in the beginning, we ran.
Before the carbon plates and the heart-rate zones, before Strava and split times and shoe drops — running is just what humans do. It's the oldest thing we know. Science reckons we evolved for it: built to chase the horizon long after everything else gave up.
In The Beginning is a podcast about endurance sport made by two blokes who actually do it. Courtney Atkinson — two-time Olympian, three-time Noosa Tri winner, now a recreational runner with a competitive streak he can't switch off. Liam Flanagan — a runner who signed up for a 100-miler to see what would happen, and finished the damn thing.
We exist because we're tired of sport being talked about by people who don't do any. No coaching-speak, no highlight reel, no affiliate-link advice. Guests who've won world titles, and mates who blew up at 32K. Both matter. Both get the same honest conversation.
Recorded on the Gold Coast, Queensland. New episodes weekly.
Start with the Gold Coast Marathon guide — everything two full series taught us about the course, pacing, fuelling and race day.
Best sport podcast. Same two blokes.
In The Beginning won Best sport podcast at the 2025 Australian Sports Commission Media Awards. The award was presented at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 23 February 2026, recognising the show from Courtney Atkinson and Liam Flanagan.
A fair bit fancier than our usual finish-line medal. We’re proud of it — and we’re still here for the same thing: honest yarns about running, endurance and the wider world of Aussie sport.
Read the ASC’s official 2025 Media Awards winners announcement or view the ASC’s winners record.