The Brig Boys Podcast

Once again, Karl takes on another major marathon - one that he has some unfinished business with. As he chases that elusive road PB we discuss the event itself, as well as every other major and the feasibility and affordability of taking part in these epic events. The Brig Boys discuss all things pacing (Preston Half Marathon) and racing as we look towards the end of what has been a fruitful year of running.

We are joined this week by an absolute legend of the running world with former Bob Graham record holder, Beth Pascall. Beth has some quite frankly incredible results under her belt and talks us through the highs, lows and in-betweens of what has been a fantastic career. Working through injuries has taken it's toll both physically and mentally but Beth remains ultra professional and positive as she looks forward to what she can achieve and what exactly is left to do for the woman that has pretty much done it all! A real pleasure to talk to such an...

Also known as @runstretchsucceed - we caught up with the main diva and ultra endurance connoisseur, Andrew Farrall. A fellow Protein Rebel ambassador, Andrew is a well known and sometimes controversial character in the running community - with some fantastic experiences under his belt, we wanted to hear more about his past, present and future in the world of ultra. This episode is full of exclusives and expletives so buckle in for the ride of your life...

With summer well and truly over, the Brig Boys reconvene to discuss the plans for the remainder of 2026 and of course the results of everyone's favourite ballot - Lakeland 50/100 for 2027. With The Lap and Berlin Marathon still to go for the lads, there's still plenty to play for in 2026. All the hot topics are covered including who provides the best medals, the best t-shirts and the best events. We are BACK.

We are joined this week by a local rising star of triathlon, Leah Hoole. Hailing from Darwen, Blackburn she has already achieved so much in such a short time in the world of endurance. We discuss the importance of family and role models in sport, as well as taking part in some of the most epic events on the planet... Completing Kona before smashing the half iron man to book her place at the World Champs in a few weeks.

I guess it's about time we moved on from the epic Lakeland 100 / 50 weekend in Coniston... BUT before we do, we got together to debrief our own races and the latest experience where both Brig Boys came home with a PB each across the distances. Talking fuelling, strategies, results and future planning... One thing is for sure, we're already looking ahead to 2027!

We all know what it means when we say "Lakeland Family", but Thea and Jess take it one step further as the mother & daughter duo successfully finished the Lakeland 100 2026 together. After an epic weekend we discuss the strong family history in endurance sports as well as Thea's competitive nature as she currently holds the record for the youngest ever Lakeland 100 completion after starting with the Lakeland 1 she is also a proud "Triple Crown" holder. As always we are inspired by the guests we host and their stories - if you love Lakeland, you'll love this!

As we are dangerously close to the Lakeland 50/100 2026, we draw our focus into the people that make the event - the amateur runners. Phil and Em join us to discuss their own journey towards Lakeland, starting with the 50 and then straight onto the 100... Although they fell short of the distance in 2025, they have not stopped believing and will once again take to the start line in Coniston in 2026.

This week we welcome back an incredible athlete and a man whose journey in life has been tumultuous to say the least; we've never met someone with such resilience and had the pleasure to share the airwaves with Luke Grenfell-Shaw who currently sits in the top 1% in the world in UTMB rankings. His story is unique from a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis at a young age to donning the coveted Team GB vest with the small feat. of cycling the distance of Bristol to Beijing on a tandem bike. Luke is an awesome athlete and an inspirational man, who continues...

If you're anything like us, you've had your fair share of blisters and chafe in places you didn't think you could... Foot care is the bane of many a trail / road runner and is something we are constantly on the hunt for advice and guidance on. Up steps Dave Johnson, a man who has now dedicated a business to support runners of all capabilities to have one less thing to worry about come race day... We learn all about Dave's impressive background in running including several BIG distances and pick his brains for all things foot care, bllister prevention...

The Brig Boys return to discuss all things ultra distance. One week after Ste's completion of a solo 86 mile run from Wallsend to Bowness On Solway on the Hadrian's Wall Path, we discuss what goes on both physically and mentally during and after these extreme distances. How do people prepare for ultra distances, and most importantly how do people recover?! What kind of planning does it take to go from one side of the country to another on foot and what kind of support really helps in those dark moments. Massive thank you to anyone who donated to the...

Fresh out of Snowdonia after another podium finish, Keith discusses his 3rd place finish at the UTS 100K and unpacks the challenges and tribulations that comes with being at the top end of the field. Keith talks us through his history from getting into the ultra scene relatively late and the changes he's seen since joining the Elite Trail Team with coach and friend of the podcast - Doug Stewart. Every race is an opportunity to learn and we get the lowdown on Keith's reflections just days after UTS. With a current UTMB index of 867, what's next for Keith...

Ground control to Major Karl - The Brig Boys get back together to discuss Karl's epic trip to the USA to complete the most prestigious of Marathons. With Major Marathon season in full flow we get the immediate reaction of Sebastian Sawe's record breaking London win alongside the incredible standard set for sub-2 marathon runs. If you've any interest in marathons, be them major or minor - we've got you covered.

Spring has well and truly sprung as we head into marathon season; discussing our upcoming events including the epic Boston Marathon journey for call and the hot dog Manchester Marathon for Ste. We head into April full of hope and carbohydrates and discuss fuelling strategies, pacing plans and of course how we continue to learn with every run. Here we go!

The Brig Boys spread their wings once again and speak to Dave Ross of the world famous "Ross Running News" - coming live via Zoom from the USA. Dave has forgotten more than we'll ever know about running (and celebrity birthdays) and we caught up with him in Karl's lead up to Boston Marathon. As a chap who has rubbed shoulders with some of the greats including Mr Kipchoge - we wanted to know Dave's story and his journey to Major Marathon completions...

The Brig Boys are BACK and catch up with Elite Trail Team star and all round fantastic person - Poppy Collingwood. One of the runners made during Covid times, she has continued to develop into a magnificent runner as well as a mentally tough athlete. Poppy has some epic performances to her name including an Arc of Attrition win as well as podium finishes in some of the most difficult races in the world. We discuss the lows of injuries and how to deal with that in an emotionally mature manner, as well as the importance of safety on...

At Brig Boys HQ we pride ourselves on giving a platform to both established and upcoming talent in the world of sport. Matt is Blackburn Harriers latest export with some incredible performances at a young age, including his recent 10K win at Ribble Valley (29.05 - ludicrous!). Matt is on his way to a great running career, with a positive attitude and love of the sport - it was great to hear another local lad smashing it!

Instagram: @matt_ramsden

Most people don't see an advert for a rowing team wanted to cross the Atlantic and decide it's a good idea... But Ellie Reynolds isn't most people, she's an ordinary woman doing extraordinary things and we could not get enough of hearing about her adventures. Over 3,000 miles and close to 40 days at sea including Christmas Day, Ellie and her "There She Rows" team completed a gruelling journey from the Canary Islands to Antigua. Ellie's story is as compelling as it is inspiring and with her recent book release, we wanted to get her "Why" and dig into her motivation...

Most people don't see an advertisement for joining a team to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic with no prior rowing experience and think "Yes Please!" - but Ellie is not most people, she's an ordinary woman doing extraordinary things. We want to know all about her adventures after the recent release of her book "There She Rows", heading back to her days completing at Iron Man before taking to the oars to spend 39 days at sea alongside the There She Rows team. Amazing story and another awesome guest!

Instagram: @ellies.row.journal

The Elite Trail Team are a force to be reckoned with and continue their huge results and performances since founder Doug Stewart took charge. The team are data and insights driven with focuses on sleep, nutrition and psychology living up to the old adage "If it can be measured, it can be managed". The team features some of the finest trail runners across the globe and their results continue to speak for themselves. With a few former guests being in the team, it would be daft not to speak to the founder and their 2026 plans wouldn't it...

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After a short hiatus from the studio, the Brig Boys are BACK with a bang. Discussing Ste's journey down to Cornwall to experience his first UTMB race at the Arc of Attrition 100K. With 50 miles of mud, sweat and (nearly) tears, there's a lot to unpack as he continues to chase running stones. What's the verdict, is it recommended and what actually happened on the 100 mile route too!? Karl kindly provides some therapy and helps Ste process his emotions on this January ultra... What's next for the Brig Boys!?

With the upcoming Arc of Attrition weekend, we spoke with one of Cornwall's finest imports - Loyd Purvis of Run4Adventure. We discuss Loyd's entry into running, the Cornish fresh air that miraculously cleared his asthma, and of course his awesome adventuring through his running history. Loyd & Liga have been around the globe and have encouraged countless runners to get out on adventures - we talk all things Arc, UTMB, fuelling, kit of choice and running strategy. A big 2026 is on the horizon for this fantastic team!

Instagram: Run4Adventure

YouTube: Run4...

2025 has come and gone and The Brig Boys discuss their personal running highlights as well as some fantastic race performances from previous guests or local legends. After the Ribble Valley 10K we discuss positioning and some (since resolved) issues around chip and gun time. Do people take park run too seriously? and what's next for the boys in 2026, more progress and a lack of excuses... we hope.

With the final running events of 2025 taking place, we catch up with one of Britain's finest in the shape of Hugh Chatfield. A runner who keeps getting better and better, as he now forms part of the fantastic Elite Trail Team and has a new found laser focus on being the very best he can be. Hugh talks all things data analysis, ultra running, competing and sleeping - as we unpack his illustrious career, epic performances and of course hear some of his unique experiences including the Dragon's Back, Arc of Attrition and many more... Enjoy this final episode...

Another member of Elite Trail Team is back in the St-Hugh-dio!

Hugh is an incredible athlete and a gentleman and it was our pleasure to host him over the Christmas period.

Midlands based athlete Joe Farrelly has burst onto the running scene after a string of epic performances on both road and trail. We wanted to know more about the person who cruised into a fantastic 3rd place finish at Kullamannen 100K and booked himself a spot in UTMB history. Joe talks us through what made him the man (and athlete) he is today, from his journey into some dark places to the ultra disciplined athlete we see today. This open and frank conversation was an absolute belter and with his attitude and dedication we are fully expecting Joe to...

Also known across the socials as @runfreerehab - Sophie joins the Brig Boys to discuss her recent injury and the impact that has had both physically and mentally, as well as unpacking the myths and facts about REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). This episode was another fantastic education for us, as we learn some of the key ingredients for a successful home workout, the importance of calorie intake and most importantly: Recovery Runs - are they all they're hyped up to be or should you avoid them entirely? There's something here for everyone to learn, and we had...

This week the Brig Boys are joined by Lake District legend - Tom Smith, who continues to get bigger, better, faster and stronger at every distance and race! Tom has recently set a blisteringly fast new course record at one of our favourite events (The Lap) as well as annihilating the course at the 7 Valleys ultra. Tom's mental strength and resilience accounts for a lot of his success, he truly embodies the grind and seems to thrive on hard work and dedication. It was great to chat to this fantastic character who is getting some much deserved recognition from...

The Brig Boys reunite to discuss the latest races and review not only their own performance but each event including Chester Marathon 2025, 5 Valleys (part of the 13 Valleys series) and Rivington Half Marathon. With plenty of events to choose from it gets harder every year to plan and target certain races. As always we learn from every mistake and performance to see how we can continue to improve in all aspects of our running. It's not always about the time, but it is always about having a good time... Let's have it!

This week we have the honour and privilege of hosting 2nd place female from our favourite race: The Lakeland 50/100. Placing 2nd in the 50 in such a competitive and highly popular race is a magnificent achievement and Alice's story is as engaging as it is inspirational. Alice's love for running and the social element that comes with the sport is clear, and this conversation seemed to flow and fly by! Alice's journey has been no means easy and as she continues to flourish in the running world, we are so pleased we could be the first podcast to interview her...

In this episode The Brig Boys talk to the fantastic Sonny Peart and recount his journey into running from the first marathon experience, taking on London Marathon to wild future plans including the Mountain Ultra - taking on approx 200km of terrain in Kyrgyzstan - a far cry from the canals of London. Sonny is the co-founder of Black Trail Runners and gives us great insights into the experiences of People Of Colour within trail running, how and why it was created, and what we can do to as allies to support. The story of the creation of BTR...

The Brig Boys got together with Speed Project extraordinaire and former Commonwealth athlete, Holly Stables for a chat around all things speed, strength and suffering. We dive deep into the highs and lows of her incredible effort in The Speed Project - an ultra endurance event covering well over 300 miles where each individual has one aim - get from A to B as quick as possible on foot. Holly talks through the road to recovery from injury and the importance of strength work when it comes to achieving your speed goals. An amazing insight to a truly special athlete. <...

Meryl's rich history in sport comes apparent in this episode where we learn from one of Scotland's finest trail runners and coaches. From a background in football - once playing (and partying) with Diego Maradonna - to her current fantastic running streak as part of Team GB. Meryl has been all over the world and her fitness journey most recently took her to the home of mountain running - Chamonix in Switzerland, shortly after winning the Swiss Alps 100km in an amazing race in tough conditions. From Snowdonia, Chamonix, Transgrancanaria and Dubai - Meryl's elite ultra story is one...

Keswick is home to some of the UK's most talented runners and Jacob is no exception. After smashing a lifelong ambition of following in his grandfather's footsteps to complete an impressive Bob Graham round, he has a rich history in fell running and his love for both the sport and the landscape comes across clearly in this interview. Jacob rose to fame through the short movie George; both heartbreaking and heartwarming telling the story of Jacob's struggle before and after his diagnosis of Crohn's to discovering his 4 legged best friend. Check out the movie and listen to Jacob as...

We've followed Mel's journey for a while now and love her attitude, sense of humour and incredible athletic performances she continues to show on a daily basis. Mel is one of the first names on the team sheet for Lakeland 100 and she proves why in this frank and open discussion. Mel is genuinely inspiring and only 2 years ago discovered she needed treatment for Chiari malformation (a rare neurological condition) - since then she has returned to the trails stronger than ever, completing The Winter Spine in January 2025 as well as smashing her Lakeland 100 times. Mel runs on feel, negating...

Join us this week in an exclusive episode with Lakeland 50 outright winner and Inov8 sponsored athlete: Lewis Bowness. There's no slowness when it comes to Bowness as he cruised into Coniston in a cool 7 hours and 52 minutes, knocking over 2 hours off his 2022 time. At just 23 years old, he speaks with a maturity beyond his years and has an exceptionally bright future ahead. The tale of the victory is awe-inspiring and it was fantastic to see a local lad take home the trophy in 2025.

The Brig Boys are BACK together and spend some time unpacking this year's fantastic Montane Lakeland weekend. Once again - we had a great time in Coniston and on the course. In this episode we breakdown the course, nutrition and the performances at this year's event. Will you be in the ballot for 2026?

Running won't save you. But you already knew that... Our guest this week is author, athlete and coach; Allie Bailey. This episode flew by after covering a range of topics surrounding the world of ultra running, addiction and attitude towards 'grindset mindset'. Allie demonstrates her core values better than most and is admirably honest about her past in her quest to help people enjoy the adventures of life (with some pretty impressive running achievements in the mix). We absolutely loved this conversation, she really doesn't give a f*ck.

As part of our 'Countdown To Coniston' when nerves, niggles and nutrition are at their peak - we wanted to speak to veteran of the trails and physiotherapist Danny Brunton. Danny has completed a Lakeland 50 and no less than FOUR Lakeland 100s - in search of the elusive slate on his fifth visit to Coniston this year. Danny gives us advice on coping with injuries, some key exercises and guidance on how to win the head game and get round over 100 miles of trails in a single run. We appreciate Danny taking time away from his punditry to dig...

All roads lead to Coniston and after 2 years of podcasting together, The Brig Boys find themselves once again ready to take on the Lakeland course. With experience over a number of years in both distances, we share our advice, high points and lows. The Lakeland weekend was at our core when launching the podcast back in 2023 and 2 years to the day we return to our favourite topic. This episode is for any budding ultra runners or those in search of advice from people that have been there, done it and worn the t-shirts (size medium).

Will you...