A legendry trail. Strangers united through running. A random chat group where anything flies and tales are told. One epic race tying it all together.
The Bilgola500 Pursuit Podcast dives into the chaos, charm, and camaraderie of a 10km trail race on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with 500m of elevation and a handicapped start. Hosted by Sion (currently in exile), each episode is packed with banter, training tips, course descriptions, race previews and debriefs, with the unrelenting spirit of being chased—and chasing glory. Subscribe for good times, occasional insight, and plenty of laughs.
2026 FINAL RACE PREVIEW — DIRECT FROM THE BAGUETTE
Ghetto Gym is the new epicentre of Alternate Sports Media Broadcasting. The spiritual home of the Bilgola 500 Pursuit News Service (BPNS).
Free to air.
Baguettes and all.
The boys deliver one of the deepest pre-race dives into the greatest trail running event on the Australian — nay, Global — sports calender.
Join Brynn and H̶a̶n̶s̶ Sam as they go through the athletes, the final strategising, the sandbagging, gaslighting (Warren), dark Strava wizardry (Rawdog), and light the spark which could be an epic tome from Amy pleading her case to the handicapp committee. No athlete will be spared it seems.
So pour yourself a flask of maple and rock salt, and sit back and enjoy more of the chaos and ridiculousness which is the Bilgola 500 Pursuit.
IT'S RACE WEEK BABY!!!!
13 Jul 2026
IMPORTANT NEWSFLASH!!
We've hit Mainstream Media in the Surveillance State.
The biggest News Anchor since Lee Lin Chin brings the latest from the Bilgola 500 Pursuit News Service (BPNS), in a production that has Kayo Sports throttling our email servers requesting broadcast rights.
But don't worry dear subscribers — our content will always be free for all PEOPLE'S of the REPUBLIC OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF BILGOLA PLATEAU ✊ VIVA LA PRotDPoBP!!
Join Brynn (2026 Race Favourite, Japanese Duolinguist, Newest Member of the Handicapp Committee, and latest Minon to the Dictactor) as he dives deep into our Strava profiles, revealing our data, our wrong course turns, our elevation gains, and our unfortunate pool cleaning mishaps (cough... mark kee).
A VERY special edition to the 2026 Archives – enjoy, athletes.
30 Jun 2026
BILGOLA 500 COURSE RUN-THROUGH — TIPS FROM THE PROS
Division 1 athletes and likely 2026 podium contenders, Brynn "The Norwegian Whippet" Berg and Downhill Guru Sammy Pollnow, take you through the Bilgola 500 Pursuit course in the anti-clockwise direction.
Expect tips, shortcuts, line choices, questionable tactics, and possibly illegal route advice.
Are these moves sanctioned by the Race Committee? No.Could they save you seconds — maybe even minutes — on race day? Absolutely.
It's not all smooth sailing though, with Brynn hitting the deck enough times to almost rule himself out of the 2026 event. Thankfully, it was all captured on film.
So grab a mug of maple syrup, rock salt and alkaline water, sit back, and enjoy this truly special addition to the Bilgola 500 Pursuit Podcast Archives.
26 Jun 2026
LIFTING HIMSELF FROM THE DEPTHS OF DEFEAT
2025 was a disaster for inaugural champ — and course co-creator — George “The Growler” Morton.
In Episode 2, Duns sits down with the fallen champ to hear his reflections, his excuses, and his predictions for the 2026 Bilgola 500 Pursuit.
There’s continued admiration for Rawdog McBride, triggers of Brynn’s redemption, Kimbo’s rise from the squat-rack, Samwise’s ridiculous UTA Miler, new contenders, confirmed plus ones, and the possible spread of the 500over10 movement across the globe.
And then there is of course the POWER VACUUM that is our new reality.
With the former Supreme Leader still missing, Pollnow has gone rogue in the Ghetto Gym, coups are being launched from treadmills, and a new website has emerged to take over the world.
www.500over10.com (https://www.500over10.com/)
Well… mostly just to house the course files, race history, athlete intel and these sacred podcasts.
Yours in suffering, comrades. See you on the course 🏃
20 Jun 2026
A NEW DICTATOR HAS EMERGED! Welcome back Comrades...
The Bilgola 500 Pursuit is back for 2026. And there's been a coup. From a treadie in a ghetto gym in Avalon. After months of radio silence from the former Supreme Leader, The Great Chairman Sion, a new regime has emerged from the dusty enclave of the B500 committee. The placard dictator may remain in place, but the iron fist has been softened… or at least outsourced for now.In Episode 1 of the 2026 season, Sam interrupts an important session on the NordicTrack to officially welcome the athletes back, congratulate some enormous performances from the past year — including Samwise’s ridiculous UTA Miler (14th) and Raw Dog’s SECOND PLACE(!!) at the West Macs Monster — and shift focus to the only race that really matters:🏁 The 2026 Bilgola 500 Pursuit📅 Sunday, July 26, 2026🎽 Hats backwards 💰 Entrance fee: Coffee moneyThere are already new contenders circling, old champs sharpening, and the handicap committee Ministry of Truth is now quietly watching and reviewing everything uploaded to Strava. Big Brother nows all.Get your benchmark runs done. Add your plus ones nominated. And prepare yourself for the most brutal trail race in Australia, if not the World. At least Top 5.Welcome back, comrades.LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE BILGOLA PLATEAU AND SURROUNDING SUBURBS.
7 Aug 2025
The FINAL COUNTDOWN!! — Inaugural Bilgola 500 Champion on Tactics, Chaos & Glory
The final podcast before Australia’s newest and most brutal trail race — the 2025 Bilgola 500 Pursuit — is here. And it’s huge.
Duns is joined in the gym by one of Australia’s best runners, inaugural champ and course co-creator George “The Growler” MortRam, for a wide-ranging chat covering everything from late inclusions and handicaps to Norwegian Whippet whale-meat diets.
Expect reflections on last year’s chaos and glory, exciting new faces in the chat and on the course (shoutout Sam Wise and Ronnie Spark!), injury updates 😢 (Corey’s knee, Sam’s ankle, Rich’s mysterious silence…), and a MASSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT from George about our first-ever potential sister race in the UK — the start of this madness going global.We dive into:
Who’s flying, who’s struggling, and who’s outraged about their handicap
Epic training camps from Mont Blanc to Blåfjellet
Weather warnings, defib locations, and critical course markings
Final tips for first-timers (read: don’t end up on the beach, Frits)
Plus, The Growler reveals his mindset heading into this year’s race — and Duns drops a wild Rawdog prediction for who’ll take the win.🎥 Reminder: The documentary crew (ie. me) will be filming on race day (and trying to run… why??). Be natural. Look good.
💰 Don’t forget your $5.50 race entry (cash only!) in an envelope with NAME and COFFEE ORDER on the back
🏁 Sunday 7am start at Porter’s Reserve — get there early to avoid the crowds
🎖️ Winner takes all: the trophy, incredible merch (shoutout Jo at Aspire Run Strength), and the massive prize money (to shout us coffees at Zubi Bilgola)
Like, subscribe, comment, share with your colleagues and family (just so they can question if you’re, in fact, okay), and check out the NEW WEBSITE: www.sondervail.com/bilgola500pursuit (https://www.sondervail.com/bilgola500pursuit)Chapters:00:10 START LINE — INTRO02:40 AID STATION 1 — REFLECTION ON 202408:09 AID STATION 2 — UPDATES SINCE LAST POD32:03 AID STATION 3 — HOW THIS YEAR IS SHAPING UP43:58 FINISH LINE — CLOSING COMMENTS & REMINDERS
26 Jul 2025
THE BIG REVEAL — Sam Announces the 2025 Bilgola 500 Handicaps
It’s the moment the Australian running community has been patiently waiting for—the handicaps for the 2025 Bilgola 500 Pursuit are here! In this episode, Chief Handicapper Sam "Sandbag" Pollnow steps into the News Studio to unveil the official start times for this years event. What lead will Mark be given? Will navigation be considered in Rich's handicap? Can Corey be beaten? Or will the Growler claim another victim. Tune in to understand the logic, the madness, the controversy. Whether you’re chasing, being chased, or just here for the chaos, this episode is essential listening.🎧 Tune in for the drama, the strategy, and all things Bilgola 500 Pursuit. Like, Subscribe, and Comment with your complaints.
August 10th, 2025 — 7am. Porter's Reserve, Newport.
13 Jul 2025
THE DICTATOR RESPONDS (sorry… Director) — But It’s a Win for Democracy!!
Episode 1 with Sammy & Duns (okay, technically Episode 2… after that rogue Albanian beach preview) clearly hit a nerve.
And now — broadcasting from exile in the Greek Islands — the Course Director himself has called in.
In this episode, Sion finally exercises his right of reply:
He defends the backwards caps, explains the bib-on-the-back policy (“It’s for the community, people!”), and waxes philosophical — you can build a house, but not a community… or however that saying goes.
Yes, he may be a fascist dictator attempting to rule with an iron fist, but like Chairman Mao, there’s method in the madness. Deep down, he just wants us to come together.
So listen in as the complexities of the Bilgola 500 Pursuit are unravelled like the pinboard in A Beautiful Mind.
The coup may still be on… but the rebel leaders are surprisingly open to collaboration.
But the real winner of this event? Democracy.
📅 Lock in August 10th, 2025 — 7am. The people have spoken.
LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF BILGOLA PLATEAU!! VIVE LA BILGOLA!
Tune in for the response, the rule clarifications, and an update on Duns’ recent time trial attempt — in this critical dispatch from the frontier of fairness and fitness.
11 Jul 2025
The Season Has Started — and a HUGE Announcement!
THE SEASON HAS STARTED!!!
Sammy and Duns don the headsets to pause and reflect on what’s shaping up to be the biggest Bilgola 500 Pursuit EVER. Well… the second anyway.
In this jam-packed episode, the boys cover course conditions, reflect on last year’s glorious chaos, introduce some serious new talent, and stir the pot just enough to keep things spicy. Yes there's chilli this year.
From Rich’s detours and Lachie’s pain, to Growler’s haunting call, the boys dive deep into the evolution of Australia’s most prestigious (and unrelenting) trail race. We revisit the race origins, the community that fuels it, and the unpredictable beast that is the handicapping system—has sandbagging reached new heights?
Plus:
Insider training tips from the man gunning to win the Sydney Marathon
Bold predictions and brewing rivalries
AND A HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED
Special thanks to Sion for his remote assistance—from Poland… or Albania… or wherever he’s currently sunning himself.
It’s part recap, part ramble—the vocal version of the Messenger chat group. Lock in.
11 Jul 2025
Season 2 Preview!! The Top 8, the Plus 1s, and a hair-flick from Albania
From a beautiful beach-side Albanian escape, Sion launches Season 2 with a dramatic, heartfelt attempt to introduce this year’s top 8 competitors for the Bilgola 500. In classic digital nomad fashion, he’s fighting timezone headaches, elusive athletes, and a worrying lack of Strava receipts.
Flying solo for the launch of Season 2025, Sion reflects on the madness of assembling the 2025 field, calls out those dragging their feet on race-day commitment, and makes a plea for every athlete to lock in their +1. It's a sun-soaked prelude to what's shaping up to be the biggest Bilgola500 Pursuit EVER!! Well, it's the second one — without an on-site Course Director — so we'll see...
Whether you're racing, supporting, or just along for the banter, this is your unofficial welcome to the new season of the Bilgola 500 Pursuit.
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