Front Runner Radio

Ep 52: Kathy Lewis

Kathy is a friend and neighbour of mine and is a very keen runner. From initially starting running in Bahrain, Kathy has run for years and continues to go from strength to strength. From her early days and joining the global Hash House runners to running 3 world majors (VLM x 5, Berlin with me and NYC) and a lot more besides, Kathy certainly embraces a running challenge. 

During lockdown, Kathy has undertaken a number of virtual challenges including virtually from John O'Groats to Land's End and is currently taking part in the Route 66 Challenge that is a total of 2278 miles. yes, she really runs a lot!!!!!!!!

So here we go with episode 52 of Front Runner Radio

Enjoy

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Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 6th May 2021 in a live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown

Episode 51 - Marc Davies

Swansea born Marc Davies is a competitive man. He loves to train but more importantly it's clear that he loves to race. Since starting triathlon around 2014 Marc has pushed and tested himself at some of the worlds. toughest events including Ironman Wales and the 2018 ITU Gold Coast Sprint Triathlon.
  
We look back and chat about how and when Marc first got into the sport and discuss his favourite aspects of the 3 disciplines, favourite distances, what he has missed most during lockdown and more importantly, what he is looking forward to with restrictions now easing. 

 So here we go with episode 51 of Front Runner Radio

Enjoy

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Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 14th April 2021 via Zoom and in live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown.

Episode 50 - Ifan Lloyd

Ifan Lloyd is a runner who lives in Swansea and is a man that has run all of is life. He works as a  full-time vet and competes across the UK in the Vet's category. This fascinating man chats about his life as a runner, running the first London Marathon and competing across the UK. He also discusses his training plans and schedule to his improve his current training and running. 

I took so much inspiration from Ifan and I am hoping that you do too. Proving running is more than a way of life, Ifan talks about his club Swansea Harriers, running with his dog around the Gower, and his love, passion and enthusiasm for the sport. 

I didn't ask Ifan half of the questions I intended to and we spoke for a further half hour after the podcast recording ended. So here we go with episode 50 of Front Runner Radio

Enjoy

🎙📻🗣🎧

Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 2nd April 2021 via Zoom and in live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown.

Episode 49 - Beverley Logan

Beverley Logan is the founder of Badass Mother Runners (BAMR). Beverley chats about how and why BAMR was created and how it has developed into a women only community where they support, advise and encourage each other through their running journeys.

Bev talks about her own running journey, the links to BAMR and what her goals for the future. Having experienced the step up from 5k, Bev is currently training for the London Marathon, and is raising money for Women's Aid, the charity is also supported by Badass Mother Runners .

Bev discusses the #WeWill campaign which is a campaign to raise awareness of sexual harassment of women running. This campaign highlights that there is a lot that needs to be done to make women feel safer when out running. No woman should ever feel afraid to undertake exercise or go for a run. We at Front Runner Events, will be looking to see how we can help support this campaign across all future events.

Bev also talks about the Badass Mother Runners 10k, which will be held later this year.

You can follow Badass Mother Runners on Instagram or Facebook

So here we go with episode 49 of Front Runner Radio

Enjoy

🎙📻🗣🎧

Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 31st March 2021 via Zoom and in live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown.

We know that times are still uncertain and we know there is a lot of frustration about races being postponed. We shared that frustration and we wanted to do something that would hopefully help us and help you. So for this week's edition of the Front Runner Radio podcast, we have tried to be a little bit different.

Myself and members of the team got together to chat about race day, what we would be typically doing, what we would expect you to be doing, we chat about pre-race, mid-race and post race and a lot more in between.

This is our way of joining you on your virtual running experience and will hopefully go someway to filling that void of race day.

We would also like to thank our friends at The Turmeric Co and it's founder Hal Robson-Kanu for support with this virtual edition. Diolch

Enjoy

The Front Runner Team

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Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 30th March 2021 via Zoom and in live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown.

Episode 47 - Paul Addicott

Paul Addicott is a pacer, that is, someone who helps others achieve the race time goals during marathons and half marathons, as a sort of guide, by running consistently at a given time. As Paul explains, he has been pacing since 2013 and he talks about how much pacing has changed, the role of the pacer, and why he does it.

Having paced at more than 80 races, Paul still has the desire to do a lot  more and we talk about what events he had planned were it not for Covid. There is more to just helping people cross the finish line, as he explains, the camaraderie between him and those he's pacing is more than just pounding the tarmac of the streets around the world. I even tell him about the time I couldn't catch him in Berlin!!!!!

We also discuss social media and how it feels to be on the receiving end of personal attacks and its impact. Paul speaks candidly and openly about this and we discuss what he did to overcome it. There is a lot more to Paul than meets the eye, which becomes apparent during our chat.

You can follow Paul on Instagram or check out his blog here

@pauladdicott and blog www.pickupthepacepaul.com

So here we go with episode 47 of Front Runner Radio

Enjoy

🎙📻🗣🎧

Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 23rd February 2021 via Zoom and in live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown.

Episode 46 - Ceri-Anne Brown

Ceri-Anne Brown and I go back about 10 years. We started running together during 2011 and have remained friends since. Ceri-Anne is an ex-army medic, who travelled the world as part of her role and has undertaken a number of very tough roles. These days, she works in private practice and is a coach at Run4All based in Neath Port Talbot. 

As well as training together, we have done a number of marathons together, Paris, Barcelona and Tenby to name a few and it was a good time to catch up and see how things are and how she's doing. 

So here we go with episode 46 or Front Runner Radio

Enjoy

🎙📻🗣🎧

Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 15th February 2021 via Zoom and in live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown.

Episode 45 - Panos Gonos

Panos introduce himself as the Editor of RaceDirectorsHQ.com, but he's much more than that.

He started out in the running industry as a race director with the 2016, The Heroes Ultra, which sounds incredibly epic by the way, and  which covered 100 miles through the Cretan mountains and villages retracing the steps of a famous abduction of a wanted German commander and war criminal. To read more on this fascinating story, here's the link to its wikipedia page and the race was also inspired by the Chris McDougall book, Natural Born Heroes

Panos and I also chat about the RD Hub Group on Facebook, where likeminded race directors get to chat about current issues affecting races on a local or global level. 

This insightful discussion covers many topics including how will we feel when racing returns and the emotions that will accompany that first race. 

So here we go with episode 45 or Front Runner Radio

Enjoy

🎙📻🗣🎧

Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 1st February 2021 via Zoom and in live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown.

The Running Punk himself, Jimmy Watkins returns for a follow up conversation from last years chat when we first met (Can be found here)

Co-leader of the ever growing Running Punks, host of the Megabus to the Ritz podcast, coach, ex-international runner, ex-rock star and all round top man, it was great to welcome Jimmy back and just chat through what was a great 2020 for him.

We obviously talk about his amazing running reviews, the growth of the Running Punks, the return of the Megabus, and loads of other stuff. It seems that things can't be taken too seriously when chatting with such a positive man, this was a good conversation with plenty of laughter.

To find out more info on Jimmy and Running Punks, see below:

Twitter: @BiggyTimmkins
                   @RunningPunks
Insta:      Jimmy Watkins
Web:      RunningPunks.com
YouTube: Running Punks

Enjoy

🎙📻🗣🎧

Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 13th January 2021 via Zoom and in live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown.

Jim Mann is a well established ultra and endurance runner. Jim loves challenging the fells and multi day races and has conquered some of Britains most challenging races.

Not content with conquering the fells and mountains across the UK,  Jim also has a passion for about then environment and what races, events and the corporate world can do to minimise their impact. As Co-founder of Trees not Tees which is an initiative where events offer the planting of a tree instead of a tee shirt, that may never get used or worn and are often given away. Jim talks us through the process, the impact and scale of the issue and what events are doing and can do to work with Trees Not Tees. 

This was a conversation that started in 2019 and will be continued long into the future once races return to the UK. As you will hear, there is growing demand for events to become more sustainable and environmentally aware. 

Enjoy

🎙📻🗣🎧

Music written, created and provided by Forever Vendetta © 
A Front Runner Events Production ©

*Note: This week's episode was recorded during lockdown on the 6th January 2021 via Zoom and in live household environments, so please excuse any background noises. Please also be aware that certain topics/content discussed may have already been concluded or have different outcomes since the recording of this episode due to the live and fast-moving nature of said topics during lockdown.