Running Tales

Daniel Garner was a sporty child, but his life was turned upside down when his mum sadly died from cancer when he was just eight years old.His parents had already been in the process of a divorce, and Daniels' father left not long afterwards. Although he was able to grow up in a loving family, with his sister and her partner bringing him up, Daniel's loss changed him.He felt he was missing part of his identity and that he was different to other children. It was something he took into adulthood, and as he reached his early-40s Daniel had become slightly lost.Having fallen into something of a rut, he was overweight, drinking too much and spent his time finding any excuse to sit around doing nothing.That all changed when he found running. Happier and healthier, Daniel has become a parkrun regular, joined a running club and last weekend he took on his second ultra marathon in as many weeks.Running Tales spoke to Daniel about how the sport has changed his life, why it can be hard to take those first vital steps towards trying something new, and how he hopes his mum is proud of what he has done...Visit Running Tales on:Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠

It's one of the leading athletic clubs in the Midlands, but the success of Rugby & Northampton Athletic Club goes far beyond the gongs it and its athletes win.Competing across track and field, cross country and road running, the club has more than 1,000 members ranging from eight years old to those over 80.It has recreational sport written into its very being - or at least, its constitution - and celebrates runners at all levels.That's not to say their members aren't competitive though, whatever their age - a fact best demonstrated by a recent first place finish in the Youth Development League Lower Age Group National Final.Running Tales was recently invited to the club's Moulton College training centre - one of two tracks it uses alongside Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Sports Centre in Rugby to talk about that achievement.We met with young athletics, coaches and Masters runners, as well as clubs chairman Adrian White...Visit Running Tales on:Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠Other links:Find out more about Rugby & Northampton AC, including how to join the club via this link.

Lottie Banks was a keen runner at school, finishing 81st in the Mini London Marathon and winning a bucketload of medals.But when life and work came calling, running took a back seat.It was only in her late-40s that Lottie returned to the sport, taking part in races including the London Marathon, Great Eastern Run, and the Big Half.That last event in London, which was held as recently as September this year, was actually Lottie's 'Retirement Run'. A chronic back condition had become increasingly worse, and she has recently taken the decision to start a new stage of her athletic journey - as a wheelchair racer.In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Lottie about her early love of running, the joy of movement in whatever form in takes, and the cost of disability...Visit Running Tales on:Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠Other links:Lottie is currently fundraising for a racing chair. You can donate here: https://gofund.me/4148aaf7d

Andre Cardin's big running goal is fast approaching.Next week (November 2, 2025), he will take on theNew York City Marathon, one of the most famous road races in the world.But if Andre's New York adventure is inspiring, it is nothing compared to how he get here.Unfit, overweight and unhappy, Andre took a decision to dedicate his life to becoming a healthier, fitter and happier version of himself.His tool of choice was running, and it has helped him achieve that goal and more.Andre has tracked his journey through his increasingly popular Instagram account, @andrerunz, a platform which proved integral to his entry into New York.In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Andre about his running journey, how the sport has changed his life and the big races he now has on the agenda...Visit Running Tales on:Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠Other links:Follow Andre on Instagram

From crossing paths with farm dogs to shimmying over logs, ultra runner Kim Levinsky faced a plethora of physical, mental and altogether unexpected challenges as she set a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) across New York State’s 358-mile Long Path.Now, a brilliant new feature film, 'The Long Path: A journey of becoming' has been released. It tracks the physical and mental struggle's Kim encountered during her epic run, as well as taking a deeper look at how society treats mental health issues.During the documentary, Kim reveals her journey from reluctantly starting therapy to becoming a mental health advocate in her community.In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Kim and filmmaker Shai Ben-Dor about the idea behind the film and how they were able to capture her experiences of the trails...Visit Running Tales on:Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠Other links:Watch 'The Long Path: A journey of becoming'

Andy Goldsby's life was spiralling out of control. Overweight, he was drinking and smoking too much, and it was starting to effect his mental as well as physical health.It was a chance moment that changed his life. Desperate to make a change, he entered the London Marathon on a whim, never expecting to get in.The marathon lottery Gods were smiling on him, and to Andy's shock he was - at 20 stone and struggling to climb the stairs - on course to run one of the world's most famous running events.Buoyed by the chance to reverse a fitness journey that was heading in the wrong direction, he started training and clocking up the miles.Since then, Andy has become a regular runner, taking on distances from parkrun 5ks to marathons. Along the way, he has become a run director at Arrow Valley parkrun and more recently joined forces with YouTuber Tim Stent, aka The Middle Aged Running Man, to become one half of the Marmcast pod.In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Andy about how running has changed his life...Visit Running Tales on:Substack: ⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠Other links:Listen to ⁠Marmcast on Apple Podcasts

There isn’t much Sarah Lavender Smith hasn’t done in the world of running.The Colorado resident has run more than 100 ultras and marathons, winning several at the 50k distance and clocking up many thousands of miles during more than 30 years in the sport.In 2019, she won the Grand to Grand Ultra, widely celebrated as one of the toughest races in the world.But Sarah had a ten year itch she needed to scratch: an event as hard to get into as it is to run.It is a race which features 102.5 miles (165km) and 33,000 feet (10,000 m) of climb through an area of such spiritual significance to her that she can track her family roots there back to 1880.Sarah’s date with destiny arrived on July 11, 2025 in Silverton, Colorado.At 6am on that day, she toed the start line of one of ultra running’s most famous races: ⁠The Hardrock 100⁠.In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Sarah to find out how her Hardrock adventure turned out...Visit Running Tales on:Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠Other links:Visit Sarah's Mountain Running & Living Substack: ⁠https://sarahrunning.substack.com/

When Emily Moore was just 19 she suffered a knee injury which led to her being told she'd never walk unaided again, let alone run.Now, she's on the edge of taking on the toughest footrace in the world, the formidable Marathon des Sables, in April.After suffering her injury, Emily was determined she would run again, immediately entering the London Marathon. A painful period of rehabilitation followed, but her dream became a reality with her knee surgeon among those cheering her to the finish line.Since then, Emily has completed a number of marathons and triathlons, teaching herself to swim along the way. And last year she turned ultra runner, completing the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra in October 2022.That was followed by the five-day, 123-mile Capital to Country Ultra in Nepal last year. Her decision to powerwalk it, rather than run, saw her discover a unique way of tackling the endurance event that also featured a blessing at a school and a wedding.Running Tales spoke to Emily about running while pregnant, how the sport has helped her meet friends all over the world, and why the Nepal Capital to Country Ultra saw her find herself again after divorce... --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.Read our story about the Capital to Country Multi-Day Ultra in Nepal on our Substack page: https://runningtales.substack.com/p/from-capital-to-country-the-spiritual 

Sho Gray has a big goal in 2024.The professional runner, who is the Tennessee state record holder for the 100-mile distance, is betting on himself to make the US national 24-hour race team.Sho is using his savings to dedicate himself to running in the hope of winning the American 24-hour race championship in November, and in doing so qualifying for the national team.It’s all a far cry from his first manoeuvrings in the world of running, when as a youngster at a Japanese international school he started taking part in the sport - with the somewhat disputed aim of beating his sister in the cross-country.Running Tales spoke to Sho about going from enthusiastic amateur to professional, entering the pain cave and exercising his toes, and how he wants to inspire everyone to do whatever their version of better is… --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

This week's Running Tales Podcast has a somewhat different theme.Our guest is Stan Robertson, the man behind Northampton-based rough sleeper charity Project 16:15.Running Tales is once again backing the 16:15 Charity Run, which will take place at The Racecourse in Northampton, England on Saturday, March 23.The event, which aims to raise awareness of and funding for rough sleepers in the town, will take place over six hours - with runners encouraged to run as long or as short a distance as they like over that period.There is more information about the event on our Substack newsletter page and on the 16:15 Charity Run Facebook group.Stan started Project 16:15 back in 2018, during the infamous Beast from the East cold snap, when he began delivering hot drinks and food to rough sleepers in Northampton town centre.His over-riding aim is bring dignity and respect to those on the streets.You can help fundraise for the 16:15 Charity Run here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/fun-run2024Running Tales spoke to Stan about the dangers rough sleepers face on the streets, how his own experiences of homelessness and addiction help him connect to those he now helps, and whether he will be doing any running himself on March 23...--------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Raziq Rauf is the man behind the increasingly popular 'Running Sucks' Substack, a tongue-in-cheek title for a newsletter that looks at the stories of people doing interesting things to further running culture.Raz's newsletter has covered subjects as varied as homelessness, racism, body shaming and alcoholism - all from the prospective of those in the running world.It aims to tell stories that go beyond people's favourite trainers or their marathon training plans. The result is a fascinating and occasionally raw dive into why running sucks and how, ultimately, it is a force for good.Raz's own running journey began at school, but he only fully embraced the sport as a way of escaping his busy live as a music journalist - no Spotify or Apple playlists for this runner!Running Tales spoke to Raz about running while being a 'minority of a minority' as someone of south Asian descent, why it's important not to ignore the impact of societal issues on running, and why he called his newsletter 'Running Sucks'... --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Helen Ramwell didn't always wants to run, despite coming from a family that loved the sport.It was only as a teenager while celebrating New Year that she was provoked to take part in a race, after a family member said she would never be able to complete a half-marathon.The challenge was too much to resist and Helen's running career was underway. It has since taken in a host of marathons and ultra events, including the 'toughest footrace in the world' - the Marathon des Sables.Helen took part in that event alongside her father, Richard, who she regularly enjoyed running with. Sadly, Richard has since passed away but Helen honoured his memory at the end of last year when she took on another multi-day marathon. She said she felt his presence on her shoulder as she took on the inaugural Capital to Country in Nepal, a five-day, 123-mile romp through the foothills of the Himalayas.Running Tales spoke to Helen about the women's ultra running scene, running while pregnant, and her much-heralded competitive streak... --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Liz Fraser has been a passionate runner since a young age, when her mother - who coached youngsters at the Oxford City Athletics Club - introduced her to the sport.Running has been her constant companion ever since, through the highs of many a 5k, 10k and half-marathon to helping her cope with mental health issues.A writer, broadcaster and best-selling author, Liz's memoir 'Coming Clean' tells the story of her life with an alcoholic partner, and running has provided solace in harder times.Now, as she approaches her 50th birthday in October, Liz is aiming to run her first marathon, as well as to roll back the years to record a sub-20 minute 5k and a sub-40 minute 10k.Running Tales spoke to Liz about how it's ok for women to fiercely pursue their goals and the joy of running in terrible weather...--------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Denny Krahe is an ultra runner and coach who runs one of our favourite podcasts about the sport: Diz Runs.We first caught up with Denny just over a year ago, when we chatted to him about his own running career and his life as an injury prevention specialist.With changes on the way at Diz Runs, we thought it was a good time to talk to Denny again and to see how he is getting on with some of his running goals.We also chewed the fat over some of the big issues in the running world, including the seemingly increasing numbers of people cheating in races and just how far he thinks the human body will allow endurance athletes to go... --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.You can learn more about Denny Krahe, his coaching, blog and podcast on http://www.dizruns.com/

Colin Kirk-Potter grew up running on the fells and a career as a Royal Marine meant fitness was always going to be central to his life.Back when he joined the Marines, a day on Dartmoor involved brutal training but these days he loves nothing more than to run around its trails and fells - to the stage where he's even written a book about the best routes.Colin's running has seen him take on extreme races all around the world, including the Bob Graham Round and the Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc, where he even beat ultra running legend Scott Jurek.But perhaps his greatest challenge came when he struggled with PTSD after serving in Afghanistan. Life in 'civvy street' saw him drinking too much and picking fights, but it was running which helped him to rediscover himself and find peace.Running Tales spoke to Colin about why running like a toddler is good for you, opening a running shop and becoming coach, and exactly how he came to beat one of the greatest runners of all time...  --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.You can order Colin's book, Dartmoor Trail and Fell Running: 31 Great Runs, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dartmoor-Trail-Fell-Running-Great/dp/1906095841 

Donato, aka Twitter's Poet With Pace, hasn't always been a runner. Indeed, he didn't even start running until he was in his mid-50s and only took to the sport to raise money for charity.But once he started, there was no stopping him.Since completing the Birmingham Half-Marathon in 2015, Donato has gone on to break a Guinness World Record for running the fastest marathon dressed as a hospital patient, completed five marathon majors and raced for England at Master's level.Along the way he has amassed a YouTube following of close 5,500 subscribers to his 'Chatty Adventures' channel, where he posts race videos.Running Tales spoke to Donato about how he first started running, finding out he was both good at it and that it brought him joy, and why it took him so long to discover the sport in the first place... nb.. Donato has requested we only use his first name. We are happy to comply with that request. --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Running has transformed Russell Watkin's life since he started training for next year's London Landmarks Half-Marathon.When his journey began, Russell was overweight, suffering from high-blood pressure and battling depression, all while dealing with the effects of Long Covid.He told Running Tales that before he started running, he had never stuck with anything in his life - but that has all changed now.Spurred on not only by a desire to get fitter and feel better in himself, but through fundraising for baby loss charity Tommy's, Russell has made running a pivotal part of his life.These days, he feels healthier than ever before and is even planning to take on the London Marathon in the near future.Running Tales spoke to Russell about pushing through the hard times early on in his running journey, how he gets grumpy when he can't run and why everyone can improve their lives through running...  --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.You can sponsor Russell to run the London Londmarks Half-Marathon in 2024 by visiting https://llhm.tommys.org/fundraising/Russell-Watkin 

Jason Bahamundi is an ultra runner who lives by the motto 'all gas, no brakes,' but he only started running when he was 'voluntold' he would be doing a half-marathon for charity.His first training run left him gasping for breath, but Jason was hooked. Running became a habit that led him to longer and longer races and ever bigger challenges, including completing Western States, the Rocky Racoon 100-miler several times, and Cocodona 250.Along the way, he has finished a host of Ironman triathlons - not bad for someone who saw running as a punishment at school.Jason is also the founder of Run, Tri, Bike magazine, which is devoted to celebrating the endurance lifestyle while expanding diversity and inclusion in sport.Running Tales talked to Jason about championing women in running, sleeping during ultra races, and how running has helped him with his business...  --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.Read Run, Tri, Bike magazine at https://runtrimag.com/ 

Natasha Swartley wasn't particularly sporty growing up - and running certainly didn't feature on her to do list.Even after she joined the US Navy at just 18, fitness was a punishment for being 'sarcastic' with push-ups and squats proving particularly unpopular.But Tasha slowly developed a love of fitness and eventually running, ending up being responsible for training 3,000 men under her watch.By 2019, she had completed her first ultra marathon - a 50-miler which she conquered despite neglecting race nutrition and training on a treadmill.Tasha has since left the Navy to become a wilderness EMT, but her love of ultra running has blossomed - despite two DNFs at the 100-mile distance.Running Tales spoke to her about life in the Navy as a high-ranking woman, hauling ammunition across ships and how it prepared her for running long distances, and the power of three little letters: DFQ.  --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Rohan Kallicharan, a sub-three hour marathoner, is on the verge of something extraordinary.With more than 80 marathons - including 10 in 10 days - already behind him, the man dubbed by friends as 'Ro Farah' is aiming to reach 100 marathons before he turns 50 next June.But that achievement will barely touch the surface of Rohan's story.Over a 15 year period, starting when he was a teenager, he struggled with his mental health, attempting suicide three times before eventually being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.With a lot of hard work, Rohan was able to move forward with his life, but in confronting his mental demons he began to neglect his physical wellbeing, ballooning up to 19 stone.It was only when he visited the London Olympic Games in 2012 that Rohan realised it was time to do something about his weight. Shortly afterwards he started running - and he's barely stopped since.Running Tales talked to Rohan about the mental health benefits of running - and how when he became too focused on times he briefly fell out of love with the sport, his 100 marathon goal, and raising tens of thousands of pounds for Mind, the mental health charity... --------Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.Visit Rohan's website, Run With Perseverance, at https://run-with-perseverance.co.uk/ Sponsor Rohan in his efforts to run 100 marathons before he reaches 50 - all monies go to Mind: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ro-fun-before-fifty