Running Tales

Andy Goldsby's life was spiralling out of control. Overweight, he was drinking and smoking too much, and it was starting to effect his mental as well as physical health.

It was a chance moment that changed his life. Desperate to make a change, he entered the London Marathon on a whim, never expecting to get in.

The marathon lottery Gods were smiling on him, and to Andy's shock he was - at 20 stone and struggling to climb the stairs - on course to run one of the world's most famous running events.

Buoyed by the chance to reverse a fitness journey that was heading in the wrong direction, he started training and clocking up the miles.

Since then, Andy has become a regular runner, taking on distances from parkrun 5ks to marathons.

Along the way, he has become a run director at Arrow Valley parkrun and more recently joined forces with YouTuber Tim Stent, aka The Middle Aged Running Man, to become one half of the Marmcast pod.

In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Andy about how running has changed his life...

Visit Running Tales on:

Substack: ⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠

Other links:

Listen to ⁠Marmcast on Apple Podcasts

There isn’t much Sarah Lavender Smith hasn’t done in the world of running.

The Colorado resident has run more than 100 ultras and marathons, winning several at the 50k distance and clocking up many thousands of miles during more than 30 years in the sport.

In 2019, she won the Grand to Grand Ultra, widely celebrated as one of the toughest races in the world.

But Sarah had a ten year itch she needed to scratch: an event as hard to get into as it is to run.

It is a race which features 102.5 miles (165km) and 33,000 feet (10,000 m) of climb through an area of such spiritual significance to her that she can track her family roots there back to 1880.

Sarah’s date with destiny arrived on July 11, 2025 in Silverton, Colorado.

At 6am on that day, she toed the start line of one of ultra running’s most famous races: ⁠The Hardrock 100⁠.

In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Sarah to find out how her Hardrock adventure turned out...

Visit Running Tales on:

Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠

Other links:

Visit Sarah's Mountain Running & Living Substack: ⁠https://sarahrunning.substack.com/

When Emily Moore was just 19 she suffered a knee injury which led to her being told she'd never walk unaided again, let alone run.

Now, she's on the edge of taking on the toughest footrace in the world, the formidable Marathon des Sables, in April.

After suffering her injury, Emily was determined she would run again, immediately entering the London Marathon.

A painful period of rehabilitation followed, but her dream became a reality with her knee surgeon among those cheering her to the finish line.

Since then, Emily has completed a number of marathons and triathlons, teaching herself to swim along the way.

And last year she turned ultra runner, completing the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra in October 2022.That was followed by the five-day, 123-mile Capital to Country Ultra in Nepal last year.

Her decision to powerwalk it, rather than run, saw her discover a unique way of tackling the endurance event that also featured a blessing at a school and a wedding.

Running Tales spoke to Emily about running while pregnant, how the sport has helped her meet friends all over the world, and why the Nepal Capital to Country Ultra saw her find herself again after divorce... 

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Read our story about the Capital to Country Multi-Day Ultra in Nepal on our Substack page: https://runningtales.substack.com/p/from-capital-to-country-the-spiritual 

Sho Gray has a big goal in 2024.

The professional runner, who is the Tennessee state record holder for the 100-mile distance, is betting on himself to make the US national 24-hour race team.

Sho is using his savings to dedicate himself to running in the hope of winning the American 24-hour race championship in November, and in doing so qualifying for the national team.

It’s all a far cry from his first manoeuvrings in the world of running, when as a youngster at a Japanese international school he started taking part in the sport - with the somewhat disputed aim of beating his sister in the cross-country.

Running Tales spoke to Sho about going from enthusiastic amateur to professional, entering the pain cave and exercising his toes, and how he wants to inspire everyone to do whatever their version of better is… 

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

This week's Running Tales Podcast has a somewhat different theme.

Our guest is Stan Robertson, the man behind Northampton-based rough sleeper charity Project 16:15.

Running Tales is once again backing the 16:15 Charity Run, which will take place at The Racecourse in Northampton, England on Saturday, March 23.

The event, which aims to raise awareness of and funding for rough sleepers in the town, will take place over six hours - with runners encouraged to run as long or as short a distance as they like over that period.

There is more information about the event on our Substack newsletter page and on the 16:15 Charity Run Facebook group.

Stan started Project 16:15 back in 2018, during the infamous Beast from the East cold snap, when he began delivering hot drinks and food to rough sleepers in Northampton town centre.

His over-riding aim is bring dignity and respect to those on the streets.

You can help fundraise for the 16:15 Charity Run here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/fun-run2024

Running Tales spoke to Stan about the dangers rough sleepers face on the streets, how his own experiences of homelessness and addiction help him connect to those he now helps, and whether he will be doing any running himself on March 23...

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Raziq Rauf is the man behind the increasingly popular 'Running Sucks' Substack, a tongue-in-cheek title for a newsletter that looks at the stories of people doing interesting things to further running culture.

Raz's newsletter has covered subjects as varied as homelessness, racism, body shaming and alcoholism - all from the prospective of those in the running world.

It aims to tell stories that go beyond people's favourite trainers or their marathon training plans. The result is a fascinating and occasionally raw dive into why running sucks and how, ultimately, it is a force for good.

Raz's own running journey began at school, but he only fully embraced the sport as a way of escaping his busy live as a music journalist - no Spotify or Apple playlists for this runner!

Running Tales spoke to Raz about running while being a 'minority of a minority' as someone of south Asian descent, why it's important not to ignore the impact of societal issues on running, and why he called his newsletter 'Running Sucks'... 

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Helen Ramwell didn't always wants to run, despite coming from a family that loved the sport.

It was only as a teenager while celebrating New Year that she was provoked to take part in a race, after a family member said she would never be able to complete a half-marathon.

The challenge was too much to resist and Helen's running career was underway. It has since taken in a host of marathons and ultra events, including the 'toughest footrace in the world' - the Marathon des Sables.

Helen took part in that event alongside her father, Richard, who she regularly enjoyed running with.

Sadly, Richard has since passed away but Helen honoured his memory at the end of last year when she took on another multi-day marathon.

She said she felt his presence on her shoulder as she took on the inaugural Capital to Country in Nepal, a five-day, 123-mile romp through the foothills of the Himalayas.

Running Tales spoke to Helen about the women's ultra running scene, running while pregnant, and her much-heralded competitive streak... 

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Liz Fraser has been a passionate runner since a young age, when her mother - who coached youngsters at the Oxford City Athletics Club - introduced her to the sport.

Running has been her constant companion ever since, through the highs of many a 5k, 10k and half-marathon to helping her cope with mental health issues.

A writer, broadcaster and best-selling author, Liz's memoir 'Coming Clean' tells the story of her life with an alcoholic partner, and running has provided solace in harder times.

Now, as she approaches her 50th birthday in October, Liz is aiming to run her first marathon, as well as to roll back the years to record a sub-20 minute 5k and a sub-40 minute 10k.

Running Tales spoke to Liz about how it's ok for women to fiercely pursue their goals and the joy of running in terrible weather...

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Denny Krahe is an ultra runner and coach who runs one of our favourite podcasts about the sport: Diz Runs.

We first caught up with Denny just over a year ago, when we chatted to him about his own running career and his life as an injury prevention specialist.

With changes on the way at Diz Runs, we thought it was a good time to talk to Denny again and to see how he is getting on with some of his running goals.

We also chewed the fat over some of the big issues in the running world, including the seemingly increasing numbers of people cheating in races and just how far he thinks the human body will allow endurance athletes to go... 

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

You can learn more about Denny Krahe, his coaching, blog and podcast on http://www.dizruns.com/

Colin Kirk-Potter grew up running on the fells and a career as a Royal Marine meant fitness was always going to be central to his life.

Back when he joined the Marines, a day on Dartmoor involved brutal training but these days he loves nothing more than to run around its trails and fells - to the stage where he's even written a book about the best routes.

Colin's running has seen him take on extreme races all around the world, including the Bob Graham Round and the Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc, where he even beat ultra running legend Scott Jurek.

But perhaps his greatest challenge came when he struggled with PTSD after serving in Afghanistan. Life in 'civvy street' saw him drinking too much and picking fights, but it was running which helped him to rediscover himself and find peace.

Running Tales spoke to Colin about why running like a toddler is good for you, opening a running shop and becoming coach, and exactly how he came to beat one of the greatest runners of all time... 

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

You can order Colin's book, Dartmoor Trail and Fell Running: 31 Great Runs, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dartmoor-Trail-Fell-Running-Great/dp/1906095841