Runner's World Podcast

The Paris Olympics, The Hardest Geezer, Jasmin Paris: 2024 has not been short of its miraculous running moments. This episode, we round up what we believe to be the top eight achievements in 2024. Do you agree or disagree? Give it a listen and let us know at [email protected]

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Some people run one marathon in their lifetime. Some run one a year. Some energetic types might even run a marathon a month. But rare is the runner who runs a marathon every day for a year. Yet that is exactly what James Cooper has done. It helps that he’s fuelled by the motivation to raise money for Samaritans, following the death by suicide of his uncle. Listen to him speak about training, recovery, nutrition and how anyone can achieve incredible things with the right mindset.

James is raising money for Samaritans: justgiving.com/page/smilinggg366

Follow him on Instagram: @smilingggman

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues discussed on the podcast, Samaritans’ trained volunteers are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Calls are free and completely confidential. Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org

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We all know strength and conditioning (S&C) is important. Various studies have shown it can improve running economy and there's also some evidence it can reduce the chances of injury. But what should it look like for runners and how should you fit it into a busy running week? S&C leading expert Dr Richard Blagrove, senior lecturer in physiology at Loughborough University, offer his advice to runners of all abilities.

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Back pain affects millions of people across the UK. But a new study suggests running may be able to help chronic lower back back pain. It comes off the back of some previous research showing that running doesn’t seem to harm the back and may actually be good for spine health.

Running physio Tom Goom discusses these studies and offers some general advice for any runners currently suffering from back pain.

The NHS has lots of advice on back pain and its possible causes: nhs.uk/conditions/back-pain/

This podcast and its content is not intended to replace medical assessment and advice. If you have an injury, we recommend seeing a qualified health professional.

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Founder of Soar Running, Tim Soar, join us to talk about launching a premium running brand and how running (and the kit) has changed since then. We talk expensive vests, the design process, how discount culture has ruined consumers shopping habits, the environmental impact of producing kit, why he'll always pursue that perfect garment and how material science is only getting more fascinating.

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It's rare that someone combines both elite-level marathon running with elite-level humour – but Phily Bowden is the glorious exception to the rule. Having run 2:25 at the Berlin Marathon, her sights are now on the LA Olympics, all while creating amazing content for her ever-growing online following.

Check out Phily on YouTube: youtube.com/c/PhilyBowden

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In certain running circles, "walking" can be a dirty word. But it needn't be that way. The run-walk method can, in fact, be an effective and enjoyable racing strategy for runners of all speeds. On this episode, the chief training officer at Galloway Training Programs in Florida, offers his expert insight on the art of run-walking. To find out more, visit jeffgalloway.com

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10,000 miles, 16 countries and over £1 million raised for charity. Russ Cook (aka "Hardest Geezer") pushed himself to the limit to become the first person to run the length of Africa. He's distilled the adventure into an amazing new book, Hardest Geezer: Mind Over Miles, and comes on the podcast to discuss some of the highlight and lowlights of his African odyssey.

Follow Russ on Instagram: @hardestgeezer

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Over the past few years, Jonny Davies has amassed a huge online following by documenting his running and setting himself a series of increasingly difficult running challenges. His latest, Run the Capitals, saw him run to the capitals of the UK and Ireland – a distance of 960km that he completed in just over 11 days.

Here him talk about his training, injury-prevention routine and what motivates him to keep testing his limits.

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We entered into the rarified air of the Altitude Centre in London to talk to lead performance specialist James Barber about altitude training and why it's not just for those who want to run up mountains (but it does help with that too) and heat adaptation and why that's relevant to racing in the UK as well as abroad.

Then Ben spoke to Montane adventurer and ultrarunner Katy Parrott about her experience of racing very far, her training, recovering from anemia and being sick at the finish line of Race for Life.

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