Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

Welcome back to the resident podcast for the 2025 Montane Winter Spine Races!

In this episode we speak to the women's and men's podium for Challenger South and North. 
We talk to Nicki Spinks and Samantha Lissauer about Challenger North and Jon Shield gives us a lesson in gluing his Leki poles back together! (as well as his thoughts on the race, obviously)

We also catch Kim Collison briefly at CP2 Hawes, where he was leading the race ahead of Eugenie and the following pack.

Tune in for more to come this week at the Spine!

URS

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

This is not a traditional podcast episode but......this is the audio from the start line interviews during the extended Instagram LIVE. 

If you're a SPINE nerd you will appreciate this....if not then please don't come at me in the comments!

Featured are Laura Swanton Rouvelin, Hannah Rickman, Allie Bailey, Sarah Perry, Simon Roberts and a host of off the cuff interviews.

Maybe you recognise a voice and can tell me who I spoke to?
Send me a message!

URS

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

Episode 2 dives into some of the contenders from the mens race and Jack and Damo interview each other? Next they will be arm wrestling!

More episodes to come this week so stay tuned!

URS

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

The Ultrarunning Sam Podcast becomes the resident podcast for the Spine Race 2025!

Tune in for regular episodes throughout the week!

This episode is an intro to the week and some thoughts on Challenger South.

URS 

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

I talk to Mike and Craig from the Running Show about what they have in store for us at this years show.

We talk about what Mike has been up to since we last spoke. We talk about Craigs baptism of fire at the LA Marathon and when he will complete his first ultra!

Was great to catch up with the team and hear about all of the stuff they have planned......including a 48HR world record attempt on the treadmill by Sophie Power! (rather her than me!)

For tickets to the show head over to https://nationalrunningshow.com 

URS

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

Myself and Robin are joined (briefly) by Kate to start the TURA 2024 awards podcast!

We dive into the stats and reveal the winners. From best brand, most sustainable race to the big one........Trail runner of the year!

Theres lots to unpack from the awards and we will be releasing the additional info from each category to give everyone the full picture of how people voted.

We've learned a lot from the experience and we hope that people enjoyed the first edition of TURA. As we've said all along, we will improve going forward and we look forward to everyones input in the coming year!

Thanks to everyone who took the time and voted. 
We will reveal the prize winner tomorrow!

URS

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

In this episode I speak to Laura Swanton Rouvelin, who is returning to this years Spine Race.

Laura has had mixed success at the Spine over the years, from a DNF due to back pain, to returning only to have the same back issues, but gutting out the rest of the race to finish. 
She then came back in the summer of 2023 to land on the podium in 2nd place and 7th overall for Britains Most Brutal race.
This time she takes on the winter race hoping to better her previous performances.

We talk about her approach to training and how that's changed over the years under the watchful eye of her coach - Kim Collison. We talk about the steps she's taken to strengthen her back in preparation for carrying the infamous "Spine Pack"

We talk a lot about how she juggles work, parenting, running and her favourite hobby, horse riding!

We talk about everything that the Spine throws at you, from spectacular views, to destroyed feet and everything in between!

This was a great chat and I'm really excited to see how she gets on next week!

URS

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

In this episode I speak to Tom Hoyle, AKA The Hiking Hairdresser on Instagram, to find out about the man who seems to be everywhere there's some Spine Race action to be had. From training weekends to the race media team, Tom is making a name for himself!

We talk about his route into trail running, his career as a professional photographer and his latest project ULTRA IMPOSSIBLE - 'A raw insight into the unique individuals from within the running community.'

We talk about what the project means to him and what he wants it to achieve. We talk about his own struggle with self confidence and how running and his photography have helped him personally.

Obviously we talk about our mutual favourite race, the Spine, how we met on the race and what his plans are for the media team this year.

For more information you can contact Tom through either his Hiking Hairdresser or Ultra Impossible pages on Instagram.

URS

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

In this episode I speak to returning guest Emma Stuart, AKA The Running Vet!

We talk about her recent win at Centurion Winter Downs 200 and the aftermath of her spectacular performance where she not only led the entire race, but finished with an injury and still took first lady and second overall!

We talk about her recovery, what she's been eating and the surprises she's had since finishing, including an unscheduled visit to the dentist this week. We talk about how she turned a DNF at UTMB into motivation to have a crack at the WD200 course.

We talk about how the race compares to other big ultras and the conditions that she encountered during her recce weekend and the race itself.
We dive into her fuelling and sleep strategies and how she would approach the race if she goes back next year.

URS

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️

In this episode I speak to Rebecca Devereux about her journey to this years winter Spine Sprint, the first 46 miles of the Pennine Way.

Rebecca is a member of the ever growing community and charity, Black Trail Runners. A group seeking to increase the inclusion, participation and representation of people of Black ethnicity in trail running.

We talk about her path into ultra trail running, her training and racing leading up to this years race and how she is slowly coming to terms with the epic challenge that she's set herself, taking on Britain's most brutal race!
We discuss the support that Adidas Terrex has given her through their Infinite Trails Race and how she represented BTR through it.

We also discuss the issues faced by people of colour coming into a sport, that until now has been known for its participation by mostly white, middle-aged men!
Rebecca talks about her own insecurities when she first stood on a start line and looked around to see nobody that looked like her.
Black Trail Runners -BTR endeavour to change the previous demographic of a mainly white dominated sport and show that trail and ultra are a sport that is open to everyone.

To find out more please follow the links below ⬇️ 
Insta @rebecca_runs_wild
Black Trail runners @blacktrailrunners 
Coach :  @kotwf 
Black to the Trails Sunday 11th May 2025 
https://www.blacktothetrails.co.uk

A mention and thanks to @adidasterrex for their support and  @lakes.divide and their journey fund.  
I'm also an Ambassador for @torqfitness as well. 

@infinitetrailsrace
Here is the link to the film we made about our Infinite Trails journey with BTR 

https://youtu.be/8aMVuVduGOo?si=tNCiRHpfVDkzxL4K

URS

@ultrarunning_sam

@hometrails_

http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam