Sunday Runday The Podcast

Lisa’s running story is one built on patience, resilience, and a deep love for the marathon. In this episode, she takes us from her first hometown race in Grand Rapids back in 2012 all the way to completing her Six Star journey in Tokyo 13 years in the making. We talk about the highs, the setbacks, the years she stepped away while raising her kids, and the moment she realised she wanted to chase all six majors. She opens up about training through brutal Michigan winters, running Tokyo after months on the treadmill, and the surreal feeling of crossing that finish line with her family there to witness it. Then we dive into one of the wildest challenges in US running: Boston to Big Sur two iconic marathons, six days apart, coast to coast. Lisa breaks down the recovery, the travel, the mental battle, and the beauty of Big Sur’s legendary course. It’s a conversation about longevity, rediscovering yourself, and the magic of the running community.

Simone Carniglia joins the show from Italy with a remarkable story of resilience and precision. In just seven years, he’s gone from recovering after surgery and weighing nearly 130kg to becoming the world record holder for the fastest person with Type 1 Diabetes to complete all six and all seven World Major Marathons.We talk about how a spontaneous 10K in Milan changed his life, how he’s now run 20 marathons around the world, and what it truly takes to race at a high level while managing a condition that demands constant attention. Simone opens up about the mental load, the nightly alarms, the risks, and the discipline behind every run — and how he helped open the door for athletes with T1D to be recognised by Guinness World Records.A powerful conversation about overcoming obstacles, redefining limits, and inspiring others to do the same.

In this week’s episode we sit down with Will an inspiring runner whose journey began in the wake of personal loss and has grown into something extraordinary. From raising over $25,000 for MND through his first ultra, to qualifying for Boston with a blistering 2:47 at Canberra, Will’s story is one of resilience, family, and sheer determination. Now, he’s chasing history as the youngest Australian to run all seven World Marathon Majors in a single year. We talk about his beginnings, the emotional drive behind his challenges, and his first major of the year where we met at Tokyo Marathon. This is more than a running story it’s about purpose, grit, and the power of chasing something bigger than yourself.

In this episode, we chat with Shori Hijikata, a former Harvard swimmer who discovered a whole new world in running from late‑night hotel treadmill sessions to chasing World Major marathons across the globe. Shori shares how she transitioned from the structure of collegiate swimming to the freedom of running, how community transformed the sport for her, and what she learned from her first marathon in Sydney all the way to running Tokyo in her birthplace. We dive into her fuelling breakthroughs, her love for the global running community, and her excitement for returning to the New York City Marathon with more experience and bigger goals including the dream of earning a Boston Qualifier. It’s an inspiring conversation about growth, grit, and finding joy in every stage of the journey.

This week, we sit down to unpack our Tokyo Marathon experience a race that meant more to us than we ever expected. For Clara, it was the dream she’d carried for years. For both of us, it became the day everything clicked. We talk about the electric energy of Tokyo, the kindness of the Japanese people, the moments that pushed us, the moments that lifted us, and how we both crossed the line with PBs we’ll never forget. It’s a story about dreams realised, goals smashed, and a city that gave us everything.

A raw, human, runner‑to‑runner snapshot of Jack’s unbelievable journey. In this episode, he shares how a simple COVID run spiraled into some of the most extreme challenges imaginable—50km every day for 50 days, then 100km every day for 100 days—all in the name of mental‑health awareness. Jack opens up about why he runs, how community keeps him going, and the power of starting real conversations while moving side by side.

This week, Rob joins the show to share his remarkable running journey from his first marathon to completing all seven World Marathon Majors in a single year. He talks about building Bronx Burners, the run club that grew into a nonprofit serving its community, and offers hard‑earned insight as a three‑time Tokyo Marathon finisher. Expect stories, lessons, and a look at what makes Tokyo one of the most unforgettable races in the world.

Nick from METS Performance Consulting joins the show to unpack the key physiology behind stronger endurance. He breaks down what VO₂ max actually represents, how runners can train to improve it, and why understanding lactate threshold and heart‑rate zones can transform the way you approach your workouts. A clear, practical conversation for anyone looking to run smarter, race stronger, and make sense of the science behind great training.

Sissy’s story begins with a love of running — the kind that shapes identity, anchors routine, and brings joy. But one violent moment threatened to take all of that away. Instead of shrinking, she chose to rise. In this episode, Sissy shares how she transformed fear into fuel and built Take Back the Track, a movement reclaiming space for women and gender‑diverse runners everywhere. Her story is raw, brave, and deeply human — a testament to what happens when one person refuses to let darkness define their path.

Peter and Ben join us to dive into the making of Conquer Cancer, a one‑of‑a‑kind event aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous relay while raising vital funds for charity. From the logistics to the emotion to the electric atmosphere on the ground, they reveal how this relay is uniting Melbourne’s running community in the name of impact and generosity.

In this episode, we meet Tyson a runner whose path through the Indigenous Marathon Project reflects courage, discipline, and community pride. Tyson shares the challenges of marathon training, the lessons learned along the way, and how the project empowers Indigenous athletes to create lasting change. His story is not just about running; it’s about resilience, representation, and the power of sport to inspire future generations. Tyson’s journey shows how the Indigenous Marathon Project is building opportunities, strengthening identity, and celebrating culture through the transformative power of running.

This week we’re joined by Nick from the 100k Hustle, who shares his story behind his 100-kilometre running journey. Nick dives into the mission of the 100k Hustle, supporting small businesses while raising awareness and funds for ADHD Australia. Nick’s journey is about more than endurance; it’s about community, purpose, and making a real impact. Tune in to hear how running 100k became a movement, how small businesses are being uplifted through the hustle, and why giving back is at the heart of it all.

No crowds. No sunlight. Just headlamps, silence, and 42 kilometers carved into the belly of the Earth. Claire didn’t just run a marathon—she ran into a world record, deep underground in the planet’s deepest race. In this episode, we follow her journey from the iconic streets of London to the shadowy tunnels of a mine, where every step echoed with grit, wonder, and the thrill of doing something no one else had. This is not just a race story—it’s a descent into what’s possible when you chase the extraordinary.