shares the fun that is the Southern Lakes Ultra. Link to enter is here: https://southernlakesultra.com/entryform

Isobel's daughter Elizabeth comes on to discuss her hike of the Camino Trail. This is a very runnable trail and a popular destination for multi day running. Hear how you could easily organise this adventure for yourself!

Most runners train hard and eat like an afterthought. In this episode, Isobel and Ron break down the nutrition fundamentals that directly support your training: not the fads, not the noise, just what the research actually says and what she's learned from years of racing and coaching at the sharp end of the sport. They cover the biggest mistake runners make with food (hint: it's not eating too much), why carbohydrates are not the enemy, how much protein you actually need as an endurance athlete, and why your gut health might be the thing standing between you and your next finish line. Ron also weighs in, because someone has to represent the people who just eat whatever and hope for the best. In this episode: RED-S — the underfuelling syndrome that's wrecking performance for more runners than you thinkThe carbohydrate conversation (and why low-carb isn't the answer for most of you)Protein targets for endurance athletes, the numbers will probably surprise youTiming your nutrition around training — what actually mattersGut health, GI distress, and why race day is not the time to experimentThis is training nutrition: day-to-day eating that builds a body that can handle the work. Race-day fuelling is a separate episode entirely. If this episode makes you realise your nutrition needs a proper look, start with booking a call at peakendurancecoaching.com.au Peak Endurance Coaching is based in Melbourne, Australia. Isobel Tait is a Level 3 Sports Nutritionist, UESCA certified ultra running and endurance nutrition coach, and three-time Australian representative at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships, as well as competing at The Barkley Marathons three times.