What began as a way for content creator and host Renee Buckingham to stay connected with friends during lockdown has grown into four marathons, a move across Melbourne in search of better running routes, and a whole new community. Now, she's championing the running community and fostering the passion for the sport in people of all abilities. And when you're running regularly, what's on your feet matters. Renee trialled the adidas Hyperboost running shoes, which combine hyper cushioning, hyper energy and a hyper-light feel to bring a little more comfort and energy to every step. From sunrise runs along the Yarra to recovery coffees at Melbourne institutions, Renee shares her favourite places to run, her go-to soundtrack, and running non-negotiables. CP: How did you get into the sport and how long have you been running for? Renee: It was a big lockdown thing for me. I was super bored, and I wanted a way to connect with friends. I started by doing virtual runs with friends where we would do a 2K or 3K and start and stop at the same time. Eventually, a lot of them dropped off, but I thought, 'You know what, I'm gonna run 100K in a month.' Prior to that, I was a musical theatre girl. I didn't touch sports; I wasn't active and did not like running. Now, I've just completed my fourth marathon! What do you enjoy most about the sport and running community? Running is why I've formed healthier habits in my adult life. I spent a lot of my 20s going out and partying and having fun and waking up on a Sunday very hungover. When I shifted into running, I naturally stopped doing that as much and, as a result, felt better because I was getting up and seizing the day. I'm not originally from Melbourne as well, so it's been a really beautiful way for me to find my community and my people here. Half the time you get to the end of a run club or a run with friends and you're like, 'Oh, I actually forgot that we just did that 5K '. It just becomes a byproduct of hanging out with friends. What is your favourite running route in Melbourne and why? I used to live in the north side of Melbourne, so I spent a lot of time running around Carlton Gardens and the Merri Creek Trail. I recently made the move to the south side of Melbourne purely because I'm in love with Albert Park and running along the Yarra. Truthfully, I just wanted more running routes. I ran my first marathon lapping Albert Park, which was hilarious – just 4 and a half laps of that. My favourite route today is running along the Yarra as the sun rises and the city wakes up. What's your favourite recovery cafe to hit up post-run? It's pretty much an institution in Melbourne, but everyone heads to Gilson post-the Tan Lap, so I often go. But if I do want to go somewhere a bit more cozy by myself, I go to Monk Bodhi Dharma in Balaclava to decompress. What's a running goal you're currently working towards? Like most runners coming back from an ITB injury, my only goal this year has been to recover, which went well. I think my running goal now is to lead by example and get other people into the sport. What makes a great running shoe? Good running shoes need a good bounce. I'm also a big fan of colour and adidas' Hyperboost has great colorways. If you put on a pop of color, it helps the mindset of 'Okay, it's gonna be a fun run'. Especially in Melbourne winter (which is often when I'm in a marathon training block), it can get really cold and tricky to get out there. A good colorway helps me get out the door. Do you run with music/podcasts, or prefer silence? Respect to people who run in silence! I do not want to hear the huffing and puffing that happens during runs. I'm all about music, and more recently I've gotten into podcasts because when you're doing longer distances, often when you're listening to music, it's like one song down, that's four minutes. Another song down, you start to do the maths in your head. Whereas a podcast that'll make you smile, laugh, or learn something is often really helpful. I interchange between a podcast and music, and I'm a one-headphone wonder. At the moment I'm in my ABBA era, and my go-to 'finishing any race' song is I Believe by Yolanda Adams from the movie Honey. I finish every single race with that song. It's so cute. What are your running non-negotiables? Often in the running community, we hear people say, "I just did 20K with no fuel," and I take fueling very seriously. Fuel is crucial for the body and recovery, so I take that super seriously. Another non-negotiable is to have fun. It can get so serious and so technical: 'What are your stats? What are your splits?' But I don't want that obsession to deter people from the sport. I think that running can be completely what you want it to be, and for me I run for joy, and if that means a PB one day then amazing, but I'm not trying to treat myself like an Olympian. If you could offer advice to runners early on in their journeys, what would it be and why? I think the biggest advice I want to offer people is that comparison is the thief of joy. Many people feel like it's not a big deal to celebrate their first 1K or 10K because their friend is running marathons. I want to offer advice to people on how they can become runners. I think my biggest win in the running space is the people and friendships I've made through running. I go to All Ours run club in Melbourne, and if anyone wants to get into running and needs somewhere to start (or someone to run with), I'm happy to meet with the community and run with others as well. Run Hyper with Hyperboost. Image Credit: Jordan Coles