Episode 67 is our New Year’s Special — a bit of a look back, a bit of a laugh, and a thank you to everyone who’s been part of the In The Beginning family this year.
With Liam away in Japan, Courtney jumps on solo to wrap up what 2025 actually looked like: the Gold Coast Marathon series and Bronte’s journey to the start line, Benita’s calm, no-hype coaching. Doubts, sickness, missed sessions and all.
We roll through some of the biggest moments of the year: sitting down with Jelly Roll before his first Aussie show, marathon gold from Michael Shelley, Matt Hauser’s world title season, physio tips from Britt Caling, plus plenty of blunders, banter and laughs along the way.
No fake motivation. No influencer noise. Just effort over ego.
Happy New Year legends — 2026, let’s get after it.
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Merry Christmas 🎅
Most importantly, a massive thank you to the In The Beginning community. Your messages, questions, voice notes and support are the reason this podcast exists — and the reason we keep turning up each week. We wouldn’t do this without you.
Liam's going to be trading Christmas Day runs for Disneyland in Tokyo, while Courtney dives deep into Strava’s backend data to unpack what 2025 really looked like for runners.
We break down the anti-doom-scrolling stat (2 minutes on Strava = 1 hour of activity), the world’s most logged shoes (ASICS Novablast, Nike Pegasus, HOKA Clifton), SEQ vs Sydney run culture, Gen Z lifting for aesthetics, and why blokes jump straight to marathons while women dominate half-marathon training.
Plus:
🎄 The most intimidating sports to try
🎄 Why multi-sport athletes are the most consistent
🎄 Liam nearly concussing himself texting while running
🎄 UTA Miler prep and a Noosa Ultra Trail 50K qualification locked in
🎄 Favourite moments from a huge year of the podcast
A proper end-of-year wrap with plenty of running, laughs and perspective.
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A voicemail from friend of the show Dr Benny Walters sparks one of our biggest conversations yet — ego, ageing, PBs and why Courtney refuses to declare a goal time for the marathon and T100 10K GOLD COAST - ENTER HERE .
The boys unpack:
Is ego essential in elite sport — or something you eventually let go of?
Courtney’s honest take on racing, ageing, and not knowing where the body’s at
Brad “The Croc” Bevan stories from the glory days (including a very borderline shoulder 👀)
Marathon integrity: does a GPS watch make you sub-3 if the official time says otherwise?
Jess Stenson’s incredible new Australian marathon record at Valencia
Alex Yee’s mind-blowing 2:06 marathon — should he switch from triathlon?
Olympic retirement funding — who should get it, and who shouldn’t?
Jelly Roll on Rogan, consistency as the real magic, and a massive Bali run for charity
Plenty of laughs, strong opinions, and classic In The Beginning zig-zagging — but it all comes back to one question: why do we race at all?
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The T100 World Series is launching on the Gold Coast — and there’s a fast, flat 10K for the RUNNERS finishing in Surfers Paradise - ENTER HERE .
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The Gold Coast Marathon sold out in 24 hours — so today we’re celebrating, laughing and calling out the chaos. We break down the rise of the new “Marathon Integrity Unit” policing fake GPS times, why chip time > Strava time always, and why influencers blocking them is the funniest subplot in running right now.
Benita Willis is officially BACK as our marathon coach, and we unpack her midweek wisdom on planning your next 30 weeks. Plus: how to avoid getting scammed for Gold Coast entries, the sneaky Toowoomba preference loophole, and why the T100 10K in March is the perfect bridging race. Join our team: In The Beginning Podcast.
We also get into Strava’s dodgy “AI athlete intelligence”, Courtney’s first proper speed session back, Liam nearly getting influenced into running Pages Pinnacle, new trail shoe teasers, your Spotify Wrapped (Taylor Swift… really?!), and the huge news — we’re finalists for Best Sport Podcast at the Australian Sports Commission Awards.
Heaps of laughs, a bit of chaos, and plenty of running chat. Strap in.
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If you’ve just signed up for the 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon – welcome to the club, legends!
Courtney and Liam are back with Gold Coast Marathon ambassador and Aussie distance great Benita Willis from Lace Up Running to answer the big question: “I’ve entered… now what?”
30 weeks out, we cover:
Why you should NOT be in marathon shape by April
How to break your build into phases: 5K/10K/half now, marathon block later
Walk–jog plans and base building for absolute beginners
Long runs by time, not distance (and why 90 mins is plenty for now)
Strength work, summer training, Christmas parties and not cooking yourself in December
T100 10K on the Gold Coast in March is the perfect test event in your preparation - enter here
Hit play, take a breath, and lock in a smart 30-week game plan – not a hero December.
Contact Benita for training support at Lace Up Running
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What’s harder: a sub-3:30 marathon or breaking 100 in golf? Courtney and Liam go to war over the ultimate endurance vs skill debate.
We also get stuck into:
🏁 Our T100 Gold Coast stuff-up – no In The Beginning run team… yet
🏃♂️🎓 Schoolies Run Club – 1 runner, full TV crew, all-time flop
🌲 Courtney’s trail running starter pack: PBJF – Phone, Backpack, Jacket, Filter (and yeah, water)
🏔️ Liam’s UTA Miler reality check – Reedy’s savage voicemail, listener roasting, and the 50km qualifier problem
🥪 New Balance toasties at Queenstown Marathon – when run brands go fully off-script
🏃♀️ Philadelphia teens getting reduced charges for training for a half marathon – smart ?
Big opinions, a bit of chaos, and plenty of running chat.
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Show notes:
The boys are back on the Goldie and things get spicy this week.
We kick off with the T100 triathlon circus — Dubai edition.
Courtney drops a wild Thailand race story of his own (featuring cops, stray dogs and a dodgy 30km detour), and the lads unpack how course meltdowns happen even at pro level.
Then it's into the big talking point: race entry prices hitting $500. Should running be subsidised? Are events becoming music-festival expensive? And what does the future look like now that cereal brands are spamming Strava challenges?
Plus:
A big, sweaty, trail-flavoured episode. Strap in.
The T100 World Series is launching on the Gold Coast — and there’s a fast, flat 10K for the RUNNERS finishing in Surfers Paradise - ENTER HERE .
Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast
Courtney on Strava
Liam on Strava
The T100 World Series is launching on the Gold Coast — and there’s a fast, flat 10K for the RUNNERS finishing in Surfers Paradise - ENTER HERE .
Bondi run-club takeover (community or chaos?), athlete vs influencer lines, Vaporfly DQs on the track, ON’s “squeaky shoe” lawsuit, trail tips for bigger runners, Perth marathon with no expo, and Liam teases a big running announcement next week.
Aussie endurance chat with a smile — runners assemble.
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Strength in the gym, freedom on the run. We kick off with Courtney’s “stretch under weight” recovery hack, deload weeks, and a salty swim at The Spit.
Then: Strava crown drama—listener Paddy nicks one of Courtney’s segments—plus the running boom (Sydney Marathon’s mega ballot) and Liam’s spicy pitch for two-day marathons.
We celebrate the big-unit brigade with Ty Dowker’s new 100-kg “Over the Century Club” category at the Burleigh Swim Run — happening Australia Day weekend. Sign up here 👉 Burleigh Swim Run 2026.
There’s a full Noosa Tri debrief (Matt Hauser flying, a stolen front wheel… yikes) and somehow we end up in the Tinder universe.
Plus: Kipchoge’s plan to run a marathon on every continent, and Diplo’s 5K run-and-rave movement sweeping the globe.
Hit play, have a laugh, then go chase a crown (or a coffee).
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Jelly Roll week was something else. Liam and Courtney debrief on the wild ride that saw them chatting running with a global music star just hours before his first Aussie gig.
From Jelly’s “I know nothing, so I know everything” quote to his newfound AFL fandom, the boys unpack the mayhem, the meaning — and his Brooks running shoe revelation.
Then it’s into the big stories in endurance this week:
🏃♂️ Treadmill World Champs announced (Run X, 2026)
💪 Fitness racing joins triathlon’s Olympic umbrella
🏎️ Supercars finals & fitness crossovers
🥇 Courtney’s Olympic blazer dilemma
🚴♀️ Noosa Triathlon preview – the legends, the first-timers & “Fitness Christmas” vibes
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We sit down with American singer and songwriter Jelly Roll in Brisbane hours before his took the stage for his first Australian Show to a sold-out arena.
We talk running, weight loss (540lbs → 280), tour culture turning from bars to miles, Clydesdale pride, Jelly Roll's Losers Run Club, HYROX, shoes for big runners, and picking an AFL team.
Honest, funny, all heart - the man is a PREACHER
Locations & Tickets for Jelly Rolls Australian Tour on sale now - https://www.livenation.com.au/jelly-roll-tickets-adp1568490
Jelly Roll's Losers Run Club on Strava
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#running #jellyroll #clydesdale #triathlon #hyrox #AFL #australia #weightloss
New World Triathlon champion Matt Hauser drops in to unpack his World's win less than a week ago.
The viral swim start, LeBron “gun” celly, and why T1 composure wins races—plus training sweet spots, Paris 7th, a Noosa preview, the mindset shift from imposter to leader, and the team that makes it possible.
Follow Matt Hauser on Strava
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Fresh off coaching Matt Hauser to a World Championship title, Aussie triathlon mastermind Dan Atkins jumps back on the pod — just two days after the win — to break it all down.
From the anthem moment on the podium to the perfect swim start, the mindset behind Hauser’s “Fu*k U energy".
We also dive into:
🏊♂️ Front-end swim secrets (“Friday is for speed”)
🥩 Carb loading and race-week nutrition tips for Noosa
🛌 The truth about sleep and taper week
🚴♀️ What to eat, drink & avoid on race day
😂 Plus, Liam’s “tri-suit toilet” PSA you’ll never unhear.
Big energy, big insight — and a few big laughs.
Follow Noosa Triathlon @noosatriathlon
Follow Dan Atkins @danatkinstraining
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Courtney and Liam are back, and the big fellas are fired up! After last week’s chat with Justin Weight, the true 100+ kg Clydesdale crew have come swinging — Bo Jones leads the charge, demanding justice for those who “make the ground shake.”
Meanwhile, the Currumbin stairs have been demolished. Cue Courtney’s solution: 700m of vert, a backpack full of creek water, and maybe a snake encounter or two.
Plus:
🏋️♂️ Rucking vs running — is weight on your back the next endurance hack?
🚗 Bathurst brilliance & Chaz Mostert’s post-crash beer moment of the year
🏖 The Coolingatta Gold gets chopped in half — has the sport lost its soul?
📈 Garmin vs Strava’s logo war, bone stress injuries, and why running in wine country is never as good as it sounds.
🔥 From snakes to Clydesdales, this one’s pure Aussie endurance chaos.
🎧 Listen now & follow the pod not to miss any Eps
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A shoutout to our Athena & Clydesdale Noosa Triathlon athletes. Meet Justin Weight, 20-year Noosa Tri veteran, Clydesdale podium-getter, gear junkie, and Australian General Manger of SleepHealth company ResMed. From calf carnage, dodgy Temu purchases & Form tech-goggles.
Why the “big fellas” deserve their own post-race bar — this ep celebrates every athlete who turns up heavy but gives it heaps.
Courtney & Liam dig into the real Clydesdale life, the rise of sleep tech, and how you can race smart (and stay uninjured) on the Road to Noosa Tri.
🎙️ Featuring: Justin Weight, Courtney Atkinson & Liam Flanagan
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Queensland’s flying high — Reece Walsh delivers one of the greatest NRL Grand Final performances ever, and the boys unpack whether he’s now bigger than the sport itself.
Liam and Courtney debate “star power vs greatness” and where Nathan Cleary fits into that conversation.
From there, it’s a dive into the wild world of running tech —Strava sues Garmin, Garmin cops another lawsuit, and the lads ask: who actually needs who more?
Plus:
🏋️♂️ Courtney’s back in the gym, humbled but hooked
🥾 Snowshoeing and reflections on life in the Snowy Mountains
🏃♂️ Liam’s sore calf, 50K bike rides, and AlphaFly walks of shame
🇫🇷 The UTA 100-mile itch (and dreams of UTMB)
🧠 Deep chats on presence, happiness & “what are we chasing?” moments
🤿 The world’s deepest marathon (yes, underground!)
🏃♀️ Local legends taking on GC50 & Melbourne Marathon weekend
Whether you’re sweating through a summer run or dreaming of snow trails, this one’s got it all — sport, soul, and a few laughs in between.
👉 Follow, rate & share to keep the mics hot and the miles rolling.
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It’s run time. Courtney, Liam and coach Dan Atkins break down exactly how to pace the 10K at Noosa off the bike: why your first kilometre should be ~10% slower than goal pace, how a fresh 40-min 10K often becomes ~42:30 in tri, and the sneaky secret of matching bike cadence to run cadence.
We hit brick sessions that actually work, on-course nutrition (gels with water — under fatigue), kit that saves minutes (hat > hero), stretchy laces (use ’em, train ’em), and how to time your kick so you’re not the mate getting mowed down on the blue carpet.
Tips, laughs, and a little Struggle Street rebrand chat. Send us your Noosa questions on IG!
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What’s the greatest sporting moment you’ve witnessed live? We dive into why Suncorp just hits different, the Gout Gout hype vs “has he earned it?”, AFL GF sprint chaos (Jed Walter!), and why being fit ≠ fast (sorry Harry Garside).
Running weeks: calves, strength blocks, snowshoeing detours, and why accountability > hero sessions.
Listener Snowy pops a hammy—here’s how not to go stir crazy. Plus: Padel (yes, PAH-del) chat, Saucony’s “The Maze”, and UTMB daydreams.
If you’re loving the yarns, follow the show, rate us 5★, and share this ep with your run crew.
Chapters
00:29 Bolt live (…which Olympics, Court?)
03:20 Buddy’s 10 at the SCG08:55 Matildas PKs at Suncorp = chills
18:04 Gout Gout hype train
25:33 AFL sprint & Harry learns “fast”
33:13 Calves, gyms, consistency
44:20 Snowy’s hammy: what now?
48:06 “Padel”, The Maze & UTMB
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Courtney Atkinson (3× NOOSA CHAMP) and coach Dan Atkins take you deep into the 40KM BIKE at Noosa: how not to cook yourself in the first 10K, why bike fit beats bling, tubeless tyre truths (hello 32MM @ ~60–70 PSI), and the simplest downhill cues you’ll ever need.
IN THIS EPISODE
LACTATE BOOM: spin early, clear the salt, reset the brain (18:36)
BIKE FIT > BIKE FLEX: budget for fit, not just carbon (32:36)
TUBELESS + PSI: comfort = speed on real roads (40:50)
GARMIN HILL: safe, fast descending with 3 easy cues (52:32)
NUTRITION ON BIKE: front-load smarts, match on-course fuel (49:10)
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Back in the same room, buzzing on Jetstar “sleep” and Red Bulls. We dive into the BNE Lions Cam Rayner’s sideline cocktail (Red Bull + No-Doz + salt tablet 🤯), Harry Styles cracking a sub-3 at Berlin, Sydney Marathon’s chance to cash in, and the AFR’s hot take on running influencers. Plus: Strava eyeing an IPO, Brisbane vs Melbourne run etiquette, AlphaFly test runs, listener shoutouts, and compulsory school cross country? It's a big one.
AFR Article - HERE
Gabe Physio: Meta Study Link - HERE
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