In this episode, I chat with former World Championship 800m runner and co-founder of Running Punks, Jimmy Watkins.

Running Punks is a tribe of unique, incredible and awesome individuals with a punk mentality and a thirst for life, self-improvement, and of course, running.

When one of my mates sent through a video to our What’s App group of a dude bombing it through the welsh countryside while enthusiastically listening to and reviewing Metallica’s seminal Master of Puppets record, I knew I had to speak to that dude and get him on the podcast.

When you watch one of Jimmy’s videos, not only does it make you want to listen to the record he’s shouting about (even if you’re familiar with it and even if it’s by a band you thought you didn’t like), it also makes you want to lace up your daps and bolt out the door.

If there was ever a campaign to “make running fun again”, Jimmy would be the leader of that very movement. His story is an interesting one. He’s sort of come full circle, having learned a load of different life lessons along the way. From competitive 800m runner, to life as a musician, to slumping into a depression, stopping running and drinking, before kicking the booze, finding his feet and rekindling his love for his lifelong passion: running.

During the episode, we chat about Jimmy’s background growing up and how developed into a World Champs 800m runner. We talk being a musician, life on the road, the creative process and how Kendrick Lamar is a self-help guru. We chat working hard, being focused and enjoying what you do. We also chat depression, boozing, losing and then subsequently finding yourself. We chat building a running tribe, keeping things simple and what Running Punks is all about.

This is probably one of the funniest podcast I’ve ever done. I had a bloody blast. I need to make it to a Running Punks session. If you’re in Cardiff they have a run club most weekends, get on it!

Enjoy.