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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.
176 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.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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
Fresh from West Sussex, Rob has just run the 100k Race To The King, and is keen to tell Paul about it on a recovery run round Wanstead. Featuring heat, lost affirmations, a bonus 2.7km, all kinds of runners and walkers, friends on the trail, from the seaside to the hills, falling over and not falling over, half way (less than half way), the heat intensifying as the trail lengthens, companionship, tennis, road rage, a friend on a hill at 80k at sunset... and on and on into the darkness.
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
Paul and Rob loop London’s poshest parks and catch up. Featuring high-end dogs, international ponies, world-class comedy, a pitch for planking, the luxury of low-key family life, and what you can learn from a rubbish run.
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
A rainy morning in north London sees Paul and Rob heading along the Parkland Walk and through the woods. Featuring a high wordcount for Paul and high mileage for Rob, half term adventures, highs and lows in comedy, a runcommer in the wild and a famous fella in the woods, food before you run - and after - and other fuel, anglers and birders, and a return to Bannau Brycheiniog.
SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening, bonus episodes and more here: https://runcompod.supercast.com/
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.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Paul and Rob take their traditional trot round the Heath to see in the new month. featuring perfect running weather, more football talk, signs of Summer, when a run is too far to train for, walking the hills - and hubris on those hills, beetroot and lemon juice, food on the trail - and in childhood, a pond full of dogs, morning drinking, and Autumn marathon plans.
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.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It’s been quite the quest for Rob to complete a marathon this year, and the trouble didn’t stop on the start line in Edinburgh. Here Rob reports to Paul on a great-but-crazy day in Scotland.
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.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Rob and Paul trot out east to Wanstead on a jewel of a day. Featuring career news for the progeny, white bread with butter, cultural activities at the weekend, Rob the roadie, stumbling upon a half marathon, Paul's classic Sunday, Tom's trousers, Edinburgh Marathon anticipation - and Fringe memories, 'have fun', a bit of gratitude, a tickle of tempo - and where will Paul watch the football?
SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening, bonus episodes and more here: https://runcompod.supercast.com/
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.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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