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Published by Courtney Atkinson and Liam Flanagan
Australia's grassroots running and endurance podcast. Olympian Courtney Atkinson and Triple M's Liam Flanagan talk marathon training, trail and ultra running, triathlon, shoes and gear — with guests like Matt Hauser, Andy Buchanan and Benita Willis. Two blokes who actually train, talking honestly. No coaching-speak, no highlight reel, no punditry from people who don't do the sport. Recorded on the Gold Coast. New episodes weekly on Saturdays.
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Recorded from the front seats of a Subaru Outback Wilderness on a live rally course at the Sunraysia Safari in Mildura, with Mike Atkinson AKA Outback Mike — Alone Australia Season 1 runner-up, survival expert and former military pilot. Mike was removed from Alone at day 64 sure he had more in him, spent 50 days on the Great Barrier Reef in a dugout canoe he built, and is about to take an electric Subaru Trailseeker from Birdsville to Mount Dare across the Simpson Desert, charging it off a generator. We get into building a baseline for hardship, why the athletes who look most reckless are the most calculated, the Tiger Woods focus trick that got Mike through jet training, rites of passage, and how the Altra Lone Peaks felt. No highlight reel. Just someone who's actually been hungry, thirsty and exposed, explaining why that makes the rest of life easier. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Adzy Gordon's maths teacher told his parents he'd never be a runner because he was too overweight. He went on to race as a professional triathlete, and now runs the Adzy's Athletes run group out of Main Beach and works on driver fitness in Supercars. With Courtney away, Liam sits down with him to talk why run clubs are the new bowls club, the difference between exercising and training, why he never runs with headphones, the 97kg single-leg press behind every heavy brake, and what it'll take to be on the marathon start line at Brisbane 2032. Plus Liam doubles down on parkrun being the greatest invention of the last 25 years, and nobody talks him out of it. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Courtney walked off a track session at Pizzey this week feeling better than he has after any run in five years — and he's twelve weeks out from another marathon in the shape he ran the last one. Also in: a voicemail from a sub-3 mate who pulled out at 30k of the Sydney Marathon and felt nothing but relief, Andy Buchanan's $30,000 first-Aussie payday, why Ned Brockman might be a 2032 Olympian (Liam's call: 60% heart, 40% head), the finisher shirt Sydney hands you at registration, and Nike's Pickle Juice shoe. Bridge to Brisbane next Sunday, a 12k swim run the day before, and the Melbourne half on 11 October — all of it out loud, times and all. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
A YouTube compilation of 75-year-olds finishing Ironman made Mick Kelly cry in his living room — six years later he's signed up for a 200-mile race with more elevation than Everest. The We Got The Chocolates host joins Courtney and Liam for the first proper podcaster-on-podcaster episode: the 4:30am bike crash where he lay in the road wondering why he'd bother getting up, the Rainbow Beach vomit video he chose to film, and why he picked a human coach over AI. Plus the Sydney Marathon medal that accidentally featured a stadium in Munich, Mondo Duplantis releasing a pop single, and an honest take on why run clubs aren't for everyone. Two blokes who train talking to a bloke who makes content for a living — and does the training anyway. Mick Kelly on Instagram Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Liam made a bold prediction about 'On Running' brand back in January. Last week it cost Roger Federer seventy-four million dollars in a single day. That's the hand-up moment this episode starts on, before the boys get into whether the running world has too much access — Michael Jordan, Bill Murray, and the surfers who reckon marketing is ruining the sport. Plus the six things that make up a premium runner's $1,500 annual budget, Courtney's verdict on Liam's floaty shorts, and why major marathons are just grown up Ooshies. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
A running brand where you can't buy the kit until your Strava time says you've earned it — Liam reckons that's a concept, not a gimmick, and Courtney wants in. Liam debriefs his City to Surf TV commentary debut, why Mona's 35-year-old record still runs the whole event, and the Andy Buchanan story that got him into the good books with the Buchanans. Then: the Hyrox founder admits the name came out of a lawsuit and a legal test, a US report puts trail running at $20 billion, and a listener who's sacked two coaches for AI sparks a proper conversation about whose running it actually is. Plus Australia's toughest foot race: 63.5kg of wheat, one kilometre, and the world's smallest mountain. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Everyone does the Mona Fartlek. Almost nobody does it properly — and Courtney admits he's one of them, letting his floats slide into jogs so the reps look quicker. From there it's Keely Hodgkinson's new Nike signature collection and what it says about where athlete branding is heading, plus the sharpest line either of us has read this year: influencers bring reach, athletes bring trust, and confusing the two is why sports marketing is a mess. Also: the world's-fittest-person fallout, a hurdler breaking records on a Maccas order, and Liam's proposal that any café charging eight bucks a coffee should have to show its working. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Who is genuinely the fittest person on Earth: Tadej Pogačar, Kilian Jornet, a CrossFit champion or someone else entirely? Courtney and Liam unpack Australia’s Commonwealth Games dominance, Dean Boxall’s extraordinary medal haul, Lockie Kennedy’s breakout performance and Sydney Marathon’s new AI mindset coach. There’s also run-club controversy in Bali, Courtney’s Running of the Bulls survival story, a proposal for $3,000 premium marathon toilets, Liam confronting his open-water fears and a huge City2Surf broadcasting announcement to finish. Subscribe and join the In the Beginning family for more Australian running, endurance sport and the occasional completely unhinged scheme. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Courtney and Liam are back covering the strange space after a major race — when the finish line is gone, motivation dips and it’s time to find the next target. They unpack the simple five-minute rule for getting yourself out the door, debate whether ASICS has officially overtaken Nike, and ask whether wearing event merchandise after race weekend is acceptable behaviour. Plus, the Tour de France’s controversial 2am drug test, Courtney’s unforgettable drug-testing experience inside a moving train toilet, the story and storytelling behind a historic mile performance, Commonwealth Games noise and the latest Clydesdale running challenge. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Courtney's had enough of blokes walking around town in Alphaflys, and it kicks off a proper deep dive — from a Runners World piece on desexualising athletics broadcasts, to Nike ACG's slushy-machine aid station truck, to a full stats rabbit hole across soccer, AFL and NRL fitness tests. Then it's a full Gold Coast Marathon wrap: run club flag culture, the Official Unofficial account calling out dodgy Strava times, a blind runner's finish line moment, and the birth of a new ITB tradition — "In The Beginning Rules Apply." Plus Liam's new post-Miler goal and early guesses at Courtney's next marathon. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
The Gold Coast Marathon is done, the legs are cooked, and Courtney is already quietly looking towards another marathon in November. This week, Liam and Courtney unpack what proper marathon recovery should actually look like — from the science of damaged muscles and suppressed immunity to Michael Shelley’s far simpler philosophy: go on holiday, have a beer and let the brain switch off. They also reflect on a huge Gold Coast weekend, the messages from runners who used the podcast to get to the start line, Haftu Strintzos’ record-breaking run, why Australia might be in a golden generation of distance running, and why our best athletes still need bigger stories and personalities around them. Plus: is Gold Coast now officially Australia’s fastest marathon, what identity should Melbourne own, the rise of matching run-club outfits, a new capture-the-flag race concept, Tour de France chat, and the dream runners Liam and Courtney want on the podcast next. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
The 2026 Gold Coast Marathon Series has crossed the finish line. Courtney is officially a marathon finisher, stopping the clock in 2:42:10 in his first proper race marathon. But this is not a victory-lap episode. It is the full, honest breakdown of the experiment: the conservative start, the 28km stitch, the legs that faded from 35km, the nutrition that worked, the training volume that did not quite stack up, and the one major thing Courtney would change next time. Liam and Courtney also unpack a massive weekend for the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, with records falling, crowds building, Broadbeach and Miami pumping, and the race cementing itself as Australia’s place to run fast. Most importantly, they land on the lesson every marathoner eventually learns: training doesn’t lie. The first marathon is done. The next one is already being plotted. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
It's Gold Coast Marathon eve and Courtney's quietly walking back his pace targets — head-to-toe black, poppers prepped, and a new plan to cruise rather than chase. The boys break down the elite fields, debate whether run-club flags are peak cringe or peak belonging (the answer surprises them), and dig into why Chinese shoe brands like Li-Ning are about to disrupt running the way they disrupted cars: on price. Plus Cam Myers' 1500 record, the Commonwealth Games mile swap, the "which sport scares you most" ranking, and a packed listener mailbag heading into race day. Find Courtney on course if you can spot him. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
One week. That's all that's left to Gold Coast Marathon. Courtney is officially into taper mode ahead of his first marathon, and Liam finally puts a prediction on the table. But should marathon runners even be obsessed with finishing times? The boys dive into what has changed most in running over the last decade, why modern shoes have completely changed the sport, why "finding your race" matters more than chasing a number, plus listener questions, Nike's new gear, shark sightings, the future of HYDROX, and plenty more. With the Gold Coast Marathon just days away, this is the final honest check-in before race day. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Two weeks to go. With Courtney heading away on holidays, this week's Gold Coast Marathon Series is a little different. Instead of the usual chat with Liam, Courtney jumps behind the microphone solo while driving back from his final marathon session to take you inside his final major marathon workout before race day. From a 30km marathon session with the crew to pacing battles with Tim Rigby, nutrition experiments, caffeine strategy, heart rate lessons and the biggest learnings from "The Experiment", this is an honest look inside the final stages of marathon preparation. If you're racing the Gold Coast Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km or 5km, there's plenty here to help you navigate the taper. In this episode: The final 30km marathon session Why training with mates makes running easier Courtney's race-day nutrition plan Heart rate vs pace vs feel The biggest lessons from "The Experiment" Why there's no magic pill two weeks before race day Good luck to everyone lining up on the Gold Coast—we'll see you on the start line.
Cape Town joins the World Marathon Majors, Sydney gets shuffled down the calendar, and suddenly the running world is staring at nine majors instead of six. With the Gold Coast Marathon now just weeks away, Liam and Courtney dive into the changing marathon landscape, training realities, race-day decisions, headphone debates, city-vs-city marathon rivalries, and whether the running boom is still climbing. Plus, Courtney reflects on life away from structured training, Liam gets serious about marathon preparation, and the boys unpack some listener ideas that could make race day even more interesting. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
With just two and a half weeks until the Gold Coast Marathon , the countdown is officially on. Courtney breaks down his biggest marathon session of the block - you can find it here on STRAVA A 28km workout, what the data says about his fitness, and why travel, poor sleep and questionable nutrition are making this marathon build anything but textbook. Liam puts him on the spot about goal pace, race-day expectations and whether a 2:37 marathon is really on the cards. The boys also chat tapering, trusting the process, Strava misconceptions, and the reality of balancing marathon training with work, travel and life. If you're lining up for the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Half Marathon or Southern Cross University 10km, this is the perfect reality check as race day rapidly approaches. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
The boys are back and counting down to the Gold Coast Marathon. Courtney has been feeding 14 years of Strava data into AI to see what it thinks he's capable of running on the Gold Coast. The results? Surprisingly accurate on his injury history… and wildly wrong on his marathon prediction. Meanwhile, Liam accidentally finds himself making national news after pitching a bizarre solution to the Logies hosting dilemma, proving once again that "Liam's Schemes" might be Australia's most dangerous think tank. They also dive into: Whether AI can actually coach runners Courtney's marathon confidence heading into Gold Coast The dangers of blindly trusting training algorithms Kids and endurance sport — how much is too much? The role of parents vs coaches in youth sport Another edition of Liam's Schemes Why some ideas are worth millions… if Liam would stop giving them away for free Plus plenty of laughs, running chat and countdown nerves as marathon season gets real. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Three and a half weeks out from the Gold Coast Marathon and the boys take the podcast on the road to the Southern Cross University Exercise Science Lab. Courtney feels right at home amongst the VO₂ testing gear, altitude bikes and sports science equipment as he reconnects with one of his first sports scientists from over 25 years ago. Alongside Dr Luke Del Vecchio, the conversation dives into the science behind endurance performance, strength training for runners, emerging sports technology and why a little time in the gym might be the missing ingredient in your marathon prep. The trio explore how everyday runners can benefit from the same principles used by elite athletes, discuss the role of exercise physiologists and unpack some of the fascinating technology shaping the future of endurance sport. From VO₂ max testing to wearable technology, this episode is packed with practical insights for runners chasing their next breakthrough. If you're racing Gold Coast Marathon weekend, Southern Cross University will also be bringing its Recovery Hub to the finish precinct, with exercise science, osteopathy, naturopathy and allied health support available to help runners recover after their event. Plus, learn more about the university's Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology programs and upcoming Open Day at the Gold Coast campus - https://www.scu.edu.au/open-day/ Whether you're chasing a PB, tackling your first marathon or simply fascinated by the science of human performance, this is your final science-backed tune-up before race day. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Red Bull Race The Sun is done — and Courtney is running on fumes, half an hour of sleep and one very useful chainsaw. This week on In The Beginning , Courtney breaks down the madness of directing one of Australia’s most unique endurance events: fallen trees, flooded roads, teams chasing sunrise, one team beating the sun by just 16 minutes, and another missing it by only four. Liam and Courtney also dive into the new wave of running events, treadmill “ultras”, the Guardians League surf racing concept, shoe brand battles at marathons, sporting fashion, Liam’s post-ultra knee reality check, and Courtney’s Gold Coast Marathon experiment as race day gets close. From trail nerds to HYROX crews, gym runners, influencers and everyday runners, this episode lands on one big point: running has room for everyone. Follow the podcast on Instagram @inthebeginningpodcast Courtney on Strava Liam on Strava
Ranking source
Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 20, 2026.
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