Masters On The Move

In this episode of Masters on the Move, I sit down with Pieter Vermeulen — endurance athlete, Ironman finisher, and lifelong student of resilience — to explore a journey that began in 1988 during South Africa’s isolation years and continues today at provincial and international level.With over 100 triathlons completed, 5 Ironmans, and 6 half-Ironmans, Pieter’s path has taken him from Olympic aspirations to qualifying for the brutal ICON XTRI, where only 250 athletes are invited annually. Representing South Africa, he narrowly missed the mountain cutoff and finished at the bottom of the field — an experience that reshaped his understanding of success, identity, and mastery.But this conversation goes far deeper than racing.We unpack:The evolution from chasing performance to cultivating longevityTraining smarter as a masters athleteScience-based nutrition and natural performance strategies for older menThe role of neuroplasticity and medicinal mushrooms in endurance performanceWhy fueling the brain may be as important as fueling the bodyThe powerful parallels between endurance sport and spiritual formationThis episode is about resilience, reinvention, and the discipline to keep moving forward — especially when the mountain still lies ahead.If you’re a masters athlete, a triathlete, or simply someone determined to perform at a high level beyond midlife, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

If you want to build real stamina and improve your lactate threshold without burning out, you need to understand steady-state running.Steady-state training sits at the low end of threshold training. It’s one of the most overlooked workouts in distance running — yet it forms the foundation of marathon and half marathon performance.In this episode of Run Faster with Coach Justin, you’ll learn:• What steady-state training actually is• How it differs from tempo and threshold workouts• Why it improves lactate clearance and aerobic durability• How to structure a steady-state session properly• The most common mistake runners makeThreshold training builds stamina by increasing your ability to clear lactate and buffer acidity — allowing you to hold faster paces for longer. Steady-state work develops that system without excessive fatigue, making it essential for long-term progress.If you’re training for a 10K, half marathon, or marathon, this workout belongs in your program.Subscribe for more evidence-based running coaching designed to help you train smarter and run faster.

What do you do when quitting isn’t an option?In this episode of Masters On The Move, I sit down with Ty Gipson — lifelong Type 1 Diabetic, triple organ transplant recipient, entrepreneur, public servant, and national speaker.Ty’s journey is extraordinary. After facing life-threatening health battles and receiving three organ transplants, most people would focus solely on survival.Ty built two thriving businesses.We dive into:The “No Options” mindset that carried him through his darkest seasonsBuilding companies while managing chronic illnessHow facing mortality reshapes ambition and leadershipEnergy management when your health is unpredictableTurning adversity into purposeThis is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and refusing to shrink when life gets hard.If you’ve ever felt sidelined, stuck, or overwhelmed by circumstances beyond your control — this episode will challenge you to rethink what’s possible.Follow Masters On The Move for conversations with resilient high performers redefining midlife, leadership, and longevity.Ty can be contacted at tygipson.com

Most runners are training in the wrong zone — and it’s costing them performance. Here’s how to accurately find your lactate threshold and fix it.In this episode of Run Smarter with Coach Justin, I break down how to measure your true threshold intensity using a simple 20-minute test — so you can stop guessing and start training with purpose.You’ll learn:What lactate threshold really is (and why it matters)Why heart rate formulas like 220-age are often wrongThe best way to measure your threshold without a labHow to calculate your Functional Threshold Heart Rate (FTHR)How to match heart rate and pace zones correctlyThis is the foundation for smarter training, better pacing, and improved performance from 5K to marathon.👉 Subscribe for the next episode where we break down the 4 key threshold workouts every runner should use.

Celebrating Movement, Community, and Resilience with Maria EasterbrookJoin us in this inspiring episode featuring Maria Easterbrook, a dedicated community advocate, athlete, teacher, and guiding force behind multiple initiatives in Whangarei. Maria's journey showcases the power of movement, volunteerism, and resilience—demonstrating how one person's passion can ripple through an entire community.In this episode:Maria shares her lifelong love of movement, from childhood walking and biking to playing football, rugby, and hockey, and her commitment to staying active into her 50sThe inspiring story behind her role in launching a second parkrun in Whangarei to reduce congestion and encourage participationThe meticulous process of planning and organizing a new parkrun course, including navigating permits, safety checks, and community engagementMaria’s work with Achilles New Zealand, guiding visually impaired athletes and fostering empathy and teamworkInsights into her participation in Masters athletics, balancing competition with enjoyment and learning new skills like pole vaulting at age 50The importance of rest, listening to the body, and maintaining resilience at any ageHow Maria’s volunteer efforts and bubbly personality positively impact those around her, encouraging newcomers and supporting others in their journeyPractical advice for listeners to make a meaningful difference in their communities through volunteering and kindness

Many runners wake up, check their Garmin HRV, and assume the number tells them exactly how ready they are to train. But heart rate variability is one of the most misunderstood metrics in modern endurance training.In this episode of Midweek with Justin, we break down what HRV actually measures and why many runners are interpreting their data incorrectly. You’ll learn why HRV numbers are highly individual, why comparing your score with other runners is meaningless, and why the most important thing to monitor is your baseline and long-term trend.We also explore how HRV reflects total life stress, not just training load, and why factors like poor sleep, work stress, illness, alcohol, and late meals can all influence your readings.You’ll learn:What heart rate variability really measuresWhy HRV numbers are different for every runnerThe biggest mistake runners make when interpreting Garmin HRVHow to recognise when HRV is above, within, or below your baselineHow HRV can act as an early warning system for overtraining and illnessHow runners can use HRV trends to guide smarter training decisionsThis episode also connects to recent Midweek topics including building a strong aerobic base, executing interval training properly, strengthening the feet, and ensuring the nervous system is recovered enough to adapt to training.Because you don’t get faster from training alone — you get faster from recovering from the training.If you’re a runner using Garmin or another wearable to track HRV, this episode will help you interpret the data properly and use it as a powerful tool for recovery and performance.

What does it take to keep running strong into your 70s?In this episode of Masters on the Move, I sit down with inspiring Whangārei runner Steve Fairley from Hātea Run Club, a man who proves that consistency and passion can keep you fast for decades.Steve has completed 320 parkruns, run a 19:34 5K, and even now in the 70–74 age group he’s still running times close to what he was doing nearly a decade ago. With a best age grade of 83.21%, he continues to compete in cross country and road races, often winning his age category.But Steve’s journey hasn’t always been straightforward. At one stage he had to put running aside to focus on raising his children when life took an unexpected turn. Years later he returned to the sport in his 50s — and the rest is an inspiring story of resilience, discipline, and rediscovering the joy of running.In this conversation we talk about:• How Steve got into running• Why consistency beats talent over the long term• Staying competitive into your 70s• Training, recovery, and injury prevention for masters runners• The power of the running community• Why it’s never too late to start running againWhether you’re a new runner or a lifelong athlete, Steve’s story is a reminder that the best years of running don’t have to be behind you.👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share to help more runners discover these inspiring masters stories.

If your running hasn’t improved in months, you might be experiencing a running plateau — something almost every runner encounters at some stage of their training.In this episode of Midweek with Justin, running coach Justin Hill explains why runners plateau and the most common training mistakes that stop progress.You’ll learn:• Why running progress can suddenly stall• The five most common causes of a training plateau• How to adjust your training to start improving again• Simple strategies coaches use to help runners break through plateausIf you feel like your pace, fitness, or race times have stopped improving, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do about it.

We talk a lot about training plans, VO₂ max, and recovery protocols — but rarely about sleep environment.In the latest Masters on the Move episode, I interviewed Derek Hales, Founder of NapLab, who has tested over 500 mattresses using a structured, data-driven framework (10 tests, 43 data points per mattress).We discussed:Why mattress matching is individualHow pressure relief and spinal alignment affect recoveryWhy marketing often clouds decision-makingAnd how active adults can make smarter sleep investmentsFor runners and high-performing professionals alike, recovery isn’t optional — it’s foundational.If you care about sustained performance and long-term health, this conversation is worth your time.