53: Sarah Billings – Years in the Making, But Just Getting Started

Sarah Billings is on fire! As we wait for Australia’s 2026 Commonwealth Games team to be announced, the Aussie middle-distance runner is well and truly in the mix for selection. Sarah sits down with Elise to discuss her recent form, including two massive PBs – a 3:58.81 in the 1500m at the Shanghai Diamond League, and a 1:57.61 in the 800m in Rabat, which is the second fastest time ever run by an Australian woman! But these results have been a long time in the making. Starting her career as a sprinter before moving into middle-distance in her junior years, Sarah has always been an excellent runner. But in her first years as a senior athlete, Sarah felt like she wasn’t getting the performances she had hoped for. Then the injuries hit. They hit hard. And repeatedly. When Sarah was able to finally break that injury cycle, she could at last string some good consistent training together and sought the help of a performance coach to work on her mental approach to racing. She said it’s made all the difference. We talk about what she learnt during those tough injury-riddled years, her breakout 2024 season, and how her persistence, mindset and consistency is now paying dividends in the results she is seeing on the track. -- Sarah Billings has represented Australia multiple times, including at World Juniors in 2016 and the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in 2025. She is currently coached by Nic Bideau at Melbourne Track Club, and is sponsored by New Balance. -- Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing! -- Follow us on Instagram: @sarahbillings @runwithit.pod @elisebeacom -- Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom Graphic design by Kate Scheer