Running Tales

When Tom Mulchinock left school with little more than an addiction for video games and a 'class clown' nature, he found himself numbing real world pressures with increasingly heavy drinking.

Nights out turned to day drinking - to avoid hangovers it was better to just not stop.It wasn't until he reached 30 that Tom realised he needed to get help.

After seeking therapy and moving to Iceland, Tom started practicing mindfulness, going on walks, listening to podcasts - and running.

A first 5k race eventually turned into a running habit and then into a new goal.

Tom is currently aiming to run 10 marathons in a year in 10 different countries - all to rase money for CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Running Tales spoke to Tom about how running has helped him stay sober, combat his anxiety and embrace his creative side... 

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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.

People can sponsor Tom via JustGiving here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/10marathons10countries1year 

You can also learn more about his challenge and follow his progress via:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tom.mulchinock

Facebook: Runnning For CALM - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10009242586191

YouTube: Running For CALM - https://www.youtube.com/@rfcalm 

Find out more about CALM at https://www.thecalmzone.net/ 

Grayson Murphy is a running chameleon.

From two-time world mountain running champion to a track star who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Olympics, the 28-year-old has made a career out of taking on different challenges and distances.

And what a career.

Despite only starting running aged 20, Grayson was soon ripping up records at the University of Utah, setting new standards in the steeplechase, 5,000m and 10,000m events and becoming a five times All-American.

A professional contract followed, but life on the track didn't go exactly to plan to begin with and Grayson made the sudden and surprising switch to trail running.

Victory at the American championship followed - an event she has now won four times - and, on her debut at the race, she won the 2019 World Mountain Running Championships.

Two years later, she returned to the track in style for the Olympic trials, winning her semi-final and finishing sixth in the final of the 3,000m steeplechase.

This year, it was back to the mountains again and a second world championship win as Grayson captured first place in the up and downhill race in Austria.

Running Tales spoke to her about how football (aka soccer) had been her first love, why she loves running such a variety of events and the joys of 'aeroplane arms'... 

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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.

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

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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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.

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

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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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.

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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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.

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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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.

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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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.

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

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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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.

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/