Women’s Running Collective

Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Running? Community, Confidence, and the Runner’s High 
By Hayles & Jussie | Women’s Running Collective Podcast

Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with running? And why does it feel like running clubs are popping up on every corner? 

This week, Hayles and Jussie are asking the big questions.... in between a rough week of questionable sleep, unexpected ailments, missed runs and trying to get their lives together before marathon training kicks off. Oh, and Jussi is counting down to the end of netball!

But seriously, what is it about running that has so many of us hooked?

From the post-COVID running boom to the rise of run clubs, we unpack why running has become so much more than putting one foot in front of the other. It’s about finding your people, making genuine friendships as an adult, getting out of your own head and remembering who you are outside of being a mum, a partner or an employee.

We chat about why running is one of the most accessible forms of movement, how run clubs are helping women feel less lonely, and why you absolutely do not need to be fast, fit or particularly outgoing to find your place in the running community.

We also get into the science behind the runner’s high, why running can feel so addictive, the role of Strava and social media in making running the thing to do, and when that healthy obsession can start to become a little too much.

Because in a world that’s increasingly online, overstimulating and, let’s be honest, a bit cooked, running gives us something wonderfully real: time away from our screens, a shared challenge, a sense of achievement and connection with people who just get it.

Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner, a run-club regular, a solo plodder or someone still trying to convince yourself to get out the door, this episode is a reminder that running doesn’t have to be about pace, distance or performance.

Sometimes, it’s about finding your people and finding a little bit of yourself along the way. ❤️

Plus: we share one of our current running recommendations, ELYTE hydration powder, before wrapping up.

In this episode

Why running has exploded in popularity since COVID

How running can be accessible, affordable and easy to fit into busy lives

Why run clubs are about so much more than running

Making friends as an adult (yes, it really can be that simple!)

Finding an identity beyond motherhood, work and everyone else’s expectations

The mental health benefits of moving your body and taking a break from screens

What actually happens in your brain when you experience the runner’s high

Running, dopamine and why we keep coming back for more

The influence of Strava, social media and the marathon boom

When running becomes pressure instead of pleasure

Why belonging might be one of the best things running gives us

Timestamps
00:00 — Cold Open Banter
00:03 — Podcast Intro Chaos
00:30 — Sleep, Periods and Ailments
00:52 — Running Week Recap
02:05 — Long Run Plans & Netball Ends
02:24 — Today’s Big Question
03:13 — Why Running Is Everywhere
05:06 — Accessible for Busy Women
06:08 — COVID, Social Media & Run Clubs
08:03 — From Solo Sport to Social
08:51 — Run Clubs Fight Loneliness
11:12 — Instant Friends & a Safe Space
13:05 — Women Beyond Their Roles
14:07 — The Ingredients of a Great Run Club
15:17 — The Titanic Tangent 
16:27 — The Unexpected Impact of Running
17:17 — Craving the Real in an AI World
17:55 — Running as a Reset
19:29 — Authenticity & Real Connection
20:22 — Runner’s High vs Surf High
21:57 — The Brain Chemistry Behind the Addiction
25:42 — When Running Becomes Too Much
27:20 — Runner Identity & Belonging
29:16 — Why Women Love Running
31:58 — Strava, Social Media & the Marathon Boom
34:00 — Recommendations & Wrap-Up

Come for the running, stay for the community. 

Follow Women’s Running Collective for more honest conversations about running, women’s health, confidence and finding your people.

And if you’ve ever made a friend on a run, found your headspace on a hard day, or accidentally signed up for a race because everyone else was doing it… this one’s for you.

WRC Show Notes | Marathon Training: Get Organised Before the Chaos Begins! 🏃‍♀️
Marathon training is about so much more than just running the kilometres! From fuelling and recovery to booking massages, stocking up on nutrition and making sure you’ve actually got enough clean running gear, there’s a LOT to think about before the training block even begins. 😂

In this episode, Hayles and Jussie wrap up their chat about preparing for marathon training and share their biggest recommendation: get organised before the chaos begins!

Hayles has already started ticking things off her pre-marathon checklist, including booking regular massages, ordering contact lenses and adding all her running nutrition to cart. She’s also planning a Dinner Ladies order to make life a little easier once training ramps up. Because apparently, training for a marathon requires a full logistical operation!

The girls also encourage anyone planning their first marathon to listen to and share this episode with a friend. There are so many things first-time marathoners might not realise they need to prepare for, and getting ahead of the game can make the whole experience a little less overwhelming.

And of course, there’s the BIG question… which marathon are Hayles and Jussie training for? They’re keeping their lips sealed for now, but if you think you know, jump into their DMs with your guess!

Also they reflect on mixed feedback from the Melbourne Marathon, note Eliud Kipchoge breaking the course record at 41, and congratulate Izzy Batt-Doyle for breaking the Australian and Oceania women’s marathon record in Chicago (2:20:38, sixth). 

In this episode:

Why getting organised before marathon training starts is so important.

The pre-training checklist already underway.

Booking massages and preparing your recovery routine.

Stocking up on running nutrition and the essentials.

Making life easier outside of running with a little meal-planning help.

Why first-time marathoners should prepare for more than just the kilometres.

The mystery marathon… can you guess where the girls are heading?

Our recommendation: Share this episode with anyone thinking about running their first marathon. Trust us, future them will thank you!

Timestamps

00:00 Sponsor and Setup
00:17 Podcast Intro and Banter
00:46 Weekly Running Recap
01:24 ASICS Mental Health Run
02:41 Parkrun PB and Lego Drama
05:25 Marathon Announcement
05:54 Melbourne Marathon News
07:00 Izzy Record Breaker
08:54 Marathon Prep Mindset
13:05 Calendar and Life Planning
15:23 Period and Symptom Tracking
18:40 Fueling and Gear Checklist
21:22 Shoes and Race Day Picks
23:51 Book Health Appointments
25:55 Bloodwork Wakeup Call
26:50 Health Checks First
27:02 Strength Training Basics
28:33 Get Family Onboard
31:05 Sleep Like It Matters
33:27 Plan Long Run Routes
35:20 Reality Check Fitness
37:16 Build Support Crew
40:03 Practice Morning Routine
41:29 Learn To Say No
43:35 Goals Beyond Finish Time
44:58 Remember Your Why
47:32 Checklist Recap
49:22 ASICS Rise And Shine
50:30 Recommendations And Wrap

 
Happy running, legends! 💛

Follow along with Hayles and Jussie at @womensrunningcollective and join the conversation. We’d love to hear your pre-marathon rituals  especially the slightly unhinged ones!

Every pace, every distance, every runner. You’re welcome here.

Listener Q&A: Running Progress, Finding a Coach, First Marathon Tips, Running Prams & Protein Powder
The Women’s Running Collective Hayles & Jussie

This week on the Women’s Running Collective podcast, Hayles and Jussie are back with a listener Q&A episode covering everything from running progress and finding the right running coach to first marathon training, race-day tips, running with a pram and choosing a protein powder.

After a very tired week, Hayles has taken a full week off running, while Jussie has been putting in the work with some tough threshold sessions, a 20K run and parkrun on the horizon.

The girls chat honestly about their own running journeys, getting faster after having kids and whether pace progression actually matters. They also share how they work with their running coach Josh using Intervals and what to look for when choosing an accredited and insured running coach.

Thinking about running your first marathon? This episode is packed with practical advice, from building your long runs and practising your race-day fuelling to starting slower than you think, walking aid stations, respecting the taper and having a Plan B (and C!).

They also answer a listener question about running prams, including what to look for in a running pram and how to safely get started with run-walk intervals.

Plus, the girls tackle protein powder, their current running and lifestyle recommendations, and the things they’re loving this week.

This episode is proudly supported by the ASICS Rise & Shine collection.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Sponsor Cold Open
00:18 Welcome Back Friday
00:39 Tired Week Catchup
01:20 Hayley Takes a Rest Week
02:19 Jussie’s Training Update
04:11 Listener Questions Are Back!
04:40 Our Running Journeys & Finding Your Pace
12:48 How to Find a Running Coach
16:42 First Marathon Training & Preparation Tips
20:04 Race Day Dress Rehearsal
20:25 Chafing-Proof Running Gear
21:16 Don’t Try Anything New on Race Day
21:29 Taper Madness
21:56 Have a Plan B & Plan C
22:14 How to Chunk the Marathon Distance
22:54 Mindset, Pace & Comparing Yourself
23:59 Soak Up the Race-Day Atmosphere
24:37 Best Running Prams
26:36 How to Start Running With a Pram
29:02 Protein Powder: What to Look For
32:36 ASICS Rise & Shine
33:44 Weekly Recos & Wrap

🏃‍♀️ IN THIS EPISODE

Running progress after having kids

How your pace can change over time

Taking rest weeks and listening to your body

How to find a running coach

What to look for in an accredited and insured coach

Training for your first marathon

How to approach your long runs

Practising marathon fuelling before race day

Why you should start your marathon slower than you think

Walking the aid stations

Race-day preparation and dress rehearsals

Preventing chafing on race day

Why you should never try something completely new on race day

Surviving the marathon taper

Having a Plan B and Plan C

Breaking the marathon into smaller chunks

Dealing with comparison and race-day nerves

Enjoying the atmosphere and experience

Choosing a running pram

How to safely start running with a pram

What to look for in a running pram

Protein powder basics and what to look for

Our current running and lifestyle favourites

🏃‍♀️ OUR WEEKLY RECS
Uncle Toby’s Chewy Muesli Bars — an easy option to have in your running bag when you want something different from a traditional gel.

Harlie + Harper — because running doesn't mean you have to give up the cute stuff.

Rhode Glazing Mist — a post-run skincare favourite.

The Post-Run Car Bag — our essential stash of everything you might need after a sweaty run, because sometimes the car is basically your second wardrobe.

ABOUT THE WOMEN’S RUNNING COLLECTIVE
The Women’s Running Collective is a podcast and community created by women, for women, where every pace, every distance and every runner is welcome.

Hosted by Hayles and Jussie, WRC is all about honest conversations, practical running advice, inspiring women and making running feel more accessible, enjoyable and inclusive.

Whether you're training for your first 5K, chasing a PB, preparing for your first marathon or simply trying to get out the door this week you belong here. XO WRC

What to Do When a Race Doesn’t Go to Plan (And Why a Bad Run Doesn’t Make You a Bad Runner)
Not every race is a PB. Sometimes it’s not even remotely close. 😂

In this episode, Hayles and Jussie chat about what happens when a race goes completely sideways — and how to deal with the disappointment when you've trained hard, had a goal in mind, and things just don't go to plan.

After a slightly delayed episode and a recap of the latest training (including hills, parkrun and Jussie pushing Hayles and the pram!), we get into the very real topic of bad races.

Hayles shares the full story of a particularly brutal half marathon in wet and windy conditions, where she felt unwell, struggled with chafing and nausea, eventually vomited and needed some serious help getting back to the hotel. Not exactly the race-day experience she'd planned! 😅

We talk about the things runners simply can't control — weather, sleep, stress, illness, hormonal fluctuations, gut issues and course conditions — and why sometimes the smartest thing you can do is change the goal halfway through.

We chat about when to push through, when to slow down, when a walk break can actually be the smart choice, and when you absolutely need to stop for medical reasons.

Plus, why you should never let one bad race convince you that you're a bad runner.

We share some of our own worst-race lessons, talk about the importance of giving yourself time before making emotional decisions, and break down how to objectively look back at a race including asking yourself what actually went RIGHT.

Because one race is one day.

It doesn't erase your training, your progress or everything you've achieved as a runner. 💛

In this episode, we chat about:

What to do when a race goes completely off the rails

Hayles' very wet, windy and VERY miserable half marathon

The things you can't control on race day

Why your goal can change mid-race

When to keep going and when to stop

Recognising medical red flags

Why walking is sometimes the smartest decision

How to reset your mindset when the PB is gone

Why you shouldn't make big decisions immediately after a bad race

How to objectively review a race

Finding the lessons without beating yourself up

Why one bad race doesn't define you as a runner

Our worst race stories and what they taught us

Plus, we share our current running recommendations, answer listener questions and say a big thank you to everyone we've met out on the run — especially those of you who come up and say hello at races. We LOVE meeting you!

00:00 Sponsor and Warmup

00:27 Podcast Intro and Delay

01:22 Weekly Running Recap

03:03 Race Went Sideways

04:23 It Happens to Anyone

06:59 What You Can't Control

09:11 Shift Your Race Goals

10:14 Know When to Stop

11:55 Reset Mid-Race Mindset

15:28 Walk Breaks Are Smart

16:44 Post-Race Decisions

18:04 Objective Race Review

19:39 Runner Identity Reset

22:27 Worst Race Lessons

24:16 Race Horror Story

29:37 ASICS Rise and Shine

30:54 Fun Goals and Rest

31:35 Gear and Gut Recos NUTRA NATURALS SUPER GUT

33:56 Listener Questions and Thanks

35:08 Wrap Up and Sponsor

 

Thank you to ASICS and the Rise and Shine Collection

Because sometimes the race doesn't go to plan.

And that's okay.

You're still a runner. 💛

See you on the next start line!

Hayles & Jussie
Women's Running Collective

Strength Training for Women Runners: Build Resilience, Longevity & Better Running Economy | Women’s Running Collective
This week on the Women’s Running Collective, we’re talking about something we reckon every runner should be doing strength training! 💪🏼🏃‍♀️

Hayles and Jussie kick things off with a chaotic morning run involving multiple snake encounters (because apparently that’s just normal now 😂), before catching up on the week’s training.

There’s a Mona Fartlek, a tough progression run and Jussie’s hot and very hilly Gloucester Mountain Man trail race where her team managed to take out the women’s title! 🏆

Then we get into the big topic: why strength training matters so much for runners, particularly women as we get older.

We chat about how strength training can support muscle and bone health, running economy, resilience and longevity and tackle one of the biggest myths we hear from women:

“But I don’t want to get bulky!”

We’re breaking down why lifting weights won’t suddenly turn you into the Hulk, how to actually approach strength training as a runner, and the exercises worth prioritising.

Think squats, deadlifts and hinges, single-leg work, calves, upper body and trunk strength  plus how heavy you should actually be lifting and why progressive overload matters.

We also talk about how to fit strength training into an already VERY busy running week, including our simple approach of two 30–40 minute sessions a week, how to schedule your gym sessions around harder running days, and what to do when you have absolutely no time.

Plus, we get into DOMS, fuelling and recovery, why protein AND carbs matter, and Jussie shares her very achievable 20-minute strength session.

And because we couldn’t possibly have an episode without a little chaos, we finish with running jokes, our weekly recommendations and a VERY exciting community surprise involving marathon tickets hidden inside a cake. 🎂🏃‍♀️

If you’ve been putting off strength training, this is your sign to start.

You don’t need to spend hours in the gym.

You don’t need a complicated program.

And you definitely don’t need to become a gym bro.

You just need to start getting stronger. 💛

Timestamps
00:00 Sponsor and Intro

00:30 Morning Runs and Snake Scares

02:13 Treadmill TV Talk

03:07 Weekly Training Recap

05:53 Why Strength Training Matters

10:57 Weights Won’t Make You Bulky

13:25 Injury Prevention and Resilience

15:17 Women Aging and Longevity

17:35 What to Train in the Gym

18:55 Calves and Upper Body Basics

20:03 Trunk Strength Basics

20:30 Elite Workout Inspiration

21:08 How Heavy To Lift

22:18 Avoiding DOMS Pitfalls

23:11 No Time Gym Plan

24:51 Scheduling Around Runs

27:09 Fuel Recover Adapt

27:51 20 Minute Jussie Session

28:40 Strength Training Mindset

29:28 Take Home Challenge

31:02 ASICS Rise And Shine

32:10 Running Jokes Break

33:31 Recommendations Segment

36:53 Community Ticket Surprise

38:37 Final Thanks And Signoff

Thanks for listening, supporting the podcast and being part of our little running community. 💛

Hayleys reco Kmart family calender

Jussies recco LSKD frilly socks

Hayles & Jussie
Women’s Running Collective