In this episode, Gary and Ben are joined by Holly Wootten, who made history at the 2025 Dragon’s Back Race®, finishing first woman and second overall, setting a new women’s record in the process.

The Dragon’s Back is one of the toughest mountain races in the world — six relentless days running the length of Wales, from Conwy Castle to Cardiff Castle, across wild ridgelines, brutal climbs and unpredictable weather. Holly talks us through the highs, lows and everything in between.

She shares how she approached the race with a plan to compete with the men, how she handled the pressure of leading, and the mental and physical battles that come with stage racing. From camp life and gear setup to racing injured on the final day, this is a story of sheer determination and belief.

Holly’s performance was extraordinary — 50:46:16, over three hours faster than the previous women’s record set by Lisa Watson in 2022. She dominated from the start, finishing just behind men’s winner David Parrish, and ahead of a strong field including Jodie Gauld and Lianne Van Dijk.

Expect honest chat about:

• What it takes to race the Dragon
• The reality of multi-day ultras
• Women competing at the sharp end
• How mindset and navigation can make or break your week
• And why Holly still finished strong after injury on day five

This is a deep dive into one of the most inspiring performances in UK ultra running.

🎙 Hosted by Gary House and Ben Mounsey

🎧 Watch and listen on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT&si=jjt-sW_XAm-5nz4y

#TrailRunning #Ultrarunning #DragonsBackRace #HollyWootten #RUNcensored #MountainRunning #EnduranceRunning #Podcast

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to compete with the world’s best trail runners?

In this episode, Gary and Ben sit down with Team GB trail runner Hugh Chatfield, who has just returned from the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain, where he finished 12th in the Men’s Long Trail 80k.

Hugh talks about the balance between working full-time and training like a professional, the sacrifices it takes to reach elite level, and the mental and physical toll of competing on the world stage. He shares insights from his altitude training camp, his nutrition strategy (including an app he built himself), and the challenges of being a self-funded athlete representing Great Britain.

Expect honest chat about sponsors, pressure, and passion for the sport — plus what’s next for Hugh as he plans another season of big European ultras.

#TrailRunning #UltraRunning #HughChatfield #TeamGB #WorldChampionships #MountainRunning #RUNcensored

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary’s viral Tor des Géants video of a runner cutting corners blew up online — and in this episode, he and Ben dive deep into the messy world of cheating in trail running.

From infamous cases like Rob Young’s faked Race Across America to the two brothers caught at South Africa’s Comrades Ultra, this one’s full of jaw-dropping stories and a few personal confessions. Gary also talks about his experience catching a JOGLE runner falsifying Strava data, while Ben reveals his role as the Strava Police.

They also explore the psychology behind cheating — from catfishing and Tinder swindlers to how sponsorships can be affected by fake data.

💬 Got your own story? The lads want to hear your best examples of running “cheats” for a future episode.

🎙️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

📺 Watch the full video version on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT&si=jjt-sW_XAm-5nz4y

#trailrunning #ultrarunning #runcensoredpodcast #garyhouse #benmounsey #runningcommunity #tordesgeants #ultrarunner #strava #cheatinginrunning

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The RUNcensored crew are back from their break with a brand new episode — and it’s a big one.

Gary, Ben and Chris pick up right where they left off with the usual mix of banter, stories and raw honesty about the world of trail, fell and ultra running.

☕ General chat – The lads ease back in with holiday catch-ups and even a heated debate about coffee machines.

🧭 Ben on orienteering – After Kay from British Orienteering joined the pod earlier this year, listeners have been inspired to try it for themselves. Ben shares his recent experiences at orienteering events and why the sport is such a good crossover for trail runners.

🎬 Events on the horizon – Updates on Quid Games 2 and the Kendal Mountain Festival.

🏔 Gary’s Tor des Géants – Gary takes us through his week in Italy, from supporting friends who were hit by a virus to his own meticulous preparation. He then opens up about how that same virus caught up with him during the 330km race, forcing him to withdraw. The conversation dives into the physical toll, the emotional impact of a DNF, and what comes next.

🌍 World Championships chat – The lads break down the wide range of races on offer this year, from the uphill to the short and long ultras. They ask whether too many options are diluting the fields, talk about prize money, and compare it all to the UTMB.

👟 Athletes and results – Spotlight on Rémi Bonnet, predictions on who might win, Ben reeling off results and finish times, and a frank chat on funding, sponsorship and media coverage.

This one’s got everything: big race talk, personal stories, and the kind of unfiltered banter that makes RUNcensored different.

#ultrarunning #trailrunning #tordesgeants #fellrunning #orienteering #worldchampionships #utmb #mountainrunning #runningpodcast #runcensored

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary is in Italy tackling the legendary Tor des Géants ultra marathon, while Ben and Chris are away on holiday – so the full RUNcensored podcast will return on Tuesday 30th September.

Until then, here’s another highlights package packed with laughs and classic moments from the sofa:

• Eorl Crabtree and the hilarious fat Robbie Savage story
• Mel Sykes on the highs, lows and hallucinations of the Lakeland 100
• Huw Williams and his unforgettable seagull punch tale
• Ben Mounsey vs a herd of cows in the fells

Whether you’re into trail running, ultra running or just a good laugh, this episode has it all – raw, unfiltered and straight from the RUNcensored archive.

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Best Bits: Trail Running Fails, Spine Race Stories & Fell Running Heroes | RUNcensored EP40

We’ve hit pause on new recordings this week with both Gary and Ben out of the country – so here’s something special: the very best bits from three of our most talked-about trail running episodes.

First up, Danny Andrews (aka the Fish and a Rice Cake guy) shares his hilarious trail race fail in the Lake District – full kit, full send… and nearly collapsing on the first climb. He also explains why his mum never misses a chance to tell people he’s got six GCSEs.

Next, we revisit Mel Sykes’ unforgettable account of the legendary Spine Race, including what it’s really like to push through 268 miles across the Pennine Way – and why she ended up sleeping on a toilet floor mid-race.

Finally, Tom Addison takes us back to his youth, growing up in the heart of fell running culture, idolising the sport’s big names, and discovering what it means to be part of the UK mountain running scene.

If you’re into trail running, ultramarathons, fell racing or just love hearing raw, unfiltered stories from the sport, this mash-up episode brings the laughs, the grit and the inspiration.

🎧 Featuring highlights from Episodes 22, 23 and 30.

#trailrunning #ultrarunning #fellrunning #spinerace #runningpodcast

#ultrarunning #ultramarathon #trailrunning #fellrunning #mountainrunning #longdistancerunning #enduranceathlete #ultrarunner #spinerace #pennineway #trailrunnersofinstagram #ultralife #trailcommunity #runnersofinstagram #runhappy #ultrarunninglife #ultrarunningcommunity #trailrunninglife #runwild #runnerslife #mountainrunner #runnerscommunity #runningmotivation #trailrace #ultraracing #enduranceathlete #runultra #marathontraining #trailculture #ultrarunningnation #runnersworld #ultrarun #offroadrunning #trailrunners #runnershigh #longrun #ultrarunnersofinstagram #trailrunningmotivation #ultrarunnerlife #fellrunners #mountainrunninglife #uktrailrunning #ukultrarunning #runningpodcast #runningstories #trailrunningcommunity #endurancechallenge #runnersjourney #neverstoprunning #mountainadventures

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the biggest week in trail running — UTMB in Chamonix. Gary, Ben, Chris and guest Rich Gill share the highs and lows of UTMB 2025: from the wild crowds at Notre-Dame de la Gorge to 24-hour filming missions in the Alps. A behind-the-scenes look at the world’s most iconic ultramarathon.

They call it the biggest week in trail running — and for good reason.

This week, Gary and Ben sit down in Chamonix with Chris and friend of the podcast Rich Gill (Gilly Photography) to relive the madness of UTMB 2025. Recorded in Chris’s apartment during race week, it’s an unfiltered chat about the highs, lows, and everything in between.

From the electric night-time crowds at Notre-Dame de la Gorge, to chasing runners through the Alps for sponsors, we dig into what it really feels like to be in Chamonix during UTMB. There are stories of 24-hour filming missions in a Grenadier truck with the SunGod crew, freezing mountain shoots in the middle of the night, and the rare moments where we found time for a quiet beer before the next race kicked off.

We talk about the scale of UTMB, the atmosphere around the UTMB, CCC, OCC, TDS, MCC and PTL, and the sheer energy that draws thousands of trail and ultrarunners to the foot of Mont Blanc every year. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the biggest ultramarathon in the world, told with laughs, honesty, and the kind of detail only those on the ground can share.

Whether you’re a trail runner, mountain runner, ultrarunner, or just someone who dreams of toeing the line at UTMB one day, this is the inside story of what Chamonix feels like when the world of endurance running descends on it.

#UTMB #UTMB2025 #UltraRunning #TrailRunning #Ultramarathon #Chamonix #UltraTrail #MountainRunning #EnduranceRunning #LongDistanceRunning #RunningPodcast #UltraRunningPodcast #TrailRunningPodcast #RUNcensored #UTMBChamonix

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He lined up in Chamonix against the best in the world — but UTMB had other plans.

This week, Gary and Ben are joined by elite runner Andy Berry, fresh from racing the UTMB. Andy takes us inside his race — from broken poles that forced him to borrow Ben’s, to the brutal climbs and aid stations, to the moment he eventually had to step off the course. It’s a raw and honest account of what it really feels like to take on the world’s most hyped ultra and walk away with a DNF.

Alongside Andy’s story, Gary and Ben reflect on a whirlwind week working with Sportsshoes and HOKA, while Chris shares the reality of being thrown straight into a 24-hour filming mission for Sportsshoes.com and SunGod sunglasses with barely an hour’s sleep.

But make no mistake — the spotlight here is on Andy. This is the unfiltered truth of what it’s like to run, suffer, and ultimately DNF at the UTMB.

Sponsored by Garmin and the all-new Fenix 8 watch.

#UTMB #UTMB2025 #Chamonix #AndyBerry #TrailRunning #UltraRunning #UltraMarathon #DNF #RunningPodcast #RUNcensored #GaryHouse #BenMounsey #SportsShoes #HOKA #GarminFenix8

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

446 Mountains. One Mission. Alex Staniforth on Project 446 & Mental Resilience 

He failed on Everest. Twice. But that didn’t stop him setting out to climb all 446 mountains in England and Wales.

This week, Gary and Ben are joined on the sofa by adventurer, ultra runner, author, and mental health campaigner Alex Staniforth. Alex’s journey has been anything but straightforward. At 16 he was sidelined by injury, at 18 he attempted Everest twice — both times turned back by tragedy and disaster. Those experiences might have ended most people’s ambitions. For Alex, they became the spark for something bigger.

From the National Three Peaks to his latest mission, Project 446, Alex has built a life around testing limits, learning from setbacks, and finding purpose in adversity. Along the way he’s battled anxiety, eating disorders, and lives with epilepsy, but has turned those challenges into fuel for inspiring others.

In this unfiltered conversation Alex opens up about:

– The shift from Everest dreams to UK-based challenges

– How the Three Peaks prepared him for something bigger

– The highs, lows and hallucinations of Project 446

– Fuelling on chickpea curry, Celia’s pizza and yellow-sticker bargains

– Saying “no” when sponsors told him to quit

– Living and running with epilepsy

– The big goals still to come

Alex is also co-founder of Mind Over Mountains, a charity bringing people together to improve mental health through walking and talking in nature. His story is a reminder that the toughest mountains aren’t always physical.

Find out more about Alex and Project 446 here: https://www.alexstaniforth.com/

#Project446 #AlexStaniforth #RUNcensored #TrailRunning #UltraRunning #MountainRunning #EnduranceRunning #ThreePeaksChallenge #MentalHealthAwareness #EpilepsyAwareness #AdventureMindset #RunningPodcast #Resilience #FellRunning #ClimbEveryMountain

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strava W*nkers, Dream Races & Downhill Carnage | RUNcensored EP36

Gary House and Ben Mounsey are back with another Chat GBT special – this time joined by ultrarunner Mel Sykes – answering listener questions on all things trail, fell and ultra running. Expect laughs, strong opinions, and one of the funniest reveals in podcast history: the truth behind the infamous Strava W*nkers account 👀.

This wide-ranging episode dives into the best midweek summer races in the UK, the chaos of downhill-only races like the Trifan Dash, and why smaller fell races are struggling in the era of big-name ultras. The team debate the most reliable running vests and race packs for everything from short mountain races to epic multi-day events, and argue over which single race they’d choose if it was their last: UTMB, the Winter Spine, or Western States.

There’s also advice for beginners – including an ex-professional rugby player starting from scratch – and hard-earned lessons from multi-day stage races like the Dragon’s Back Race. Along the way, Gary, Ben and Mel trade stories about dot-watching culture, sleeping on toilet floors, and whether running should be about bucket-list ticks or the pure challenge of the mountains.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

😂 The truth about Strava Wankers – revealed at last

🏔️ The best midweek summer fell races (Blencathra, Holmfrith, Trifan Dash)

💨 Downhill-only chaos – including records, injuries & local legends

🎒 Race packs & running vests – Salomon, Innov-8, and the quirkiest kit hacks

🔥 One last race: UTMB vs Western States vs Winter Spine

💪 Advice for new runners & ex-rugby pros transitioning to running

🌙 How to survive multi-day ultras like Dragon’s Back & Spine

🎶 Oasis gigs, Stone Roses, and music vs mountain miles

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re passionate about trail running, fell running, mountain marathons or ultra marathons, this episode has everything – from gear chat and training tips to race stories and pure comedy. With UTMB 2025 in Chamonix just around the corner, the big question is: will RUNcensored be there to cover the action live?

👉 New episodes every Tuesday – Follow & Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & Acast!

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.