In this BIG episode of Sole Sisters, marathons are front and centre!

Elise Beacom recaps her Ballarat Marathon experience two weeks ago where she ran a PB of 2:49:15. She takes us through the race week nerves, the highs and lows, epic crowd support, new friends she made on course and how deep she had to dig in the back half. Marathons are HARD!

Meanwhile, Alice Baquie has returned from her worldwide marathon tour, sharing her hot takes on the Boston and London. Alice details the logistical challenges of spectating at major marathons, the pre-game and post-game events, and the vibes out on course. The pair dive into the results of both races and hint towards a couple of forthcoming episodes that delve into the Abbott World Marathon Majors, and the culture surrounding them. Stay tuned for that!

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Before Andy Buchanan’s iconic 2:06:22 at Valencia last year, he often found himself lost in daydreams of breaking the Australian record while running in the bush. But as soon as the run was over, the thoughts would dissipate like a mirage.

In this episode of Run With It, Andy shares the feeling of actually crossing the blue carpet at Valencia and experiencing time slow down in that moment. He talks about how mental training has transformed his running, adding that his breakthroughs have come when he’s let go of what other people think and truly backed himself.

We discuss his progression in the marathon, his big build up to London, including a juicy time goal and his thoughts on the healthy rivalry with former Australian marathon record holder Brett Robinson. Andy weighs up running the marathon World Championships this year against Sydney Marathon, which is offering a huge prize purse, and how athletes often have to choose between making a living or representing Australia.

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Andy Buchanan is an Australian marathon runner based in Bendigo. Initially making his mark as an exceptional cross-country talent, Andy transitioned to marathon running, marking his debut with a time of 2:12:23 in 2022, before running 2:10:20 in 2023 and 2:08:58 in 2024 (all at Hamburg Marathon). He represented Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and got a late call up to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics after Brett Robinson pulled out due to injury. Later in 2024, Andy broke the Australian record in the marathon by more than a minute at Valencia (2:06:22). Next week he’ll line up for his first Abbott World Marathon Major, London Marathon. Outside of running for Asics, Andy works as a high school teacher, an online coach with Run2PB and has a store in Bendigo, called Verve Running.

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Andy Buchanan's Instagram: @andy_buchanan

Run With It: @runwithit.pod

Elise Beacom: @elisebeacom

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

On the show this week, we recap an epic nighttime race in Sydney, reflect on the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth and preview Boston Marathon (where Alice is now on-the-ground).

Alice and Elise were in Sydney on the weekend for the Nike After Dark Tour, a 21.1k race celebrating 7,000+ women taking over the streets. Elise talks through the experience as a runner on the course, which felt like traversing through an urban art installation, with flashing lights, smoke machines and DJs. Alice was there supporting as #1 hype girl and carrying cinnamon scrolls. The event marked Elise’s last big session before Ballarat Marathon. Now firmly in the taper, the pair talk about all the niggles and neuroses that come to the fore at this time.

There are plenty of results to highlight from Nationals in Perth – including impressive performances by Jess Hull, Cam Myers and Seth O’Donnell to name a few. Alice explains what her Boston trip will entail before the duo go through some elite names they're excited to see on the historic course this Monday.

We close out with recommendations and Alice’s top four banned behaviours at the gym. Are you guilty of any of these? Listen to find out!

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

If Gen Gregson and husband Ryan could take turns being pregnant, Gen would happily have five kids. But in the absence of this sci-fi parallel universe, the four-time Olympian is extremely excited to be expecting baby number two – a new brother for Archer!

This episode is part of a mini-series featuring some of our mighty marathon mums. In this wonderful conversation, Gen opens up about training while pregnant – a lot of what she does is based on feel (and notes in Jess Stenson’s training diary). She talks about mum strength allowing her to appreciate what she’s already achieved and take the pressure off to do every single one percenter, which helps her run freer and perform at a higher level. We also talk about how she’s learnt to be flexible and adapt to adversity. Gen goes into the learnings from her marathons to-date (Gold Coast, Valencia, Paris, Melbourne), what it’s like to have two elite athletes chasing big goals under one roof, and how even elite athletes aren’t immune from mum guilt.

This episode is also dedicated to Jess Stenson, who wins the best supporting actress role in the conversation. (That’s what happens when you get two key members of the Jess Stenson appreciation society together on a Zoom call.)

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Gen Gregson is a four-time Olympian (Paris, Tokyo, Rio, London), and has ambitions to go to two more Olympics in her career. Gen started out on the track, earning herself an Australian Record in the 3000m steeplechase (9:14.28). After sustaining a horrific achilles injury clearing the final water jump in the Tokyo Olympics final, Gen had her first child, Archer while rehabbing double achilles surgery. She has since transitioned to the roads, taking to the marathon like a natural, running 2:28 on debut in her hometown of the Gold Coast, before being the fastest Australian across the line in a big head-to-head battle for an Olympic qualifier at Valencia (2:23:08). In 2024, she ran the Olympic Marathon at Paris and won Melbourne Marathon later that year.

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Gen Gregson's Instagram: @gengen_lacaze

Run With It Instagram: @runwithit.pod

Elise Beacom's Instagram: @elisebeacom

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

In this episode of Sole Sisters, training has hit a slight road bump for Alice and Elise. Elise is in the barrel of the beast, training for Ballarat Marathon. She’s facing a minor hurdle this week with a calf niggle but remains upbeat and positive, and hopes it’ll settle quickly with some deloading and extra TLC. Meanwhile Alice has some foot issues of her own to contend with which may rule her out from racing the Nike After Dark Tour 21.1k (though she'll still be there to get amongst it).

The pair dissect what a marathon training week looks like for Elise at the moment and also cover Alice’s typical training week, as well as her Cyclone Alfred-induced recovery period without electricity.

They talk through some recent running news, including Izzi Batt-Doyle and Leanne Pompeani’s Nagoya Marathon results, the big Eliud Kipchoge announcement for Sydney Marathon and some star athletes to watch out for at Maurie Plant meet in Melbourne. The ep closes out with the usual recommendations – including some cultured/artsy ones from AB.

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

From running on a treadmill in a hot air balloon, to becoming a dad, Reece Edwards is always the first to put his hand up for a new adventure.

In this conversation, we talk about his new running life as a dad to Oliver, what dad strength means to Reece and how his perspective on running has changed since his son arrived. Between constant sickness, reduced sleep and balancing family and work life, it’s not easy to train at such a high level. But Reece says it’s all worth it to be a dad!

This episode is part of a mini-series featuring some of our mighty marathon mums (or in this case, dads)!

We talk about his recent back-to-back wins at Port Fairy Marathon and what it was like to reel in two Olympians to break the tape at Melbourne Marathon in 2023. We also cover the importance of keeping some “silliness” and fun in Reece’s training, why running is better when it’s social, his goals for the future (including an outrageous long run), and what it feels like to actually be content with your PBs.

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Reece Edwards is a long and ultra distance runner who came to the sport later in life. He ran 2:13:23 at Rotterdam Marathon in 2021 and has a PB of 1:03:38 in the half marathon, which he ran the same year in Copenhagen. Domestically, he won Melbourne Marathon in 2023 and Port Fairy Marathon in 2024 and 2025. Reece has also been successful on the trails, winning several prestigious events including, Ultra Trail Australia 100k, Tarawera 102k and Berry Long run. Reece is a dad to Oliver and works as a rehabilitation physiotherapist and is based in Melbourne.

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Reece Edwards’ Instagram: @reecedwards7

Run With It Instagram: @runwithit.pod

Elise Beacom's Instagram: @elisebeacom

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Happy International Women’s Day! This episode of Sole Sisters is an ode to women runners! Alice has a lot of time to think as she bunkers down for Cyclone Alfred. She unearths the memories of two pioneer marathoners - Bobbi Gibb and Kathrine Switzer who were the first women to run the 42.2k distance in the late 60s, despite many people trying to stand in their way.

Elise has done some modern-day research and found that women’s marathon participation between Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast marathons comprised 27% on average between 2018-2023, with men making up 63% of the field. Participation was much more even in the half marathon. The pair then offer some general reflections on women’s participation in marathons and the barriers that still exist that prevent or hinder women from running today. These include not having enough time to train, concerns for safety, childbirth and caring responsibilities. They also have a good chat on the role of confidence and ego in the marathon. You can read the piece Elise wrote on this “Mind the Marathon Gap” in The Blue Line last year.

Alice and Elise also debrief the International Women’s Day – Running Connection event organised by Love the Run last week. They rehash some of the conversation in the panel discussion about safety while running with ultra trail star Lucy Bartholomew and podiatrist/runner/coach/mum Sophie Fitt.

Jess Stenson is the star of the results segment for her gutsy 2:22:56 run at Tokyo Marathon, while Izzi Batt-Doyle and Leanne Pompeani wait to line up at another Japanese race this weekend, Nagoya Marathon.

Finally, here’s a no-context link to a Roy and HG video commentating men’s gymnastics from the Sydney Olympics.

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

How fast can Ryan Reynolds, Oprah and Gordon Ramsay run a marathon?

On this week’s episode of Sole Sisters, Alice and Elise dig into which tinsel town heroes are the best athletes, and who tried so hard they peed their pants? (Big kudos from us for digging that deep!)

We also cover a couple of recent World Records (honestly, there’s been too many to mention all of them), and some outstanding Australian performances on the indoor track. As usual, we finish with a couple of recommendations not to be missed.

We’d also LOVE to see you at a free event this week celebrating International Women’s Day! The Running Connection – Movement and Safety event is happening at Collingwood Athletics Track on Sunday 2nd March between 3:30-6pm. Elise will host a live panel with elite trail runner Lucy Bartholomew, runner/podiatrist and coach, Sophie Fitt and forRunners founder/Sole Sisters co-host, Alice Baquie. There’ll also be a community run in Yarra Bend Park, a strength and conditioning session hosted by Dani Bryan and a fabulous pilates session with AB. The day is organised by local community group Love the Run. Register here, or simply show up on the day: https://www.lovetherun.com.au/iwdrunning

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer