Preview: Road to Somewhere with Leanne Pompeani, Ellie Pashley & Nick Earl

·30 min·2 clips

Brady reveals this is a partial Patreon preview, teasing the full 'Road to Somewhere' episode with elite runners.

["The episode begins with a note that this is a partial preview for Patreon subscribers, with the full episode available behind a paywall.", "Hosts Nick Earl, Ellie Pashley, and Leanne Pompeani introduce themselves by referencing their 2016 results, such as Nick placing seventh at the Victorian Cross Country Champs.", "They delve into Leanne's origin story, starting running at age 18 and quickly qualifying for nationals, which led to a scholarship at an NJCAA junior college in Iowa.", "Ellie recounts her 2016 season, which included her first marathon at Melbourne in 2:46:11 on a windy day, marking a turning point in her commitment to training.", "Nick shares his 2016 PBs, including a 10K of 29:34 and a 3K of 8:16, noting he was 31 at the time and has not surpassed these times.", "The discussion compares 2016 race performances to current standards, highlighting how times have dropped significantly, partly due to super shoes and the running boom.", "Specific races mentioned include the Albert Park 10K, Burnley Half Marathon, and Zadopec, with anecdotes about competitors like Liam Adams and Zaka drafting on a bike.", "Leanne provides a detailed account of her training leading up to the World Cross Country Championships, focusing on sessions at Stromlo in Canberra.", "She describes doing five reps of a 2.5K cross-country loop, progressively speeding up, and incorporating a steep 'pimple hill' to build strength.", "One key session involved a threshold run followed by 1K, 600m, and 400m intervals, with Leanne hitting 66 seconds for the 400m.", "Leanne traveled to Tallahassee, Florida, for the championships, staying in a hotel with other national teams like the US, Spain, and Japan.", "She notes the course was flatter than expected but included obstacles, prompting her to prefer more hills over gimmicky features.", "The team dynamics are touched upon, with limited mingling between countries but good bonding within the Australian squad.", "Ellie reflects on her mindset shift in 2016, moving from nervousness about training hard to confidence after properly preparing for her marathon.", "Nick jokes about his age and performance decline, while Leanne is framed as currently at her peak.", "The episode blends personal anecdotes with technical training insights, creating a conversational yet informative tone.", "References to past runners like Sinead Diver, Gin Maloney, and Tali Bird add historical context to the 2016 discussions.", "Leanne's training volume peaked at around 180 kilometers per week in the lead-up to the world championships.", "The hosts engage in light banter, such as teasing about tattoos and college life, balancing the serious running talk.", "Overall, the episode offers a mix of nostalgia, current training updates, and insights into elite cross-country preparation."]

As heard by us

A loose but revealing episode about casual running giving way to earned race-day confidence.

Road to Somewhere opens Inside Running Podcast's 2026 fortnightly run with a reflective look back at the 2016 Victorian Cross Country Championships and the stretch when speed, even without much training, could still feel like an identity.

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Why you'd press play

You want to hear how one 2016 start line helped a runner feel, for once, like the training was actually in the bank.

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