The Big Run

Welcome back to The Big Run...

The On Track Night series continues apace and moves to the most liveable city in the world - Vienna.

Now in its 7th year, the meet sports elite level competition across multiple distances and opportunities for all to experience the incredible atmosphere intersperse with bike shows, parkour And when the final race is run - then the party really gets started. 

On today’s episode, I jumped on a call with the German U23 European Champion in the 3000m Steeplechase - Frederik Ruppert. Freddy sports an 8.15 PB in the event and will be one to watch when the racing starts on Saturday. 

In this conversation we talk about his journey into the sport, having a long-term relationship with his coach, navigating the water jump and why he can’t wait to race in Vienna. 

To find out more head over to: ⁠ontracknights.com⁠

or the event page: ⁠Track Night Vienna⁠

Welcome back to The Big Run...

The On Track Night series continues apace and moves to the most liveable city in the world - Vienna.

Now in its 7th year, the meet sports elite level competition across multiple distances and opportunities for all to experience the incredible atmosphere intersperse with bike shows, parkour and when the final race is run - then the party really gets started. 

You know the drill - starting tomorrow we’ll be dropping episodes each day leading up to the event, talking to coaches off the track, athletes on it, local communities connected to the city and the race director whose love for the sport is strong. 

Listen to the trailer to get a taste of what's coming up.

Be sure to subscribe from wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear when the episodes go live. 

To find out more head over to: ontracknights.com

or the event page: Track Night Vienna

Welcome back to The Big Run

As the OTN series continues on TBR, we move to Paris for the FAST5000

Taking place on Saturday the 10th of June, It’s quickly become one of the highlights of the French athletics calendar and with good reason, last year 68% got a PB and 96%  seasons best.

The 2023 edition looks even more stacked, with mile, 1500m and 3k races in amongst the 5000m action.

and of course, you can expect an incredible atmosphere and all manner of locally curated food and entertainment. 

As we close out the previews I head for a relaxed coffee on the streets of Paris with French 1500m runner, On athlete and barista Romain Wyndaele.

Romain will be racing the 1500m and in this conversation, we talk about his transition from the trails to the track, his tatoo's and why the sport deserves more.

And just like that the previews for the FAST5000 come to a close, it's time for the runners to race and for the spectators to experience that incredible atmosphere.

Our previews will kick back up again next week for the next stop in the On Track Night series: Track Night Vienna

Find out more at ⁠ontracknights.com⁠ 

or head to the event page - ⁠https://www.fast5000.fr/?lang=en⁠ 

Can’t make it? You can watch all the action online via the FAST5000 YouTube channel till 7 pm then head over to SportAll for the finals from 7 pm onwards.

Photo by Florian Kurrasch @fln.krs

Welcome back to The Big Run

Taking place on Saturday the 10th of June, It’s quickly become one of the highlights of the French athletics calendar and with good reason, last year 68% got a PB and 96%  seasons best.

The 2023 edition is looking even more stacked, with mile, 1500m and 3k races in amongst the 5000m action.

and of course, you can expect an incredible atmosphere and locally curated food and entertainment. 

In today's episode, I head to Paris to talk to Simon and Pippa messenger.

Simon is the race director at the FAST5000 and his wife Pippa is part of the team that helps bring it all to life.

In this conversation we learn where the idea came from, how they created and brought it to life and what people can expect when the racing starts on June 10th

Find out more at ontracknights.com

or head to the event page - https://www.fast5000.fr/?lang=en

Can’t make it? You can watch all the action online via the FAST5000 YouTube channel till 7 pm then head over to SportAll for the finals from 7 pm onwards.

Photo by Kevin Sabah

Welcome back to The Big Run

As the OTN series continues on TBR, we move to Paris for the FAST5000

Taking place on Saturday the 10th of June, It’s quickly become one of the highlights of the French athletics calendar and with good reason, last year 68% got a PB and 96%  seasons best.

The 2023 edition looks even more stacked, with mile, 1500m and 3k races in amongst the 5000m action.

and of course, you can expect an incredible atmosphere and all manner of locally curated food and entertainment. 

On today's episode, I chat with Jordan Donnelly. Jordan leads the product creation team at On Running helping bring to life footwear and apparel for Olympic-level athletes.

The product that you will be seeing put to the test on the tartan at all the On Track Night series of events.

He's also been a club runner for over 20 years and will be toeing the line at the FAST5000.

In this conversation we talk about his role at On, how his own running feeds into his work, get a better understanding of the job spikes do and what he's most looking forward to at the event as a runner and as a fan.

Find out more at ⁠⁠ontracknights.com⁠⁠ 

or head to the event page - ⁠⁠https://www.fast5000.fr/?lang=en⁠⁠ 

Can’t make it? You can watch all the action online via the FAST5000 YouTube channel till 7 pm then head over to SportAll for the finals from 7 pm onwards.

Photo by Arran Mccaskill

Welcome back to The Big Run

As the OTN series continues on TBR, we move to Paris for the FAST5000

Taking place on Saturday the 10th of June, It’s quickly become one of the highlights of the French athletics calendar and with good reason, last year 68% got a PB and 96%  seasons best.

The 2023 edition is looking even more stacked, with mile, 1500m and 3k races in amongst the 5000m action.

At the start of the event, there will be a special relay event 5 x 1k (5000m in total 😉) to see who is the fastest French crew.

Some of the crews in this podcast will be taking part. So I headed to Paris on the eve of the Paris marathon to chat with Jolie Foulée / Distance, PWRUP and Veins M'Attraper before returning a few weeks later to join Zoom Volt Runners at an evening training session at the track.

I wanted to find out their stories, the French perspective on running and why running as a group will always trump running on your own.

The crew relay kicks off the event at the FAST5000 and promises to be really exciting.

Find out more at ⁠⁠ontracknights.com⁠⁠ 

or head to the event page - ⁠⁠https://www.fast5000.fr/?lang=en⁠⁠ 

Can’t make it? You can watch all the action online via the FAST5000 YouTube channel till 7 pm then head over to SportAll for the finals from 7 pm onwards.

Welcome back to The Big Run

As the OTN series continues on TBR, we move to Paris for the FAST5000

Taking place on Saturday the 10th of June, It’s quickly become one of the highlights of the French athletics calendar and with good reason, last year 68 % got a PB and 96%  seasons best.

The 2023 edition looks even more stacked, with mile, 1500m and 3k races in amongst the 5000m action.

and of course, you can expect an incredible atmosphere and locally curated food and entertainment. 

The mens 1500m elite invitational see's several members of OAC Europe toeing the line. I went to St. Moritz to witness their training and chat with four of the group.

Robert Farken, George Mills, Tom Elmer and Luke McCann.

Tom and Luke will be racing the 1500m in the FAST5000 and its going to be quick!

**Since recording this conversation Robert has had to withdraw from the 1500m due to a small niggle, but will be cheering his teammates on for sure! He recently got the world standard at a meeting in Germany with a new PB of 3.32.10 at that same meeting George also secured the standard with a PB of 3.33 so will now be racing the 5000m instead**

Find out about their training, the OAC, their take on the track night series and why when the gun goes off it'll be one awesome 1500m.

Find out more at ⁠⁠ontracknights.com⁠⁠ 

or head to the event page - ⁠⁠https://www.fast5000.fr/?lang=en⁠⁠ 

Can’t make it? You can watch all the action online via the FAST5000 YouTube channel till 7 pm then head over to SportAll for the finals from 7 pm onwards.

Cover photo by Lea Kurth @lela_labs

Welcome back to The Big Run

As the OTN series continues on TBR, we move to Paris for the FAST5000

Taking place on Saturday the 10th of June, It’s quickly become one of the highlights of the French athletics calendar and with good reason, last year 68 % got a PB and 96%  seasons best.

The 2023 edition looks even more stacked, with mile, 1500m and 3k races in amongst the 5000m action.

and of course, you can expect an incredible atmosphere and locally curated food and entertainment. 

Throughout the week, we’ll release episodes to build excitement for this next stop in the On Track night series chatting with athletes taking part, local running communities and the organisers bringing it all to life…

On today's episode, I share a coffee by the Thames with OAC Europe member Cari Hughes to talk training, track and being a member of the OAC before heading to St. Moritz in Switzerland to chat to the latest edition to the team Aimee Pratt on training, steeplechase and why she wants to see how far she can go.

Both athletes will be competing at the FAST5000 on June 10th. Cari in the Mile and Aimee in the 5000m

Find out more at ⁠⁠ontracknights.com⁠⁠ 

or head to the event page - ⁠⁠https://www.fast5000.fr/?lang=en⁠⁠ 

Can’t make it? You can watch all the action online via the FAST5000 YouTube channel till 7 pm then head over to SportAll for the finals from 7 pm onwards.

As the On Track Night series continues on The Big Run we move to Paris for the FAST5000

Taking place on Saturday the 10th of June, It’s quickly become one of the highlights of the French athletics calendar and with good reason, last year 68% got a PB and 96%  seasons best.

The 2023 edition is looking even more stacked, with mile, 1500m and 3k races in amongst the 5000m action.

and of course, you can expect an incredible atmosphere and all manner of locally curated food and entertainment. 

Starting from tomorrow morning we'll be dropping new episodes every day to get you primed for this celebrated event. Talking to elite athletes, local running communities competing, an insight into the tools of the trade with the product innovation team and a look into how it all began with the husband and wife who wanted to create something to raise the bar for French athletes.

Listen to the trailer to see what's coming up this week and be sure to subscribe from wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear when a new episode goes live.

I'll see you at track

The OTN series on The Big Run is made possible with the support of On Running

Welcome back to The Big Run

We have some incredible conversations and in-the-field reporting over the coming days and weeks to get you primed for On’s Track night series. A global string of events where fast times meet loud crowds to create a unique experience for the entire running community. 

You can find out more at ⁠ontracknights.com⁠ 

As the OTN series continues on TBR, last Saturday we spent two days following the organisers, runners, and volunteers who pulled together to create an event like no other.

From get in to get out with a whole host of fast times in between we were there to honour this achievement of athletics and how it continues to be the benchmark for redefining racing.

We recommend listening with headphones to take you back to last Saturday at Parliament Hill.

A huge thank you to On for the support of this series, Highgate Harriers and Ben Pochee. And to all the individuals who gave up their time to speak to me.

But this isn't the end.

The On Track Night series rolls on to Paris for the FAST5000 and we'll be building anticipation and excitement in the days leading up to the event with exclusive access and insight into key figures on and off the tartan.

Be sure to subscribe from wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear them as soon as they go live.

and I'll see you next time, for The Big Run. 

Podcast Image by Arran Mcaskill