Women’s Running Collective

Running Through Winter: How to Get Out the Door, Layer Smart, Stay Safe & Avoid Getting Sick | Women’s Running Collective Ep. 79
In this episode of the Women’s Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are back chatting all things winter running and let’s just say… it’s been a week.

From chaotic training schedules to freezing mornings in Lithgow (we’re talking below zero 🥶), the girls share what training has looked like lately including hill sessions, Sandhills reps, sub-threshold efforts, and navigating running while travelling.

They dive into the reality of winter running and how to actually get out the door when it’s cold and dark from setting your gear out the night before (or even sleeping in it 👀) to lowering expectations and focusing on consistency over perfection.

There’s plenty of practical chat around layering properly how to stay warm without overheating, what pieces actually make a difference (hello vests, gloves and arm sleeves), and why dressing for warmer than it is can be a game changer.

Hayles and Jussie also talk about why winter running can actually be so good  from building mental toughness to enjoying those quiet, peaceful mornings and how staying motivated often comes down to community, goals, and giving yourself a bit of grace.

They cover some really important winter safety tips, especially for women running in darker conditions including visibility, route choices, sharing your location, and always trusting your gut.

And because winter = sickness season, they chat through how to avoid getting run down — from getting out of sweaty clothes quickly, fuelling properly, prioritising sleep and recovery, to keeping on top of the simple (but important) hygiene habits. They also touch on supplements like vitamin C, zinc, olive leaf extract and astragalus.

To wrap things up, the girls share their latest product recommendations, including ASICS Superblast 3, Vert powdered gels, and some winter run staples from LSKD.

As always it’s real, relatable and all about helping you feel supported through every season of running.

Timestamps
00:00 SUPERBLAST 3 ASICS sponsor message
00:27 Welcome And Catch Up
01:16 Jazzy Training Week
03:41 Hayles Training Week
04:28 Winter Arrives In Lithgow
05:38 Cold Cabin Chaos
07:04 Winter Running Starts
07:43 Get Out Of Bed
09:36 Layering Without Overheating
11:44 Gloves Beanies Arm Sleeves
15:33 Why Winter Running Rocks
17:21 Motivation In Winter
17:37 Motivation Through Winter
18:03 Goals and Self Compassion
19:05 Winter Running Safety
20:59 Avoiding Winter Illness
23:24 Recovery Sleep and HRV
24:54 Supplements and Hygiene Basics
26:16 Training Flexibility and Missed Sessions
29:04 Shoe Spotlight Superblast 3
30:24 Product Picks and Gear Recs
34:48 Wrap Up and Time Off

 

Links

Hayleys new LSKD running shorts

https://www.lskd.co/products/elite-run-high-rise-7-short-pockets-black

AeroFLX+ Long Sleeve Skimmer Half Zip
https://www.lskd.co/products/aeroflx-long-sleeve-skimmer-half-zip-white-white

 

JUSSIE VERT GEL recco linkhttps://vertnutrition.com.au/products/vert-fuel-powder?srsltid=AfmBOorz75-QFasYZLokxK0EQu209YLAN-dhr1gOzT9kwFiEvaHyISKB

Run My Way: NSW Research on Women’s Running Safety + What’s Next

In this episode of the Women’s Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie take you behind the scenes of a really powerful night at the newly upgraded Sydney Olympic Park track, where they were invited to a female-only track event hosted by the We Run Foundation in collaboration with the NSW Office of Sport and Transport for NSW.

The night centred around the Run My Way program, a three-year initiative focused on understanding and improving safety for women when it comes to running.

Hayles and Jussie share what it was like being in a space filled with women, running under lights, and hearing directly from researchers, leaders and everyday runners about the very real barriers women face.

The research shared on the night was eye-opening with findings showing that 95% of women consider safety a major factor when choosing where to run, 70% have felt unsafe while running, and 50% have experienced harassment. The girls unpack what this actually means in real life from choosing well-lit routes, running at certain times, sticking to familiar places, and the mental load that comes with it.

They also share some of the stories from women in the community, which are powerful, confronting and incredibly important conversations to be having.

The episode dives into what’s next including proposed initiatives like awareness campaigns, safer running hubs, and better-connected, well-lit running routes — and how these changes could help more women feel confident to get out the door.

Hayles and Jussie also reflect on the importance of community, the power of running together, and how spaces like this where women feel safe, seen and supported are exactly what the running world needs more of.

As always, they wrap things up with their recommendations and a few final thoughts from the event.

Timestamps

00:00 Sponsor Message
00:19 Podcast Welcome
00:47 Sydney Track Event Setup
03:40 Run My Way Program
05:28 Hosts Weekend Recap
07:48 Kerry Opening Keynote
12:04 Challenges For Women
16:03 Research Approach
18:47 Survey Key Findings
22:37 Runner Voices Montage
24:41 Run Harassment Reality
25:14 Co-Design Ideas Unpacked
26:10 Campaigns Hubs Safe Routes
28:20 Women’s Running Collective Stories
32:16 Panel Safety Strategies
36:19 Joyful Running Community Wins
40:19 What’s Next Implementation Plan
41:57 Sponsor Shoe Break - This episode was brought to you by ASICS and the Brand NEW SUPERBLAST 3
43:20 Post-Event Reflections
45:22 Recommendations and Wrap Hayley recomends the https://www.lskd.co/products/functional-training-backpack-black

Jussie recomends https://www.werunfoundation.org/

Training Smarter, Not Harder: Hills, Recovery & Running Myths (Women’s Running Collective Ep. 76)

In this episode of the Women’s Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie catch up on the week that was from Jussie’s hill-heavy training as she builds towards UTA 50K, to Hayles sharing how special their International Women’s Day community run was, raising funds for a local oncology unit and women’s shelter.

From there, the conversation shifts into something we see all the time in the running world  the pressure to do more. More kilometres, more sessions, more intensity. Hayles and Jussie chat about why sometimes the smartest thing you can do as a runner is actually train smarter, not harder.

They talk about the influence of social media, the pressure that can come from Strava comparisons, and training apps that sometimes push unrealistic mileage without considering real life things like injuries, work, family life, or even menstrual cycles.

The girls then dive into some of the most common running myths they hear from the community like the idea that more kilometres always equals better performance, that you need to run every day to improve, or that strength training will make you bulky. They also chat about misconceptions around running ruining your joints, needing a certain body type to be a runner, or thinking you need expensive gear to get started.

To wrap it all together, Hayles and Jussie break down what they believe are the four key pillars of training well: consistency, speed and hill work, strength training, and rest. Along the way they chat about adding strides, fartlek sessions, cross training, and making sure you’re fuelling and recovering properly.

The episode also features sponsor mentions for the ASICS Superblast 3, plus their weekly recommendations including recovery sessions, planning for the Gold Coast races, and a lifesaver for busy weeks: The Dinner Ladies.

Timestamps

00:00 Sponsor and cold open
00:29 Meet the hosts
01:10 Jazzy UTA training week
03:16 Haley community run recap
05:50 Why train smarter
06:24 Social media pressure and apps
10:57 Misconception more is better
13:24 Rest days and recovery
14:06 Easy miles and zone two
15:27 Cross training and warmups
18:02 Strength and joint myths
18:52 Gear body type and weight loss
22:14 Post Run Refuel
22:50 Pillar One Consistency
24:52 Hills And Speedwork
26:58 Strides For Form
30:10 Fartlek Speed Play
31:11 Pillar Three Strength
32:55 Pillar Four Rest
34:45 Extra Tips Cross Training
36:13 Live Episode Preview
37:32 ASICS Superblast Ad
38:53 Recommendations Segment
43:16 Wrap Up And Thanks

International Women’s Day: Trailblazing Women Who Changed Running (Plus UTA Training, Superblast 3 & Weekly Recos)

 

THANKYOU to our very first legit sponsor ASICS AUSTRALIA

Hayles and Jussie are back on the mic for another episode of the Women’s Running Collective and kicking things off with a little life catch-up. Jussie has just returned from Europe where she managed to squeeze in runs through Vienna in the snow, a run through Istanbul, and even a bit of skiing along the way.

Back home, the girls chat through their latest training block down in Forster from Sandhills sessions to sub-threshold reps, ladders and hill work as Jussie continues building strength for UTA.

They also dive into the difference between running in the cold vs the heat (and which one they’d choose), before sharing the excitement around their International Women’s Day community 3K/5K event which sold out super quickly and will raise funds for a local women’s shelter and oncology ward.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Hayles and Jussie highlight some of the incredible women who helped shape the sport we all love today.

From Kathrine Switzer’s iconic Boston Marathon moment in 1967, Bobbi Gibb running Boston unofficially in 1966, Joan Benoit winning Olympic marathon gold in 1984 just weeks after knee surgery, Alice Moore’s incredible Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra finish, and the powerful “New York Six” protest in 1972 that helped fight for equality in women’s distance running.

They also chat about the ASICS Superblast 3, share their weekly recommendations (including a Disney love story, “Fun Clothes Friday”), and wrap things up with a practical tip for runners about menstrual cups via PutACupInIt.com.

As always a mix of running chat, community vibes, and a few laughs along the way.

Timestamps

00:00 Sponsor Intro Superblast 3
00:21 Welcome Back Banter
01:31 Travel Runs Snow And Skiing
02:48 Cold Vs Heat Running
03:49 Training Week Recap
06:47 International Womens Day Event
07:52 Pioneers Of Womens Running
08:19 Kathrine Switzer Boston 1967
09:55 Bobbi Gibb Boston 1966
11:12 Joan Benoit Olympic Gold
12:24 Alice Moore Ultra Success
14:59 New York Six Protest 1972
18:21 IWD Reflections And Wrap
19:40 Midroll Superblast 3 Details
21:10 Weekly Recommendations
23:20 Period Running Cup Tip
24:57 Final Sponsor Thanks Outro SUPERBLAST 3

🎙 Women’s Running Collective Podcast
Elite Runner Insights + ASICS Superblast 3 Review
With Leanne Pompeani, Jemma Pollard & Izzy Batt-Doyle

Hayley hosts the Women’s Running Collective solo this week (while Jussie is off travelling ✈️), bringing you a special episode recorded at the ASICS Superblast 3 launch in Sydney.

Across the episode, Hayley shares short, powerful interviews with three of Australia’s elite female runners Leanne Pompeani, Jemma Pollard, and Isobel Batt-Doyle diving into performance, mindset, resilience and what it truly takes to compete at the top.

Leanne opens up about her move into marathoning, highlights from the 2025 Sydney Marathon, a scary heatstroke collapse at World Cross Country, and her sights set firmly on Olympic qualification in 2028.

Jemma celebrates her blistering 51.73 PB in the 400m, reflects on competing at the World Championships in Japan, and walks us through what a training week looks like balancing track sessions, gym work and cross-training.

Izzy shares her shift toward the marathon and road racing, her high-mileage Boston build, why recovery is non-negotiable, and offers powerful advice about avoiding comparison in the age of Strava and social media.

Hayley also discusses Ironman’s recent ban on personal recording devices in races — and whether major running events could follow suit — before giving her honest Superblast 3 review and previewing the upcoming Women’s Running Collective International Women’s Day charity event.

⏱ Episode Breakdown
00:00 Welcome & solo host setup
01:29 Meet Leanne Pompeani
03:08 Leanne Quickfire
05:48 Marathon mindset
06:28 Goals & life as an elite
07:42 Superblast 3 first impressions
08:23 Meet Jemma Pollard
09:51 Jemma Quickfire
11:35 Training structure & finding joy
12:55 Izzy tease
13:30 Izzy’s rise to elite level
15:12 Quickfire questions
17:22 Boston marathon training week
18:27 Recovery & longevity
19:16 Growing up in a running family
20:17 Advice for new runners
20:45 Superblast 3 chat
23:03 Ironman race camera ban debate
25:57 Full Superblast 3 review
29:10 International Women’s Day charity event
31:31 Sign off & thanks

👟 Product Feature
Hayley shares her thoughts on the ASICS Superblast 3 from first-run impressions to how it performs across easy runs, workouts and longer efforts.

🌸 Community Spotlight
Details on the upcoming Women’s Running Collective International Women’s Day event, where all proceeds will support local women’s charities.