9 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
My daughter Elizabeth comes on the pods to discuss the highs and lows of crewing at TDG. What wet well, what was hard and what we would do better next time. Essential listening for anyone wanting to crew at any race!
2 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 46 min
Ron and I discuss how my TDG race went...and what led to the DNF. We discuss lesson's learnt and what I would do differently.
28 Aug 2026 · 49 min
Ron and I discuss my final preparations for TDG. It's getting real now!!!
14 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Ron and I discuss strength training for runners: How often you need to train, when is the best time and the sort of work you need to do.
7 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Have you lost your running mojo? Ron and I discuss 10 ways to spice up your running!
31 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 34 min
You've had your rest days, your legs feel fine, your blood markers would look fine too, and you're still snapping at your kids, can't sleep, can't focus, feel flat or wired for no reason. That's not laziness or being soft. That's a nervous system still in overdrive weeks after the race finished. This episode is about the recovery nobody talks about because it doesn't show up on a training log.
24 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Isobel and Ron discuss Isobel's 100k race at the Elephant Trail Race in Port Macquarie and give updates on the tent and Tor Des Geants training
10 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
I don't really have a big why. And I've represented Australia three times, won Six Foot Track, run three Barkleys. So, either I've been doing it wrong the whole time, or the 'find your why' advice is oversold. The real question of the episode: is a why necessary, or just sometimes useful.
3 Jul 2026 · 1 hr
We live in a world where our watches tell us how we slept, how recovered we are, how hard we should train and even how stressed we are. While technology can be incredibly useful, many runners have become so dependent on it that they no longer trust what their own body is telling them. In this episode, Isobel and Ron discuss why learning to run by feel is one of the most valuable skills you can develop, especially if you want to become a stronger trail and ultra runner. They talk about why pace and heart rate are often poor guides on technical trails, how perceived effort becomes your most…
26 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Isobel and Ron talk about what Isobel is doing for her training for Tor Des Geants. They discuss the daily and weekly work required and the fact that big races take a lot out of you.
19 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Ron and Isobel chat with Kerryn Bell about the Southern Lakes Ultra, a 7day, 6 stage multi day event in New Zealand. If you've ever thought about doing a multi-day event but don't want to have to go all the way to the states or Europe, then this one is for you! Kerryn gives us all the details on how the race works and shares the fun that is the Southern Lakes Ultra. Link to enter is here: https://southernlakesultra.com/entryform
12 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 28 min
Isobel's daughter Elizabeth comes on to discuss her hike of the Camino Trail. This is a very runnable trail and a popular destination for multi day running. Hear how you could easily organise this adventure for yourself!
5 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Most runners train hard and eat like an afterthought. In this episode, Isobel and Ron break down the nutrition fundamentals that directly support your training: not the fads, not the noise, just what the research actually says and what she's learned from years of racing and coaching at the sharp end of the sport. They cover the biggest mistake runners make with food (hint: it's not eating too much), why carbohydrates are not the enemy, how much protein you actually need as an endurance athlete, and why your gut health might be the thing standing between you and your next finish line. Ron…
29 May 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
Your crew shows up on race day wanting to help. The problem is you never told them how. In this episode, Isobel and Ron (who has crewed Isobel for years) break down exactly what a good crew needs to know before race day, and why most athletes get this completely wrong. They cover what actually happens at crew points when the briefing hasn't happened, what a proper race plan looks like from the crew's perspective and how to handle the mental and emotional side of crewing. Ron brings a perspective you don't often hear: what it's actually like to stand at a crew point watching someone you care…
22 May 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Most ultra runners have a race calendar that looks impressive and a performance trajectory that doesn't match it. Here's why: racing is eating the cake. Training is making it. And if you're racing every other weekend — or hammering yourself in training like every session is a time trial — you're eating cake you haven't baked yet. In this episode I break down the A, B, C race framework: what it actually means, how to use it properly, and why getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons experienced runners plateau, burn out, or keep having disappointing race days despite putting in the…
15 May 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Winter doesn't care about your goals. It's cold, it's dark,and your bed is warm. So, what separates the runners who come out the other side fitter, sharper, and ready; from the ones who spend September wondering wheretheir fitness went? Isobel and Ron get into the real mechanics of stayingconsistent when conditions are against you. Habits, habit stacking, identity, and why keeping promises to yourself in winter is the most important training you'll do all year. This isn't a motivation pep talk. It's a conversation aboutwho you're becoming when no one's watching.
8 May 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
Most runners use the same race strategy for every distance. That’s why they blow up in marathons, fall apart in ultras, or leave speed on the table in shorter races. In this episode, Ron and Isobel break down how race strategy changes from the half marathon all the way to the 100 miler. They cover: Pacing mistakes runners make at every distance Fueling differences from road races to ultras Why the marathon to the miler it's really an eating competition The mental shift required for 50Ks and beyond What actually matters in a 100K and 100 miler The biggest mistakes ultra runners make early How…
1 May 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
At 39km into the Buffalo Stampede 100k, I rolled my ankle (and broke it!) and ruptured my ATFL ligament. Boot on. Running stopped. Tor des Géants in September still on the calendar. In this episode, Ron and I talk through what actually happens when a serious injury hits mid-season, not the motivational version, the real one. The emotional crash, the identity hit, the urge to panic-plan at midnight while Googling recovery timelines. We cover:— The right and wrong way to respond in the first 48 hours— Cross training options that actually maintain fitness (and the ones that don't)— Mental…
17 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Hiring a running coach should make your life easier. It should fast-track your progress, keep you consistent, and get you better results. But the reality is… most runners either don’t hire one whenthey should or they hire the wrong one and waste months, sometimes years. So today Ron and I are going to walk you through exactly what you need to look for in a coach so you actually get results from it.
10 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Racing is one thing. Crewing is another game entirely. In this episode, we unpack the reality of the Buffalo Stampede. What it felt like out there, what went right, what didn’t, and what you only learn when you’re deep in it. Then we shift gears into the NZ 6 Day race. Not as athletes this time, but as crew. And honestly, it gives you a completely different perspective on suffering, pacing, and what it actually takes to keep moving for days. Two completely different experiences. Same sport. Big lessons. If you think you understand ultras, this one might change your mind.
20 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Most runners waste time on the wrong cross training. They do workouts that feel hard They do sessions that look impressive They do what everyone else at the gym is doing But very little of it actually makes you a better runner. So in this episode we ranked different types of cross training out of 10 based on how useful they actually are for runners. Strength training Cycling Swimming Stairmaster Yoga Elliptical Rucking Gym work And a few controversial ones Some of them help a lot Some of them help a bit Some of them are almost useless If you want to know what is actually worth your time,…
13 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Most runners think they need more mileage, more speed work, or more motivation to improve. Most of the time that isn’t the problem. In this episode we talk about the habits that actually keep runners stuck. Comparing yourself to people on Strava without knowing their context. Panicking after one bad run. Winging your training instead of following a plan. Expecting every session to feel good. Chasing motivation instead of building discipline. We also break down the rule of thirds. Why a third of your runs will feel great, a third will feel average, and a third will feel terrible. And why that…
6 Mar 2026 · 1 hr
Most runners sabotage their race before they even reach the start line. Not because they didn't train hard enough. Because they taper badly. In this episode we break down exactly how to taper properly before an event so you arrive fresh, sharp, and ready to perform. We explain the 3 week taper strategy we use for ultras, why your longest long run should be three weeks out, and why reducing volume does not mean removing intensity. You'll also learn the biggest taper mistakes runners make, how race week should actually look, and why B races only need a minimal taper. If you’ve ever felt flat,…
27 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Ultra running can become very self-focused. My training. My race. My goals. But this sport does not survive on personal ambition alone.It survives because people give their time, energy, and care behind the scenes. In this episode, we take a holistic look at volunteering inultra running. We talk about the full range of roles most runners neversee. From aid stations and sweep teams to course marking, logistics,registration, and race-day coordination. There is more to it than handing outcups at 2am. We explore why volunteering can be powerful for injuredrunners who feel disconnected from the…
13 Feb 2026 · 50 min
Ron and I have a fun chat with Daniel Kokken, assistant coach at Peak Endurance Coaching. We find out about his coaching philosophy and discuss recovery!
6 Feb 2026 · 56 min
Most runners don’t get injured because they’re weak.They get injured because they rush the return.In this episode, we break down what actually matters when returning to running after injury, drawing on principles used by physiotherapists, sports doctors, and experienced run coaches.We talk about why being “pain-free” doesn’t mean you’re ready, why fitness comes back faster than tissue tolerance, and how most runners accidentally re-injure themselves by skipping steps they didn’t even know existed.You’ll learn:• What being “cleared to run” really means• Why load management matters more than…
30 Jan 2026 · 56 min
Sleep deprivation training is often recommended for ultrarunners.But does it actually make you a better athlete?In this episode, we break down the reality of sleep deprivation training and explain why we don’t believe the benefits outweigh the costs for most runners.We talk about:• What athletes think sleep deprivation training is vs what it actually involves• Why the body doesn’t adapt to sleep loss the way it adapts to training stress• The physiological and psychological cost of chronic sleep debt• Injury risk, impaired recovery, and cognitive decline• Why one “all-nighter” is already more…
23 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Disordered eating is far more common in runners than most people realise.And many athletes are already caught in it without ever using that label.In this episode, we have an honest, necessary conversation about disordered eating and eating disorders in runners. Not from a place of blame or shock, but from education, lived experience, and a deep desire to keep people healthy and in the sport long term.We talk about:• The difference between eating disorders and disordered eating• Why endurance athletes are especially vulnerable• Common behavioural, physical, and psychological warning signs•…
9 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Most runners don’t struggle because they lack discipline.They struggle because their expectations don’t match their reality.In this episode, Ron and I unpack what appropriate expectations actually mean in endurance training and racing.We talk about:• Trying to train for a miler while working long hours and raising young kids• Entering mountainous ultras when you live in the flatlands• Expecting podium finishes or unsustainable paces without the experience to back them up• Why “hoping it’ll work out on race day” is not a strategyWe also explore the real cost of misaligned expectations:…
2 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Mountain ultras aren’t just longer trail races. They’re repeated strength tests disguised as endurance events. In this episode, we break down how to actually train for a mountain ultra, beyond just “running hills” and hoping for the best. We cover: The real difference between aerobic endurance and muscular endurance Why long climbs and descents break runners before fitness does How and why to train uphill running, steep hiking, and transitions When weighted uphill sessions make sense and how to use them properly The role of short hill sprints in mountain durability What strength work…
Welcome to the Peak Endurance podcast, where we talk all things endurance, mainly running! You will hear from athletes, experts in the field and also myself on all topics designed to help you reach your endurance goals!
Peak Endurance is a English sport podcast from Isobel Ross. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
