Lauren Theodore's running journey changed when she was given a wildcard entry into the 2022 edition of Coast to Kosci.

Having a couple of marathons already under her belt, as well an 80km race at Noosa, and the Larapinta 127km stage race, receiving an entry into the race was a huge leap of faith, but she repaid that faith by showing her trademark grit, finishing inside the top 20 women at Surf Coast Century, before spending 42 and a half hours on her feet for her first finish at Coast to Kosci.

Not bad for someone who just a few years earlier was balancing the start of her running journey while playing Aussie Rules and Netball. Since then she's completed another Coast to Kosci, the 2023 Southern Lakes Ultra, and an eye watering 250 miles at Cocodona (making her the first Aussie to finish that race I'm told!)

Having just completed her 'home town' ultra at the Great Ocean Road a few weeks ago, Lauren is now on track to claim her third finish at Australia's Premier Ultra. That would see her join some rare air, so far only 44 runners have three of more finishes at Coast to Kosci.

You can follow her adventures on instagram at theodorelauren.

This episode marks 60 episodes of the Peak2Soon Podcast, without your support none of this is possible, so thank you, if you love what I do, leave a review, so others like you can find and listen to the amazing humans on this podcast.

Benn Coubrough is an Ultra Runner, Triathlete, Coach at Stroke No Limits, and also the Store Manager orfPure Performance Sports and FootMotion, also recent winner of the 50 kilometre event at the Lonely Mountain Ultra.

He'll be undertaking his first crack at Coast to Kosci in a few weeks as part of the 2024 field. His resume is seriously impressive, and his recent training highlights his preparation for my favourite race, and one of Australia's toughest ultra races.

He gives out a few tips about his preparation for the race, as well as shares his interesting career in sports, which has actually seen him get hit by a car three times.

You can follow Benn at bennycoubs_ultrarunner on Instagram.

Sam Stow has pretty much done it all in a long career winning a number of races along the way, and finding himself at the front in some of Australia and the World's big races.

He's also the founder of Pop! Running and is on a mission to help runners and multi-sport athletes discover the joys of efficient and injury-free running.

As one of Australia's most respected distance athletes, he is also not immune to taking on a challenge, whether that's running and winning the Beerwah Marathon in sandals, or completing the 4x4x48 challenge while carrying a log.

This October he's raising funds for the Top Blokes Foundation with an incredible backyard ultra challenging forming a key part of the fundraising.

When Covid hit Maddy Reynolds needed an escape. She began going on short runs with her housemates, which saw them run a marathon around Sydney.

But unlike her housemates Maddy pushed on in her running journey by finding solitude in the trails, the challenge of navigating rough terrain, and taking in the breathtaking beauty of nature, which became the perfect antidote to the uncertainty of those times.

It's led her on an incredible journey which saw her quit her job at one of the biggest investment banks in the world, and move to the Pyrenees in France to chase the dream of being one of the world's top trail runners.

Recently, she finished as one of the top 30 females globally at OCC, this episode takes a deep dive into Maddy's rapid rise, and how sometimes in life you just have to take that risk and back yourself in.

Stephen Parker has been a runner for most of his life. It's led him on some incredible adventures, particularly in the Backyard Ultra space where he has been involved in some iconic races, two of which involved some Australian women's running history.

His passion though has led him to write a book There is No Finish which is aimed at runners, and anyone interested in a great sporting story.

It introduces the exploding world of the Backyard Ultra, a new ultramarathon format. Birthed from the high school musings of Lazarus Lake, renowned for the Barkley Marathons, the running event has spread globally—to over eighty countries— with sky-rocketing numbers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this chat with Stephen, in what will no doubt be the first of many he undertakes before his book launches October 12.

You can find more information here

Michael O'Brien's world changed when he took on the challenge of 75 Hard. The gruelling fitness challenge that requires a real mental and physical commitment from people.

From there, after never being a particular sporty individual he got the running bug, which saw him run nine marathons, before joining the Bravehearts 777 Challenge, where people run seven marathons in seven states/territories in seven days.

Now he's recently completed a 100 kilometre race here in Canberra which has him once again in pursuit of his limits.

Mark Trbojevich is the Principal Chiropractor at Peak Health Canberra.

After a number of injuries, he sought a career in combining his passion for health and fitness, with his other passion of helping people.

He's the man that keeps me, along with a host of other runners in the game. He's also looked after World Champions, and some of the best athletes from a wide range of sports.

You can see more on Mark here.

Kaiti Primrose is a hybrid athlete who has played a number of sports, but found long distance running through the influence of her dad and in 2021 did her first 777 Bravehearts Marathon event.

That year's event provided some of the toughest lessons she will ever face in the sport of running, but it didn't deter Kaiti from coming back, seeing her now raise a total of $50,000 for the Bravhearts Charity.

I caught up with Kaiti ahead of this week's event, and how she's been preparing to once again run seven marathons in seven days in seven different states and territories in Australia.

You can donate to Kaiti's cause here.