Taking on a 108 mile challenge on the Pennine Way is no small feat. But then our Yorkshire Correspondent Mel Sykes loves a challenge doesn't she?

Mel does most of her training alone and on the hills and moors, perfect preparation for this kinda endeavour...right?

Pushing personal boundaries is something we all should do now and again, and this episode may just inspire you to do just that. Did we mention that Mel did this as part of recce for a future challenge? Oh...we maybe missed that bit out!

Mel finished nearly six hours ahead of the second fastest woman, running a 32:22:19 and had also been inside the women’s record until some tough overnight conditions kicked in...we speak about that a bit!

This is a full and in-depth conversation about Mel's time on the Montane Summer Spine Challenger South event on 17/18 June 2023

From prepping (getting her hands on) essential kit, planning where to top up with water, mastering the use of poles, management of hydration, nutrition and sleep, there's quite a bit to cover and talk about!

As you'll find out during the episode, this was Mel's longest distance endeavour so far, and you might say it didn't all go to plan, but that's where we learn our most valuable lessons, and there's lots more to come from our Yorkshire Correspondent, You'd better believe that!

Also included in this episode are a number of answers from Mel to questions sent in over social media platforms, that cover shall we say 'a broad range' of topics!

Enjoy.

This week's guest is winner of the West Highland Way Race 2023 Stuart Johnston. You all know our fondness of the iconic route, that's no surprise, Stuart though brings an altogether different view of his memorable day to the table and deliver he most certainly does.

Before Stu rocks up we've some exciting intro chat revealing your chance to get your mitts on our brand spanking new Summer 2023 LeBuffBuff! be quick

Stuart, who only flipped the switch for him to start dabbling in the world of ultramarathons relatively recently, then joins the fray. Running his first ultra in 2019, and just 4 short years later, in his debut at the West Highland Way Race, crossed the finish line in 1st place to win the coveted first prize in a time of 16 hours 35 mins 31 secs.

Pre-lockdown (remember that?) Stuart confesses to cramming in too many ultras, it was around the same time he made contact with running coach Gary House and together they hatched a plan that had paid massive dividends.

There are golden nuggets aplenty in this episode as Stuart gives us access into his running toolbox, providing us with information around his nutrition, hydration, building mental strength, finding his breaking point and understanding his body. Oh...and ice lollies!

We speak about how Stuart trained specifically for the West Highland Way Race, how he planned to combat the heat, and in his own words, how he left 'no stone unturned', thoroughness seems one of his many talents.

Stuart also gave us a heads up about the work being done by Bruce Smith around exercise and type 1 diabetes as well as recommending a book by Patrick Wilson 'The Athlete's Gut' (see links at bottom of shoe notes)

In what is a superbly insightful episode into the immediate post race thoughts of Stuart we are treated to an hour and a half of diamond content. There's learning here for us all, tons of takeaways, ye might even need a few listens.

Bruce Smith around exercise and type 1 diabetes

Patrick Wilson 'The Athlete's Gut'

Just the two of us.....we can make it if we try.

That's right it's one of those delightful week's we know you all, errrm, long for. John and Stevie Boy chewin'

And we've plenty to pore over in this shorter than normal episode.

First up, if you can make yourself comfortable for our West Highland Way Race 2023 Race Review. John takes the

We also take a trip down south where we find out how our Yorkshire correspondent Mel Sykes got on in her on

Then we shift over to the states where our insatiable appetite for watching dots move across maps is fed by the

With a return of our semi regular feature 'Race or Not? and a surprise reveal of some new merch this might be a trimmed

So buckle up because 'Here Comes the Hotsteppers'

Only 5 weeks until race weekend! How did that happen??!!

After getting to know a wee bit about his history

The John Muir Way. A coast-to-coast waymarked path

stretching from Dunbar on the east coast of Scotland to Helensburgh on the west.

This week’s guest took on the entire route, all 134 miles of it, in a oner last

weekend. Say hello to Martin Gray, a man whose mission was powerful.

Martin joins us after a thorough intro where we cover this weekends

West Highland Way Race, the warm weather, another Stevie Boy running rant and

we’ve another round of our comeback feature 'Race or Not?'

Martin regales to us his running history, how he got into a

sport and blossomed, how it changed his life forever and how he’s become

indebted to his running coach who he values enormously.

Martin is no stranger to big challenges with a mighty progression made in his

running distances and times as he learned his craft - hard work and sacrifice

reaping reward by the way of finish lines and (impressive) finish times.

His why for choosing the John Muir Way endeavour though is a

real personal one, in memory of his old man he set off on his cross-country adventure.

The goal, apart from having the running experience of a lifetime, was to raise

money for Beatson Cancer Charity. Come listen in and discover how he phenomenally

achieved both.

Martin talks us through the event prep, the supporting cast he’s indebted to

and then onto how his journey panned out on what turned out to be one of those

rare Scottish days, that’s right the sun was blazin’ and the temperatures were

soaring. How did he cope with the inevitable attrition, what forces of nature

drove him onwards to that finish line?

Martin labours on paying regard to the many many people who supported him, whether

that was donating to his fundraising attempts, joining him along the route for

a few minutes or a few hours or even just by sending him a simple message.

So, step on in to the YHRF studio to hear how this gallus lad from Bishopton

ran home, with purpose, will and determination. For his Da.

You can still sponsor Martin’s fundraising, please give

generously to a simply awesome cause ⁠https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/martin-gray77⁠

As you get older you get slower?? This week’s guest Mark

And he’s not shy at telling us all about how he’s went from

This week we are joined by Freya Morgan, she’s better known

She’s doing something quite remarkable at the mo, it’s a serious

Sign and up get involved in Athletics Trust Scotland’s National

We're back with another superb episode of Access All Areas our 2023 collab with the Montane Lakeland 50 and 100.

In Episode 4 we're joined by Nick Wishart. Nick has 10 years of history with the event, it's included a fair few highs in amongst a couple of lows.

The event has become a huge part of Nick's life, and his family have all got in on the act too.

We natter about all things Lakeland spending time on both his multitude of finishes, his year manning the Mardale Head checkpoint with his club and then there was his 2022 experience! He should've been picking up his slate for ghis 5th 100 finish, he ended up In an ambulance getting rushed to hospital.

Jam packed full of advice none more so interesting than the contents on Nick's dropbag at Dalemain! It makes for essential listening as minds start focusing on race weekend at the tail end of July!

You can catch the video version of this episode along with other content on your hosts YouTube platform here: ⁠Access All Areas

We’re ramping up the temperature this week as we get ready

First though we’ve an extended intro featuring your dynamic

Welcome to the Young Hearts Drink Wine Podcast. It’s