In this episode, John and Steven look back on an unforgettable weekend at the Schneider Paris Marathon 2026. From elite-level organisation and iconic Parisian scenery to injury management, mindset battles, charity fundraising, and the magic of marathon community — this is a deep dive into what makes marathon running so special.

The episode begins with a heartfelt tribute to a much-loved member of the ultrarunning community before shifting into a full Paris Marathon debrief, race storytelling, and reflections on why we keep coming back to the start line.

Remembering David Parrish ⁠⁠David's Just Giving Page⁠🥐 Grab a croissant and a foam roller — we’re heading to Paris (and very sore quads) as we debrief the 2026 Paris Marathon: iconic sights, techno tunnels, and enough maranoia to power the Metro.

🏁 Is Paris the New Major?

Move over, Boston. With 60,000 runners, 145 nationalities, and in Steven’s words, “the best toilet provision in marathon history”, Paris is making a serious play for the crown.

🗼 The Route: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Seine.

🎶 The Vibe: Mile‑17 tunnel rave. Berlin club energy, Paris style.

🚿 The Water: No cups. Just high‑pressure hoses. Nothing humbles you like being power‑washed while chasing 8 minute miles.

🚑 The Hamstring from Hell

Four weeks out, Steven’s hamstring clocked off. Three weeks of stationary biking, physio prayers, and zero expectations later, he rolled to the start line to take on the 26.2 miles.

⏱️ Marathon Maths Is Real

Despite everything… 3:29:29

How? Peak Marathon Maths, spending the final 6 miles dividing 0.1 into your remaining will to live.

Verdict: A solid 20 mile run followed by a horrible 10K from the depths of despair.

💙 The Real Winners

🎗️ The Cause: £23k+ raised for Rooprai Spinal Trust. Huge shift, lads. Donation page still open

Frank McGaffney is back for his hat-trick appearance on the Young Hearts Run Free Podcast—and this time, he’s a 100-mile Backyard Ultra finisher! 🏆

In this weeks episode we sit down with Frank for a grippy, deeply honest and of course amusing 90-minute breakdown of his 24-hour / 100-mile journey at the Rasselbock Backyard Ultra.

From the "accommodation from hell" to vomiting in the corral, this episode covers the beautiful chaos of ultra running:

🤢 The Chaos: Abandoning a damp Mansfield rental for a Premier Inn, surviving a face-plant on Yard 10, and a salt-tablet-induced projectile vomit just seconds before the starting whistle.

🧠 The Strategy: How meticulous planning with Coach Fiona Watt turned previous "nutrition issues" into a masterclass of Pot Noodles, custard pouches, and perfectly timed gels.

🩹 The Grit: Dealing with "blisters from the underworld" and finding the mental strength to push through the night laps.

🌪️ The Finish: Hitting the magical 24-yard mark and what it means.

This isn't just a race report; it’s a story of resilience, achievement, and what Frank is already eyeing up 2027. 🏃‍♂️💨

Megan Boxall Tracker

In this episode we sit down with ultra-running powerhouse Anna Troup, winner of both Summer and Winter Spine Races including the 2025 Summer Spine outright. Anna opens up about training in the Lake District, navigating injuries, managing menopause, building resilience, and rediscovering her running identity.

Episode Highlights

• Anna’s journey from Oxford rowing → triathlon → ultras
• Living and training in Grasmere
• Why she prefers early morning sessions
• How cross-training keeps her running as she gets older
• First ultra: Hardmoors 60, “baptism of fire”
• Learning navigation the hard way on her first Spine
• Winning the 2021, 2022 & 2025 Summer Spine, plus 2026 Winter Spine (1st female)
• Handling recurring stress fractures & lessons from menopause
• Why women thrive in long ultras

• Cows, storms, lost moments, and the art of problem‑solving in big races
• Fuelling: “Rice, cheese and butter — that’s my magic bowl”
• Her go‑to kit: DexShell socks & ASICS Trabuco

Megan Boxall Tracker

After a four year wait, the legend himself finally returns. This week John and Steven welcome back ultra‑runner, adventurer, and all round good guy Martin Heggie for his hat‑trick appearance on the podcast and he brings with him one of the wildest race stories you’ll hear all year.

Martin has just completed The Tunnel, Mark Cockbain’s infamous 200 mile, 100 lap underground sufferfest in the darkness of the Combe Down Tunnel near Bath.

With 212 miles, sleep deprivation, hallucinations, chafing disasters, blisters, pot noodles, Irn Bru, and every emotion imaginable , this one has it all.

Allie Bailey Edinburgh Workshop

Megan Boxall Tracker

This week, Steven and John take the podcast on the road for a very special first: recording live from a professional podcast studio at Stravaig Sessions near Aberuthven.

Joining them for this landmark episode is Lee Campbell.

Lee is widely recognised across the Scottish running community for his infectious passion for trail running, his generous ‘Pentlands Socials’, and his adventures both at home and abroad. This episode dives deep into Lee’s story, humour, and heart - from learning to run after leaving football behind, taking part in the infamous Bed Run, and then taking to the trails and scaling alpine passes on the Tour du Mont Blanc. Did someone say ‘fucking nature!’

Lee shares his incredible journey from five a side footballer to adventure driven trail runner, opening up about everything from his first virtual marathon on his birthday to the life changing joy of adventuring on the trails.

We explore how the Pentlands became his playground, how his inclusive social runs have opened the hills to hundreds, and why he believes adventures beat races every time. We hear the story behind the Dinosaur route, tips for newcomers to the Pentlands, and is it Kips…or Chickens?

Expect stories of friendship, altitude, salted tatties, iconic Scottish hills, creative tattoos, community spirit, and a whole lot of laughter.

Whether you’re a seasoned ultrarunner or someone dreaming of your first trail pootle, this episode is full of inspiration, honesty, humour, and heart.

Lee on Instagram

Lee on Strava

Recorded at Stravaig Sessions

Would You Run If No One Was Watching?

​In this episode of Young Hearts Run Free, we sit down with ultra-runner, coach, and author Allie Bailey for a conversation that strips endurance running back to its raw, unvarnished truth.

​Allie isn't here to sell you the "running is a cure-all" dream. Instead, she challenges the modern obsession with metrics, exploring how watches, apps, and social media have transformed a simple joy into a performance to be measured and judged.

​In This Episode, We Discuss:

​The Comparison Trap: Why we’ve traded the joy of movement for the validation of the "upload."

​The Emotional Hangover: A candid look at the "crash" that follows legendary feats like the Dragon’s Back and the Spine Race. As experienced first hand by Allie.

​Sobriety & Mental Health: Allie shares her deeply personal journey through mental health struggles and the role of sobriety in finding her "purple patch."

​31 Days: Insights from Ali’s new book on the daily mindset shifts required to change how we think—not just how we run. A zero-bullsh*t mindset masterclass for the modern runner.

​Funny, fierce, and unflinchingly honest, this conversation moves far beyond the trails. It is an exploration of identity, the cost of resilience, and the vital importance of honesty and love when the finish line is long behind you.

​"Running isn't always the answer. Sometimes, it's just a place to hide. The real work happens when the shoes come off."

​Connect with Ali:

​Book: 31 Days (Available now here) https://www.adventurebooks.com/products/31-days-allie-bailey

​Socials: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ab_runs/

​Enjoyed the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more than you know.

​🎙️ SEASON 15 KICKS-OFF🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽️

​The wait is over, the squad is named, and we are officially kicking off Season 15! You know us for the tarmac and the trails, but this season, we’re bringing a different kind of energy to the podcast.

​🏆 The Season Theme: The Summer of ‘26

​With Scotland heading to their first World Cup since 1998, we are leaning into our obsession with the beautiful game. This season is a tribute to Football, Fans, and Finish Lines. Expect plenty of tactical nods, "injury time" drama, and World Cup fever—even if our feet are still firmly in our trainers.

​🏔️ The Opening Match: Britain’s Most Brutal

​To start the season, we’re going 268 miles deep into the Winter Spine Race on the Pennine Way. It’s the "Champions League" of endurance, and we’ve got two absolute star players in the booth: Llinos Proctor and Ross Beveridge.

​In the Season Premiere:

​The Warm-up: How to train for 268 miles of ice and grit.

​The Match Report: Full-blown hallucinations, star-filled skies, and the emotional "final whistle" at Kirk Yetholm.

​The "Twelth Man": A celebration of ordinary people doing the extraordinary.

​The Winter Spine - It’s not just a race; it’s a 268-mile cup final where the terrain and the weather present the toughest of opponents.

​🔗 SUPPORT

Click the link below to visit Llinos’s Fundraiser and show some love!

Lllinos Fundraiser Link

It’s time for the Season 14 finale episode featuring backyard ultra runner world champion Sarah Perry.

What a way to sign off season 14? We welcome back Sarah Perry for her third appearance on the podcast. Following Sarah’s previous milestones discussed on the show, running 41 yards at Rasselbock and then setting a UK women’s record with 59 yards at the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships, the boys dive into Sarah’s latest monumental achievement: completing 95 yards at the iconic Big's Backyard Ultra in Tennessee.

Sarah shares an inside look at the magic of running in Lazarus Lake’s backyard, her battle with unexpected back pain, the science of micro-napping, and her subsequent course record performance at The Hill just six weeks later.

Key Chaterations

• The Progression to 95 Yards: A look back at Sarah’s journey from 41 to 59, and finally to 95 yards at Big's.
• Preparing for Big's: Sarah discusses going "all in" for the opportunity to test her limits against the world's best backyard runners.
• Pushing Through Pain: Dealing with debilitating back pain during the race and the mental struggle of stopping just shy of 100 yards.
• The Atmosphere at Big's: What it’s like to run in Laz’s backyard and the uniqueness of the event.
• Course Logistics: The difference between the technical day loop in the woods and the night loop on the road.
• Backyard Admin & Scran: Sarah’s routine for fluids, nutrition (including American Applewood mash), and managing a shared camp space.
• The Sleep Strategy: Lessons learned about gear (bringing a bed next time!) and mastering the "micro-nap" to avoid sleep deprivation.
• Hallucinations and the 4th Night: Sarah describes the mental state of runners as they crack during the final stages of the race.
• Transition to The Hill: Breaking down the logistics of her 55 and a bit lap performance at The Wrekin in Shropshire.
• The Winter Spine: In January 2026 Sarah won the Winter Spine Challenger South MRT race. We hear all about what it takes to compete in such an arduous adventure.

Sarah on Instagram

⁠Megan Boxall Run Britain Tracker

In this episode, John and Steven sit down with one of the most accomplished ultra runners in the world, Beth Pascall. Known for her calm demeanour (earning her the school nickname "Millpond"), Beth shares her journey from medical school rowing to shattering course records at Western States and the Bob Graham Round. We dive into the mental and physical grit required to win iconic races in gruelling conditions and what it’s like to balance a career as a paediatrician with elite-level athletics.

Career highlights

2021 Western States 100 Champion: Finished first female in a time of 17:10:41.

Bob Graham Round Record Holder (2020): Set a then-record of 14:34:26, shaving 50 minutes off Jasmin Paris’s time.

Spine Race Winner: Winner of the notoriously difficult winter Spine Race.

Cape Wrath FKT: Completed the trail with Damien Hall in 4 days, 9 hours, and 43 minutes.

Key Topics and Highlights

The "Millpond" Mentality

Beth explains how her naturally calm personality has been an asset in ultra running. Despite the high stakes of world-class competition, she views herself as a "normal person" and remains largely unphased when racing against global superstars.

The 2021 Western States Victory

Beth recounts her legendary 2021 win during one of the hottest years in the race's history.

The "Wobble": She admits to having a major physical struggle at Mile 70 due to the heat, where she actually had to sit down for a few minutes to lower her core temperature.

The Finish: She didn’t feel certain of the win until Mile 94 when she learned she had a significant gap over second-place finisher Ruth Croft.

The Bob Graham Round:

Beth describes her record-breaking Bob Graham Round as her most enjoyable running experience. She talks about how the running community comes together to support a single runner, featuring pacers and volunteers who were, in many cases, total strangers.

Nutrition and the Evolution of the Sport

The conversation explores how much sports science has changed in just a few years. Beth discusses the trend of high-carbohydrate intake (90g+ per hour) and shares her sceptical but open-minded take on modern supplements like ketones and bicarb.

Technical Terrain Over Flat Roads

Despite winning flat races like the 24-hour Self-Transcendence, Beth admits she doesn't actually enjoy road running. She highlights the Glencoe Skyline as her favourite type of "gnarly" course.

Beth on Instagram

Megan Boxall Run Britain Tracker

In this "2 Of Us" episode, Steven Watt and John Cassidy catch up on recent winter running highlights, provide a comprehensive wrap-up of the brutal conditions at the Winter Spine Race, and reveal their own massive running and fundraising goals for the upcoming season.

Discussions include:

• Looking back at "Running Rants," the "UN Awards," and the challenge to create creative Strava art.
• Five Star Run Club: Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the running initiative in Auchterarder founded by Steven’s wife, Fiona.
• The Nigel Barge Race: John recaps his 56-minute finish at the Maryhill event and his goal of finishing before a specific one-hour playlist ended.
• Winter Spine Race Roundup: A detailed breakdown of results across all distances, including the 268-mile full spine won by Sebastian Raichon and Anna Troup.
• Major Announcement: John reveals he has signed up for the Summer Spine Challenger South (108 miles) this June.
• Fundraising for CALM: John discusses his motivation for supporting the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and his commitment to not cutting his hair until the end of the year to raise suicide awareness.
• Road to Paris: Steven announces his return to racing at the Paris Marathon in April, fundraising for the Rooprai Spinal Trust (RST).
• Megan Boxall’s UK Run: Highlighting Megan’s incredible journey running the circumference of the UK (200 marathons in 200 days) for the Samaritans.
• Arc of Attrition: A look ahead to the upcoming winter ultra in Cornwall.

• Megans tracker: YBTracking Viewer - 200 Marathons 200 Days
• Megans Instagram
• JC's Fundraiser

Enjoy