Ultrarunning Sam

On this episode of the podcast, I speak to Emma Stuart about her amazing results over the last year. After wins in the 2023 editions of the 100-mile Arc of Attrition, 100-mile Ultra-Trail Snowdonia, and third place in the 120km Lavaredo Ultra Trail, Emma moved up the distance further by entering Italy’s notoriously punishing 205-mile Tor des Géants, which she won 🥇 After a great start to 2024 with a 3rd place at the highly competitive Trans Gran Canaria. She now has UTMB on her radar for the end of her summer race season. We talk about running in her homeland of Ireland and her new home in The Lake District. Emma is a very humble and funny person and it was a pleasure to speak to her.

In this episode I speak to Christina Smith. Christina is an Olympic bobsledding athlete residing in Canada, who now works for The Enhanced Games. If you’re not familiar with the concept of the EG…….it’s set to be the Olympic Games for the next generation. Imagine the Olympics, but without drug testing. Imagine having a team of scientists and doctors overseeing everything in the name of science and research. Well you don’t have to imagine, because it’s coming! This isn’t just an idea thought up in a bedroom, it’s backed by a number of wealthy investors and is set to be the ‘formula one’ of sport. Rather than have strict regulations on athletes supplementing with performance enhancing substances. The EG has a science based approach. They’re allowing athletes to use anything they want to aid them in recovery and performance. Whilst at the same time providing them with medical supervision and conducting research on them. It sounds wild……and it is, but this conversation wasn’t so much about the prevalence of drug use in professional sport (which is around 44% apparently) but rather it highlights that in a world of testing, the enhanced games can be at the forefront of scientific research and help push athletes to new levels. I know this will divide opinions on what is morally right, but hear them out. You might be surprised by some of the logic in what they are trying to do. URS

On this episode of the podcast I speak to Sophie Power. Sophie shot to infamy in the 2018 UTMB race, when she was photographed breastfeeding at a checkpoint. Due to the races then policy of not allowing race deferrals due to pregnancy, she found herself racing with a 3 month old baby. When the image went viral around the world, Sophie realised that she now had an obligation to raise awareness of the failings of some race organisations with regard to female runners. The deferral issue was just the tip of the iceberg and Sophie through her organisation SheRaces, has begun to make a real change in the sport of running for all women. From providing female specific bathroom facilities, to changing wording and images on race websites to provide a more inclusive environment for women in racing. Many races around the world are now coming to SheRaces to find out how they can encourage female participation in all types of running. SheRaces now sets the standard for women in running. Go check out the website and socials! URS Home | SheRACES

In this episode we speak to Scott Jenkins. Scott is the first Brit to complete the gruelling Triple Crown of 200’s in the USA. Scott ran the Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200 and finally the Moab 240 to take 5th place overall. This all happened within 10 weeks! We chat about all of the 200’s he’s ran over the last few years. His adventures around the world and his plans for a certain UK race that shall remain nameless. We talk about his preparation, execution and his favourite hallucination featuring his wife! (not a witch) Scott is a great guy and pleasure to interview. URS

In this episode of the podcast I speak to Julian Ayres, Senior Lecturer at Wrexham University. Jules takes his research seriously! In an effort to improve his student’s resilience, he embarked on a mission into ultramarathon to find out how grit and resilience in physical activity can be applied to his students to help them improve outcomes in the workplace. We talk about that race beginning with S, and lots about the Dragons back and other big ultras and how his experiences helped shape his program for his students. Jules is a clever guy and it’s great to hear about his experiences helping others to improve their own resilience. URS

In this episode of the podcast I speak to UK ultra-running legend, and now bestselling author, Allie Bailey. Allie has risen to fame over the years with her no nonsense approach to running and life. She races brutal ultramarathons and has a reputation for her brutal honesty about pretty much everything! Allie is a recovering alcoholic and she has written a book about her life as an addict. In this podcast we talk about her love of running really really long races all over the world. Her former career in music and her battle with depression and alcohol. We talk about all things related and at times the conversation went deep on both sides. One thing we did agree on, is that RUNNING WONT SAVE YOU! Read her new book that’s out in print and on audible. ‘There is no wall’ URS

On the latest episode of the podcast I speak to ultra-running royalty Nicky Spinks. We chat about our shared experiences of this years race and how it went for her. We talk about her sleep strategy, fuelling and kit that she used. We also discuss hallucinations, the epic weather on course and wether or not she will return to Britains most brutal race. I’m really pleased to have had this conversation with Nicky as she’s been on my list of people that I’ve wanted to interview since the podcast launched. URS

I relive the highs and lows of taking on Britain’s most brutal race. We talk about my path leading me to this years race over many years of prep. We talk about the sleep deprivation, food and the weather that was particularly Spiney! We also talk about that infamous fall that almost ended my race prematurely. Great to chat to Kate as always. URS

Welcome to the last episode in the special pre-race Spine 2024 series! We end with last years 2nd place woman, Hannah Rickman. We talk about her year of globe trotting l, splitting her time between Malawi in Africa and good old Blighty. We discuss training, sleep strategy, mental preparation and most importantly FOOD! It was great to catch up with Hannah and I can’t wait to see what she can do at this years race. URS

In this episode of the Special pre-Spine race 2024 series, I speak to reigning Spine champion Damian Hall. We chat about last years race, his training for this year and I probe him on wether he feels any pressure returning to the race that he has invested so many years in. Damo reveals his tradition of watching an inspiring film the night before the race, in an effort to rev himself up for glory! A great chat as always with Spine royalty! URS

In the next instalment of the pre-race interviews I speak to Kim Collison about his prep for this year’s race. We talk about his experience at last years race and his hopes for this year. Notably, Kim has got to the bottom of his muscular issues and with a change of medication, hopes that he can be foreign on all cylinders come January 14th! We talk about his training, mental preparation and his racing strategy. URS

In this next episode of the pre-Spine race 2024 podcast series, I speak to Elaine Bisson. We talk about the injury that led to her DNF at last years race, how she feels about returning to The Spine and how she felt about having to cut her race short. We talk about her success at the Cape Wrath Ultra back in May and how it’s helped prepare her for the upcoming race. We talk about training, nutrition and her race strategy. We also talk about her love of art as her other passion. To see her art and read her blog, head over to https://www.elainebisson.co.uk/gallery-shop URS

In this episode of the special pre-Spine race series I speak to the race media team. Regular listeners will know that I’ve been involved with the race for the last couple of years as a volunteer and last year had the privilege to work on the media team. So in this episode I catch up with the media pals to discuss the upcoming race, their predictions for the runners and how they are going to approach covering Britain’s most brutal race! We also get some insights into Jenny’s recent race success at the Beyond The Ultimate Desert Ultra, where she explained that it is not too dissimilar to racing Citroen 2CV’s! A short but great catch up with the team that constantly bang out the quality content that we all get to enjoy come January. URS

In this next episode of the pre-Spine race 2024 podcast series, I speak to James Nobles. James is a returning guest on the podcast so we dive straight into the good stuff. We talk about his recent 2nd place at the Cheviot Goat and how it has set him up for success at the fast approaching Spine Race in January. We talk about his approach to training, nutrition and racing strategy as he contemplates lining up with some of the best ultra distance athletes assembled on the race. James is a super humble guy and I have a feeling he will do well at Britain’s most brutal race! URS

In this next episode of the pre-Spine race podcast series I speak to Simon Roberts. Fresh from his recent win at the Montane Cheviot Goat, we talk about his journey into ultra, his experience of previous Spine races and of course his win at the Goat. He talks about his love of the Dragons Back race and his passion for the shorter faster fell races local to him in Wales. With the Spine now only weeks away, we talk about his choice of gear, nutrition and his relaxed approach to racing tactics. Simon is a great guy and a pleasure to interview! URS

It’s that time of year again. Spine Race season! From now until the end of the year we will be releasing special Spine race episodes. We will hear from the team behind the scenes from the organisation, from the media team and from the runners themselves. We will deliver the big names hoping to do well again and also throw in some wildcard entries to keep your eyes fixed on the dots. First up we have Lindley Chambers, who is responsible for finalising the route and overseeing everything kit related. If you’ve had any involvement with the race personally then Lindley’s name will be familiar to you. He may strike fear into the hearts of many, but deep down he is just a passionate runner who shoulders the heavy responsibility of making sure nobody gets hurt or lost on Britain’s most brutal race! URS

In this episode of the podcast I speak to James Elson. James is well known for his exploits as a long course ultrarunner who’s completed some of the toughest and most prestigious races around the globe. He’s also the race director and head honcho at Centurion Running, who put on some of the best 50-100 mile ultramarathons in the UK. We talk about his own running career competing at The Spine Race, Tour De Geants and Western States. We also dive into the new World Trail Majors series that Centurions very own South Downs Way race is now part of. James also give us his perspective on the whole UTMB saga as it rumbles on in the trail running community and his thoughts on the direction that our sport will go in. Super nice guy and was a pleasure to interview him. URS

In this special episode of the podcast I get the exclusive first interview with the IRONMAN UTMB group about the recent events with Gary Robbins WAM races and UTMB’s new Whistler Ultra Trail race. I recently posted on social media that I was worried that we weren’t really hearing directly from them about what happened and their own perspective on what went down. I got the chance to virtually sit down with Paul Huddle - Senior director of global trail running and Keats Mcgonigal - Vice president of North American operations and ask them all the awkward questions that we in the trail running community have been wanting to ask them! Did they push out WAM intentionally? Or was it just a right place at the right time scenario? Did they regret their decision to host the race on that same weekend in September? How do they feel about the outpouring of anger towards Ironman for the announcement? And most importantly, how do they, and how do we, all move on from all of this to get back to the sport that we all love. Trail running in beautiful places! It was an eye opening interview for myself and I feel a lot more informed about what went down in Whistler. But don’t just take my word for it. Have a listen and see if you feel any different. Also please share the link for this episode everywhere you can on socials, so that more people get to hear both sides of this story! URS

On this episode of the podcast myself and Ben Wells Runs Fells speak to Kate Allen from the RunUltra website. Last week I wrote an article for the website discussing the current controversy surrounding the UTMB/Iron Man situation in Whistler. We have an unbiased conversation about who could be to blame (if anyone even is) and how the trail running community around the world have reacted to the announcement of their new race in British Columbia. We talk about the ethics of the decision to put the race on the same weekend that Gary Robbins and his Coast mountain trail running normally have their own WAM races. We chat about if it’s intentional, or just bad timing. Have a listen and decide for yourself. Kate also tells about the new inov8 store that’s opened up in Bakewell, serving the needs of trail runners in the Peak District. We also have the usual catch up about injury and the Spine race, so for those of you who play, get your Spine Bingo cards out! URS

On this episode of the podcast i speak to Matt Buck - AKA Running Bucky. Matt has been in the sport of ultra running for many years and has turned his love of trail running, into a profitable business. After a moment of inspiration at Marathon De Sables, he decided that running coaches don’t all have to be idiots. He also realised that there are many people out there who want to start trail running, but don’t know how to get started. Running Adventures was born out of that idea. We talk about his long standing relationship with Salomon as part of their trail running team and we talk about his other great passion, music. Obviously it wouldn’t be an ultra-running Sam podcast if we didn’t talk about The Spine Race. So to keep all of the Spine bingo players out there happy, we dived into his DNF at this years race in January and how he feels about it on reflection. Matt is a great guy and has had a lot of success coaching and guiding runners up and down the country. It was a pleasure to speak to him. URS