Chasing the Finish

Welcome to the running podcast where three mates from Birmingham swap miles for mics and share more than just blisters! Ben Blakeman, Jake Ramsey & Mike Duffy, a trio at very different points on their running journeys, but all equally skilled at dodging training plans and telling a good story.

Lace up, because this episode is basically a three-course meal of running chaos.

Mike takes on the Lincoln 10K and lives to tell the tale (just about), Jake heads off to Oaklands ParkRun in search of glory (or at least a respectable time), and Ben discovers muscles he didn’t know existed at his first-ever track session with Centurion RC.

Expect questionable pacing decisions, dramatic retellings, and the usual expert-level analysis (read: guessing) from the lads. There may be PBs, there may be pain and there’s definitely a lot of unnecessary chat.

Whether you're a seasoned runner or someone who considers walking to the fridge a workout, this one’s for you.

Hit play, have a laugh, and remember… it’s all about the vibes, not the times.

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Welcome to the running podcast where three mates from Birmingham swap miles for mics and share more than just blisters! Ben Blakeman, Jake Ramsey & Mike Duffy, a trio at very different points on their running journeys, but all equally skilled at dodging training plans and telling a good story.

Fresh off the pavements of Victoria Embankment, the lads lace up to debrief a parkrun that was equal parts grit, glory and questionable pacing decisions. There’s talk of dodgy GPS watches and heroic sprint finishes that may or may not have started too early..

Ben then rocks the episode by dangling a mysterious running announcement.

Finally, all roads lead to Lincoln, where Mike gears up to take on the Lincoln 10K for the third time. Can he finally crack that elusive course PB or will history repeat itself with a strong start, a questionable middle and a character-building finish? The lads weigh in with expert analysis (read: guesses), encouragement and just a hint of doubt.

It’s parkrun banter, big teases and bold ambitions - just another week of Chasing The Finish.

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Welcome to the running podcast where three mates from Birmingham swap miles for mics and share more than just blisters! Ben Blakeman, Jake Ramsey & Mike Duffy, a trio at very different points on their running journeys, but all equally skilled at dodging training plans and telling a good story.

In this episode of Chasing The Finish, we take a closer look at the Wolverhampton 10K a race that promised a great day of running but quickly turned into frustration for many involved.

We break down the major issues surrounding the event, including the confusion over bib numbers not being posted out, the long queues on the day and the delayed and chaotic start that left runners unsure of what was going on.

Was it just poor organisation, or were there bigger problems behind the scenes? And most importantly, how did it impact the runners who showed up ready to race?

As always, we give our honest thoughts, share experiences, and ask what needs to change to stop this happening again.

Let us know your experience in the comments — did you run it, and how did you find it?

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Welcome to the running podcast where three mates from Birmingham swap miles for mics and share more than just blisters! Ben Blakeman, Jake Ramsey & Mike Duffy, a trio at very different points on their running journeys, but all equally skilled at dodging training plans and telling a good story.

We ran… and ran… and ran… and went absolutely nowhere!

Yes, you read that right. We attempted a 24 HOUR TREADMILL CHALLENGE.

In this episode of Chasing The Finish, we break down:

- Who started strong… and who completely fell apart

- The mental battles (and mild delusion) after hour 12

- The funniest, weirdest, and most questionable moments

- Who nearly quit (and who we thought had quit)

Somewhere along the way it turned into less of a challenge and more of a test of friendship… and whether we actually like each other.

Could YOU last 24 hours on a treadmill? Let us know in the comments (be honest… you’re quitting at hour 3).

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

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Welcome to the running podcast where three mates from Birmingham swap miles for mics and share more than just blisters! Ben Blakeman, Jake Ramsey & Mike Duffy, a trio at very different points on their running journeys, but all equally skilled at dodging training plans and telling a good story.

This week on Chasing the Finish… things get slightly concerning.

With our 24 hour treadmill challenge somehow happening THIS SATURDAY, we take a long, honest look at:

our questionable levels of preparation

how we’re actually feeling (spoiler: nervous)

and what our goals are… assuming we survive

We also hear all about Ben’s adventure at the Wyre Forest Half Marathon how it went, what went right (if anything) and whether he’s in better shape than the rest of us (not a high bar).

Plus, the lads chat through their personal running goals for the rest of the year, ranging from “respectable” to “wildly optimistic”.

Expect:
👉 optimism
👉 delusion
👉 very little training
👉 and a 24 hour challenge that seemed like a good idea at the time

Pray for our legs. And the treadmill. 😅

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Welcome to the running podcast where three mates from Birmingham swap miles for mics and share more than just blisters! Ben Blakeman, Jake Ramsey & Mike Duffy, a trio at very different points on their running journeys, but all equally skilled at dodging training plans and telling a good story.

Ben and Mike lace up their trainers to break down their latest adventure at Evesham parkrun. The highs, the lows and the questionable pacing decisions.

With the parkrun dust barely settled, attention turns to Ben’s next challenge as he prepares to tackle the Wyre Forest Half Marathon this weekend. Is he ready? Is he tapering properly? Or is he just hoping for the best and extra snacks at the finish line?

Meanwhile, Jake returns with another instalment of his game, meaning Ben and Mike once again go head-to-head in a battle of running knowledge, questionable guesses and inevitable controversy.

Parkrun chat, half-marathon nerves, and competitive chaos - it’s all in this week’s episode of Chasing the Finish.

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Ben, Jake & Mike return with another instalment of questionable pacing decisions, bold race entries, and Mike once again hoping this is finally his quiz-winning week.

This week we head back (yes, back again) to Arrow Valley Country Park. There’s also some exciting chatter about Brooks pitching up, the lads trying on fresh trainers before the run, and the confidence boost that only brand-new shoes can bring (guaranteed at least 3 seconds per mile, obviously).

We also dive into the Pairs Sunday action at Centurion Running Club Grand Prix, including the moment Ben officially became a professional athlete… after earning his first-ever running career prize money. Yes, we reveal the amount. No, he’s not retiring yet.

Elsewhere, Ben & Jake have officially booked the Wolverhampton 10K. With an already chaotic March race calendar, we get into goals, expectations, and whether this is peak fitness season… or peak delusion season.

And of course, it wouldn’t be Chasing the Finish without Jake stepping into his quizmaster era. Ben vs Mike. Head-to-head.

Will Mike finally break his losing streak?

Will Ben’s dominance crumble?

Is Jake enjoying this a bit too much?

There’s only one way to find out.

🎧 Hit play.

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Welcome to the running podcast where three mates from Birmingham swap miles for mics and share more than just blisters! Ben Blakeman, Jake Ramsey & Mike Duffy, a trio at very different points on their running journeys, but all equally skilled at dodging training plans and telling a good story.

Mike’s back from Spain… and yes, he did technically run a race.

But more importantly: was the Spanish beer selection elite? Did the sea view meet performance standards? And how quickly can a race recap turn into a holiday review? We get the full breakdown, plus news of Mike’s next Spanish race because apparently one wasn’t enough.

Meanwhile, Ben & Jake took on Babbs Mill parkrun, a course Jake previously swore (on record) he would NEVER do again. Yet here we are. Peer pressure is a powerful thing. They were joined by Jake’s dad, so naturally there’s an official family debrief on how the lads got on and whether Jake’s vow aged well.

We also look ahead to another busy weekend for the CTF crew:

- Which parkrun course is on the cards?

- The next instalment of the Centurion RC Grand Prix

And how much chaos we can realistically fit into one running weekend?

Running chat, questionable decisions, scenic beer analysis, and mild regret... standard behaviour really.

Subscribe for race reports.

Stay for the sea views and broken promises.

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Welcome to the running podcast where three mates from Birmingham swap miles for mics and share more than just blisters! Ben Blakeman, Jake Ramsey & Mike Duffy, a trio at very different points on their running journeys, but all equally skilled at dodging training plans and telling a good story.

This week the lads dive into Mike’s upcoming trip to Alicante, where he’ll be taking on the Alicante 10K (his first ever race abroad). Sunshine, sea views… and the small detail of actually running 10 kilometres without collapsing. What could possibly go wrong?

We also check in on Jake’s CTF Running Bingo challenge. One week in and there’s already a runaway leader. Is it tactical brilliance? Beginner’s luck? Outright cheating? The investigation is ongoing.

Expect travel nerves, questionable preparation, competitive tension, and at least one bold claim that absolutely won’t age well.

Grab a brew, lace up your trainers, and enjoy.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and let us know — would you take on a race abroad?

Ross (The Orange Running Guy fundraiser):

Donate to Team Chasing the Finish at the Mental Health World Cup 2026:

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Welcome to the running podcast where three mates from Birmingham swap miles for mics and share more than just blisters! Ben Blakeman, Jake Ramsey & Mike Duffy, a trio at very different points on their running journeys, but all equally skilled at dodging training plans and telling a good story.

Ben, Jake & Mike are back in your ears (again).

Jake and Mike relive their very real, very definitive head-to-head at Oaklands ParkRun, with analysis, excuses, and selective memory as they break down what actually happened on the course (and who’s still talking about it). The YouTube vlog exists. The results are final. The banter is ongoing.

Mike also looks ahead to his upcoming Alicante 10K, chatting through race plans, content ideas, and why running abroad automatically feels faster, even if it isn’t.

Throw in some running-world updates, a few games, and the lads doing their absolute best to stay on topic, and you’ve got yourself an episode.

Running chat. Rivalries settled (kind of). Games for good measure.

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