Run With It

Content warning: This episode includes in-depth discussion about eating disorders, which may be distressing for some listeners.

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Running has helped Australian Olympian Milly Clark endure and conquer some of her life’s biggest challenges. Running helped her make new friends when she and her family moved to Germany and Indonesia during her school years. And most importantly, it helped Milly recover from a devastating eating disorder, which she developed while she was at college in the United States.

In this conversation with Elise, Milly shares some of the highs, lows and experiences that have shaped who she is as a person today. We talk about her incredible performance at the Rio Olympics in 2016 where she was 18th across the line in 2:30:53 and her PB of 2:26:59 at the Nike Melbourne Marathon. She speaks about getting bitten by a snake in the US (despite living in Tasmania which is home to some the world’s deadliest snakes), and why her debut marathon in Amsterdam was so memorable (2:29:07, 3rd place). We also cover some darker times when Milly was in the grips of loneliness, sadness and an eating disorder, which she was able to overcome with much love and support from her family and inner circle.

Now fresh off the back of a 1:12:37 at Launceston Half Marathon, Milly tells us about her plans for this year, which includes lining up for Gold Coast Marathon in a week’s time! We can’t wait to see how she goes!

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Milly Clark is one of Australia's most accomplished marathon runners and represented Australia in the marathon at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where she was the first Australian woman across the finish line. Since making her marathon debut in Amsterdam in 2015, Milly has become a consistent force on the Australian distance running scene, winning the 2021 Nike Melbourne Marathon in a personal best of 2:26:59 and earning multiple national team selections. Milly is a qualified sports dietician and currently works as a school teacher in Tasmania, Australia.

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Resources and support:

If this episode raises concerns for you, support is available.

Contact the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 or visit org.au

Visit the InsideOut Institute at org.au or the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) at nedc.com.au for information and support.

If you're in immediate danger or need urgent help, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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Follow us on Instagram:

@millyjane14

@runwithit.pod

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Sarah Billings is on fire! As we wait for Australia’s 2026 Commonwealth Games team to be announced, the Aussie middle-distance runner is well and truly in the mix for selection.

Sarah sits down with Elise to discuss her recent form, including two massive PBs – a 3:58.81 in the 1500m at the Shanghai Diamond League, and a 1:57.61 in the 800m in Rabat, which is the second fastest time ever run by an Australian woman!

But these results have been a long time in the making. Starting her career as a sprinter before moving into middle-distance in her junior years, Sarah has always been an excellent runner. But in her first years as a senior athlete, Sarah felt like she wasn’t getting the performances she had hoped for. Then the injuries hit. They hit hard. And repeatedly.

When Sarah was able to finally break that injury cycle, she could at last string some good consistent training together and sought the help of a performance coach to work on her mental approach to racing. She said it’s made all the difference.

We talk about what she learnt during those tough injury-riddled years, her breakout 2024 season, and how her persistence, mindset and consistency is now paying dividends in the results she is seeing on the track.

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Sarah Billings has represented Australia multiple times, including at World Juniors in 2016 and the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in 2025. She is currently coached by Nic Bideau at Melbourne Track Club, and is sponsored by New Balance.

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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!

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Follow us on Instagram:

@sarahbillings

@runwithit.pod

@elisebeacom

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

British athlete Calli Hauger-Thackery didn’t even know she was pregnant when she ran (and won) Honolulu Marathon in December last year. She uncharacteristically vomited during the race, which she later realised was morning sickness!

Calli then went on to win Houston Marathon in 2:24:17 in January. But only she and husband Nick knew she was carrying a plus-one through the tape! Most recently, while 22-weeks pregnant, Calli ran Boston Marathon in 2:43:58, despite needing to stop four times (to release a pinched nerve and to pee). Boston especially captured the attention of so many people around the world, inspired by what Calli has been able to do during her pregnancy.

It was an absolute joy to have Calli back on the podcast to discuss her pregnancy in detail, the planning process for athletes trying to start a family and to debrief the three marathons she’s now run with baby Evan on board.

If you’d like to learn more about Calli’s story (she’s the 2nd fastest British woman of all-time over the marathon distance by the way!), go back to episode 28.

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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!

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Follow us on Instagram:

@callirianne

@runwithit.pod

@elisebeacom

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Former pro-cyclist Jimmy Whelan reveals where he intends to run his debut marathon later this year – you’ll have to listen to find out!

Dialling in from his home in Barcelona, Jimmy talks about his transition from pro cycling to a brief stint as a triathlete and his newfound status as a professional runner sponsored by Salomon. He’s never been happier as an athlete! And we tap into what that’s all about.

We talk about his breakout 61:37 half marathon in Valencia, the disappointment of Berlin half, the chatter centred on his scorching potential, and why he’s not afraid to say big goals out loud, including his ambition to be in the marathon conversation for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Jimmy also gives us a unique window into pro cycling on the European circuit. Aside from the joys of long group rides, living in Europe and café stops, the other headlines are: stress, contract pressure and terrifying crashes, which all ultimately pushed him away from the sport and back towards his first love of running.

It’s a full-circle moment for Jimmy, and what a pleasure it was to talk through his evolution and reinvention as an athlete on the pod! Enjoy!

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James “Jimmy” Whelan is an Australian athlete whose career has spanned professional cycling, triathlon and now distance running. Jimmy made a real statement last year when he ran a 61-minute half marathon in Valencia, attracting the attention of the athletics community and major sponsors alike. Now signed with Salomon, and coached by Andy Henderson, Jimmy has his sights set on the marathon distance, hoping to make his debut later this year. Jimmy’s professional cycling career included affiliations with renowned teams such as Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Anicolor/Tien21 Cycling Team and EF Pro Cycling. Jimmy is currently based in Barcelona, Spain.

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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!

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Check out Jimmy’s YouTube: youtube.com/@jimmywhelan

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Follow us on Instagram:

@jimmywhelann

@runwithit.pod

@elisebeacom

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Elise and Alice get together to debrief all things Copenhagen Marathon, including the perfect conditions, incredible vibes, some fuelling trials and tribulations, and a surprise encounter with Jakob Ingebrigtsen (his little brother Kristoffer ran 2:29 by the way)! Elise gives a play-by-play breakdown of the race and how she felt finishing her 11th marathon in a city that means so much to her (with 2:53 on the clock).

Meanwhile, AB is set to line up for her debut half marathon in Brooklyn this weekend, but is probably most looking forward to the swim post-race.

Though this episode starts with a discussion on hair washing and canned foods, we promise it goes up a notch after a couple of minutes! Enjoy!   

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Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing!

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Follow us on Instagram:

@runwithit.pod

@alicebaquie

@elisebeacom

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer