Running Tales

Doug Richards has just published his third book about running, charting an incredible journey that has seen him run a lifetime total of 24,902 miles.

It's a distance equivalent of the circumference of the Earth’s equator.

In 'Once Around the Planet,' Doug shares his latest running adventures including running a marathon in Venice and taking on a host of island runs including among ancient Moai statues on Easter Island, across volcanic rim trails in the Azores and even into the mysterious confines of the Bermuda Triangle.

Doug's amazing running total was achieved despite the fact he only started running in his 30s, when he found himself out of breath having run up the stairs to see his son.

It was then he decided to get fit - and start running. It's a habit he's found hard to shift and has seen him run across all seven continents, including in Antarctica and across the Sahara and Gobi Deserts.

 

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You can listen to our previous episode with Doug here: https://runningtales.podbean.com/e/doug-richards-how-one-runner-went-from-being-out-of-breath-climbing-the-stairs-to-the-marathon-des-sables/

You can buy ‘Once Around The Planet’ from Amazon: https://shorturl.at/iryR1

 

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This week ultra runner and environmentalist, Rebecca Leek, will be taking part in a climate relay to raise awareness of climate change.

On Wednesday, June 29, Rebecca is coming to Northampton - the home of the Running Tales Podcast! - to run a leg of the Running Out of Time relay.

The event is the biggest sporting celebration of climate action and nature ever attempted across Britain. Taking place between June 10 and July 11, the relay will travel 2,661km (1,653 miles) from Ben Nevis to Big Ben.

Rebecca has also made a number of environmental pledges, including using existing clothing and trainers during the event, travelling in a low carbon manner and taking positive action in the community.

It is the latest stage of a running career which only started two years ago - with a "shuffle" after listening to Chris Evans talking running on the radio.

Running Tales also talked to Rebecca about how she felt discouraged to run at school and how she recently won a 71-mile ultra...

 

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According to his own Twitter bio - @singhcredible - Jeremy Singh went from overweight dad to ultra marathoner.

He now has a 100-mile race set in his sights, having ticked off a 75 mile run last year.

Along the way he has built a strong social media brand, with more than 40,000 people following him his Twitter hints and advice on everything from strength training and nutrition to running plans.

Running Tales also talked to Jeremy about his 'Go for a Run' catchphrase and how everyone can enjoy running...

 

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You can follow Jeremy Singh's Twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/singhcredible

 

🎤 LISTEN TO THE RUNNING TALES PODCAST:

Follow this smart link to wherever you listen [https://link.chtbl.com/tVqw2t5u]

 

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If you like this episode please consider donating to help us keep going: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepforward

 

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Hannah Phillips first experiences in running had an element of a comedy sketch about them.

She was first prompted to run after seeing a "fat girl" wearing the same top she had on - a girl who turned out to be her reflection.

Spurred on, she set out to run round her home town of Merthyr Tydfil, only to be stopped by the police for wearing a balaclava she had donned to hide her identity.

Since then, running - in slightly more conventional ways - has changed Hannah's life. After falling in love with the sport, she decided to run a marathon - a move which prompted her to write a book about her experiences.

That book, 'No Run Intended,' became an unexpected bestseller and propelled her to a job with Welsh Athletics, encouraging other people to take up running.

Along the way running also helped Hannah deal with the heartache of miscarriage, restoring her faith in her body's capabilities...

 

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🎤 LISTEN TO THE RUNNING TALES PODCAST:

Follow this smart link to wherever you listen [https://link.chtbl.com/tVqw2t5u]

 

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Read our articles here: https://runningtales.substack.com

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If you like this episode please consider donating to help us keep going: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepforward

 

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On this week's Running Tales Podcast, we broke down what it takes to run an extreme endurance race - with the help of two ultra runners who know how to do exactly that.

At the end of May, Ben Davies and Richard Wilcox completed the 145-mile Grand Union Canal Race.

The pair, who finished the event in 42 hours and 22 minutes, are taking part in the three race, 400-mile Canal Slam, which will see them battle against another 145-miler in the Kennet & Avon Canal Race before finishing off with the mere 130 mile Leeds and Liverpool Canal Race.

Running Tales spoke to Ben and Richard about what it takes physically and mentally to prepare to tackle such distances, race nutrition, sleep deprivation, overcoming extreme tiredness, aches and pains, and the feeling you get when you cross the line after running for so long.

Oh, and the joy of eating apples after 110 miles...

 

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You can listen to our stand-alone episode with Ben Davies - the ultra runner who's mantra is 'it's good to talk' - here: https://runningtales.podbean.com/e/ben-davies-it-s-good-to-talk-ultra-runner/

Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at https://runningtales.substack.com

If you like this episode please consider donating to help us keep going: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepforward

David Abbott only started running seven years ago, aged 35, but within a year he had qualified for the Boston Marathon and he's gone on to complete several sub-three hour marathons.

The American, who now lives in Japan, has also become a coach - not least through the prism of Twitter where under the moniker Mr Slow Easy Comfortable (search for @runliftrunlift) he offers reams of advice on everything from how running slower makes you faster, the benefits of weight training and what to do if you're a new runner.

Running Tales also spoke to David about how he grew his Twitter following and running in Japan...

 

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Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at https://runningtales.substack.com

If you like this episode please consider donating to help us keep going: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepforward

We've got something different for you this week on Running Tales.

On Saturday, in association with Michelle's Step Forward With Lewis fitness business, we held our inaugural 16:15 Charity Fun Run in aid of Northampton rough sleeper charity, Project 16:15

The event lasted six hours but participants could run for as far or as little as they like, with the only requirement being that they either raised money for the charity or gave a donation.

In all, we managed to raise more than £1,100 for Project 16:15.

In this episode Michelle speaks to the charity's founder Stan Robertson about why he formed it and about some of the people who have sadly died on Northampton's streets...

 

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People can still donate towards the 16:15 Charity Run and Project 16:15 here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/1615CharityFunRun

Here are a selection of our Substack articles about the 16:15 Charity Run:

Rough sleepers deserve to be given dignity - our 16:15 Charity Run aims to help

Why I'm running to raise money for rough sleepers

Running to show the humanity behind every blanket - the story behind the 16:15 Charity Run

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If you like this episode please consider donating to help us keep going: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepforward

In little over a week, Neil Russell is set to start an awe-inspiring 970-mile run from London to Barcelona, aiming to complete his journey in just over five weeks.

What makes Neil's challenge even more notable is that the 65-year-old will be doing it despite having been diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2018.

In fact, Neil's final destination is the World Parkinson's Congress, and along the way he is hoping to raise £50,000 for Cure Parkinson's and Parkinson's UK.

It's not the first time he has taken on an incredible challenge to raise money for the two charities, having made £11,000 while running from John O'Groats to Land's End last year.

Running Tales spoke to Neil about his current, gruelling training regime, how running has helped him to "stick two fingers up" at Parkinson's and how the condition effects him on a daily basis and with his running.

 

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To find out more about Neil's London to Barcelone run visit https://www.neilstillcan.run/london-barcelona

To sponsor Neil, visit https://app.collectionpot.com/pot/3039152/

Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at https://runningtales.substack.com

If you like this episode please consider donating to help us keep going: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepforward

As one half, alongside wife Louise, of Phoenix Running, Rik Vercoe has created a hugely popular and inclusive race organiser.

Phoenix offers a wide-range of races and was a pioneer in the creation of lapped events, encouraging runners of all abilities to feel comfortable at organised runs and achieve goals they often never even set out to do.

Rik's own running career has certainly seen plenty of incredible goals smashed, from running a then record 152 marathons/ultras in a year to completing some of the toughest events around, including the North Pole Marathon and the Marathon des Sables.

Running Tales also spoke to Rik about breaking the record for the fastest aggregate time to complete 10 marathons in 10 days, and discovered he has one last marathon ambition left.

 

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If you like this episode please consider donating to help us keep going: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepforward

Damon Fox ran to take part in this week's Running Tales Podcast - after all, he can't afford to miss any runs right now.

The business development manager for Northampton Town FC Community Trust is currently in the midst of a challenge that will see him run 750km (466 miles) in 12 weeks.

There are 7,500 children in poverty across Northampton (hence the number of kilometres), and Damon is fundraising to support them in their school and home life, and give them opportunities to be involved in activities in the town.

Running Tales also spoke to Damon about his love of parkrun and completing the London Marathon in 2017.

Be warned, this week's episode also features a screaming cat and an unusual interjection about naked sunbathing. You've been warned...

 

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You can sponsor Damon here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/damon-fox-1678696402252/

Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at https://runningtales.substack.com

If you like this episode please consider donating to help us keep going: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepforward

 

To learn more about the 16:15 Charity Run to raise funds to help Project 16:15 help rough sleepers in Northampton, visit https://runningtales.substack.com/p/running-for-rough-sleepers-fun-runners

To sponsor Craig to run for six hours at the event, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/craig-lewis-project-16-15