Two Men On The Run

Join the Two Men On The Run in their first podcast, starting during the Covid-19 lockdown, discussing all things running. In this episode Matt and Jon-Jo discuss what their training has been like during lockdown, how they've stayed motivated with no races on the cards, and what surface is actually best to run on. They then go on to discuss the potential failings and successes of schools, athletic clubs and parkrun within their community and the greater athletic landscape, and what impact it's having on the sport, they love, running!

In this week's episode Jon-Jo questions Matt about his recent run-in with an internet troll in regards to his lockdown virtual racing, and the two discuss a darker topic in the running world, body image and body shaming. And they wrap up the show with the telling of Eamonn Coghlan's leg shaving incident the day before the 1976 Olympic final.

In episode 3 Jon-Jo talks us through a rather sensitive issue that has plagued him over the last year, as he provides his testicle testimony, an issue that we're sure many other men suffer but feel uneasy to talk about,, so hopefully his candid tale helps.Matt and Jon-Jo then completely change topic and discuss drugs in sport, the financial fraud the moral issues and the failings of the testing system and governing bodies.

On this week's show Matt and Jon-Jo discuss the possible failings and successes of local athletics clubs, parkrun and England Athletics, with Matt having a bit of a passionate rant, try and keep up with him if you can! Matt then gives a bit of a history lesson on the marathon running boom and the 1972 Munich Olympic attack, before discussing the issues faced by other Olympic Games. And the guys round out the discussion jumping back to a topic from last week, doping in athletics and take a deeper dive into the drug scandals, the mix of propaganda between East and West media and possibly how things could be put right.

In this week's show Matt and Jon-Jo discuss the tough topic of mental health, something that both have struggled with at various times in their lives, from deep depression, mental breakdowns and even thoughts of suicide, and just how running has helped them both. This was a tough episode to record but the guys hope discussing these topics might help raise the discussion further of mental health. Show Breakdown: The last weeks training.Mental healthPhilosophy of the Roman Emperor Marcus AureliusUsing the darker times and pain as a motivation to train and race.

Jon-Jo's coach and Liverpool Harrier Tony Clarke joins the Two Men on the Run for the first 'Guest Spot' episode. Discussing growing up in Liverpool in the 70's and how he was drawn to running and athletics, which has allowed him a career filled with training and coaching alongside World Record holders, Olympic medalists and stars of the future. The guys then quiz Tony on his training philosophy, how lockdown has affected him and his athletes, his thoughts on virtual racing, parkrun and his love of the sport. Thanks again to Tony Clarke

An often discussed topic by Jon-Jo and Matt during their daily training sessions - legal running aids both natural and artificial. With Jon-Jo taking an approach of trying to find balance in his diet and sleep patterns, while Matt searches and tests the latest technology from sports watches and Strava to Altitude Tents, Massage Guns and the new found 'Super Racing Shoes' the two discuss their thoughts on them all here. SleepNutritionVitamins and Supplements Altitude Tents - https://affinityaltitude.com/Strava and Running Watches Massage Guns, Foam Rollers and Sports MassageRunning Shoes

In Episode 8 Jon-Jo has a bee in his bonnet about races, prizes and charity, on the eve of the return to the British racing calendar. And the guys discuss finding the balance between training and life, is it possible? Are the sacrifices we have to make for running worth it? Love to hear our listeners thoughts on this topic as well.

It's with great pleasure that we bring you a wonderful discussion with the amazing Charlie Spedding. Charlie is winner of the 1984 London Marathon, Bronze Medallist in the 1984 Olympic Marathon and remains the 4th fastest British Marathon runner of all time with 2:08:33 which he ran at the London Marathon in 1985. This interview is a long one, with just over 2 hours recording time in total, but it can be split into two very different discussion using the timing points below:0:00:00 - 1:26:30 - Charlie, Matt and Jon-Jo discuss Charlie's running career from his very first experiencing of racing in school, through to some of his greatest success and failures. 1:26:31 - 2:12:10 - Charlie introduces the guys to his research and study since retiring from competitive athletics, that are compiled and published in his latest book Stop Feeding Us Lies, where Charlie asks why our authorities keep promising to spend more and more money on healthcare, instead of simply determining why so many people are ill. Covering topics such as diet, Type-2 diabetes, rest and recovery and the importance of exercise.

The Two Men on the Run reflect on their first race since lockdown which really didn't go to plan for either of them. Jon-Jo talks about Bill Rodgers 'Marathon Man' and his successes and failures, and the pair discuss the mindsets, genetics and training physiology of some of the greatest runners of all time.

The Two Men on the Run are joined in the studio by English Teacher and St. Helens Strider Kane Green A.K.A. The Professor. Kane talks us through his running carer before delving into the world of journalism and discussing how the great sport and activity of running is portrayed both positively and negatively in the media from the old newspaper to television and online stratosphere.

In this episode the Two Men on the Run discuss a range of topics from Matt's race at the Antrim Half Marathon running alongside Sir Mo Farah, the continued effect of COVID and lockdown on the return to racing front with Cross Country season looking like it's going to be delayed to possibly the new year, while parkrun is planning to return in October (since announced it won't be) and Jon-Jo updates us on how he is doing going back to basics and training without the restraints of a watch.

This week after a season that included one 5km race, Jon-Jo is taking his end of season break and Matt is more than happy to get his own back after the stick he's taken the last couples with regards to his racing and training from Jon-Jo, the saying goes "who needs enemies, when you've got friends like these". But jokes aside the guys discuss just what makes up a season in their minds and the different phases of the training cycle. And to wrap up the last half of the show Jon-Jo asks Matt about the man he hails as possible the greatest distance runner of all time, and the only athlete to win Olympic Gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m and Marathon all in the same Games, Emil Zátopek.

2020 has been a very weird year for us all but it was great to see the London Marathon take place in some capacity from the 45,000+ runners who took part virtually across the world and the Elite who ran 19 laps around St. James' Park in London. There were shocks and upsets, divides over running shoes and breakthrough performances. So after watching this year's London Marathon the Two Men on the Run discussed their thoughts from Jon-Jo's very controversial thoughts on the commentators, to some of their highlights and Matt's annoyance at the continued shoe debate.

With tighter restriction due to Tier 3 lockdown across Merseyside Jon-Jo discusses why he doesn't think there's any point in considering races this year, while Matt argues that races are needed for motivation. The guys discuss Para Athletics and the process that Matt's fiancee Jade faces as she targets a GB vest next summer. Jon-Jo teaches us about the 5/25 philosophy of Warren Buffett to help us focus on what's important, before he plays the show out with a cover of 'Oh Carol' by Neil Sedaka.

The Two Men on the Run discuss the philosophies and psychological principles of Eckhart Toole, Freud and Professor Steve Peters from finding the balance of the Ego, Id (Chimp) and Super-Ego and how this affects them and us all in everyday life and our running. New runners what do clubs and coaches have to offer? How do you find the right club and coach for your wants and needs? Is a paid coach better than a club volunteer coach? The guys discuss their thoughts on all of this from their good and bad experiences of both sides. Jon-Jo gives us another song from the archive of Kris Kristofferson with "Me and Bobby McGee" to round out the show. Thanks for listening!

We've had a couple weeks break as Lockdown 2.0 made us rethink how we do the podcast with Jon-Jo not having internet, but the Two Men on the Run are back via Skype to discuss a touch of running, the effects of Lockdown 2.0, the US Election and as always the philosophy of life according to Jon-Jo.

This week the guys spirits are lifted slightly as lockdown 2.0 is coming to an end and they can get back running in groups again. Matt hopes to make the cut off for the Olympic Marathon Trials in March, so the guys discuss the race potentials, course and if it's really needed. Plus Sir Mo Farah has been airing on our screens every day for the last couple weeks, neither Two Men on Run are fans of 'I'm a Celebrity' but Matt's been watching this year because of Mo and has found some similarities with himself in the Double Olympic Champion.

Well the Two Men on the Run got the chance to catch-up with Team New Balance Manchester and 2020 British Marathon Champion Jonny Mellor. Jonny has an impressive range with a sub 4 minute mile clocking of 3:58.76, a 5k best 13:31.21 and a 10k best that saw him win the Night of 10,000m and become British 10,000m champion of 28:42. He's also this clocked two extremely impressive 2:10 clockings first in Seville back in February with 2:10.03 and then when he won the British Marathon Championships at this years London Marathon with 2:10.38. He is the fastest British Marathoner of 2020 and 18th All Time. The guys dive into all things with Jonny from the craziness of this year which started with Jonny smashing the Olympic Qualifying Standard for Tokyo only for the Olympics to be cancelled, his strange bubble and tagging experience at this years London Marathon and then back to his early days growing up on the Wirral and Training at Liverpool Harriers under Dave Evans, before joining Steve Vernon and the Team New Balance Manchester. Jon-Jo does his best to get a load of free coaching advice off Jonny who offers coaching plans and one to one coaching over at JM Coaching . We wish Jonny the best of luck as he heads into the Olympic Trials that have now been arranged for March 26th 2021 and his surely concrete selection to represent Great Britain at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.

This week the Two Men on the Run joined by two healthy glasses of Bailey's to celebrate Christmas discuss some tough topics from the call for equality in Cross Country races distances for men and women to the unravelling chaos of lockdown and tier system in the UK. Matt tells us about an exciting and interesting race that went on over in the states 'The Marathon Project' which sure a surge of 2:09 clockings by American marathon runners and a second on the all-time USA list from Sara Hall with a 2:20 performance only a couple of months after her fantastic run in London. Jon-Jo tells us why he doesn't listen to his own philosophical whims as he describes how to live without ego while Matt comments on how he's been doing the opposite all season in regards to races, and when the question is put to Matt he dodges it well. And the guys finish with the age-old running question, Split Shorts or Half Tights?