Abel Lifestyle

Alex Bance is a former Infantryman, sports therapist and extreme endurance athlete whose story is built around testing the limits of what he is capable of.After spending 13 years in the Infantry, Alex transitioned into civilian life, built Spire Injury Clinic and found himself increasingly drawn towards ultra running and extreme endurance challenges.In this episode, we talk about what military life taught him, how he adjusted after leaving the Infantry, and why running eventually became much more than simply keeping fit.Alex has completed multiple 100-mile races, taken on self-supported challenges stretching close to 300 miles, and spent 24 hours running without sight or sound to raise money and awareness for Julia’s House.We explore what attracts him to challenges where failure is a genuine possibility, whether endurance can become addictive, how he deals with DNFs and what happens mentally when you are exhausted, sleep-deprived and completely alone with your thoughts.Alex also shares his perspective as a sports therapist, including the mistakes ultra runners often make, the importance of strength and recovery, and how to tell the difference between discomfort you can work through and an injury that means it is time to stop.But underneath the distances and finish lines, this conversation is really about identity, resilience, purpose and the question of why some people feel compelled to keep finding out what else they are capable of.We also discuss who Alex is when the running stops, whether he still feels like he has something to prove, what failure has taught him and what a good life means to him now.A fascinating conversation with someone who has deliberately put himself into some extraordinary situations to discover what he is capable of.

Tristan Hayes is a Salisbury-born professional wrestler whose career has spanned almost three decades.From watching wrestling at Salisbury City Hall as a kid, to stepping into the ring at 16, competing across the UK and internationally in places including Japan, Australia and America, and becoming a four-time heavyweight champion, Tristan has spent 29 years living the dream he set for himself when he was young.With his final match approaching back at Salisbury City Hall, this episode looks back on the full journey.We talk about:where the dream startedbecoming a professional wrestler as a teenagerthe reality behind professional wrestlinginjuries, sacrifice and longevitytravelling the world through wrestlingbecoming a four-time heavyweight championthe impact his dad had on his journeygrief and coming full circlewhy now is the right time to retireidentity, legacy and life after wrestlingA conversation about chasing a childhood dream, staying committed for nearly 30 years, and what it feels like to finally close the chapter where it all began.

Harley Morriss: How Far Can You Really Push Yourself?Harley Morriss only started running in 2023. Since then, he’s gone from his first run to taking on challenges most people would never even contemplate.In this episode of the Abel Lifestyle Podcast, Harley joins me to talk about the person behind the endurance athlete, where his mentality comes from, and why he continues to push himself further.We go back to where it all started and discuss his journey into running, completing 5K every hour for 24 hours, running from London to Paris in under five days, and competing at the G1M Ultra in Texas.But this episode goes much deeper than running.Harley opens up about mental health, why endurance has become such an important part of his life, the relationship between suffering and personal growth, dealing with failure, and what happens mentally when your body is telling you to stop.We also look ahead to his next huge challenge: attempting to run the perimeter of Ibiza in under 48 hours.From someone who only started running three years ago to an athlete continually testing the limits of what he believes is possible, this is a conversation about resilience, purpose, mental health and finding out what you’re truly capable of.In this episode:• Who Harley Morriss is beyond running• Starting his running journey in 2023• Running 5K every hour for 24 hours• London to Paris in under five days• Competing at the G1M Ultra in Texas• What happens mentally during extreme endurance• Running, suffering and mental health• Failure, resilience and knowing when to keep going• Preparing to run around Ibiza in under 48 hours• How far we can really push ourselvesThis is Harley Morriss on the Abel Lifestyle Podcast.

What does it really take to balance motherhood, family life and chasing extraordinary goals?In Episode 22 of the Abel Lifestyle Podcast, I sit down with Louise Pyman, a wife, mum of two, endurance athlete, Ironman and Race to the Stones finisher, to explore the story behind the achievements.We discuss Louise’s childhood, becoming a mother, the life-changing moment her family discovered one of her children had PKU, and how that experience completely reshaped her perspective on life.From balancing family life with endurance sport to supporting each other’s ambitions as a couple, this is an honest conversation about resilience, sacrifice, gratitude and finding purpose through life’s biggest challenges.Whether you’re a parent, athlete or simply trying to balance the demands of everyday life, there’s something in this episode for everyone.In this episode we discuss:⏱️ Louise’s childhood and the experiences that shaped her⏱️ Becoming a wife and mum⏱️ Navigating life with PKU as a family⏱️ The emotional challenges parents rarely talk about⏱️ Ironman, Race to the Stones and endurance sport⏱️ Balancing motherhood, training and everyday life⏱️ Supporting Mike through boxing and endurance events⏱️ Building resilience through adversity⏱️ What success really means⏱️ Advice for parents, athletes and anyone facing life’s toughest moments🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who could benefit from Louise’s story.

Today’s guest is somebody with one of the most unique stories we’ve had on the Abel Lifestyle Podcast.By day, Elmo Shorland is a builder. By night, he’s a two-time National Champion cheerleader. On paper, those two worlds couldn’t be more different, but after spending nearly two hours with Elmo, you quickly realise this episode isn’t really about cheerleading. It’s about perspective, resilience and having the confidence to be yourself.We go right back to the beginning, talking about growing up, losing his dad at just eight years old and how that experience shaped the man he is today. Rather than allowing adversity to define his life, Elmo chose to focus on gratitude, positivity and making the very best of every opportunity that came his way. His outlook on life is genuinely one of the most refreshing I’ve come across.We also dive into how he found cheerleading, what it’s really like behind the stereotypes, winning back-to-back National Championships, being named Cheerleader of the Year, appearing on BBC News and even his experience on Channel 4’s First Dates. Alongside that, we explore what becoming a father has taught him, the values he hopes to pass on to his daughters and what success really means away from medals and achievements.This is one of those conversations that simply leaves you feeling better than when it started. It’s honest, uplifting and full of reminders that your circumstances don’t have to define your future. If you’ve ever doubted yourself, worried about what other people think or needed a reminder to see the positives in life, I genuinely think you’ll take something away from this episode.We explore:Losing his dad at just eight years oldChoosing positivity through adversityGrowing up and finding purposeBuilder by day, cheerleader by nightBreaking stereotypes and backing yourselfWinning back-to-back National ChampionshipsBecoming the father he never hadConfidence, resilience and mindsetBehind the scenes of competitive cheerleadingBBC News & Channel 4’s First DatesRaising two daughters