Running Scared Media

When we first met Mike, we found out that he had a dream to compete for Team Lebanon at the Cross Country World Championships. After some challenges and missed opportunities, we got word that Mike had moved closer to his dream. So, we caught up with him to go for a run and learn what exactly has been happening over the last couple months. On today's show Mike shares his journey of qualifying for and competing with the Lebanese national team at the World Cross Country Championships. He recounts the intense physical and mental preparation required to earn his spot, including a pivotal 10K qualifying race where he significantly improved his personal best. Despite facing challenges like illness and travel fatigue, he describes the profound experience of racing against elite global athletes on a grueling course in Tallahassee, Florida. While his performance was hampered by heat and obstacles, he emphasizes that the personal growth and the honour of representing Lebanon outweighed the final race time. We finished off by discussing how this experience will influence his coaching philosophy and his future goals in marathon running. 

Partners:

On Trail Nutrition - On Trail Nutrition, high-energy protein bars built for the outdoors. No crashes, no junk, just steady fuel for your hikes, rides, and long days. Check them out at ontrailnutrition.com and fuel your next adventure.

• Link: HERE
• Code: RUNNINGSCARED10

THN Labs - THN make energy gels in Canada with minimal ingredients. If you're running long and want to actually know what you're eating, hit them up at thnlabs.com.

• Link: HERE
• Code: RSP15

Follow Mike on Instagram @thedarazi

Find the full transcript here

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The Ruck is back! Today Ari talks with fitness enthusiast Danielle Parsons about her transition from a sedentary lifestyle to competitive functional racing. A stay-at-home mother of three, Parsons describes her evolution from being unable to perform a single pushup to completing multiple five-kilometer races and training for her first HYROX event. They discuss the technical structure of functional fitness competitions, which combine heavy strength stations with significant running distances. Parsons also highlights her commitment to mental health advocacy, using her upcoming race in Las Vegas to fundraise (Race for Impact) for accessible therapy and medication. Danielle emphasizes that consistency and personal mindset are more important than athletic perfection or speed. 

Partners:

On Trail Nutrition - On Trail Nutrition, high-energy protein bars built for the outdoors. No crashes, no junk, just steady fuel for your hikes, rides, and long days. Check them out at ontrailnutrition.com and fuel your next adventure.

• Link: HERE
• Code: RUNNINGSCARED10

THN Labs - THN make energy gels in Canada with minimal ingredients. If you're running long and want to actually know what you're eating, hit them up at thnlabs.com.

• Link: HERE
• Code: RSP15

Full Transcript here

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Subscribe to Running Scared Media wherever you get your podcasts for more episodes!

RunningScaredMedia.com

Email us at: [email protected]

Follow us:
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It's 2026 and the sisters are back! Today, hosts Justine and Kylie interview Camille Malmquist, the captain of the Mikkeller Running Club (MRC) Reno, to discuss the intersection of fitness, community, and New Year’s resolutions. Camille recounts her journey from a casual runner in Paris to establishing a local chapter in Nevada, emphasizing how the club’s socially-oriented "no drop" philosophy fosters inclusivity for all skill levels. The conversation highlights the McCarathon, an unofficial "underground" marathon around Reno’s McCarran Boulevard, which began as a personal training run and evolved into a major annual group event. Beyond race logistics, the speakers explore motivational strategies, such as using phone screen time statistics to set weekly mileage goals and the importance of high-quality gear like moisture-wicking socks. They finish it off with personal reflections on safety, including encounters with wildlife and the psychological benefits of group support during ultra-marathons.

Visit DJ Trivia: here

Partners:

On Trail Nutrition - On Trail Nutrition, high-energy protein bars built for the outdoors. No crashes, no junk, just steady fuel for your hikes, rides, and long days. Check them out at ontrailnutrition.com and fuel your next adventure.

• Link: HERE
• Code: RUNNINGSCARED10

THN Labs - THN make energy gels in Canada with minimal ingredients. If you're running long and want to actually know what you're eating, hit them up at thnlabs.com.

• Link: HERE
• Code: RSP15

Full episode transcript: here

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Subscribe to Running Scared Media wherever you get your podcasts for more episodes!

RunningScaredMedia.com

Email us at: [email protected]

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On today's show we are running wth Camille Herron, a celebrated ultramarathon champion. We cover a lot and we do so in five instalments due to bad internet!

We discuss the evolution of her career and the broader sport of long-distance running. Herron details her transition from marathon racing to breaking world records in ultra-endurance events, highlighting a pivotal 100K win that redirected her professional path. We explore the increased commercialization of running, where Herron explains how she helped establish modern contract standards for professional athletes. She also addresses the need for standardized regulations and ethical oversight within the trail running community to ensure fairness as the sport grows. 

Furthermore, Herron shares personal insights into her resilience following severe injuries and how her neurodiversity influences her analytical approach to competition. We finish off with our Running Scared and rapid fire questions. 

***The audio quality dips around 40 min mark*** - apologies!

In case you feel like reading find the Full Transcript here

Partners:

On Trail Nutrition - On Trail Nutrition, high-energy protein bars built for the outdoors. No crashes, no junk, just steady fuel for your hikes, rides, and long days. Check them out at ontrailnutrition.com and fuel your next adventure.

• Link: HERE
• Code: RUNNINGSCARED10

THN Labs - THN make energy gels in Canada with minimal ingredients. If you're running long and want to actually know what you're eating, hit them up at thnlabs.com.

• Link: HERE
• Code: RSP15

Follow Camille on Instagram @runcamille

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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Looking for a way to revitalize their workout, friends Rob and Jamie join the Night Flyers, an organized trail-running club that meets at dusk in the Victoria L and Dwire path system. The excitement of the night run quickly shifts to horror when Jamie discovers massive amounts of blood in the woods and realizes that regular members of the group have a habit of disappearing.

The duo soon discovers that the club is actually a vampire coven led by the mysterious Antoine and Claus, who use the runs as "night hunts" to harvest human prey. As they are hunted through a vast network of underground tunnels, they encounter a long-imprisoned vampire who reveals a family history of blood pacts and a secret weapon.

This thrilling mystery provides the ultimate motivation to run, as the two must find their fastest gear to outmaneuver a pack of monsters that includes the city's own Mayor and Police Commissioner. Armed with the knowledge of a vampire’s counting compulsion and a cursed silver blade, they must fight their way through the dark to avoid becoming the coven's next "Late Night Bite"

Full transcript here

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Today we catch up with data scientist and ultra runner John Kelly. We discuss his background, his analytical approach to endurance sports, and his experiences competing in iconic races like the Barkley Marathons. He explains how his professional background in data science allows him to break down complex logistical challenges into manageable components, providing a critical mental edge during grueling multi-day events. 

John also reflects on his time living in the United Kingdom, where he embraced the community-driven culture of running and honed his skills on technical terrain. He also shares his perspective on the future of the sport, suggesting that while technology and AI will assist in training, the core of ultra-running will always be driven by personal passion and adventure. Heck, we even talk about baseball!

Follow John on Instagram @randomforestrunner

Visit his website and blog at: https://randomforestrunner.com/

For amazing trail visors head to: https://keapeak.com/

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What is Children's Horror? And what do kids get out of it? With Halloween's sweet scent still in the air and Christmas inching closer, co-hosts Robert Lendrum and Jamie Roberts take a look at their first PG film, the holiday classic Gremlins and discuss the film as a horror film for kids. What is the 4th rule of the film? Why did they leave that scene in about Kate's dad? Where did Judge Reinhold go??? What were they thinking when they made Inhumanoids? Is Rob's kid possessed? Of course kids love a movie where they watch little green men tear apart a town! Best bar scene ever?

The episode references a book by Catherine Lester called  Horror Films for Children: Fear and Pleasure in American Cinema published by Bloomsbury.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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On today's show we speak with Tove Alexanderson, a highly decorated Swedish athlete known for her dominance in orienteering and multiple other endurance sports. Alexanderson discusses her transition from a childhood passion for navigating forests to competing in ski mountaineering and trail running, emphasizing her preference for the training process over the stress of competition. We discuss versatility as she prepares for Olympic qualification while shifting her focus toward mountain-based races to avoid the trend of urban course designs. She shares insights into her self-coached training regimen and her deep-seated love for the outdoors, which she views as a "dream life" rather than a series of sacrifices. 

Follow Tove on Instagram @tovealexandersson

Read the full transcript in English and Swedish here

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Pulled one from the vault for a little holiday bonus. We may do this from time to time. 

Happy Holidays from the Running Scared team of Robert Lendrum and Jamie Roberts. To get you in the festive spirit, we're reviewing a Canadian cult classic Black Christmas (1974). Although made on a small budget, it features some big Canadian acting talent and several key innovations for the genre of horror. That being said, is this a comedy or a cop movie? A genre bending art film or a cop out? What Benny HIll skit is Mrs. Mac from? Is Mr. Harrison the worst father on the planet? Crush a couple of Labbat 50s and get ready for a full 60 minutes of Running Scared Christmas convo.

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Back to back! Last week episode was sooo good we though we'd give you a double dose of the sisters! It's Christmas time and who's up for the "reindeer run" game! This is how you play: One sister runs and the other follows in a car, counting Christmas reindeer decorations in various neighborhoods with the ultimate goal to see who can spot more. Along the way they discuss their holiday experiences, including decorating, past breakups during Christmas, and participating in a virtual race organized by Justine. 

They then turn their attention to the true meaning of Christmas - gift$! They talk Christmas gift guide for runners, offering suggestions ranging from wearable items like running clothes and shoes to accessories like bib belts and recovery tools such as compression pants.

The countdown to Christmas has began and let the Sole Sisters ring the bell! 

Just in case you want to read...check out the full transcript on our blog here

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Subscribe to Running Scared Media wherever you get your podcasts for more episodes!

RunningScaredMedia.com

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