In Episode 5 of The Runs Club Podcast, Jonathan Healy and Ant Andrews Lockett (@ibdlife) sit down for their first real deep-dive conversation about why The Runs Club was created, the realities of living with Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and life with an ostomy bag, and how running, movement, and community can completely change your life.

This is one of the rawest and most honest conversations we’ve had so far.

Jonathan shares his journey with severe Crohn’s disease from childhood, emergency ostomy surgery at 19, multiple bowel surgeries, mental health struggles, body image issues, and the moment he went from saying “I’d rather be dead than have a stoma bag” to realising it gave him his life back.

Ant opens up about his own battle with Ulcerative Colitis, years of failed medications, biologics, surgery, body confidence, relationships, and how social media and community helped him accept life with a stoma.

Together, they discuss:
• Crohn’s disease & Ulcerative Colitis
• Life with an ostomy bag
• Mental health & chronic illness
• Body image after surgery
• Fitness & running with IBD
• The power of community
• Counselling, journaling & healing
• Why movement matters
• The vision behind The Runs Club
• Building an inclusive running community for people with chronic illness

This episode is for anyone navigating IBD, chronic illness, ostomy surgery, mental health struggles, or anyone looking for proof that life can still be beautiful after adversity.

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