Episode notes
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.
Podcast
Peak Endurance
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!
More from Peak Endurance All episodes →
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7 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
10 ways to spice up your running!
Have you lost your running mojo? Ron and I discuss 10 ways to spice up your running!
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31 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 34 min
Are you really recovered? Or is your CNS fried?
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.
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24 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Elephant trail race and Tor Des Geants training update!
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
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10 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Do You Actually Need a 'Why'?
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.
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3 Jul 2026 · 1 hr
The Lost Art of Running by Feel
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…
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19 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Interview with Kerryn Bell, RD of Southern Lakes Ultra
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
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12 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 28 min
Running and Hiking adventures: The Camino Trail with Elizabeth Bespalov
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!
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5 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Eat Like a Runner: The Nutrition Fundamentals That Actually Support Your Training
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…
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29 May 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
How to Brief Your Crew So They Don't Cost You the Race
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…
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22 May 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Why Racing More Is Making You Slower (The Cake Analogy Every Ultra Runner Needs to Hear)
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…
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