Run With It

It’s been a breakout year for Australian distance runner Ed Marks. And while you’re used to seeing him race in his Glenhuntly club singlet, you might see him sporting a new kit very soon...
Fresh off becoming the fastest Australian man ever to debut over the half marathon (60:57), Ed joins Elise to unpack his recent race on the Gold Coast. We chat about the mindset shift behind a breakthrough season with shiny new PBs in the road 5k (13:37) and 10k (27:57), and 10,000m on the track (27:54), why he's thriving as a self-coached athlete, and the meticulous planning that helped him execute that half marathon so damn well!
We also discuss how Ed’s his recent performances have caught the attention of major running brands, with a new athlete representative behind him, and sponsorship opportunities now firmly on the table as his career reaches an exciting new level. We dive into his love of cross country, balancing engineering with elite running and why he believes Australians can run world-class times on home soil.
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Run With It acknowledges the Wadawurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, and pays our respects to Elders past and present.
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Meet your new Australian Record holder in the marathon!!!! Haftu Strintzos ran 2:06:20 on the Gold Coast last Sunday to break Andy Buchanan's previous record by two seconds. In case you missed it, this episode recorded in 2025 is essential listening and gives context to Haftu's incredible result over the weekend. 
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Haftu Strintzos spent the first years of his life as a shepherd in mountainous Tigray in northern Ethiopia. He cared for sheep and cows and played hopscotch (the Tigrayan version) with the other shepherds.
Now an Asics-sponsored athlete, with his sights on representing Australia in the marathon, Haftu has the most incredible story brimming with resilience and perspective. But to understand how he got from A to B, you’ll just have to listen to this episode.
Haftu talks about some defining moments of his athletic career so far, including running for Villanova University in the US, finishing first Australian across the line at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Serbia, winning the 10,000m at the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships and achieving silver in the 5,000m. After his half marathon debut in Melbourne last year (62:24), Haftu followed up with a blinder in Marugame in Japan, where he ran 60:36 and asserted himself as a real contender on the roads.
Unfortunately, Haftu’s marathon debut was foiled by an injury that popped up just before Hamburg Marathon earlier this year. We discuss how he’s dealing with that injury setback, how training has changed since he transitioned to Adam Didyk’s Team Tempo and what Haftu’s big goals for the future look like.
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Run With It acknowledges the Wadawurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, and pays our respects to Elders past and present.--
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Alice is fresh off a whirlwind few weeks - surviving a New York heatwave, dancing all night at Phily Bowden's wedding, and crewing for Molly Seidel at the prestigious Western States 100 off barely any sleep.
She takes us behind the scenes of one of the world's toughest ultramarathons, tactics to combat debilitating chafe and what it took for Molly to get to the finish line after 24 hours on the trail, even when her body was saying "HELL NO."
Meanwhile, Elise spills the tea on an injury that sprang up following Copenhagen Marathon, and how she's doing mentally while not running (she's totally fine btw).
Plus, the pair celebrate Australian records from Cam Myers and Sarah Billings and preview Gold Coast Marathon weekend, including a STACKED women's half-marathon field.
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Run With It acknowledges the Wadawurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, and pays our respects to Elders past and present.
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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!
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Follow us on Instagram:
@runwithit.pod
@alicebaquie
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Content warning: This episode includes in-depth discussion about eating disorders, which may be distressing for some listeners.
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Running has helped Australian Olympian Milly Clark endure and conquer some of her life’s biggest challenges. Running helped her make new friends when she and her family moved to Germany and Indonesia during her school years. And most importantly, it helped Milly recover from a devastating eating disorder, which she developed while she was at college in the United States.
In this conversation with Elise, Milly shares some of the highs, lows and experiences that have shaped who she is as a person today. We talk about her incredible performance at the Rio Olympics in 2016 where she was 18th across the line in 2:30:53 and her PB of 2:26:59 at the Nike Melbourne Marathon. She speaks about getting bitten by a snake in the US (despite living in Tasmania which is home to some the world’s deadliest snakes), and why her debut marathon in Amsterdam was so memorable (2:29:07, 3rd place). We also cover some darker times when Milly was in the grips of loneliness, sadness and an eating disorder, which she was able to overcome with much love and support from her family and inner circle.
Now fresh off the back of a 1:12:37 at Launceston Half Marathon, Milly tells us about her plans for this year, which includes lining up for Gold Coast Marathon in a week’s time! We can’t wait to see how she goes!
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Milly Clark is one of Australia's most accomplished marathon runners and represented Australia in the marathon at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where she was the first Australian woman across the finish line. Since making her marathon debut in Amsterdam in 2015, Milly has become a consistent force on the Australian distance running scene, winning the 2021 Nike Melbourne Marathon in a personal best of 2:26:59 and earning multiple national team selections. Milly is a qualified sports dietician and currently works as a school teacher in Tasmania, Australia.
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Resources and support:
If this episode raises concerns for you, support is available.
Contact the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 or visit org.au
Visit the InsideOut Institute at org.au or the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) at nedc.com.au for information and support.
If you're in immediate danger or need urgent help, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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Run With It acknowledges the Wadawurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, and pays our respects to Elders past and present.
--
Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!
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Follow us on Instagram:
@millyjane14
@runwithit.pod
@elisebeacom
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Sarah Billings is on fire! As we wait for Australia’s 2026 Commonwealth Games team to be announced, the Aussie middle-distance runner is well and truly in the mix for selection.
Sarah sits down with Elise to discuss her recent form, including two massive PBs – a 3:58.81 in the 1500m at the Shanghai Diamond League, and a 1:57.61 in the 800m in Rabat, which is the second fastest time ever run by an Australian woman!
But these results have been a long time in the making. Starting her career as a sprinter before moving into middle-distance in her junior years, Sarah has always been an excellent runner. But in her first years as a senior athlete, Sarah felt like she wasn’t getting the performances she had hoped for. Then the injuries hit. They hit hard. And repeatedly.
When Sarah was able to finally break that injury cycle, she could at last string some good consistent training together and sought the help of a performance coach to work on her mental approach to racing. She said it’s made all the difference.
We talk about what she learnt during those tough injury-riddled years, her breakout 2024 season, and how her persistence, mindset and consistency is now paying dividends in the results she is seeing on the track.
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Sarah Billings has represented Australia multiple times, including at World Juniors in 2016 and the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in 2025. She is currently coached by Nic Bideau at Melbourne Track Club, and is sponsored by New Balance.
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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer

British athlete Calli Hauger-Thackery didn’t even know she was pregnant when she ran (and won) Honolulu Marathon in December last year. She uncharacteristically vomited during the race, which she later realised was morning sickness!
Calli then went on to win Houston Marathon in 2:24:17 in January. But only she and husband Nick knew she was carrying a plus-one through the tape! Most recently, while 22-weeks pregnant, Calli ran Boston Marathon in 2:43:58, despite needing to stop four times (to release a pinched nerve and to pee). Boston especially captured the attention of so many people around the world, inspired by what Calli has been able to do during her pregnancy.
It was an absolute joy to have Calli back on the podcast to discuss her pregnancy in detail, the planning process for athletes trying to start a family and to debrief the three marathons she’s now run with baby Evan on board.
If you’d like to learn more about Calli’s story (she’s the 2nd fastest British woman of all-time over the marathon distance by the way!), go back to episode 28.
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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Former pro-cyclist Jimmy Whelan reveals where he intends to run his debut marathon later this year – you’ll have to listen to find out!
Dialling in from his home in Barcelona, Jimmy talks about his transition from pro cycling to a brief stint as a triathlete and his newfound status as a professional runner sponsored by Salomon. He’s never been happier as an athlete! And we tap into what that’s all about.
We talk about his breakout 61:37 half marathon in Valencia, the disappointment of Berlin half, the chatter centred on his scorching potential, and why he’s not afraid to say big goals out loud, including his ambition to be in the marathon conversation for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Jimmy also gives us a unique window into pro cycling on the European circuit. Aside from the joys of long group rides, living in Europe and café stops, the other headlines are: stress, contract pressure and terrifying crashes, which all ultimately pushed him away from the sport and back towards his first love of running.
It’s a full-circle moment for Jimmy, and what a pleasure it was to talk through his evolution and reinvention as an athlete on the pod! Enjoy!
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James “Jimmy” Whelan is an Australian athlete whose career has spanned professional cycling, triathlon and now distance running. Jimmy made a real statement last year when he ran a 61-minute half marathon in Valencia, attracting the attention of the athletics community and major sponsors alike. Now signed with Salomon, and coached by Andy Henderson, Jimmy has his sights set on the marathon distance, hoping to make his debut later this year. Jimmy’s professional cycling career included affiliations with renowned teams such as Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Anicolor/Tien21 Cycling Team and EF Pro Cycling. Jimmy is currently based in Barcelona, Spain.
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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!
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Check out Jimmy’s YouTube: youtube.com/@jimmywhelan
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Follow us on Instagram:
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Elise and Alice get together to debrief all things Copenhagen Marathon, including the perfect conditions, incredible vibes, some fuelling trials and tribulations, and a surprise encounter with Jakob Ingebrigtsen (his little brother Kristoffer ran 2:29 by the way)! Elise gives a play-by-play breakdown of the race and how she felt finishing her 11th marathon in a city that means so much to her (with 2:53 on the clock).
Meanwhile, AB is set to line up for her debut half marathon in Brooklyn this weekend, but is probably most looking forward to the swim post-race.
Though this episode starts with a discussion on hair washing and canned foods, we promise it goes up a notch after a couple of minutes! Enjoy!   
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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!
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Follow us on Instagram:
@runwithit.pod
@alicebaquie
@elisebeacom
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Elise and Alice are finally back for a chaotic cross-continental catch-up, with Elise in Copenhagen preparing for the marathon this weekend, and Alice living her best semi-Carrie-Bradshaw life in New York.
There’s plenty discuss in their usual unhinged way, from Alice’s Boston Marathon game show debut to Elise’s commentary at the Bendigo 5k Frenzy, and Copenhagen Marathon build (including the changes she and coach Kate made compared with Ballarat last year, and some Etsy magic behind the scenes). Alice also gives the full story behind her win at the Canyons 25k trail race in California (which she did without trail shoes in a unitard through poison oak).
Also, buckle up for some side quests featuring characters like Dorothy the Dinosaur and the unsung heroes on vomit clean up duty! Enjoy.  
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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!
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Follow us on Instagram:
@runwithit.pod
@alicebaquie
@elisebeacom
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Physio, runner and friend of the pod Sam Slykhuis joins Elise for a whistle-stop tour of one of the most dreaded words in distance running: stressie!
Using Elise’s own grade one tibial stress reaction from last year as a case study, Sam breaks down what bone stress actually is, why it happens, the warning signs runners should never ignore, and how to approach rehab without losing your mind.
There is plenty of practical gold in this one, including tips on lifting heavy, how plyometrics can support bone health, and why uphill running is not always the safe rehab option people think it is.
Plus: Aqua jogging survival tips, treadmill myths, why runners need deload weeks, the problem with chasing numbers on Strava, and the very real danger of skipping long run progressions and then jumping straight back in.
A must-listen for any runner.
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Sam Slykhuis is a practicing physiotherapist, runner, surfer and co-owner of Marna Physio in Armstrong Creek and Belmont Physiotherapy Centre in Geelong. With a special interest in running-related injuries, Sam works closely with athletes to help them manage niggles, recover from injury and return to full training. Sam also offers VO2 max and lactate threshold testing to help runners better understand their training zones. He completed his Physiotherapy degree with Honours at Monash University, is a qualified ASCA Strength and Conditioning Coach, and is currently studying a Master’s of Sports Physiotherapy through the University of Bath.
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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!
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Follow us on Instagram:
@runwithit.pod
@elisebeacom
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Marna Physio website
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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer