Women’s Running Collective

How We Ran Half Marathon PBs (and Actually Enjoyed It): Gold Coast Race Strategy, Taper, Fueling & Mindset
What does it actually take to run a half marathon PB... and still cross the finish line smiling?

This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie unpack the training, mindset and race-day strategies that helped them both achieve personal bests at the Gold Coast Half Marathon—without blowing up or suffering through the final kilometres.

After a quick catch-up on life after Gold Coast, they dive into the lessons from their 12-week training block, including why threshold training around goal race pace became the cornerstone of their preparation, the importance of keeping easy runs genuinely easy, and how consistency always beats perfection.

The girls chat about trusting their coach, resisting the temptation to "make up" missed sessions, and why a well-executed taper left them feeling fresh, confident and ready to race.

They also break down the exact negative-split race strategy they followed, how they practised their fueling well before race day, and why controlling the controllables helped keep nerves at bay. Plus, they share the positive self-talk that carried them through the toughest moments and helped make the race one they genuinely enjoyed.

As always, they finish with their weekly recommendations and a thank you to ASICS for sponsoring this episode.

In this episode:
00:00 – Thanks to ASICS & the new GEL-KAYANO™ 33

00:36 – Welcome back & post-Gold Coast catch-up

01:32 – How the body is feeling after race week

02:53 – Why we're breaking down our PBs

05:45 – Setting realistic goals for Gold Coast

06:58 – Trusting our coach & training specifically for the event

07:33 – Why threshold training around race pace was a game changer

09:17 – Keeping easy runs easy (and why it matters)

10:57 – Consistency beats perfection every time

12:55 – Why we never "made up" missed sessions

13:43 – Trusting the taper and arriving fresh

15:13 – Our negative-split race plan explained

18:13 – Fueling, gels & race morning preparation

19:19 – Controlling the controllables on race day

20:51 – The positive self-talk that got us through

22:38 – Our biggest lessons from running PBs

24:09 – ASICS GEL-KAYANO™ 33 sponsor break

24:58 – Weekly recommendations GoodR BEATG

27:54 – Wrap-up & see you next week!

If you're training for your next half marathon or chasing a new PB, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you train smarter, race with confidence, and actually enjoy the experience.

Follow the Women's Running Collective for weekly running tips, inspiring conversations and plenty of laughs with Hayles and Jussie.

Gold Coast Half Marathon Recap, Race Weekend Highlights & Behind the Scenes with ASICS  Marketing GM Tomoko Koda | Women's Running Collective
This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are recording straight from the sauna after an unforgettable Gold Coast Marathon weekend!

The girls recap everything—from travelling to the Gold Coast, the ASICS shakeout run, and race expo, to race morning nerves, pacing strategy, and what it felt like chasing a negative split through the Gold Coast Half Marathon. They share the highs, the tough moments, the music that got them through, and celebrate an incredible weekend of personal bests, community, and cheering on some of Australia's best runners.

They also chat about the amazing Gold Pass experience, post-race recovery, and dinner with the ASICS athlete team.

In the second half of the episode, Hayles and Jussie sit down with Tomoko Koda, General Manager of Marketing at ASICS, to chat about the philosophy behind one of the world's most iconic running brands.

Together they discuss the meaning behind "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano" (A Sound Mind in a Sound Body), why ASICS continues to prioritise mental wellbeing, the incredible growth of women's running, how the brand is designing specifically for female runners, the importance of community, and what exciting innovations are coming next—including ASICS' very first women-specific running shoe.

In This Episode
00:00 ASICS Sponsor & GEL-KAYANO™ 33 Launch

00:34 Recording From the Sauna: Medal Monday!

02:06 Travelling to the Gold Coast & ASICS Shakeout Run

03:05 Race Expo, Gold Pass & Pre-Race Preparation

05:09 Race Morning Routine & Our Favourite Race Hacks

07:42 Half Marathon Race Strategy & Negative Splitting

10:53 Mid-Race Moments, Music & Cheering on the Elites

15:52 The Final 5K: Digging Deep to the Finish

20:21 Gold Pass Recovery, Food & Finish Line Perks

22:06 Recovery, Ice Baths & Dinner with the ASICS Team

24:20 Supporting Friends Racing the Marathon

25:23 Introducing Tomoko Koda,  Head of markerting at ASICS

26:49 The ASICS Philosophy: A Sound Mind in a Sound Body

29:00 Meet Tomoko Koda

29:55 Why Running Is About More Than Performance

30:51 The Campaign That Changed ASICS

32:33 Supporting Mental Wellbeing Through Movement

34:42 The Boom in Women's Running

37:06 How ASICS Designs for Female Runners

38:50 Community, Innovation & What's Next

41:41 Quick Fire Questions

44:11 Tomoko's Advice for New Runners

45:33 ASICS GEL-KAYANO™ 33 Feature

46:22 Sauna Debrief, Recovery & Weekly Recommendations

49:22 Wrapping Up & What's Next for the Women's Running Collective

Whether you raced Gold Coast, have a goal event on the horizon, or simply love hearing what goes on behind one of the biggest running brands in the world, this episode is packed with race-day stories, practical tips, inspiration, and plenty of laughs.

💛 Lace up, press play, and come for a run with us.

Pacing 101: How to Pace Your Race Like a Pro | Half Marathon, Marathon & 10K Race-Day Strategy
This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are officially one week out from the Gold Coast Half Marathon! They chat all things taper week, from feeling a little flat and restless to trusting the training after months of hard work.

This episode is a deep dive into one of the biggest factors that can make or break your race... pacing.

Whether you're training for your first 5K or chasing a marathon PB, learning how to pace yourself properly can be the difference between finishing strong or hitting the dreaded wall.

The girls break down the different pacing strategies, including even splits, negative splits, chunking your race into manageable sections, and pacing by effort when conditions aren't ideal. They also share plenty of personal race stories (including pacing mistakes they've definitely learned from!), practical pacing tips for every race distance, and simple ways to practise pacing during training.

If you've ever gone out too fast, blown up halfway through a race, or wondered what pace you should actually be running... this episode is for you.

In This Episode
00:00 Cold Open & Podcast Banter

00:26 One Week Until Gold Coast!

00:50 Taper Week Check-In: The Emotional Rollercoaster

03:01 Coffee Chat & Race Week Catch-Up

03:49 Why Pacing Matters More Than You Think

04:48 Pacing 101: What Does Good Pacing Actually Mean?

05:54 Race Stories, Hitting the Wall & Lessons Learned

10:54 Why Pacing Feels So Hard on Race Day

12:00 Even Splits Explained

13:01 How to Run a Negative Split

18:20 Chunking Your Race Into Smaller Goals

20:23 When to Pace by Effort Instead of Pace

21:04 RPE, Heat, Hills & Race-Day Conditions

21:59 Pacing Tips for Every Race Distance

22:22 How to Pace a 5K

23:22 How to Pace a 10K

24:53 Half Marathon Pacing Strategy

28:12 Marathon Pacing: The Biggest Mistakes to Avoid

29:06 Training Drills to Improve Your Pacing

32:05 Race-Day Pacing Tools, Watches & Pacers

36:48 Weekly Recommendations & Wrap-Up

Whether you're chasing a personal best or simply hoping to cross the finish line smiling, this episode will help you run smarter, pace with confidence, and get the most out of your next race.

XO Hayles and Jussie

Tapering for Race Day: How to Trust Your Training, Beat the Taper Crazies & Arrive Ready to Race | Women's Running Collective
This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are deep in Gold Coast Half Marathon preparation and officially entering taper mode. They chat through a big week of training, including a challenging long run featuring two race-pace efforts, a tough Mona Fartlek session, and the reality of managing tired legs, niggles, and pre-race nerves.

The girls dive into one of the most misunderstood parts of running: the taper. How much should you cut back? Are you losing fitness? Why do your legs suddenly feel weird? And why does every runner become convinced they're injured the week before a race?

Hayles and Jussie break down exactly how to taper successfully, why recovery becomes your most important training session, and how to navigate the infamous "taper crazies" so you can arrive at the start line feeling confident, fresh, and ready to run your best.

They also chat race-day mindset, handling tough moments during a race, goal setting, favourite taper-week quotes, and share their weekly recommendations.

In This Episode
00:00 Welcome Back to the Backyard Studio

00:50 Gold Coast Half Marathon Training Update

01:17 Long Run Recap: 6K Easy + Two 6K Race Pace Efforts

02:13 Mona Fartlek Session & Rearranging Training Around Life

03:47 Why Tapering Matters More Than You Think

06:03 What Is a Taper? The Basics Explained

09:20 How to Taper Properly Before Race Day

11:02 Taper Crazies, Recovery & Trusting the Process

14:48 Mental Tapering & Preparing Your Mind for Race Day

17:01 What to Do When Racing Gets Hard

17:30 Mantras, Mindset & Remembering Your Why

18:45 Race Week Essentials: Sleep, Nutrition & Recovery

21:03 Running Playlist Banter

22:51 A Better Way to Set Race Goals

23:43 Our Favourite Taper Quotes

25:00 Race Travel, Event Week Energy & Managing Nerves

27:15 Weekly Recommendations

30:33 Harbour 10K Meet-Up & Community Catch-Up

 

Jussies Jumper recco ASICS JUMPER

Hayleys Camera recco DJI ACTION 5 

Whether you're preparing for your first 5K, a half marathon, or your next marathon, this episode will help you understand how to taper, trust your training, and get to the start line feeling your best. 

HARBOUR 10km race we are doing

💛 Remember: The hardest part of tapering isn't running less it's believing you've done enough.

Building Running Resilience: How to Stay Mentally Strong When Running Gets Hard
This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are back in the backyard studio (fuelled by snacks courtesy of Hayley’s mum and Rob!) chatting all things resilience. The girls kick things off with a Gold Coast Half Marathon training update, including interval sessions, rolling hills, race-pace workouts, and the reality of training through life’s curveballs.

Hayley shares a challenging week dealing with period-related fatigue, migraines, and the early signs of shin splints, leading to some smart training adjustments and a reminder that resilience isn't always about pushing harder — sometimes it's about knowing when to pull back.

The conversation then dives into what resilience actually means, why it's often misunderstood, and practical ways runners can build mental toughness. Drawing on Mel Robbins' "24-Hour Resilience Turnaround" and sports psychology research, Hayles and Jussie share simple strategies to help you stay strong when motivation is low, training gets tough, or race day nerves creep in.

From pacing by effort, positive self-talk, and smiling through the hard moments, to embracing discomfort, training in less-than-perfect conditions, and finding your deeper "why," this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you become a more resilient runner.

Plus, the girls share their weekly recommendations, announce they're running the Harbour 10K in Sydney, and reveal details of a special ticket giveaway.

Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Back in the Backyard Studio
00:55 – Gold Coast Half Marathon Training Update
02:16 – Period Fatigue, Migraines & Shin Pain
05:39 – Why We're Talking About Resilience
07:06 – What Resilience Really Means
09:42 – Mel Robbins' 24-Hour Resilience Reset
12:45 – Celebrating Small Wins
13:54 – The Science of Running Resilience
15:11 – How Smiling Can Lower Perceived Effort
16:42 – Positive Self-Talk Strategies
18:10 – Creating Positive Pre-Run Rituals
19:27 – Learning to Embrace Discomfort
20:47 – Training Through Tough Conditions
22:41 – Getting Comfortable With The Unknown
23:35 – Planning Ahead & Mental Tapering
24:51 – Finding Your Purpose & Goals
26:03 – Key Resilience Takeaways
27:54 – Weekly Recommendations
31:24 – Harbour 10K Announcement & Giveaway
32:30 – Happy Running!

Jussie recco RUNNING GLOVES LULULEMON

Follow the Women's Running Collective for weekly running chats, expert guests, training tips, and plenty of laughs along the way.