Better with Running

Chris Armstrong and Zacca Newman are back for another week of all things running, with plenty to unpack after a huge Melbourne Marathon weekend. From the atmosphere on the ground and some outstanding performances to the training changes behind big PBs, there’s plenty to get stuck into.The boys kick things off diving into Melbourne Marathon, reflecting on the racing, the results and the stories that make this event such a special weekend on the Australian running calendar.They then catch up with Run2PB athlete Peter Oslewski, who ran an incredible 19-minute marathon PB to finish in 3:07:30, coached by Nikki Curry. Pete shares his running journey, how his training has progressed over the years, balancing running with a full-time job and two young kids, and what it’s like working with Nikki. They also get into his marathon build, favourite sessions and what’s next on the racing calendar.Later, Mel Townsend returns to the show, she delivered a huge 2:41 marathon PB, finishing 10th overall and third Victorian at Melbourne Marathon. The team breaks down her progression across three marathon builds, improving from 2:53 to 2:48 and now 2:41. We look at the changes behind the improvement, including increased training volume, more long runs over 30km, additional quality work and a big step up in carbohydrate intake during racing.Oat Running Socks is proud to partner with the Better With Running podcast and Run2PB, keeping our community moving in absolute comfort. Engineered for peak performance.Oat Running Socks | Official Partner of Better With Running & Run2PB

This Week on the Better With Running podcast with Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman. With the Chicago Marathon just around the corner, the hosts are joined by returning fan-favorite guest Rory Flanagan (the Prince of Bendigo) and Run2PB coach Ben Stoltz to discuss massive training blocks, race-kit aesthetics, and major marathon tactics. On the running and NFL front, the San Francisco 49ers (unofficially adopted by the Run2PB community) are sitting strong at 3–0 after a tight 36–30 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Brock Purdy is playing at an MVP level, throwing 4 touchdowns, including an 80-yard score by Deebo Samuel that Chris has dubbed the "immaculate reception". Meanwhile, Chris clocked 66km for the week, highlighting a tough threshold session and a solid 20km long run while continuing his quest for an AMACX raspberry gel discount code. The core of the episode shifts to the Chicago Marathon buildup, featuring Rory and the Choccy Milk Run Club (CMRC) crew preparing to head stateside after a massive training block. Ben Stoltz notes that Rory has been exceptionally consistent, logging 100–105km of running weekly alongside 40–80km on the bike and structured gym work. By visiting Ben's new venture, The Movement Co, for baseline testing, Rory added targeted plyometrics and single-leg strength routines that boosted his strength metrics by 30% over three months and kept his long-standing Achilles issues at bay. Looking toward race day, Rory is dialing in his kit with the Puma Fast-R model and aiming for a smart, conservative start (targeting an 80-minute split for the first half depending on conditions) to finish strong by passing runners in the latter stages.To close out the episode, Rory tackles a rapid-fire session where he ditches Garmin Connect for its brutal "unproductive" notifications in favor of Strava and chooses the Mona Fartlek for elimination because he is "too vague" to track all the short rep beeps properly. He also reflects on his favorite athlete of all time: Andrew Lloyd and his legendary come-from-behind victory in the 5,000m at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s3cmw9IcDE--Oat Running Socks is proud to partner with the Better With Running podcast and Run2PB, keeping our community moving in absolute comfort. Engineered for peak performance.Oat Running Socks | Official Partner of Better With Running & Run2PB

In Episode 314, Chris and Zac return for another massive show, kicking things off with a deep dive into an unforgettable piece of sporting history right in Melbourne's backyard. Chris shares an epic, firsthand recap of the historic NFL regular-season game packed into the MCG, where a staggering 100,021 fans turned out to make it the 7th biggest crowd in NFL history. From the seamless outer-perimeter entry gates and a buzzing atmosphere featuring daytime fireworks and fighter jet flyovers, to the 49ers taking down the Rams 27–7 on the back of Brock Purdy's massive 40-yard touchdown pass, it felt every bit like an AFL Grand Final or Super Bowl. Chris even braved the post-game merch madness at Bourke Street, finding out just how fast 49ers gear flew off the shelves.The second half of the show welcomes back three-time guest Andy Catchlove for a brilliant catch-up on his stellar running progression under Run2PB coach Sammy McLean. Andy reflects on his journey from a sub-20 minute 5K runner to dropping a blazing 16:30 on the track and logging a massive 34:50 10K PB at the Geelong River Run. He opens up about the tactical shifts that unlocked his brilliant 2:41 marathon performance at the Gold Coast Marathon—including moving away from strict watch fixation to running by feel, battling brutal headwinds on the back half of the course, and nailing his race-day fueling. Plus, Andy shares his unfiltered, hilarious thoughts on why running "doubles" ranks even lower than cleaning out the kitchen S-bend.We wrap up the episode with our signature quick-fire questions with Andy—touching on everything from magpie avoidance to eliminating Garmins.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Oat Running Socks and listeners can score some using the run2pb discount code "Run2pb15" for 15% off the range by visiting ⁠www.oatrunning.com.au.Oat Running is a proud partner of better with running podcast and run2pb, Engineered for peak performance, Oat running socks feature Anatomical Fit: Left- and right-specific designs that match the natural shape of each foot to completely eliminate bunching or slipping. Thermoregulating Fabric: Advanced materials designed to keep your feet cool during hot summer miles and warm through winter starts. Technical Mesh Support: Strategically placed mesh zones that support your foot securely through the entire gait cycle. Blister Prevention: High-performance, moisture-wicking fibers that minimize friction and keep skin irritation at bay.Shop Here: ⁠www.oatrunning.com.au.⁠