West Coast Ultra Podcast

This week I’m joined by Emily Jackson, better know as Emily in the outdoors (@emily_intheoutdoors) — a Paisley‑based runner, yoga teacher, community organiser (and influencer) whose 20‑year running journey has taken her from early 5Ks to marathons, ultras and building two of the most welcoming running communities in the west of Scotland. We talk about her progression into endurance, the importance of safe spaces for women, and the lessons she’s taken from races like the Highland Fling, Devil o’ the Highlands and Málaga Marathon. Emily also shares how she balances training with real‑life demands and why sustainable, confidence‑building running matters more than chasing perfection.Before the conversation, I give a quick review of my day at the River Ayr Way Ultra — including pacing across the 5‑mile blocks, managing accumulated fatigue, and staying composed through the technical middle section. A huge congratulations to former guest Steve Daye for taking the win. RAW once again proved why it’s one of Scotland’s most deceptively tough point‑to‑point ultras.If you’re in Paisley, check out Barshaw Runbirds @barshawrunbirds (women‑only, 7:30pm Wednesdays) and Seventy Seven Run Club @77runclub.paisley on Sunday mornings at 8am.And if you’re looking for structured, sustainable coaching for ultras, marathons or building consistency around a busy life, you can get in touch via DM Instagram or through my page on the Team RunRun website: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach/.#ultrarunning #scottishrunning #trailrunning #westcoastultra #emilyintheoutdoors #barshawrunbirds #seventysevenrunclub #wildheartrunners #runningcommunity #womenwhorun #scottishultras #riverayrway #highlandfling #devilofthehighlands #malagamarathon #yogaforrunners #endurancecoaching Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As I taper into the River Ayr Way Ultra, I sat down with Scottish ultra‑runner Lee Fawkes, @leefawkesfitnessandlife whose rise from winging the Glasgow Half Marathon to winning the Kinross Backyard Ultra in a single season is one of the wildest progression arcs I’ve seen. In this episode. I talk with Lee about his podium finish at the Ultra Scotland 100, the cracked‑ankle drama that nearly stopped him getting to the start line, and the mental collapse at loop 22 that turned into a breakthrough moment.We dig into pacing discipline, mindset resets, nutrition choices, and the role of community — especially the support he gets from Scott Brown Fitness. As an ultrarunning coach, I found myself nodding along to so much of what he said, and a lot of it is feeding directly into my own RAW taper.If you enjoy the episode, connect with me on Instagram @davidultrarunner, and if you’re looking for coaching support for your next ultra, you can find me on Team RunRun, link in bio and all that. Season 5 starts here — with resilience, redemption, and a runner who’s only just getting started. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a little different. With the three races in three months, I am going through a cycle of race, recover, train, taper and right now I am tapering for the River Ayr Way Challenge Race (my personal nemesis).So, I am going to take you through how I am preparing myself. Even if the training hasn't been perfect and I am not where I want to be I want to make sure that I do what I can in the taper to make sure I turn up at the start line as best I can, and for you I will be breaking down the art and science of 'the taper'.With a final long‑run recce in the bag, I share a full training update before diving into what tapering is, why it matters, how to fuel during it, and how to handle the mental chaos that comes with reduced training. Whether you’re preparing for your first ultra or your fastest one, this episode gives you the strategy, structure, and confidence to arrive on the start line fresh, sharp, and ready to perform. Might even be just in time to help you out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I share a real update on life, training, and racing after a tough few months. I talk about supporting my mum in long‑term dementia care, a demanding spell at work, and how both forced me to step back and rethink how I balance ultra‑running with real‑life responsibilities.I break down my return from an Achilles injury, the confidence I gained from the Kaim Hill race, and a deeper look at the Ochils Ultra — my first proper test back. I also talk through my build‑up to the River Ayr Way Ultra and my plans for Ultra England at the end of October.If you’re navigating injury recovery, busy life seasons, or trying to stay consistent with ultra‑running when things get heavy, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kayleigh Webster is back on the podcast for her third appearance — this time diving into what Backyard Ultras reveal about people, why Beecraigs has become such a special community event, and how injury has reshaped her approach to running and race directing.We get into:• Why Backyards feel more communal than competitive• The atmosphere at Beecraigs and the role of spectators• Family influence, Barkley dreams, and “unreasonable” goals• Watching runners change hour by hour• How a busy race calendar can strengthen the running ecosystem• Injury, identity, and learning to train differently• Zwift, patience, and redefining what it means to be a runner• Leadership, judgement, and caring for athletes• What’s next for Beecraigs — and for KayleighQuick training update from me: the Achilles is settling, mileage is building again, and I’m finally stringing together some consistent weeks.A brilliant conversation with someone who’s shaping the Scottish ultra scene in a really thoughtful way.If you are looking for coaching then hit me up on insta @davidultrarunner or search on the Team Runrun website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.