Edwin Smith's journey into running didn't start with a marathon or a grand race, it began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdowns in place and little to do, he decided to run laps around his home in Sydney. What started as a casual pastime quickly turned into a passion that has transformed his life. In this podcast I talk with Edwin about his growth in running, which has seen him go from running newbie to completing a 100K run with friends.

But, Edwin is also a specialist in social media working on shows like Survivor and I'm a Celebrity have helped him have a great understanding of how social media works. With his @running_with_edwin page continuing to go from strength to strength on instagram.

He is also entering his first backyard ultra, so it was good to talk about how he is preparing for that.

Ultra running is not just about the physical challenge; it’s a profound journey that tests the limits of mental resilience and community spirit. In this episode I dive into the experiences of Tom Curry, a passionate ultra runner, who recently completed the UTA Miler. His journey is not just about crossing the finish line, but about the lessons learned along the way.

In this you'll learn that a DNF isn't the end of the world, and see that Tommy’s reflections offer valuable insights for both seasoned and aspiring ultra runners.

You can follow Tom on instagram at T0m_Runs.

Don't forget if you liked this episode to share and rate so others can also find it.

Amber and Blaine Bourke are incredible siblings and next month they are releasing a book 'To the Limit'.

The book is a conversation between the pair about pushing limits and letting go. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the book, and after reading it have both Amber and Blaine on the podcast.

Amber is a world class free diver, and a former elite sychronised swimmer, she has been at the top of her chosen sports for the past two decades.

For Blaine he has been a national 24-hour champion, captured the hearts of the ultra running community recently at Hardcore Harry's King of the Hill, and just last week won the Noosa 100.

This is a conversation I deeply enjoyed with two amazing athletes, I hope you enjoy it, and don't forget to look out for the book!

Claudine Chi is a winning mindset coach and 16-time national and international karate champion. In this open conversation Claudine shares her insights on the importance of mindset in achieving personal and athletic goals. She discusses the intrinsic nature of mindset coaching, the common challenges we as humans face, and the significance of self-belief. Claudine emphasises the need for mental training alongside physical preparation, the impact of self-talk, and the invisible barriers that hinder self-belief. Through personal anecdotes and examples from her coaching experiences, this is a conversation I believe will inspire listeners to unlock their potential and embrace the journey of personal growth.

If you want to work with Claudine you can at: www.claudinechi.com/journal.

Jonathan Ash shares his journey from a novice runner to a two time winner of backyard ultras, which has also seen him become the second Australian to run 100 loops in a backyard ultra. He discusses the mental and physical challenges of that format, the importance of learning from past experiences, and the dynamics of crew support in races. Jashy highlights the significance of enjoying the process of running and the unique aspects of backyard ultras, including the mental game and recovery. He reflects on his experiences in various races, including his first 100K in the Blue Mountains and Big's Backyard Ultra World Championships, highlighting the camaraderie and community within the ultra running scene.

I hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did!

Mario Buchs has had an incredible year, completing UTA 100, before going and running Australia's toughest miler the Elephant Race.

Then the adventure of a lifetime going over to Iraq and running 100 miles, in conditions many runners wouldn't be able to comprehend.

He then tops it off by adding a second pin to his Akubra by finishing Coast to Kosci.

In this podcast Mario shares some amazing perspective, and how he made it to where he is on his journey as an ultra runner, Founder of Healthetica Coaching and also the host of a couple of podcasts, Strides and Vibes, as well as the one Percenters Performance Podcast.

One of the most interesting ultra runners you could ever come across, I loved having this chat.

Patricia McKibbin is a trail athlete that I look up to a lot, being from Canberra it's so cool to see someone who's training on the trails I run, competing on the world stage.

She's as humble as they come, and has had some amazing performances in some of Australia's biggest trail events including a win at UTA50 and Sri Chimnoy Canberra 100, and podiums in Bright, Brisbane Trail Ultra, UTK100 and UTA22.

This is a cool insight into how the young mum balances her time with family commitments, working as a director of a children's physiotherapy business and chasing a dream on the world stage.

I really enjoyed this one, you can follow her journey at trishmckibbin on instagram.

With this the Peak2Soon Podcast turns 20 episodes old! Thank you everyone for your support it means the world to me.

You can now support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:
patreon.com/ThePeak2SoonPodcast

Kaiti Primrose is a hybrid athlete who has played a number of sports, but found long distance running through the influence of her dad and in 2021 did her first 777 Bravehearts Marathon event.

That year's event provided some of the toughest lessons she will ever face in the sport of running, but it didn't deter Kaiti from coming back, seeing her now raise a total of $50,000 for the Bravhearts Charity.

I caught up with Kaiti ahead of this week's event, and how she's been preparing to once again run seven marathons in seven days in seven different states and territories in Australia.

You can donate to Kaiti's cause here.