Running Won't Save You

Praise be Holly is back! This week it's a bit of a strength special because so many of you tell us you find the gym to be the hard thing - so we have got some ace info for you to get you started or keep you going - let us know if its helpful - PLUS there is an update on last weeks prick from the running club situation and Allies 5Km horror challenge. Keep your questions coming!

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - you get 10% off all your orders...

In this week episode, there's something for everyone from fell racing to butt plugs to pants. Allie and Kirsty discuss why we're all getting winter wrong, we answer some of your questions and launch an investigation into a man being an absolute bellend (I know - hard to believe). Let us know what you think in the comments!

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - you get 10% off all your orders using the code RWSY10.

Holly's on erm...Hollyday, so we are absolutely thrilled to be joined by extra special friend of the show and backyard ultra world champion Sarah Perry! Sarah is not only one of the most wonderful humans ever to grace the earth but also one of the greatest ultrarunners this country has ever produced. From her first 30 miler to smashing the world record for the BYU, we talk about what it took to break that record - and it's not what you think. The word brutal is not mentioned ONCE. Huge thanks to Sarah for taking time out to discuss...

In this week's highly professional and well-presented podcast, Allie and Kirsty cover pretty much everything from David Goggins to why they don't go to parties. Fresh off a lovely trip running up and down all the Northern Wainwrights, there is some hopefully inspiring chat about how to cope in harsh conditions on the hill, dealing with body image, the difficulties of changing your mind and how to set goals as you grow older and so slower.

Thanks so much for your amazing questions and keep them coming!

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly...

This week Allie and Holly talk injuries and setbacks, where suffering actually comes from and the problem with entwining yourself worth with your hobby. Be warned - this one gets deep.

Theres also some chat about the awesome Sarah Perry as she continues to smash the women's BYU record and we answer a listener question about the difficulties of time management - keep your questions coming via email or DM.

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - you get 10% off all your orders using the code RWSY10.

Podcast favourite Kirsty Reade is back, and she knows what she's talking about which is a massive relief for everyone. This episode we talk a LOT about Tour Des Geantes and Tot Dret, discuss books, chat disaster planning, play a bit of hardness top trumps thanks to ChatGPT, and talk about why the word 'resilience' is totally misunderstood.

Let us know what you think and send us your questions on toughness and resilience via instagram or email.

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - you get 10% off all your orders...

We're back! Our fourth season theme is Doing Hard Things and in this episode Holly and Allie talk about what we actually mean by that - and the results may surprise you. There's a lot of chat about mental health that some people may find triggering, some might find helpful and we try and answer the question why do we do these things when they have the ability to make us feel so shit?

We would love your questions on the topic Doing Hard Things - please send them to us via the email link in the...

Our end of season interview is here and we are thrilled to be joined by top sport psychologist Dr Josie Perry. In this episode we discuss the problem with Strava, how not to attach your identity to an outcome and how to define what success means to you to make your running more fun and fulfilling. There are also some really helpful tips on how to define your purpose and why it's important to do so, plus we answer some of your listener questions. Huge thanks to Josei for her time. You can get hold of her books and...

Damo and Allie are back for the final co-host episode of the series to discuss Damians successful win at the Lakeland 100. Damo talks us through the highs and lows of the race, his focus, plan and how he exectued it but the big question is how many times wil he mention UTMB? Spoiler alert - it's a LOT. There are also some really bad jokes plus answers to your questions about his race.

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off all web orders using the code RWSY10. www.xmiles.co...

Welcome to your diverse sports episode! This week Allie and Kirsty talk about football, golf and of course Via Ferratta (never forget) and are joined by a special guest in the form of Allie's sister Janey who at 55 has just completed her first 100 miler. There's also come chat about getting the race you deserve, the arrival fallacy and some book recommendations you may not be expecting - links below!

And So I Run: https://www.adventurebooks.com/products/and-so-i-run?srsltid=AfmBOopYSJHSlOpMPyqyAMwqwnUP6tFQui7Ryn4Y7ZEJg4zmQYbu-eoR

No Lost Causes Club: https://www.amazon.co.uk...

This week Allie and Holly talk about Dan Lawson's incredible success on the SWCP, setting a new FKT and doing it in the quietest, simplest, and most pure way possible - we could all be a bit more like him? There's also some chat about Hollys most recent race at Ham and Lyme and as always, we answer some of your questions - keep them coming!

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off all web orders using the code RWSY10. www.xmiles.co.uk.

We are also proud...

It's a packed show this week as Allie and Damo talk about Lakeland 100 prep, John Kellys' AT attempt and Dan Lawsons jog along the Southwest Coast path as well as answering some of your listener questions and discussing your successes. There are some discussions around HRT and menopause - links to what we discussed below. Keep your question's coming in because we love them!

Renee's Webinar on menopause: https://reneemcgregor.com/product/help-ive-hit-menopause-webinar-replay/

https://blog.freshfitnessfood.com/blog/navigating-the-perimenopause-with-renee-mcgregor/

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off...

Strap in everyone - this one goes deeeeeeep. This week Kirsty and Allie talk everything from AI induced sexism to being manhandled off a course. The bulk of the podcast focuses on defining success and the ways in which we can refocus ourselves to see the best and not worst in our efforts, how all circumstances are neutral and how to get the most out of our efforts. There are also some top tips stolen from Killian (train with intention and be curious!) and some ace stories from you listeners - keep them coming please! The Running Won't Save...

Allie and Holly finally catch-up post Summer Spine and of course end up talking about foot flakes, chaffing, poo residue and how Jon Shield went, in their eyes, from zero to hero by failing to meet his own standards. Success takes many forms and sometimes not getting the result you want can be a huge win. There are a few shout outs for our own successful pod listeners, producers and mates and we share what David Roche would sound like if he really had been made by Elon Musk.

We would love to hear some of your...

In this episode, Damian catches up with Allie just hours after her incredible win at the 160-mile Montane Summer Spine Challenger North. With one of them running on just 18 minutes of sleep, they attempt to piece together what happened — while trying (and mostly failing) to keep the conversation from descending into delirious nonsense. Allie shares how she framed and reframed her mindset before and during the race to keep things working in her favour. Expect plenty of laughs, sleep-deprived ramblings, and a fascinating insight into ultra-endurance racing.

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XM...

She's back! This week Allie is rejoined by her friend, mentor, and hero Kirsty Reade - fresh of the back of an ego smashing race in Italy. In this episode we talk books (as always), ego, FUCKING INFLUENCERS, Italian mountains, Kevin Munt, tennis, skill, effort, and talent. PLUS, we try to answer the question do our definitions of success change with age?

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off all web orders using the code RWSY10. www.xmiles.co.uk.

We are also proud to support The Green...

Our season three opener covers everything from depression to tiny hippos as Allie and Holly dig into what success means to them. There's some interesting chat around societal vs personal success plus the usual catch up and rants - and who on earth actually thinks they can pace Killian at Western States?

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off all web orders using the code RWSY10. www.xmiles.co.uk.

We are also proud to support The Green Runners, Pre-Loved Sport and the Re-Action Collective. Give them a...

Our season finale features the incredible Siân Longthorpe.

Running has been an integral part of Siân’s life for the past 35 years. For many years, as a decent club runner, the focus was on training hard to race everything from 5Ks through to ultra marathons – both on the road and the trails – with a marathon PB of 2:35. However, since 2016, racing has largely taken a back seat, with running instead helping to navigate the particularly challenging process of transitioning from male to female. For the past four years, Siân has been a proud member of the ASICS...

This week we have the Northern Traverse course recording holding, tea drinking, Danby Wiske hating Damian Hall co-hosting a podcast that we had to record twice because Allie deleted the first set of files.

Find out what Damos best bits, worst bits and most babyish bits of the NT were, how he became both an unlikely fashion icon and a groundbreaking chef on the course plus when does and ultra just become a big walk? Allie has to issue YET ANOTHER public apology, there's some extremely exciting tea chat and we give out some last minute London...

What have poodles, umbrellas, VIP boxes and the sky falling in got in common? They are all things that Kirsty saw on her incredible run from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay on this year's Northern Traverse.

In this episode Kirsty talks about comparing events when you've done them more than once, and how to know when you're ready to take on these huge distances.

She also shares with us her newest endurance challenge - reading the Hardest Geezers book. There are some of your questions anwsered as well as the usual waffle - let...

This week Allie is joined by Holly straight off her incredible second place at The Speed Project - we talk about the highs and lows, the blood, sweat, tears and people telling you wrong distances.

Theres a great 15 mins section at the end where we have all the hosts on for the first time ever, as Damian and Kirsty celebrate completions, wins and records set at the 200-mile Northern Traverse. What a bunch of overachievers eh?

The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off all web orders using the...

Thie weeks podcast is a bit different, and some might find it distressing from the start.

Please jump straight to the interview at about 10 mins in if you don't want to hear about Allie's struggles with depression over the last few days.

The main feature today is a brilliant interview between professional frenemies Damian Hall and John Kelly. They discuss what made the Barkley so hard this year and ask the question can you compare Barkleys, Spines or Tors? They also talk about what comparison means to JK who comes up with some very wise...

There is discussion about mental health crisis and suicidal ideation from the start.

This week Allie is re-joined by podcast fave Kirsty Reade who has once again 'done the research' and has a whole host of interesting stuff to share. You can expect chat about Bullshit Comparisons (the excellent book by Andrew Brookes) Josie Perry's top tips for not comparing yourself to others and why our sense of perspective is totally fucked.

It's a proper banger of an episode. Recommended today are the Billy Monger Comic relief documentary The Race is On (iPlayer), and The...

Brace yourself! (that's a super funny joke about this week's pod....)

This week is a Holly Stables special where we talk about all things Speed Project before she jogs off into the sunset via some horrendous roads, deserts and bitey things.

This episode has some ace questions for you lot plus a brilliant conversation about what we shall call Inspiring Comparison - the stuff that lifts us up and keeps us pushing in a super positive way. To keep up to SPEED with Hollys fun adventure you can follow @thespeedproject @rushbynature and search Make Running...

Damos back! And he's fresh of a 40-mile race that he DIDN'T win....so we have a great opportunity to talk about who DID win, and how an elite athlete see's comparison and competition.

Huge congrats to Ellis Davis and big ups to Limitless Trails for their excellent events.

There's a good chat on comparable races actually ARE when there are so many variables, and we answer a couple of listener questions and talk about the incoming Northern Traverse and how that feels different to Damos FKT.

The Running Won't Save You podcast...

Podcast favourite Kirsty Reade is back as my co-host and it doesn't disappoint!

This week we're talking about why Kirsty didn't actually want to cover comparison as a topic - and what that has made her find out about herself, why thinking "I'm onto you" is a sign your in the comparison trap, and how upward social comparison may make you a better runner.

We also ask how can we make comparison bring out the best in us as opposed to the worst in us and find out why Kirsty is once again taking on...

Welcome back dear listener! It's time for season two - and this season theme is COMPARISON!

I'm joined by my co-host and coach Holly Stables (AKA the hot woman on the treadmill) for a quick catch up to find out why she's wearing a ski suit in the gym, what she's been up to since the last time we chatted and to go through whether Comparison can ever be a good thing (we think it can).

We also answer - or try and answer - some of your questions and give you a bit of...

It's the end of season special, and I have only gone and got the King of Consistency, The Master of Change Brad Stulburg on to talk to me about sustainable excellence and the mindset stuff that takes people from bang average to sort of OK at running.

We cover everything from tragic optimism to activation energy and discuss the differences between consistency, motivation and action and ask is discipline really a dirty word?

I loved this interview and want to thank you all for your amazing questions - let us know what you think by...

And now...the end is near. It's the last 'normal' episode of Season 1!

In this episode myself and Damian talk about how to be consistenctly green (spoiler - you can't), how much fun we had in the Village Green and also talk about Damos move from INOV8 to NNormal.

We have a final update from Gemma (or is it) we review the best jokes of the pod and we announce what our new theme for season two will be - and it's a great one!

Please send us your questions and conundrums and...

We are thrilled to be joined by not one but SEVEN of the female Spine competitors on this episode as they drop in to tell us what consistency meant to them on and before their races.

In addition, Allie and Kirsty chat about the genius of Oliver Burkeman, what really went on in those Spine checkpoints and why you really should Stay on the Bus.

Please send us your questions and conundrums and let us know what you think about consistency via our Instagram (@runningwontsaveyoupod) or on email runningwontsaveyou@gmail.com. We would also love...

This week we have a correspondence and coaching special - a little catch up on the questions that you have been sending through to the pod for the wonderful Holly. There is some absolute coaching gold in here, so make sure you save this one and send it everywhere as we cover everything from heart rate to RPE to why we get mega sad after big races. We also have an update from our own experiment Gemma on how her consistency project is progressing and a little reminder to come and see the both of us at the National...

It's Spine week! Basically, this is like Christmas for Damian, so we've done a little Spine preview for you, detailing the runners and riders for the 2025 edition plus we talk about the value of consistency during a 268-mile race. We answer a couple of your questions, debated the "8 year" rule, plus we reveal who out incredibly special end of season interviewee is.

Please get your questions for Brad Stulberg in ASAP via email or Instagram and we would also love you to leave us a review wherever you get your pods.

Running Won't Save You...

Happy New Year! Strap in, this ones a good one - and please don't talk to us about new years resolutions.

This week Kirsty and I tackle the quagmire around motivation vs discipline, routine and consistency and try to work out how to make running more like Duolingo because we all love Duolingo right? There are some really interesting questions and comments from the listeners and we share why the language you use around your training is as important as your training itself and how doing the basics well will change the game.

We've also...

Welcome to episode four with Allie and Holly!

This installment brings with it a super-duper exclusive announcement about Holly's next challenge and it's a HUUUUGE one, plus its Christmas, so we have approximately zero Christmas content for you.

There's a catch up with our experiment Gemma, and update on what Lemmy the dog has been eating this week (it's disgusting) and a rather good conversation about Comparison - when it's useful and when it's not and what you can do to help yourself to not be such a prick to yourself. We also have some...

On this weeks episode Allie is joined by Damian Hall - you say consistency, he he says consistant TEA. LOLZ.

There's quite a lot of chat about Allie's recent outing on the Winter Downs 200, and Damo's experience of crewing her (he's been offered counselling) but we're staying relevant here and chatting about how to maintain a consistent pace and why it's important to do the basics well on these long, long efforts. We've also got some great questions from you guys - keep them coming please - and Damo offers us his take on what consistency means...

Episode two is here and I'm thrilled to be rejoined by one of the best - it’s Kirsty Reade!

Kirsty’s take on consistency is just fucking brilliant and, in this episode, we talk about the importance of showing up, being a “B” grade student and why is impossible to be consistent AND hot every goal. We’ve got some great advice from super ultra endurance machine Lucy Gossage, a catch up with The Experiment Gemma, we discuss apps vs coaches and how buying a set of Lego may well change your life.

Word of the wee...

Welcome one and all - episode one is here and it's a belter - if you like people catching up because they haven't seen each other for a bit and talking about poo. Allie and Holly are at the helm for episode one, discussing everything from job changes to coaching chemistry and laying the foundation for the theme of the season which is CONSISTENCY.

In this episode you get to meet our real-life experiment Gemma and hear what consistency means to both Allie and Holly - and you might be surprised by what they have to say.<...

Most decent podcasts have an introduction episode. Here’s mine. It’s awful. You’re welcome