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Running Commentary
Running Commentary
Author: Rob Deering and Paul Tonkinson
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© Rob Deering and Paul Tonkinson Copyright 2025
Description
Comedians Paul Tonkinson and Rob Deering talk about life and comedy - but mainly running. Whilst running.
182 Episodes
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Rob's very ready to pick Paul's brains post Marathon Des Sables on a very gentle recovery run round the park - and he's brought us back his desert diaries. Featuring various attitudes to preparation, the Tent 105 crew, Paul's resistance to briefings, nights under canvas, finding flow and becoming feral, how he took on the long, double-marathon stage, volunteers and running buddies, sandy eyes and sore feet, tears on the trail, a little light hallucination, becoming self-sufficient, embracing a simple existence, emotions outside the box, cool runnings, desert demographics, the grubby life, and a spiritual moment based on fizzy pop.
'After this, no more hard things.'
SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
You can sponsor Rob's London Marathon here: https://rb.gy/fty8wh
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Paul and Rob's Yorkshire Marathon, anticipated and debriefed. Featuring channelling Tom Cruise, RunCom IRL at Hampton by Hilton, the cops get called, the night before the run, a little light self-sabotage, breakfast reports and final thoughts. THEN... the other side! Paul - *plot-spoiler* - finishing in curmudgeonly style, overtaking and being overtaken, going out and coming back, various uses of the word 'beef', Rob's playlist-powered plod, music or not, similar times achieved, good-yet-grumpy news all round, and Tonks' beverages - or lack of.SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Paul and Rob's traditional taper trot - a triple loop of Stoke Newington's Clissold Park - five days out from the Yorkshire Marathon. Featuring fitness and fear of falling (Rob) versus non-specific pre-marathon malaise (Paul), a double parkrun report, momentum in all its forms, a Gulman gig, youth and power versus age and wisdom, final Gold / Silver / Bronze predictions - and a wonderful, arboreal Autumn display.SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Paul's son George is off to Rome for a Half Marathon; here they anticipate the event - but first an explanation of why and where they're not running, and what they're up to instead.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Sweary Helen Thorn returns! And since last she ran with Rob, she's completed the Sydney Marathon, meaning she's done all seven of the World Marathon Majors - so here she takes Rob through them all, on a couple of loops of *checks notes* her local cemetery...
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Here's to the late Carlene Hutchinson.Paul & Rob trot from Finsbury Park to Clissold Park and back along the new River. Featuring a posh party, a pacy parkrun, famous friends and their work, the weekend's adventures, hill training, booze and other habits, last long runs before the Yorkshire Marathon - plus final preparation plans and tips - an excellent PB, and some Gold / Silver / Bronze thoughts.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Lots of running to report on as Rob & Paul head up the Walk and round the Woods. Featuring Tonks' long run, Rob's Battersea Half, not drinking, the reset of Autumn, funding the next generation, parkrun report, overtaking and being overtaken, a little negative-split negativity, Yorkshire Marathon predictions - and a spanner in the works for Paul...
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more.BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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The new month approaching means Paul and Rob are on Hampstead Heath, greeting Autumn head on. Featuring the Saucony Run Shoreditch 10k in review, getting long Yorkshire Marathon training runs in, treadmill tribulations for Rob, how good gait helps, speed bumps and cheat days for Paul, 'don't drink the wine!', table stakes, Jules' PB victory... and they run on.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Sundry disasters befall Paul before and during a gentle run from Kings Cross back to Clissold Park, while Rob bristles with local info - and celebrates an anniversary.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Paul and Rob continue their long run, heading back south to Wanstead and Leytonstone. Featuring book talk, the drama and non-drama of finishes, the ascetic clarity of distance running, the Hemulen Factor, experience-hungry youngsters, Rob's dream, Paul's wife hob-nobbing, getting arrested, a beautiful parenting poem for September, and general proof of one the central theories of Running Commentary: the longer you run, the more philosophical you get.
GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/runcompod - there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Rob and Paul set off on a double run in the sun - from Wanstead Flats to Highams Park and back. Part one features fear of falling, healthy eating, parkrun report, new routes and spots, the Great North Run and other Half Marathons, fun gigs at The Stand Newcastle, 10k romance, the perennial putative marathon pace conversation, over bridges into Essex, pushing up the miles, plans for the Coast-to-Coast, foot trouble, and a couple of brilliant PBs.
GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/runcompod - there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Beautiful sunshine on Hampstead Heath, as Paul and Rob talk training runs - and recovery, runs in different places, Paul's new haircut - and Rob's wife hairdresser trouble, pre-marathon thoughts, why August is special - and what's next, and an auspicious delivery from above.
GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/runcompod - there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Our interview season continues as Paul runs and chats with amazing runner and running and fitness writer Lily Canter, author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism In Sport (https://www.waterstones.com/book/ultra-women/lily-canter/emma-wilkinson/9781914487101).
Thanks Lily.
GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/runcompod - there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us.Happy running.ROB DEERING WILL RETURN.
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Reunited, Rob and Paul head back to the familiarity of Highgate and Queen's Woods and the Parkland Walk. Featuring adventures in other countries, running and otherwise, taking training up a notch, and - yes - Ronaldo's Underpants.
GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/runcompod - there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee.
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Our interview season continues with Rob on the road again - catching up with erstwhile guest Juliette Burton in Edinburgh, with the Fringe just about to begin. Featuring The innocent Railway, Juliette's many shows, harsh soft play and empowering cosplay, computer games and super heroes, sexism and sexuality, and the intersection of running, performance and mental health.
Thanks Juliette! Do see her in Edinburgh if you get the chance.
GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/runcompod - there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee.
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
PAUL TONKINSON WILL RETURN.
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For this insightful interview episode Rob went down to Hove to run with writer Jamie Doward - and found some fascinating similarities between Jamie, himself and Paul. Plus the weather was gorgeous.
Thank you Jamie. You can get Jamie’s books here: https://www.waterstones.com/author/jamie-doward/1833592
(And you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270)
GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/runcompod - there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
And thank YOU for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
PAUL TONKINSON WILL RETURN.
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Paul and Rob mixed things up by including a parkrun in their regular visit to Hampstead Heath - a parkrun they recorded at once before, one sunny Saturday, some time ago. Featuring foot trouble, Paul’s writing, Rob’s exercises, supporting - and being chastened by - younger runners, and rain; lots of rain.
GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/runcompod - there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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As the hot weather relents a little, the boys take a turn around Regents Park and over Primrose Hill. Featuring a haircut for Rob, more mileage for Paul, go Jules go, Raworth's Alpine joy, festival report, Wimbledon, foot and throat trouble, a little timber, to socialise or not to socialise, tour tales, running ravers, and so to Warren Street, and your fabulous PBs.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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One of the usual spots at an unusual time of day. Featuring the new bridge, good and bad tour moments, a disastrous trip to a Grand Prix for Rob, trouble with the neighbours (and their dogs) for Paul, meeting lovely folk over bananas and chips, helping the hunted, those we have recently lost - including a brilliant bandit, some band having a reunion, the tennis, and finding your power for the big runs.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
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Hampstead Heath is resplendent in the sunshine on the hottest day of the year, and Paul and Rob are loving it. Featuring Glastonbury thoughts, gig report, blue skies and green greenery, Parkland Walk news, a spooky story, fast culture, Paul’s MDS-centric year, new routes, writers all round, Tonkinson ancestry and AI, clarity and gratitude, Mums and Dads, and a little bit of running.
SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270
Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices























I'm originally from Hove and have signed up for the Brighton half next year. I hate cold runs! 🥶
love listening to you guys while I go running myself, I'm a complete beginner , did counch to 5k in lockdown, and probably not able to talk and run currently 😆 but like listening while I run , thanks