EP266: Gardener by Day, Marathoner by Debut - Chris Hillhouse Run2PB Athlete

his week on the Better With Running podcast, hosts Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman are joined by returning guest Chris Hillhouse, just two weeks out from his debut at the Melbourne Marathon. Chris Armstrong kicks off the show with his training update, logging a solid 75kms and crushing a 7x1km session with reps dropping into the 3:19/km range,

Returning to the show this week is Chris Hillhouse, a self-employed gardener, is an athlete who has made a transformative shift from running a self-devised half marathon that left him unable to walk for two weeks, to a 73min man under the guidance of run2pb coach Josh Harris.

The interview delves into Chris’s unique journey, beginning with a quick recap of his progression from a novice runner to a competitive athlete. They discuss how he manages the significant challenge of balancing the physical demands of his gardening job with hitting key marathon sessions and long runs. Chris emphasizes the value of the structure provided by his coach, Josh Harris, noting that it's a huge relief to "just open Final Surge and here's what I'm doing today," allowing him to eliminate mental fatigue. This contrasts sharply with his early "self-devised" approach, highlighting the mental and physical shift required for a successful debut.

Finally, the discussion focuses on the Melbourne Marathon debut itself. Chris shares some of the big workouts he’s tackled, which his coach confirms have prepared him perfectly, carrying early-season form into the final taper. They discuss his race strategy, including his target time before wrapping up with a look at his race day gear and a profound question: what will success truly look like for him when he crosses the finish line at the Melbourne Cricket Ground?

With thanks to Oat Running our partner, Chris will be gifted some Oat Running Socks.

Listeners of the show can get a a 15% discount using "run2pb15" at the check out. Visit www⁠.oatrunning.com.au