Trails, Tales, and Fails - An Ultra Running Podcast

Rob and Sarah sit down with UK ultra runner Leroy Valentine after his incredible 88 hours and 7 minutes at Bigfoot 200 in Washington State.Bigfoot 200 is a 200 mile point-to-point trail race through the Cascade Mountains, featuring 44,082 feet of elevation gain, 45,563 feet of descent and a 107-hour cutoff. It's the kind of ultra where running ability is only part of the equation — pacing, nutrition, strength, sleep, feet, mindset and the ability to adapt all become crucial when you're moving through the mountains for days.Leroy takes us behind the scenes of his journey to the start line, from how he got into ultra running and his experience applying for Bigfoot, through to the realities of actually taking on 200 miles.We talk about how you train for a 200-mile ultra, the importance of strength training, nutrition and fuelling, sleep deprivation, dealing with problems during a race, and the mental battle of continuing when you've been moving for days.And if you've seen Leroy's legendary frying-pan lunches, we couldn't let him get away without talking about those either.Plus, we've got our usual Truth or Lie and Quickfire rounds.If you're into ultra running, trail running, 100-mile and 200-mile races, endurance challenges or simply hearing what happens when someone decides that running for nearly four days is a good idea, this one's for you.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

Fresh back from Chamonix, this week we're bringing you a UTMB special.Sarah joins us to relive her journey around Mont Blanc after finishing UTMB 2026 in 28 hours and 14 minutes, placing 222nd overall, 37th female and joint-second British athlete.We break the race down from start to finish, covering the build-up, race week nerves, the dramatic two-hour weather delay, the electric atmosphere on the course, the highs and lows of a 174km adventure, and the difficult moments around Grand Col Ferret that tested both body and mind.We also discuss the fascinating British women's race, how Sarah ended up running the final part of the race alongside Charlotte Fisher, and what it was like crossing the finish line in Chamonix after more than 28 hours on the trails.Plus, we answer listener questions, including the toughest part of the race, the biggest surprises, and where UTMB ranks among Sarah's running achievements.If you've ever wondered what it's really like to take on one of the world's most iconic ultramarathons, this is the episode for you.As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, share the episode with a friend, and follow Trials, Trails and Fails wherever you get your podcasts.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

It’s time for the BEST of Truth or Lie! 😂Over the past 18 months, guests have thrown some seriously questionable statements at us — and now we're bringing together some of our funniest, strangest and most memorable Truth or Lies in one episode.Featuring Debbie Martin-Consani, Fi Pascall, Holly Stables, Susie Chan, Ben O’Connell and Ben Potts, this is a chance to revisit some of the best stories from the podcast and see if you can work out what’s actually true.Expect ridiculous claims, wild ultra-running stories, plenty of debate and a fair bit of cheating… 👀How many can you get right?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

What does it actually take to run 50km every single day for 100 days?In this episode, we chat to David “Jacko” Jackson, former professional rugby player, breath coach and the man behind the incredible Mission IN-possible challenge.Jacko is attempting to complete 100 ultramarathons in 100 consecutive days, covering a minimum of 50km every day, while aiming to raise an incredible £1 million for brain injury charities Headway UK and Head for Change.When we spoke to David “Jacko” Jackson on Friday 14th August 2026, he had just completed Day 78 of 100 of his incredible Mission IN-possible challenge.In 2013, Jacko's professional rugby career was ended by a traumatic brain injury. His recovery was uncertain, and running and breathwork became a huge part of rebuilding his life. Mission IN-possible is his way of turning that experience into something positive — raising awareness, raising money and showing that what seems impossible can become IN-possible.And Jacko isn't doing it alone.The community support has been incredible, with runners and walkers joining him along the way. His route uses loops, meaning anyone can get involved — whether you're an experienced ultra runner or simply want to run or walk a few kilometres alongside him.Behind the scenes, his wife Catherine has also been absolutely integral to the challenge — running with him, driving, helping with food and fuelling and supporting him through the physical and emotional demands of doing this day after day.We chat to Jacko about the reality of 78 consecutive days of running, his brain injury and recovery, the toughest moments so far, the incredible community around Mission IN-possible, Catherine's role behind the scenes, the £1m fundraising target and what it takes to keep getting up and doing it again.A massive thank you to Jacko for giving us his time right in the middle of the challenge. At Day 78, this wasn't a conversation looking back from the finish line — he was still right in the thick of it.Want to get involved? You don't need to run a marathon. Join Jacko for a loop, bring your friends and run your own little IN-possible.🧠 Headway UK – https://www.headway.org.uk/🧠 Head for Change – https://headforchange.org.uk/💷 Donate to Mission IN-possible – https://givestar.io/gs/mission-in-possible-2-marathons-a-day-for-100-days📍 Follow the challenge / get involved – https://thebreathrunningcoach.com/mission-in-possible📸 Jacko: @thebreathrunningcoachJacko's book, Breathe Smarter, Run Stronger, is available here, as well as Amazon.Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

This week, we chat about Rob's recent Lakeland 100 finish.From pacing and nutrition to the mental battles that every ultra runner faces.We chat about Sarah's recent UTMB recce, sharing her first impressions of the course, key sections to look out for, and what runners can expect if they're heading to the Alps this summer.Whether you're training for your first ultra, taking on Lakeland 2027, or dreaming of UTMB, there's plenty of chat, race stories and the usual laughs along the way.Don't forget to follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share the episode with a friend—it really helps us reach more runnersIf you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.