Sunday Runday The Podcast

62: Around the World in 50 Parkruns: Heart, Community & Purpose; A Runner’s Journey

This week we are joined on the show by Eman, a marathon runner who’s completed over 50 marathons, a pacer, and now the taking year off of work to complete a Parkrun World Tour with his family.
 
Eman shares how his running journey began back in 2008 when “I couldn’t even run around the block because I was just so unfit” and how that slow, steady progress eventually led him to pacing marathons, including Sydney, Gold Coast, Kuala Lumpur and soon Berlin.
He opens up about the joy of pacing (“it’s as equal to achieving your personal best”), running alongside 2018 Boston Marathon champion Yuki Kawauchi, and why Parkrun has become a global community he’s deeply passionate about.
 
We also dive into his upcoming 12‑month sabbatical, travelling across four continents to complete 50 Parkruns with his wife and kids.
 
A conversation full of heart, community, and pure running love.

61: Carrying Every Voice: A Story of Purpose; A Runner’s Journey

A powerful conversation with ultra‑runner and epilepsy advocate Rafa Garcia, whose journey goes far beyond the kilometres he covers.
 
Rafa shares how becoming a father to a daughter with epilepsy reshaped his life, inspired the creation of One in 25, and fuelled his mission to raise awareness through endurance challenges.
From backyard ultras to 31 half marathons in 31 days and most recently, his 329km run from the Sydney Opera House to Parliament House Rafa opens up about the mental battles, the responsibility he carried, the lack of media support, and the deeper purpose behind every step. A raw, inspiring reminder of what’s possible when community, courage and cause come together.

60: Movement & Connection: Why Support Matters; A Runner’s Journey

When life hit breaking point, Jason Rantall made one choice that changed everything: he quit smoking on January 31st and started running on February 1st. What began as pain, escape, and survival slowly became connection, clarity, and purpose.
 
In this episode, Jason opens up about rebuilding his life through movement, learning to stop runningaway from himself, and becoming a powerful advocate for mental health in his community. We dive into Better Mental, the run groups, the conversations that save lives, and the incredible challenges he’s taken on including the 801km run for suicide awareness and his massive efforts in the Backyard Ultra world.
 
It’s raw, honest, and full of hope. A reminder that support isn’t weakness, movement shifts the mind, and you don’t have to do any of it alone.

59: The Struggle That Shaped Him: The Breakthrough That Changed Him; A Runner’s Journey

Scott’s marathon journey is one of the wildest progressions you’ll ever hear from running his first-ever race the day before the 2021 NYC Marathon to becoming a 2:47 marathoner just a few years later.
 
In this episode, Scott breaks down how he went from a 6:27 debut to sub‑3, to 2:47, and why the Dopey Challenge, Berlin, Chicago, and Philly each shaped him into the runner he is today.
 
We talk training, confidence, setbacks, breakthroughs, and the moment he realised he truly belonged in the sport. His advice for new runners is gold, simple, honest, and grounded in experience.
 
A must‑listen for anyone chasing improvement, rediscovering their love for running, or needing proof that consistency changes everything.

58: It’s Never Too Late: How Shona Found Joy, Community & Confidence via Running; A Runner’s Journey

Shona didn’t start running until nearly 60. What began as a simple walk to improve her health turned into 5Ks, half marathons, and a deep love for the running community.
 
In this episode, Shona shares how ADHD shaped her journey, the emotional story behind her first half marathon on Kangaroo Island, overcoming injuries including two broken ankles, and the mindset shifts that helped her push through tough moments like Brisbane Half. She also talks about running with her husband, finding joy in travel runs, and her upcoming goals from Gold Coast to Melbourne.
 
Shona’s story proves it’s never too late to start and that running is as much about joy and community as it is about the kilometres.

57: Running the World Before 30: Theo’s Six‑Continent Marathon Quest; A Runner’s Journey

Before he turns 30, Theo set himself a challenge most runners only dream about: six marathons across six continents. But this journey didn’t start with a finish line it started with a collapsed lung, weeks in bed, and a promise to himself that once he could breathe freely again, he’d live fully again.
 
In this episode, Theo takes us through every step of that promise. From Valencia, where he learned what “the wall” really feels like… To New York, the 42‑kilometre street party… To Sao Paulo, his childhood dream destination… To Osaka, where the jet lag hit as hard as the marathon… To Cape Town, where a cancelled race became the catalyst for his first sub‑3… And finally, to Melbourne, where he’ll complete his six‑continent mission inside the iconic MCG.
 
It’s a story of resilience, travel, community, heartbreak, joy and what happens when running becomes the vehicle for rebuilding your life.

56: Running With Purpose: Meriem’s Story of Identity, Motherhood & Marathons; A Runner’s Journey

Meriem’s story is one of courage, community, and rediscovering strength through running. Growing up between Casablanca and Australia, she navigated cultural identity, bullying, and an eating disorder before a 7km fun run changed her path.
Running became a lifeline from her first marathon at 15 raising funds for Syria, to balancing elite training with med school, motherhood, and managing Type 1 diabetes. It remains her anchor through life’s challenges.
This episode explores resilience, belonging, and the power of starting small and trusting the process. Her journey reminds us why we lace up and who we become along the way.

55: Why Running Makes Us Better Humans: Mark on Mindset, Coaching & Purpose; A Runner’s Journey

Mark joins the show to share how running completely transformed his life not through race day, but through the training that reshaped his mindset, his habits, his relationships, and his purpose.
 
We dive into mental clarity, early‑morning miles, running without music, becoming a coach, pacing others to PBs, and why running makes us better in every part of life.
 
A powerful conversation about growth, discipline, and finding joy in the process.

54: Leigh’s Story and the Community That Became Sweatmasters; A Runner’s Journey

This week we are joined by Leigh Witney, the creator of Sweatmasters Health & Fitness a place that’s become a second home for so many of us in the Bayside running and training community.
 
We dive into the 16‑year story behind Sweatmasters, how cross‑training shapes stronger runners, and why community is the secret ingredient that keeps people showing up. Leigh also opens up about his own journey: Ironmans, trail ultras, Hyrox, injuries, nutrition breakthroughs, and what it really takes to stay motivated over the long haul.
 
Whether you’re new to running, building consistency, or chasing your next big challenge, Leigh’s perspective is packed with practical wisdom and grounded, real‑world experience.
 

53: The Marathon That Saved Him: From Cancer to the Volcano Finish Line; A Runner’s Journey

On this week’s episode we sit down with Geoffrey a runner whose story is one of the most powerful comebacks you’ll ever hear.
Growing up with a knee injury that stopped him from playing sports, Geoffrey found belonging through boxing and later became a top‑level paintball athlete, even captaining the French national team. But in 2019, everything collapsed bankruptcy, divorce, losing access to his children, and then a cancer diagnosis that pushed him into four years of darkness.
What happened next is nothing short of extraordinary.
In 2024, Geoffrey decided to rebuild his life from the ground up. He joined a local running club, struggled through his first 8 km, and then in a moment of pure instinct signed up for the Iceland Volcano Marathon. With only months to train, he transformed his body, his mind, and his entire lifestyle.
This episode dives into his journey from rock bottom to running his first marathon around a volcano, the community that lifted him up, and the pride of showing his children the power of never giving up.
If you love running stories, comeback stories, or simply stories that remind you what humans are capable of, this one will stay with you.