A Runner’s Life

Episode 123 of A Runner’s Life podcast is sponsored by Tracksmith, who actively represent and support the development of a runner’s life in the running community.

In this episode I speak with elite runner Nick Willis who is a New Zealand middle distance runner and the country's only two-time Olympic medalist in the 1500 metres. He won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.

In this conversation we introduce the Tracksmith Amateur Mile project. This spring, we’re inviting you to join us on that journey.

To watch my first week training on my YouTube channel click this link:

https://youtu.be/UF9QWGeyaPI

Molly Bryan and I, are taking a detour from long-distance racing, and partnering with Nick Willis to pursue a mile PR.

Nick is the first person to run a sub-four-minute mile for 20 consecutive years. His mile PB is 3:49.83. He ran his first sub-four-minute mile (3:58.15) aged 20 in 2003 for the University of Michigan at the Notre Dame Meyo Indoor Invitational in Indiana. So there isn’t anyone better to train us.

Additionally your invited to join Molly and myself in a six-week program designed by Nick, capped off with a mile race with us in London, New York, Boston or a time trial in your hometown.

Sign up for the Tracksmith Amateur Mile Newsletter below.

https://www.tracksmith.com/gb/journal/article/tracksmith-amateur-mile-2022

Thank you to everyone that sent questions in for the audience questions section. If there’s any guests or stories you want me to cover in the future do reach out to me via my email:

[email protected]

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Thank you to my patreons your help pays for editing, equipment and much more.

If you value the content I deliver, please consider becoming a supporter of my podcast by donating via my patreon page. This helps me provide quality content.

https://www.patreon.com/ARunnersLife

Episode 122 of A Runner’s Life podcast is sponsored by Tracksmith, who actively represent and support the development of a runner’s life in the running community.

In this episode I speak with elite runner Rose Harvey who is an Clapham Chasers member, and is coached by Philip Kissi.

Rose now works part time as a Lawyer whilst training at an elite level. She ran a 3:04 marathon in 2018, and her goal was make the Surrey team. Guided by her coach to aim higher she ran 2:30:58 in the 2021 Cheshire marathon. Following this she ran the 2021 London marathon finishing in 2:29:45. We talk about how she reframed missing the world standard time by seconds fuelled her to achieve it for the next marathon, whilst taking time to celebrate the wins.

Thank you to everyone that sent questions in for the audience questions section. If there’s any guests or stories you want me to cover in the future do reach out to me via my email:

[email protected]

We talk about the Sevilla marathon including some of the challenges during the build up to Sevilla, including some key workouts plus the race itself.

In modern life in the word failure gets a bad reputation, in this part of the conversation Rose discusses a couple of areas where we as runners can reframe failure, and see it as a stepping stone to development.

Plus we spoke about so much more that she hasn’t covered in other conversations.

You can follow her on journey on instagram @rosy.runs

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Thank you to my patreons your help pays for editing, equipment and much more.

If you value the content I deliver, please consider becoming a supporter of my podcast by donating via my patreon page. This helps me provide quality content.

https://www.patreon.com/ARunnersLife

Episode 121 of A Runner’s Life podcast is sponsored by Tracksmith, who actively represent and support the development of a runner’s life in the running community.

In this episode I speak with elite runner Phily Bowden who is an Aldershot Farnham and District club member, who competed for Britain at the Under-23 European Athletics Championships in 2017. She is being coached by former British Olympian Helen Clitheroe.

Thank you to everyone that sent questions in for the audience questions section. If there’s any guests or stories you want me to cover in the future do reach out to me via my email: [email protected]

Before we talk about the Sevilla marathon we talk about transitioning into the marathon distance from the middle distances. We also talk about the build up to Sevilla, including some key workouts plus the race itself.

We discuss how she has embraced social medial, she has a YouTube Chanel and did a great recap of her debut marathon in Sevilla, to watch it click this link.

In modern life in the word failure gets a bad reputation, in this part of the conversation Phily discusses a couple of areas where we as runners can reframe failure, and see it as a stepping stone to development.

Plus we spoke about so much more that she hasn’t covered in other conversations.

You can follow her on the following channels: 

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Thank you to my patreons your help pays for editing, equipment and much more.

If you value the content I deliver, please consider becoming a supporter of my podcast by donating via my patreon page. This helps me provide quality content.

https://www.patreon.com/ARunnersLife

Episode 120 of A Runner’s Life podcast is sponsored by Tracksmith, who actively represent and support the development of a runner’s life in the running community.

In this episode Marcus and fellow BTR cofounder Sonny talk to Sara Hall, who has represented the United States at the World Indoor Athletic Championships and the World Cross Country Championships. Earlier this year she claimed the US half marathon record, and has been selected to represent the US in the marathon at this year’s World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Sara talks to Marcus and Sonny about her training, her motivation and the longevity; she was 39 when she set the US half marathon record of 1:07:15, at the same Houston weekend as 37-year old Keira D’Amato claimed the US marathon record. She also talks about the work of the Hall Steps Foundation (set up with her similarly US half marathon record holding husband, Ryan), her faith, and her multi-ethnic family of four adopted daughters.

Follow Sara on Instagram @sarahall3

Additional links:

Photo: Kevin Morris

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Thank you to my patreons your help pays for editing, equipment and much more.

If you value the content I deliver, please consider becoming a supporter of my podcast by donating via my patreon page. This helps me provide quality content.

https://www.patreon.com/ARunnersLife

Episode 119, is the the best of the pioneers, from the conversations that I’ve had on this podcast.

The idea behind this episode was to celebrate Black History Month in America. However I’m not a fan of the word history, in this moment there is still so much more to do to bring a better future for the next generations. And whilst there were some great takeaways in regards to the Black experience, this conversation also highlights that we (collectively) need to be better allies across race and gender lines towards each other.

Thank you to each of the guests, where I’ve highlighted some of my favourite moments from the following episodes.

Set a reminder in your diary for February 14 2022, the next ARL episode with Sara Hall will go live!

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This episode is supported by Tracksmith, a brand which actively represents and supports the development of a runner’s life in the running community. Crucially in their culture, vision and actions Tracksmith actively encourage and highlight diversity.

In terms of clothing, right now some of my favourite pieces of kit relate to the new NDO range, have a listen to the intro to find out my essential items of kit within that collection.

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Thank you to my patreons your help pays for editing, equipment and much more.

If you value the content I deliver, please consider becoming a supporter of my podcast by donating via my patreon page. This helps me provide quality content.

https://www.patreon.com/ARunnersLife

In these ‘Moment’ episodes of my podcast, I’ll be selecting my favourite moments from previous episodes of a runner’s life podcast.

This week we’re jumping back to episode 118, where I talk with Courn Ahn @courtneyahndesign who is a designer, illustrator, and freelance creative based in Portland, Oregon. She talks about the creativity process and how she uses her art to talk about diversity.

If this episode resonates with you, please do share with your community.

In episode 118, I spoke with Courn Ahn (she/her). Courn is a multidisciplinary designer, illustrator, and freelance creative based in Portland, Oregon. Her direct experience as a Korean American has largely shaped her career philosophy, serving as inspiration for the social justice advocacy present in her creative work. Through her freelance studio, she aims to provide accessible design services for small BIPOC business-owners and partner with organisations working directly in the equity space as a force for good. In recent years, Courn has found purpose in using art as a tool for activism, sharing weekly posts navigating intersectional topics through her Instagram account, @courtneyahndesign.

In modern life, in the word failure gets a bad reputation, we talk about three areas where she’s learned through “failure” which includes:

Art is important for culture, it is one of the areas where it holds a mirror back to us as people, we talk about how:

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Thank you to my patreons your help pays for editing, equipment and much more.

If you value the content I deliver, please consider becoming a supporter of my podcast by donating via my patreon page. This helps me provide quality content.

https://www.patreon.com/ARunnersLife

In these ‘Moment’ episodes of my podcast, I’ll be selecting my favourite moments from previous episodes of a runner’s life podcast. 

This week we’re jumping back to episode 117, where I talk with Arman Vestad. And he talks about what one thing that helped him make the best next step after hitting rock bottom. If you ever feel trapped by your circumstances, this is the podcast for you. 

What’s crucial to understand is that you can’t control your environment, but you can control how you respond to it. This episode also shows the importance of how other people can help us in this moment. I hope this resonates with you, if so please do share with your community. 

#117 - Arman Vestad: From crime to becoming a runner - One Man Reformed Through The Power of Sport

In these ‘Moment’ episodes of my podcast, I’ll be selecting my favourite moments from previous episodes of a runner’s life podcast.

This week we’re jumping back to episode 117, where I talk with Arman Vestad. And he talks about what one thing that helped him make the best next step after hitting rock bottom.

If you ever feel trapped by your circumstances, this is the podcast for you. What’s crucial to understand is that you can’t control your environment, but you can control how you respond to it. This episode also shows the importance of how other people can help us in this moment.

I hope this resonates with you, if so please do share with your community.

#117 - Arman Vestad: From crime to becoming a runner - One Man Reformed Through The Power of Sport

In episode 117, I spoke with Arman Vestad who was a former criminal and drug addict. He now owes his life to two of the things that made his remarkable transformation possible: running and kindness.

In the past, Arman spent a lot of his time on the run. Through a series of poor life choices and unfortunate circumstances, he had found himself dealing drugs and engaging in other kinds of criminal activity. He even gained notoriety as the infamous ‘Gunman from Molde’ after supplying a weapon that was used in a triple homicide.

While to outsiders it seemed that he was living as a criminal playboy with drugs, friends, partying, and money, he actually felt alone. His body was struggling to keep up with a devastating drug habit, and he felt that there was nobody he could trust enough to be himself around. Wanting to let go, he even contemplated suicide.

After leaving prison for the 10th time, it wasn’t long until Arman found himself under arrest once again. This time, however, a policeman on the case sat down with him and asked what he could do to help. He showed that he cared, and those few moments changed the course of Arman’s life forever.

What came next was a prolonged and difficult fight to rebuild a normal, happy existence. Running was a critical part of Arman’s turnaround, since it helped him to develop the health and strength needed to overcome years of substance abuse and hard living. He reasoned that anyone can run and when your trainers hit the ground, you’re just the same as everyone else whether they’re a criminal, cashier, celebrity, or CEO.

As he jogged, ran, and pushed himself back to health, he also embarked on a new career as a debt adviser for Norway’s welfare administration. He later became an international public speaker, an advocate for bringing reformed criminals back into work and society, and (most importantly) a father.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Arman saw that many people were struggling with the same isolation and loneliness that he felt when living life on the wrong side of the tracks. Asking for help had never been his strong point, but it only took a moment of kindness to help him change for the better.

Combining running with compassion, Arman started the Tour de Wave - a five-stage run that took him from Norway’s Trondheim to Snåsa. On the way he spent time with nursing home residents and school children, carried out good deeds by helping shoppers carry bags to their cars, and met with the mayors of three towns who each expressed their support for the cause and their willingness to encourage more friendliness.

Arman now hopes to encourage more people to run, smile, and help one another while sharing his message: the smallest acts of friendliness and compassion multiplied many times over can change the world.

You can follow him

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Thank you to my patreons your help pays for editing, equipment and much more. If you value the content I deliver, please consider becoming a supporter of my podcast by donating via my patreon page. This helps me provide quality content

https://www.patreon.com/ARunnersLife