Better with Running

In this special episode, Run2PB coaches Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman sit down with elite runner, rehabilitation physiotherapist, and dad of two, Reece Edwards. Fresh off a stellar 3rd-place podium finish at the Melbourne Marathon where he chased down Eliud Kipchoge in 2:14:33, Reece shares the raw reality of high-performance balancing. From his accidental running origins in Canberra and fueling breakthroughs with Amacx, to the ultimate humble parenting reality check—heading straight from the podium to a toddler's birthday party at Bounce—this is a open chat on resilience, mindset, and navigating life at the pointy end of the sport. The Accidental Running OriginsReece shares how his athletic journey began unexpectedly after university while living with elite runner Chris Hamer in Canberra, transitioning from a background in hockey and cycling straight into Dick Telford's legendary training group and running a 2:16 debut marathon fueled almost entirely on Coca-Cola. Re-setting a Challenging 2026 SeasonAfter a string of frustrating illnesses—including hand, foot and mouth and influenza A—combined with the emotional and physical toll of welcoming his second child, Jamie, Reece opens up about hitting a wall and nearly walking away from the sport. The Mental Shift: Competence Over ConfidenceDiscussing a pivotal turning point with a colleague at work, Reece explains how shifting his mindset away from superficial confidence to deep-seated competence through targeted speed work and altered long runs completely revitalized his relationship with racing. The Melbourne Marathon EpicReece walks through the adrenaline-fueled madness of going out in a blistering 64-low first half, locking stride with Eliud Kipchoge, soaking in the electric wall of sound on Beach Road, and holding it together for a brilliant 2:14:33 finish. Trading post-race VIP lounges for toddler duty, Reece recounts the surreal transition from taking selfies on the elite podium to shivering in his race kit, catching the train to Glen Iris, and attempting front flips at a 3-year-old's birthday party at Bounce. He details how a collaboration with Amacx and dietitian Emma Fielding transformed his performance, Reece explains the critical changes he made to his daily hydration, professional snacking habits, and race-day carbohydrate strategy using Turbo Gels. Reece and the hosts preview the massive community atmosphere awaiting them up in Echuca-Moama for the Sweat vs. Steam event, where Michelle is locked in for the 10K. Chriso, asks the hard hitting quick qs on, Run Commute Essentials, Super Shoes vs. Timing Devices:Shoe Rotation,Top Bakery Items and Advice for 18-Year-Old ReeceInstagram: ⁠@reecedwards7⁠ Strava: ⁠Reece Edwards Strava⁠ Watch: Check out the YouTube feature ⁠UNBREAKABLE | Reece Edwards⁠ Oat Running Socks PartnerOat Running Socks is proud to partner with the Better With Running podcast and Run2PB, keeping our community moving in absolute comfort. Engineered for peak performance.Oat Running Socks This episode is brought to you in partnership with Oat Running Socks and listeners can score some using the run2pb discount code "Run2pb15" for 15% off the range by visiting ⁠www.oatrunning.com.auAmacx Fueling Partner - https://www.amacx.au/Fuel your training like the pros. Amacx products—including the Turbo Gels and Oat Bars used by Reece—are designed to sit light in the stomach and drive high performance. Use code Run2PB20 at checkout to save on your next order, and try Reece's go-to flavors: the Citrus Turbo Gels and the Orange 30g gels.

Welcome to Episode 321 of the Better With Running podcast with hosts Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman. The guys kick off the episode with some exciting behind-the-scenes teasers about upcoming developments at Run2PB HQ, alongside listener shout-outs—including a special nod from the great man Nawazz, and positive feedback from Brady regarding last week's raw, unscripted chat with Moose. Chris updates the listeners on his training block, logging around 78 kilometres for the week, highlighted by a solid 10km steady effort in 37:52 where splits stayed within 3 or 4 seconds of each other. He also powered through a 27km long run fueled by a rotation of orange and raspberry Amex gels. Meanwhile, Zac has banked 62 kilometres, keeping his mileage controlled while dialling in a new gym program with Telf to build strength and bulletproof his body for upcoming sessions. The duo also previewed the upcoming Sweat vs Steam event in Echuca, highlighting the social media hype and Paddle Steamer PS Pevensey’s race day predictions. This week’s feature guest is returning Run2PB legend Bowen Law, who first appeared back in May 2023 (Episode 141). Coached by Matt Davy, Bowen caught the running bug during COVID when he signed up with a 10k PB of 48:10 and a 5k of 23:00. Fast forward to the Melbourne Marathon this October, and Bowen smashed the sub-3-hour barrier to clock an incredible 2:56:52 (averaging 4:10/km)—shaving over 26 minutes off his previous Melbourne finish. Chris and Zac dive deep into Bowen's non-linear journey, discussing how he bounced back from a tough 3:30:11 finish at the Ballarat marathon in April within just six months. They unpack the exact training shifts implemented by coach Matt Davy—such as raising his average weekly volume from 38.6 km to 58.8 km, and drastically increasing hard session distance from 4 km a week to over 23 km across two quality sessions. Bowen shares how he manages this high-level training while working a physically demanding full-time job as a plumber climbing up and down stairs at Marvel Stadium all day, as well as juggling his thriving trade tool side hustle, Mech Tools. https://mechtools.com.au/To round out the episode, Chris puts Bowen through a lightning round of quick-fire questions covering everything from his go-to craft beer (Sailors Grave) and gel preferences to his current shoe rotation ( Metaspeed, New Balance 1080, and Superblast). As a thank-you for jumping on the show, Bowen is gifted a fresh pair of Australian-made Oak Running socks (the Black Tiffany Crew) courtesy of https://www.oatrunning.com.au/

Welcome to a very special Episode 320 of the Better With Running podcast! Chris Armstrong and Zacca Newman kick things off by introducing Julian " Moose" Spence. As a 2:14 marathoner, Australia’s sole representative at the 2019 Doha World Championships, elite coach to Olympian Ellie Pashley, and owner of The Running Company (Geelong, Torquay, and Canberra), Jules brings unmatched insights to the table. Part one dives into Julian’s fascinating backstory, from his primary school walkathon days and playing local senior footy to finding his true calling in running Moose opens up about the raw mental shift from a naive kid who used to quit when things got tough to an athlete who thrived inside the "hurt locker," culminating in the surreal pride of pulling on the green and gold in Doha. The conversation then pivots to coaching philosophy and his partnership with Ellie Pashley. Jules shares hilarious early stories of a hungover Ellie on shop couches before she unlocked her world-class aerobic engine, transforming into an elite Olympian and national champion under his guidance. They also unpack common coaching pitfalls, rejecting over-complicated training plans, and why consistency and mileage always trump gimmicks. Moose takes u behind the scenes with the world of running stores, the impact of modern shoe technology, and why personalised, expert advice on the shop floor can save runners from injury and wasted money. To wrap up a bumper special, Moose breezes through the rapid-fire round—touching on his degree in Indonesian, choosing Rob de Castella over Rod Dixon, why super shoes bring pure joy compared to the anxiety of running watches, and his unique shoe rotation. Finally, the team thanks this week's partner, Oat Running, who are hooking Julian up with a fresh pair of their premium running socks!Support Julian and the stores by:@therunningcompany_torquayTorquay, Victoria3/1 Haystacks DriveTorquay VIC [email protected]@therunningcompany_geelongShop 2/226 Pakington StGeelong West 3218+61 3 5242 [email protected]@therunningcompany_canberra35 Townsville St, Fyshwick ACT 260902 6193 [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 319 of the Better With Running Podcast! Chris Armstrong and Zack Newman kick things off by breaking down their training blocks, with Chris logging 74km—highlighted by 8 x 800m repeats and a strong 27km long run—alongside a celebratory nod to the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. Zacca shares his week of 55km easy-effort kilometres, setting the stage for a massive episode ahead.Returning guest Fraser Pope joins the show alongside coach James Telford to unpack his stellar performance at the Melbourne Marathon, where he sliced three minutes off his Gold Coast time to run a brilliant 2:46:23. The crew dives into Fraser’s incredible progression from senior footy stalwart to sub-2:50 marathoner, comparing his training blocks, high-volume weeks, and how he and Telf fine-tuned their race execution.To wrap up a bumper episode, Fraser tackles the famous quick-fire round—sharing everything from his fav athlete, to his current shoes of choice. It’s a jam-packed session full of coaching insights, laughs, and running banter.Oat Running Socks is proud to partner with the Better With Running podcast and Run2PB, keeping our community moving in absolute comfort. Engineered for peak performance.Oat Running Socks | Official Partner of Better With Running & Run2PB

Chris Armstrong and Zacca Newman are back for another week of all things running, with plenty to unpack after a huge Melbourne Marathon weekend. From the atmosphere on the ground and some outstanding performances to the training changes behind big PBs, there’s plenty to get stuck into.The boys kick things off diving into Melbourne Marathon, reflecting on the racing, the results and the stories that make this event such a special weekend on the Australian running calendar.They then catch up with Run2PB athlete Peter Oslewski, who ran an incredible 19-minute marathon PB to finish in 3:07:30, coached by Nikki Curry. Pete shares his running journey, how his training has progressed over the years, balancing running with a full-time job and two young kids, and what it’s like working with Nikki. They also get into his marathon build, favourite sessions and what’s next on the racing calendar.Later, Mel Townsend returns to the show, she delivered a huge 2:41 marathon PB, finishing 10th overall and third Victorian at Melbourne Marathon. The team breaks down her progression across three marathon builds, improving from 2:53 to 2:48 and now 2:41. We look at the changes behind the improvement, including increased training volume, more long runs over 30km, additional quality work and a big step up in carbohydrate intake during racing.Oat Running Socks is proud to partner with the Better With Running podcast and Run2PB, keeping our community moving in absolute comfort. Engineered for peak performance.Oat Running Socks | Official Partner of Better With Running & Run2PB