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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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 .

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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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Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inthebeginningpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courtney on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strava⁠