This week on The Runna Podcast, we’re live from the AJ Bell Great North Run with Paula Radcliffe MBE - world record-breaker, Olympic icon, and one of the greatest distance runners of all time.

From setting the untouchable 2:15:25 marathon world record that stood for 16 years, to winning the AJ Bell Great North Run with a course record, Paula has seen it all. 

Whether you're training for your first half or chasing a PB, this episode is packed with insights from one of the best to ever do it.

We unpack:

🏃‍♀️ Paula’s greatest racing moments & the 16-year world record that changed marathon history

🎯 Game-changing half marathon tips for pacing, fuelling, race-day prep & recovery

🧠 The champion mindset that helped her win London, Chicago & bounce back from failure

📈 Biggest regrets, proudest wins & how she stayed mentally tough through it all

🏅 Why the AJ Bell Great North Run is one of the most special races in the world

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to The Runna Podcast for more conversations with the greatest names in running.

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This week on The Runna Podcast, we’re joined by Olympian and Runna Coach Colleen Quigley for a practical coaching episode answering the most common questions runners ask - split across 4 core topics: training hacks, finding balance, recovering after injury, and mindset.

We cover:

🏃‍♀️ Training Hacks - How to structure your week, train smart when time is short, and make sense of heart rate zones

⚖️ Balance - Colleen’s honest take on juggling life, work and running without chasing perfection

🧠 Mentality After Injury - The emotional side of injury, rebuilding confidence, and staying positive

💬 Mindset - Why injecting fun into your training can make you a better runner

🎧 Already listened to Colleen’s Olympic journey? Skip straight to the coaching Q&A at 13 minutes. 

Whether you're chasing a PB or simply want to enjoy running more - this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to rate, share and follow The Runna Podcast.

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This week on The Runna Podcast, we’re joined by Ayesha McGowan - a history-maker, activist, and rider who didn’t even discover racing until her 20s. From learning to ride fixed gear bikes on city streets to signing with Liv Racing and competing in Europe, Ayesha’s journey is a masterclass in perseverance, purpose, and passion.

In this incredible conversation, we cover:

🚴 Starting from scratch: how Ayesha went from music teacher to pro cyclist

🏁 The underground street race that sparked her competitive spirit

💥 Winning her third-ever race and realising she wanted more

🌍 Her breakthrough moment racing the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche

👊 Creating A Quick Brown Fox, The Black Foxes, and The Abundance Project

📣 Why cycling must change and how she’s building new paths for women of colour

🧠 Life after pro racing: identity, advocacy, and redefining her impact on the sport

Whether you're a runner, rider, or just someone chasing big dreams, Ayesha’s story will inspire you to rethink what’s possible and to create the change you want to see.

🎧 Listen now and do not forget to rate, share and follow The Runna Podcast.

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This week on The Runna Podcast, we’re joined by Laura Weightman - two-time Olympian, Commonwealth and European medallist, and one of the UK’s all-time fastest women.

From toeing the line at London 2012 as a 21-year-old with everything to prove, to battling brutal injuries that forced her into early retirement, Laura opens up about the highs, the heartbreak and what comes next when your Olympic dream ends.

In this raw and honest conversation, we unpack:

🏃‍♀️ Making the Olympic final at 21 and learning to race without fear

🥉 The behind-the-scenes pressure of staying at the top - when everyone’s watching

🧠 Why mental health support changed the game after Rio 2016

💔 How career-ending injuries forced her to walk away on her own terms

🔥 What she wishes every young female athlete knew

👟 Finding freedom again through coaching, mentoring, and grassroots running

If you’ve ever had to let go of a dream, question your identity, or rebuild from scratch - this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to rate, review, and follow The Runna Podcast.

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What would you do if you were told, at just 23, that you would almost certainly develop dementia and lose your life within 10 –15 years?

This week on The Runna Podcast, we’re joined by Jordan Adams, co-founder of The FTD Brothers, who opens up about his extraordinary journey from teenage caregiver to record-breaking fundraiser and endurance runner.

After his mum was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia at just 47, Jordan became her primary carer through the final years of her life. At 23, he took the genetic test himself and learned he carries the same rare gene mutation. Faced with a terminal diagnosis, Jordan decided not to give up, but to use it as his ‘license to live’. 

In this deeply moving and powerful conversation, we unpack:

🏃‍♂️ Running his first marathon at 18, then 7 in 7 days, and 49 total to date

🧬 Receiving a terminal diagnosis at 23 & using it as a license to live

👨‍👩‍👦 Caring for his mum from 15 years old and coping with her loss

🌍 Running the length of the UK (Land’s End to John O’Groats) with his brother Cian

🎗️ Raising over £250,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK

💬 The mental toll of grief, survivor’s guilt & finding purpose

🔥 Future plans: a marathon in every Irish county, coast-to-coast Canada & more

👟 Why running helped save his life - physically, mentally and emotionally

Jordan’s story is one of grief, resilience, family, and relentless purpose. Whether you’re a runner or not, this is an episode that will stay with you.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to rate, share and follow The Runna Podcast.

✨ Use code PODCAST25 to try the Runna app free for 2 weeks.

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Welcome to The Runna Podcast - your home for the most inspiring stories, expert coaching tips, and behind‑the‑scenes insights from the world’s best runners.

Hosted weekly by Ben Parker and Anya Culling, The Runna Podcast dives into the journeys of Olympians, world champions, record‑breakers, and everyday runners chasing extraordinary goals. From mental resilience and training secrets to race‑day stories and funny “would you rather” questions - no topic is off‑limits.

On this channel, you’ll find:

🏃‍♀️ Exclusive interviews with elite athletes & everyday legends

💡 Coaching‑backed tips to help you train smarter & recover stronger

🔥 Honest conversations about setbacks, comebacks & finding purpose

🎥 Full episodes + shorts, highlights & behind‑the‑scenes content

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to rate, share, and follow The Runna Podcast.

🆓 Try the Runna app free for 2 weeks with code PODCAST25 → web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST25

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On this week’s episode of The Runna Podcast, we sit down with Richard Whitehead MBE - double Paralympic gold medalist, four-time world champion, and world-record marathoner - to hear how he turned barriers into breakthroughs.

We cover:

👦 Growing up with a disability & discovering sport through swimming and gymnastics

🏃‍♂️ Running his first marathon at 28 - with brand new prosthetics

🌙 Secret training runs, battling self-doubt & running 26.2 miles for charity

🥇 Winning double gold in the 200m sprint at London 2012 & Rio 2016

🌍 Fighting for inclusion: why representation matters for 16 million people in the UK with a disability

💡 Advice for beginners: positivity, perspective & simply getting out the front door

🔥 Why Richard has already completed 92 marathons and his mission to reach 100

🍕 Designing his dream race (flat, inclusive, and fuelled by pizza & Coke!)

Richard’s journey is about more than medals. It’s about belief, resilience, and proving that “normal” is what you make it.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to rate, share, and follow The Runna Podcast.

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At just 17 years old, Marcus Skeet, known online as The Hull Boy, became the youngest person ever to run the full length of the UK (LEJOG): 837 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats.

But the real story isn’t about the miles - it’s about why he ran them.

After his dad was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Marcus spiralled into severe OCD, intrusive thoughts, and depression. He couldn’t leave his room for six months. At 14, he attempted to take his life.

Then one day, Marcus went for a walk and it changed everything. That single mile turned into a marathon with The Hardest Geezer, and eventually, into a record-breaking, two-month run across the UK.

In this deeply moving episode, Marcus opens up about:

🏃‍♂️ Running over 1,300 km at 17 years old: averaging 20+ miles a day

🧠 How he overcame OCD, suicidal thoughts, and online bullying

💔 The darkest moments on the road and how he kept going

🎗️ Raising £160,000 for the mental health charity Mind

Marcus’s story isn’t about medals, fame, or finish lines, it’s about finding light when everything feels dark, and using movement to bring purpose to pain.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share The Runna Podcast.

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This week on The Runna Podcast, Ben and Anya break down the 12 most common mistakes runners make, from training to racing, recovery to mindset, and how to avoid them.

Whether you’re new to running or chasing a new PB, this episode is packed with professional coaching tips to help you train smarter, race better, and recover stronger.

We cover:

❌ The training mistake nearly every runner makes in January

⚡ The mindset shift that will make your running way more enjoyable

🚨 Race-day habits to ditch if you want to actually hit your goals

😴 Why skipping recovery might be your biggest performance blocker

🧠 How to stop comparing yourself and start running with intention

🎧 Listen now and follow The Runna Podcast for weekly episodes.

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This week on The Runna Podcast, we’re joined by two-time Olympian Elise Cranny and American record holder in the indoor 5000m.

From her breakthrough moment as a college athlete at Stanford to representing Team USA in both Tokyo and Paris, Elise opens up about the mental shifts that transformed her career and the mindset it took to not just reach the top, but stay there.

Mindset has the power to make or break your running - whether you’re just starting out or racing at the highest level. Tune in for tips that could change your perspective and your enjoyment of the sport.

We unpack:

🏅 The turning point in college where the Olympic dream finally felt real

🧠 Her evolution as an elite athlete – from chasing perfection to celebrating the wins

🚀 The importance of a healthy mindset for consistency and success

💡 Building a training rhythm she can actually sustain without burning out

🎯 Trusting her instincts, racing with boldness, and letting go of rigid splits

Elise’s story is about more than medals. It’s about self-belief, breaking the mould, and showing up with purpose.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to rate, follow, and share The Runna Podcast so you never miss an episode.

✨ Use code PODCAST25 to try Runna free for 2 weeks.

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