Women’s Running Collective

Tapering for Race Day: How to Trust Your Training, Beat the Taper Crazies & Arrive Ready to Race | Women's Running Collective
This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are deep in Gold Coast Half Marathon preparation and officially entering taper mode. They chat through a big week of training, including a challenging long run featuring two race-pace efforts, a tough Mona Fartlek session, and the reality of managing tired legs, niggles, and pre-race nerves.

The girls dive into one of the most misunderstood parts of running: the taper. How much should you cut back? Are you losing fitness? Why do your legs suddenly feel weird? And why does every runner become convinced they're injured the week before a race?

Hayles and Jussie break down exactly how to taper successfully, why recovery becomes your most important training session, and how to navigate the infamous "taper crazies" so you can arrive at the start line feeling confident, fresh, and ready to run your best.

They also chat race-day mindset, handling tough moments during a race, goal setting, favourite taper-week quotes, and share their weekly recommendations.

In This Episode
00:00 Welcome Back to the Backyard Studio

00:50 Gold Coast Half Marathon Training Update

01:17 Long Run Recap: 6K Easy + Two 6K Race Pace Efforts

02:13 Mona Fartlek Session & Rearranging Training Around Life

03:47 Why Tapering Matters More Than You Think

06:03 What Is a Taper? The Basics Explained

09:20 How to Taper Properly Before Race Day

11:02 Taper Crazies, Recovery & Trusting the Process

14:48 Mental Tapering & Preparing Your Mind for Race Day

17:01 What to Do When Racing Gets Hard

17:30 Mantras, Mindset & Remembering Your Why

18:45 Race Week Essentials: Sleep, Nutrition & Recovery

21:03 Running Playlist Banter

22:51 A Better Way to Set Race Goals

23:43 Our Favourite Taper Quotes

25:00 Race Travel, Event Week Energy & Managing Nerves

27:15 Weekly Recommendations

30:33 Harbour 10K Meet-Up & Community Catch-Up

 

Jussies Jumper recco ASICS JUMPER

Hayleys Camera recco DJI ACTION 5 

Whether you're preparing for your first 5K, a half marathon, or your next marathon, this episode will help you understand how to taper, trust your training, and get to the start line feeling your best. 

HARBOUR 10km race we are doing

💛 Remember: The hardest part of tapering isn't running less it's believing you've done enough.

Building Running Resilience: How to Stay Mentally Strong When Running Gets Hard
This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are back in the backyard studio (fuelled by snacks courtesy of Hayley’s mum and Rob!) chatting all things resilience. The girls kick things off with a Gold Coast Half Marathon training update, including interval sessions, rolling hills, race-pace workouts, and the reality of training through life’s curveballs.

Hayley shares a challenging week dealing with period-related fatigue, migraines, and the early signs of shin splints, leading to some smart training adjustments and a reminder that resilience isn't always about pushing harder — sometimes it's about knowing when to pull back.

The conversation then dives into what resilience actually means, why it's often misunderstood, and practical ways runners can build mental toughness. Drawing on Mel Robbins' "24-Hour Resilience Turnaround" and sports psychology research, Hayles and Jussie share simple strategies to help you stay strong when motivation is low, training gets tough, or race day nerves creep in.

From pacing by effort, positive self-talk, and smiling through the hard moments, to embracing discomfort, training in less-than-perfect conditions, and finding your deeper "why," this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you become a more resilient runner.

Plus, the girls share their weekly recommendations, announce they're running the Harbour 10K in Sydney, and reveal details of a special ticket giveaway.

Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Back in the Backyard Studio
00:55 – Gold Coast Half Marathon Training Update
02:16 – Period Fatigue, Migraines & Shin Pain
05:39 – Why We're Talking About Resilience
07:06 – What Resilience Really Means
09:42 – Mel Robbins' 24-Hour Resilience Reset
12:45 – Celebrating Small Wins
13:54 – The Science of Running Resilience
15:11 – How Smiling Can Lower Perceived Effort
16:42 – Positive Self-Talk Strategies
18:10 – Creating Positive Pre-Run Rituals
19:27 – Learning to Embrace Discomfort
20:47 – Training Through Tough Conditions
22:41 – Getting Comfortable With The Unknown
23:35 – Planning Ahead & Mental Tapering
24:51 – Finding Your Purpose & Goals
26:03 – Key Resilience Takeaways
27:54 – Weekly Recommendations
31:24 – Harbour 10K Announcement & Giveaway
32:30 – Happy Running!

Jussie recco RUNNING GLOVES LULULEMON

Follow the Women's Running Collective for weekly running chats, expert guests, training tips, and plenty of laughs along the way.

International Running Day, 100K Downloads & Why Running Makes You Glow (with Olympian Jemima Montag)
This week on the Women’s Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are celebrating two big milestones — International Running Day and hitting 100,000 podcast downloads! 🎉

The girls chat all things Gold Coast Half Marathon training, including a spicy race-pace session, the joys of deload week, and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your running is actually slow down.

They also dive into the science behind ASICS' new "Get the Glow" campaign, exploring why movement can leave us feeling happier, more confident, and more energised than any beauty product ever could.

Then they’re joined by Australian Olympian, Commonwealth Games medallist, Doctor in training, and all-round legend Jemima Montag. Jemima shares her journey from Little Athletics to the Olympic podium, the incredible work she's doing through her PlayOn program helping girls stay involved in sport, and the mindset tools she uses to navigate pressure, setbacks, and elite competition.

Together they explore discipline vs motivation, balancing medical study with professional sport, race-day mental strategies, and why movement is one of the most powerful tools we have for both physical and mental wellbeing.

Plus, Hayles and Jussie break down the science behind that post-run glow and share their weekly recommendations.

In This Episode
00:00 Podcast Warm-Up
00:05 International Running Day Celebration
00:42 100K Downloads Milestone
02:29 Deload Week Chat
04:55 ASICS Get The Glow Campaign
06:16 Meet Jemima Montag
07:16 PlayOn: Keeping Girls in Sport
10:53 From Little Athletics to the Olympics
16:07 Managing Setbacks & Building Resilience
18:24 Discipline vs Motivation
22:34 Race-Day Mindset & Mental Cues
25:17 Balancing Medicine and Elite Sport
28:16 Juggling Life, Training & Support Systems
29:26 Why Movement Matters
33:33 The Post-Workout Glow
35:09 What's Next for Jemima?
36:58 Where to Follow Jemima
37:41 The Science Behind Feeling Good After Exercise
39:04 Blood Flow, Skin Health & Recovery
40:53 Endorphins, Dopamine & The Runner's High
45:37 Finding Your Glow Through Movement
46:16 Weekly Recommendations & Wrap Up

Follow Jemima
Learn more about Jemima's work with PlayOn and follow her journey as she continues her build towards future international competition. JEMIMAS INSTAGRAM

This Week's Takeaway
You don't need expensive treatments, perfect routines, or hours in the gym to find your glow. Sometimes all it takes is 15 minutes of movement, a pair of running shoes, and a reminder of what your body is capable of.

 

Jussie and Hayles Recco of the week is MADE TO COVER

Happy Running 💛
Hayles & Jussie x

Sports Bras 101: Fit, Support Levels & Running Comfort with Nike's Anna Burdekin
This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie kick things off with a hilarious recap of a rainy Sydney drive, Vivid crowds, and another big week of training as they continue preparing for the Gold Coast Marathon.

The girls chat through race-pace long runs, interval sessions, threshold workouts and navigating training around some wild weather before diving into a topic every female runner can benefit from: sports bras.

Joining the podcast is Nike EKIN Anna Burdekin, one of Nike's internal product experts and storytellers. Anna is passionate about bra innovation and helping women find the right sports bra for their body, sport and goals.

Together they unpack why sports bras can be so confusing to shop for, the science behind breast movement while running, how the wrong bra can impact comfort, posture and even performance, and the simple fit checks every woman should know before heading out the door.

Anna also shares Nike's support-level system, common mistakes women make when buying bras, and her top picks for runners looking for high and ultra-high support.

Plus, Hayles and Jussie recap the biggest takeaways, share a listener message about comparison and self-kindness, and give an update on their Gold Coast Marathon preparations.

Timestamps
00:00 Podcast Kickoff

00:54 Sydney Drive Chaos

03:16 Weekly Running Recap

05:09 Boobs To Bras Segue

05:28 Meet Anna Burdekin

07:20 Why Sports Bras Are So Hard To Shop For

09:50 The Most Common Bra Mistakes Women Make

13:11 The Science Of Breast Bounce

14:49 Pain, Posture & Performance Impacts

18:06 Five Steps To Fitting A Sports Bra Properly

21:22 Understanding Support Levels

23:06 Small Cup Sizes, Cycles & Changing Needs

25:42 The Marathon Bounce Math

27:20 How Breast Movement Can Affect Your Stride

28:17 Bra Technology & Nike Research

30:20 Why The Right Support Helps Women Stay Active

31:49 Anna's Nike Bra Recommendations: Swift & Rival

33:52 Community, Confidence & Personal Stories

35:55 Hayles & Jussie's Bra Fit Checklist Recap

37:34 Athlete Box Recommendation (Use Code: WOMENRUN15) https://www.theathletebox.com.au/

39:59 Gold Coast Marathon Training Update

40:53 Listener Message: Comparison, Progress & Giving Yourself Grace

43:43 Final Community Send-Off

Whether you're training for your first 5K or your next marathon, this episode is packed with practical advice that could completely change the way you think about sports bras and running comfort.

Hayles and Jussie are recording straight from their hotel room at the Marriott Circular Quay in Sydney after approximately 47 failed intro attempts and far too much laughing over absolutely nothing. The girls recap a big week of Gold Coast Half Marathon training including long runs with race pace efforts, interval sessions, sub-threshold workouts, and a rainy Vivid run around Circular Quay dodging umbrellas.

They also chat about birthday celebrations, Hayley finally getting her dream backyard sauna, and why race weekends should be about more than just chasing PBs. The episode dives into all the ways to make running events feel more fun, memorable, social, and joyful....from glitter planning and matching outfits to VIP race upgrades, playlists, post-race recovery plans, and embracing the chaos of race weekends with your friends.

Plus: executive lounge hotel hacks, toaster and microwave race prep stories, marathon FaceTime calls, mid-race dancing, airplane arms, and the importance of rewarding yourself for the training journey.

Timestamps
00:00 Welcome To The Women’s Running Collective
01:32 Sydney Hotel Room Chaos & Failed Intros
03:18 Gold Coast Half Marathon Training Recap
05:26 Long Run Race Pace Efforts
07:10 Vivid Run Around Circular Quay
09:08 Hayley’s Backyard Sauna Recovery Era
11:18 Birthday Celebrations & Recovery Week Vibes
13:07 Sydney Course Weekend & Upcoming Long Run
15:10 Romeo + Juliet vs Off Campus Debate
16:44 Why Running Events Should Feel Fun
18:25 Choosing The Right Race & Destination
20:32 Training Enough To Actually Enjoy Race Day
22:14 Temu Glitter Planning & Race Accessories
24:09 Running Tours & Travel Groups
27:03 Organising Your Race Weekend Crew
29:18 Nutrition Practice & Race Morning Prep
31:52 Why Hayley Packed A Microwave To UTA
34:26 Woolworths Orders, Toasters & Race Hacks
36:15 Matching Outfits, Braids & Race Nails
39:08 Fun Race Games & Shared Playlists
41:22 Complimenting Other Runners & Course Energy
43:10 Costumes, Themes & Lorax Race Fits
45:17 Recovery Bookings & Post-Race Dinner Plans
47:42 Gold Coast Marathon VIP Gold Pass Chat
50:03 Medal Monday & Post-Race Walking Tours
52:14 Finish Lines Not Finish Times
54:08 Playlists, FaceTiming Mid-Marathon & Recording Memories
57:01 Staying An Extra Night After The Race
59:18 Reward Yourself For The Training Journey
01:01:26 Airplane Arms, Mid-Run Dancing & Singing Out Loud
01:04:10 Compliments, Smiling & Reading The Signs
01:06:12 Running Farts & Other Essential Race Advice
01:08:15 Hotel Robes, Executive Lounges & Recovery Snacks
01:11:02 Current Book Recommendations & Off Campus Obsession
01:14:05 Final Thoughts & Happy Running