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The Trail and Ultra Running Awards are back agin for 2025!

In this joint podcast....Ultrarunning Sam, Kate from RunUltra and Robin The Running Accountant discuss this years potential winners and who did what this year in 2025.

We've simplified the voting this year so there's no option to pick from a list, the choice is yours and the winner of each award is the one with the most votes....Simples.

So follow the link to vote and be in with a chance to win the ever growing prize bundle!

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/57TKUX/

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SPINE SEASON:

James returns to the Home Trails podcast for a third time. This time we talk about his return to the big one!

Having dropped out of the full winter race in 2024 with a foot injury, he returned to the race to run the Challenger South with his dad in the epic conditions we saw in January. 

This time, back to full health he's on the start line for the full deal again. In this episode we talk about his learnings from the year his foot stopped him, his training and tapering approach and how he is looking forward to finally getting to the finish at Kirk Yetholm and putting the race to bed!

James was on Damo's list of podium contenders for this years race and I fully agree with him. James is one to watch in January!

HT

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Spine Season continues!
Damo returns to the Home Trails Podcast. This time to talk about his recent Three Solo project that didn't go 💯 to plan....and his plans to return to it in 2026.
We dive into how he feels going into the Spine Sprint North race in January, a break from his norm of doing the full race. We talk about the level of FOMO he will be having come January 10th weekend and we talk about his hopes of bettering his time from the test run he did back in January when the race was trialling the new distance.

We talk about his predictions for each of the race distances and who he thinks will do well in each of them. Then finally we talk about the changes to the kit list and how he feels about them and the race moving forward.

Always a pleasure to have Damo back on the podcast!

HT

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In this episode we meet Arthur Hill for the first time.

Arthur recently set a new winter BGR record in 14:54, taking 4 minutes off Gavin Dales record from last year! Arthur was helped during his legs by a host of Lake District royalty, including Kim Collison, Beth Pascal and of course Gavin Dale himself.

In our chat we talk about his route into fell running in his early 20's, his obsession with the Bob and his training leading up to this round. Arthur speaks about the close knit community of trail and fell runners that jumped at the chance to support him on his latest attempt. 

Arthur is one of the most enthusiastic young runners I've had the pleasure to speak to and it seems certain that this won't be his one and done for the Bob. He is even more obsessed with the round than ever and I'm sure he will be back chasing the summer record when the time is right!

HT

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Non SPINE episode!

In this episode I speak to Wozza the running coach.

Warren came on the podcast to talk about his amazing recovery from what doctors told him was the end of his running career. Warren defied the odds and made a full recovery, to the point that he started racing again and won the Ultra Trails Wales 50 mile ultramarathon.

But before we even got onto the subject of his injury, I quizzed him about his coaching style and some of the mistakes that ultra-runners make during training.

We talk about nutrition, strength work and why we shouldn't get carried away with the latest fads in ultra training.

For coaching inquiries, hit him up on instagram @wozza_running_coach

HT

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SPINE SEASON!

We continue Spine Season with the return of Lindley Chambers, the king of all things kit list related. 

Lindley comes on the podcast to discuss everyone's favourite subject...the kit list for the Winter Spine Race. In this episode we discuss the recent changes to the list, controversial items being added/removed and the reasons for it. We discuss the changes to navigation equipment, mapping and checkpoints. 

We also talk about some of the issues that keep coming up for first time Spiners and what the race and the course expect from them! We discuss how technology is starting to help with kit checks and how he still gets hundreds of emails asking the same old questions every day. But, as he freely admits, he wouldn't have it any other way. Lindley firmly believes that if you're asking kit questions, then you're thinking about the race seriously, and there's nothing he wants more for this year's competitors!

If you're doing any of this year's races then this is a must listen!

HT

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SPINE SEASON!

In this episode I speak to Jamie Rutherford. Jamie is one of the original OG photographers on the race and has helped to build the storytelling style of the media team. 

In this episode we talk about his origins as a runner and as a photographer. We talk about his first ventures into race photography and how he was in the right place at the right time to earn his spot on the media team at the race.

We also talk about his recent decision to quit his job as a dentist to go all in on photography as a career! We hear about his trip to Asia and Europe to fulfil his dream of being a world photographer.

As always, Jamie will be back at the Spine in January so keep your eyes out for his iconic images!

HT

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Welcome to the Home Trails coverage of the 2026 Winter Spine Race!

We begin our lead up to this years race with a preview from a familiar face, John Kelly! John returns for the 4th time to Britain's most brutal race! He returns to better his race from last year when he was suffering with an attack of the sleep monsters on the first night of the race. John talks about this issue and his approach for this years race, which includes a home made 'altitude office' that simulates up to 14,000ft of altitude! Among other things obviously....

As well as talking all things Spine, we also talk about his attempt on the Appalachian Trail FKT earlier in the year. Coincidentally, the SFM film about this was also released this week. So go check that out on YouTube!

John talks candidly bout how the film is difficult to watch, but he also proudly looks back at the funds that he raised for local towns affected by the hurricane that swept through the area, causing so much devastation.

John as always seems laser focused and I can't wait to see what he does at this years race! 

 HT

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In this episode we welcome Holly Stables to the podcast fir the first time!

Holly has had a long career, firstly in competitive marathon running, before she transitioned into trail and ultra. We ask the 'Superhero' question and find out where it all began and where she is now.

Holly talks about the evolution f her training and approaches to feeling and strength. We dive into some of the races that she's won and CR'd over the years. Finally, we talk about her recent epic 300+ mile race in California at The Speed Project. Where she ran solo from the beaches of LA, to Las Vegas Nevada!

We talk about the nitty gritty of the hot dusty race and how she pushed on to finish in 2nd place!

Holly was recently at the Kendal Mountain Festival showing her very own film documenting the epic journey! Watch via the links 

https://youtu.be/XFq9SgVKhTA?si=JfP6piRIJRC4aRbe

We could have talked for hours so I'm guessing that Holly will be back. Most likely after she's taken on Cocodona in the USA next year!

HT      

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In this episode of the podcast we speak to Dan Weller. 

Dan returns to the podcast after previously being on in 2024, when we talked about his wins at the Montane Spine Challenger South and the Pennine Barrier Ultra. 

This time Dan talks about his 2nd place finish at Centurion Wendover Woods 50 and his year of racing so far. We dive into his new approach to training under his coach Sarah Cameron and his plans for the rest of the year. 

But obviously we couldn’t let him go without a big old conversation about our beloved Spine Race. Dan will be toeing the line at Challenger South in January, alongside Mark Darbyshire and Jack Scott (to name just a few) in what is shaping up to be the most competitive edition of the 108 mile route to date. 

Dan is one to watch  👀 

HT

@ultrarunning_sam

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