The Checkpoint

Trigger warning: some discussion around eating disorders

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

In episode 21 we talk to Renee McGregor. Renee is a leading sports dietitian with over 20 years’ experience, specialising in RED-S, athletic health and performance, eating disorders and female athlete nutrition.

She is a keen trail runner and the Diet Lead for the Ultra X ultramarathon events and has experience working in clinical and performance nutrition, including with the Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games teams.

Renee is also a co-founder of #TRAINBRAVE - a campaign raising the awareness of eating disorders in sport and dance and is author of the Training Food, Fast Fuel books and Orthorexia, When Healthy Eating Goes Bad.

We talk about energy deficit in sport, the importance of awareness around eating disorders and we delve into Renee’s work as part of Hearts, Minds and Genes.

Find out more about Renee at: https://reneemcgregor.com/

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r_mcgregor/

#TRAINBRAVE campaign: https://trainbrave.org/who-we-are/

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

In episode 20 we talk to ultrarunner, activist and BTR community member, Martin Johnson.

The 38-year-old Londoner recently set the FKT (fastest known time) on the Thames Path National Trail from the Thames Barrier to the source, completing the 184-mile distance in 38 hours, 35 minutes.

We talk about how Martin got into running and, ultimately, ultrarunning, diversity in the sport and we take a deep dive into his FKT journey and what kept him going through the dark times.

Martin is a Patagonia Europe team member and recently took part in Patagonia’s Running Up For Air challenge to raise funds for 18 European NGOs fighting for clean air. For more information on that head to:

https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/stories/a-clean-run-in-the-city/story-100944.html

https://www.patagonia-rufa.com/

Martin is also sponsored by Altra and is part of the Centurion Running Ultra Team.

Follow Martin on Instagram @insearchofmj

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

In episode 19 the BTR community are live in Meopham, Gravesend at the Maverick Race event, Ultra Black Trails.

As the U.K. returns to racing, on the grassroots level it is encouraging to see people not only return to running events, but also to see members of the community taking on their first trail race.

In this episode we speak with Dora Atim who founded Ultra Black Running, which she created to form a safe space for black women and non-gender conforming people to turn up, and truly own their place at the starting line. She partnered with Maverick races to bring this event to fruition.

We also speak with Ben Macwilliam, Director of Maverick Race and gain valuable insights into what it takes to put together an event like this.

We also capture a series of conversations with:

If your inspired by this episode and want to get involved in trail races or other events look, have a look at Maverick Races and letsdothis.com and sign up to your next event.

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

In episode 18 we speak to Mary-Ann Ochota, she is a broadcaster and anthropologist who spends a lot of time outdoors! She’s a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a hiking ambassador for the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and likes nothing more than exploring the British countryside – whether that’s rolling farmland trails, remote archaeological remains or a scrambly mountain ridge line.

Over the past couple of years, she’s particularly focused on trying to help improve diversity and inclusion in the outdoors. You can read some of her thoughts here: https://www.advnture.com/features/diversity-in-the-outdoors and check out the ideas that a panel of outdoor influencers (including BTR cofounder Marcus!) came up with following a panel event hosted by Arcteryx: https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_lN7DQKo=/.

Later this year she’ll also be launching Finding Our Way, a new podcast from the BMC, championing diverse voices. Keep an eye out for it! Mary-Ann’s also written books on history and archaeology, including Hidden Histories: A Spotter’s Guide to the British Landscape which helps you puzzle out all those lumps and bumps and historical features you might spot on your trail runs.

Follow Mary-Ann on twitter and instagram @MaryAnnOchota or at www.MaryAnnOchota.com

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

In episode 17 we speak to Stuart Lawrence is the younger brother of Stephen Lawrence who, on 22 April 1993, aged 18, was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. Stuart was 16 at the time.

Since then, Stuart has fought the injustice of his brother’s death, alongside family and supporters. He has worked for the Home Office, HMP Belmarsh, and had a teaching career spanning 15 years at a secondary school in Southwest London.

Since leaving teaching, Stuart continues to work as a consultant, educator and motivational speaker.

His first book – Silence is Not an Option – was released in April 2021. In it he reflects on his brother’s life and murder and describes the tools he has used to help him live positively. The book is written for younger readers, from 10+, and aims to help them find their own voice and work towards a better future.

Stuart also works tirelessly to promote the Stephen Lawrence Foundation. A foundation more recently launched to redouble efforts, think bigger and use the current moment to create further opportunities for more people on our journey to equality for all. Stephen Lawrence Day is held on 22 April each year to commemorate the Londoner’s life.

Stuart talked to Sabrina and Sonny about his book, the importance of education and an honest teaching of history, the kind of modern Britain he wants to see, and how he stays positive in his work and daily life.

You can follow him on Instagram @hon_stuartlawrence and on Twitter @Sal2nd

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

In episode 16 we speak to Black Trail Runners community member, Lionel Adams, and BTR community ally and renowned running coach, Ian Sharman.

Via the community of BTR, which seeks to bring allies and community members together to tackle access, skills and representation, Ian and Lionel began working together in 2021.

Lionel is a BTR athlete who shows immense talent and promise and, already, is starting to blaze trails in the sport of trail running.

Sabrina discusses with Lionel his running career to date, race highlights, areas for improvement and targets for 2021 and beyond.

Ian’s coaching input into this episode is a must listen for any aspiring Trail runner. Topics covered include: fast hiking, nutrition, training plan progression and adaptation and much more.

Sabrina and Simbrarashe also cover the letter N on this weeks Trail Running A - Z.

To follow Lionel Adams - @la_runs_vegan

To follow Ian Sharman - @sharmanian

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

In episode 15 we speak with Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel is a Lakota runner and a citizen of the Kul Wicasa Oyate in South Dakota where she was born.

Jordan is an athlete and an activist, dedicating herself to advocating for the rights of indigenous people, as well as raising awareness for other minorities who have been consistently side-lined and silenced including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and the disabled community. In 2017, Jordan started her own grass-roots organisation, Rising Hearts.

In 2019, Jordan ran the Boston Marathon with MMIW painted on her body to draw attention to the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womxn and Girls.

Jordan is also a producer, her first documentary feature The Sacred & The Snake is due out later this year.

On top of all that, she is part of the Intersectional Environmentalist Council and is a pro runner with Altra, Rabbit and Ultimate Direction.

Sabrina and Rachel talk with Jordan about what running means to her, her intersectional advocacy work, the link between racial justice and climate justice and the importance of representation.

Sabrina and Rachel also tackle the letter ‘M’ on the trail running AtoZ.

Follow Jordan on Instagram @nativein_la

Jordan’s book recommendation ‘Killers of the Flower Moon'

Content warning: This podcast includes discussion of mental health, anxiety and depression. If you’re living with a mental health problem, many resources are available to support you, including Mind UK - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

Ruden Bhutia is a 30 year old London-based Marketing Communications and Advertising graduate and social entrepreneur, who in 2017 founded a running group to promote community cohesion and physical and mental well-being, and to support international charity projects. Four years later, Runderbolts offers weekly 10k runs in and around London, introducing many people to the benefits of running, has raised many thousands of pounds for charities around the world, and has its own line of merchandise.

In discussion with co-founders Rachel and Sonny, he discusses the genesis and philosophy of Runderbolts, his own motivation and techniques for staying positive and productive, and what running means to him.

Follow Ruden and Runderbolts @rudenbhutia and @runderbolts on Instagram

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

In episode 13 we speak with Jacob Puzey, who set a world record in 2016 for running 50 miles in 4:57:45 on a treadmill, beating the record of 5:57:31 by nearly an hour. He is also a six-time national champion in cross-country, road and ultra championships, and has three top 10 national trail 50K championships on his resume.

He is a husband, father, runner, coach, race director for Peak Run Performance, TranSelkirks Run, and 5 Peaks and a podcaster.

We dive into some of his pivotal running experiences, and talk about diversity and representation in trail running.

Jacob’s brother Tommy was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of Lymphoma. He is receiving treatment under the guidance and expertise of some of the leading lymphoma physicians in the world. You can support Tommy and Steph and their daughters through their go fund me page and the craftsports collection.

You can follow Jacob on Instagram at @jacobpuzey

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️.

Donna Fraser OBE is a 4 times Olympic athlete specialising in the 400 metres.

Born in Croydon, U.K, she first knew she wanted to represent her country at the Olympics after watching the LA games with her sister on the TV in 1984.

And that dream came true when she attended her first Olympics 12 years later.

Donna calls her Olympic claim to fame as being in the 2000 games where she narrowly missed out on a medal ‘by a boob’ in a performance that saw her shave almost a second off her PB.

Her training partner that year, Cathy Freeman, won the gold and the picture of Donna congratulating Cathy was beamed across the world and. For many of us watching it showed the beautiful relationship that can develops between team mates, training partners and ultimately, women.

In 2009 Donna was diagnosed with breast cancer but continued to train and race until she made the decision later that year to retire from competitive athletics.

Donna was appointed as U.K. Athletics first Equality, Diversity and Engagement Lead and one of her more recent projects has involved working with prominent voices in both elite and amateur athletics to create the RACEEquality Network.

In the January 2021 New Years Honours list she was awarded Order of the British Empire for services to equality, inclusion and diversity in the workplace.

We welcome Donna to The Checkpoint