Running Tales

After being diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer, Allyson Kent was determined to take the disease on.

In 2021, she turned to walking to boost her physical and mental health, eventually completing the marathon distance 52 times in as many weeks.

Gripped by the fitness bug, Allyson has now found Beverley Westwood parkrun - and with it a sudden and unexpected love of running.

Running Tales spoke to Allyson about completing the 5km distance for the first time, her role as an ambassador at 5k Your Way, and what is coming next on her fledgling running journey...

 

----------------------------------

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

Running coach, personal trainer, podcaster and ultra runner - Michael Nielsen wears a few hats when it comes to his running journey.

As a coach and through his Runner's Resource podcast, Michael is eager to share his knowledge of a sport which he has enjoyed a life-long relationship with.

On his podcast, Michael has not only talked to a succession of runners with fascinating stories, but also shares his own wide-ranging knowledge giving hints and tips on a variety of subjects, from the benefits of pilates to the different energy systems used to fuel your muscles.

We also spoke to Michael about his own running, including taking on 50km trail races and conquering the 50 mile distance…

 

----------------------------------

You can listen to The Runner’s Resource wherever you get you podcast including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-runners-resource/id1623169728

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

Rachel Ann Cullen has run a host of marathons, including London six times, but can now be most often found trail running across Yorkshire.

It's part of her ever evolving running story, which started at 18 when she turned to running to get over a break-up, and later saw the sport transform her life completely.

Suffering from bi-polar disorder and struggling to find her place in the world, Rachel found healing when she laced up her trainers - an incredible story that is told in her first book, 'Running for my Life'.

Rachel's story didn't end there though. When she picked up an injury and couldn't run, her world started to unravel. Battling body dysmorphia she eventually found solace in cycling, a story told in her second book.

Running Tales spoke to Rachel about her incredible journey, and about her most recent book, 'Running for our Lives' which tells the stories of everyday runners overcoming extraordinary adversity...

 

----------------------------------

You can buy all three of Rachel Ann Cullen's books - 'Running for my Life,' 'A Midlife Cyclist' and 'Running for our Lives' - on Amazon

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

Ken Posner has run more than 100 marathons and ultra marathons, including the gruelling 295-mile Badwater Double.

As if that wasn't enough, he does a lot of his running barefoot. He's a self-proclaimed minimalist who eschews many of the modern comforts of running.

Running Tales also spoke to Ken about his role as the race director for Shawangunk Ridge Trail, a 70-mile ultra that takes place just outside New Jersey...

 

----------------------------------

You can read more about Ken's story on his website: https://www.barefootken.com/

Learn more about and enter the SRT: https://www.runwildhv.org/srtrun

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

Dr Ashley Morgan has been running for more than 30 years, but until she found the Running Punks she kept the sport as very much a solitary pursuit.

These days she's very much part of that inclusive community, leading runs on Sunday mornings and taking part in an active online community that talks about everything from posh bog selfies to record reviews (with some running thrown in on occasion!).

Dr Ashley is also a strong voice for women's equality, insisting there is nothing intrinsic for women to fear from running in the dark - and that it is men who need to take responsibility for their actions.

Running Tales started our interview by asking her what exactly Running Punks is, and how she became involved with the group...

Triathlete Mario Massarelli is a 20 times IronMan finisher, with his best performance having seen him qualify for the World Championship in his over 50's age group.

But for Mario, it is the joy of triathlon and the valued time he gets to spend on and with himself that makes running, cycling and swimming - whether in one event or together - such enjoyable pastimes.

Mario has now expanded his love of the sport to become a professional triathlon and running coach with his Lifestyle Triathlon business.

Running Tales spoke to Mario about why a 'no pain, no gain' attitude isn't normally the right answer, how someone's first triathlon is most often not their hardest, and about whether the running, cycling or swimming came first for him...

 

----------------------------------

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

Running Tales spoke to Tony Collier towards the end of last year.

Diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, Tony - whose running achievements included completing all six marathon majors and the 55-mile Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa - had been determined to keep on running.

You can listen to that conversation on Series 2 Episode 26 of Running Tales.

Since his diagnosis, Tony has completed a number of challenges for charity, including recently finishing a run streak of at least 5km every day in 2022.

We could think of no better person to kick off Series 3 of the podcast...

 

----------------------------------

You can sponsor Tony to complete his challenge to run or hike 5km every day in 2022 here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/5k365days

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

Gary McKee has run 9,355 miles so far this year, raising more than £320,000 along the way so far.

It's all part of his efforts to run a marathon every day in 2022, fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home Cumbria along the way.

Gary is hoping to raise £1m, and is now just 12 days away from completing his incredible challenge.

Running Tales first spoke to him back in June.

We chatted about how previous endeavours have seen him cycle across Brazil, climb Kilimanjaro and trek through New Zealand - and how running has always been at the heart of his fundraising.

With the finish line in sight, we just had to catch up with the Marathon Man for our final episode of 2022...

 

----------------------------------

You can find Gary's fundraising page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/threesixfive

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

The music in this podcast is:

"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Christmas is approaching fast and we're bringing Series 2 of Running Tales towards an end.

We're hoping to have one more episode next Tuesday, and then we'll be having a quick break until the New Year.

Today, we wanted to look back at some clips from some of our guests from 2022, and forward to our new plans on Substack and social media.

If you like the podcast, please give us a positive rating and review wherever you listen.

Have a Happy Christmas!

Craig & Michelle

Steve Montgomery has come a long way since taking up wheelchair racing just over a year ago.

Despite being in his 50s, Steve has clocked a sub-18 minute parkrun and competed alongside the elite athletes at this year's London Marathon.

But Steve's first sporting love is wheelchair rugby. He is a member of the successful Northampton Saints Wheelchair Rugby team which won this year's WR5s Premiership and Midlands Development League competitions, and came second in the first ever version of the sport's European Cup - The Poland Cup.

The side's captain is Gerry McCrory, an amputee who can walk normally using a prosthetic leg but uses a wheelchair to play rugby.

Running Tales spoke to Steve and Gerry about wheelchair sport, how accessible it is, and being 'different ability' rather than disabled athletes...

 

----------------------------------

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

The music in this podcast is:

"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/