Running Won't Save You

Holly joins us from French France to tell us all about her most recent race and to discuss Kirsty's amazing Hardrock experience (yes we are still talking about that).

We ask why more top level runners don't discuss their races when they don't go to plan, what Allie did with the dog she found and answer some of your training questions as well.

This seasons podcasts are sponsored by Vertebrate Publishing - you can get 10% off all books using the code RUN10 at www.adventurebooks.com

Kirsty is back just two days after finishing the loop at the Hardrock 100.

She tells us all about it, from hanging out in the toilet with Courtney to seeing a bear up a tree and sliding on her arse down multiple scree slopes.

We find out how she feels about the completion after the cut off, what her highlights were and what Hardrock can do better, plus she answers some of your ace questions!

This seasons podcast are sponsored by Vertebrate Publishing - you can get 10% off all books using the code RUN10...

Please join us in welcoming out guest host for the season - the wonderful Laura Swanton Rouvelin!

Join us for an in depth game of getting to know you that may go a bit too in depth and threaten to bring up your breakfast - but we are nothing if not honest, lads.

Please make sure to send in your questions for Laura on the usual channels - she will back in a couple of weeks unless this episode gets us cancelled.

This seasons podcasts are sponsored by Vertebrate Publishing - you can...

Holly's back for this episode taking us through the various changes she's been experiencing in the last few months - warning - they're a bit sad.

We talk about her Cocodona DNF and why watching Western States was a joy plus we answer some of your ace questions - keep them coming!

This seasons podcasts are sponsored by Vertebrate Publishing - you can get 10% off all books using the code RUN10 at www.adventurebooks.com

Allie and Kirsty are back for season six!

Allie has been running 200 miles round mid wales on the Wild Horse 200, while Kirsty reports from Colorado ahead of her taking on the Hardrock 100. GOD IT'S SO EXCITING!

There's the usual waffle about stuff like what the circle pit was for and why Kirsty is sleeping in a tent, plus we answer some of your questions on change! Keep them coming!

This season's podcast is sponsored by Vertebrate Publishing - you can get 10% off all books using the code RUN10 at www.adventurebooks.com

In our final episode of the season we are joined by Centurion Race Director and highly decorated UK ultrarunner James Elson.

James has spent 15 years building Centurion from the ground up and talks to us about the process behind making these races work, the reality of what goes into them, how much they cost and the future of UK ultrarunning.

We also answer some of your questions.

You can find your first ultra at Centurionrunning.com.

This series is once again sponsored by our friends at XMILES - your one stop...

Theres more Community Contraversity this week as Allie and Kirsty (but mainly Allie) continue to be baffled by the 'not AI' weirdness that is their instagram feed.

We also chat about whether mistakes are part of the process or you can always get it right first time?

Plus we celebrate the best race companies we know and there are loads of them. I

f you would like to make a donation to Scottish Mountain Rescue in memory of the incredible David Parrish you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/david-parrish-1...

This week Allie and Kirsty talk about clubs, cults and other things starting with the letter C. Can you guess what they are?

Do all clubs have a duty to support runners of all abilities? Are any of them actually nice?

Plus we dive deeper into the Community Traverse debate and end up just as confused as we were before. What are your thoughts about this?

Keep your comments and messages coming in!

This series is once again sponsored by our friends at XMILES - your one stop nutrition shop, You...

This week Allie and Kirsty talk struggle, Imo Body and the curious case of the Community Traverse. What are your thoughts on the CT starting as a race company?

Would you give money to a company who have little to no info about their races on their website? Let us know!

This series is once again sponsored by our friends at XMILES - your one stop nutrition shop, You can get 10% off your orders using the code RWSY10.

TW - this podcast contains talk of suicidal ideation and mental illness.

This week Kirsty steps in for Holly as we cover everything from wholesome weekends away to quantification fixation.

There's some proper talk around acceptance and grief here, as well as a short discussion around suicidal ideatuon and mental health.

If this podcast has effected you and you feel like you need to talk to someone or need some help in this area you can contact Mind on 0300 123 3393 or the Samaritans on 116 123.

Please talk to your friends or...

This week Allie and Kirsty talk about the importance of human interaction within the process with regards to running and book writing; especially when it comes to learning, growing and sharing ideas.

We also have some great listener emails and discuss why curiosity is always better than judgement.

This series is once again sponsored by our friends at XMILES - your one stop nutrition shop, You can get 10% off your orders using the code RWSY10.

Holly is back fresh of her win at the Green Man with some brilliant advice about how to process your brain after your event.

We talk The Dip - depression, impermanence and post race crashes - as well as covering the awful news about ourea events and Allie plans for 2026 and beyond.

We also talk about poo. Again.

And there's a Sean Dyer update!

This series is once again sponsored by our friends at XMILES - your one stop nutrition shop, You can get 10% off your orders using the code RWSY10.<...

This week Allie and Kirsty discuss everything from Kirsty's hotly anticipated return to road running to why being a dick to yourself makes you a member of the partricahy, ladies.

We also ask why it is that we as a society value outcomes over process - we don't have an answer for this - if you do please let us know!

And we also make known our feelings on the UTS mess. Can you guess what they are?

There's a bit of a plug for Damos new book as...

Holly is back and she has got some epic advice re: Process for those of you with 200 miles plus on your to do lists.

Apologies in advance about how juveille and all over the place this episode is - I recorded it, then lost the recording, then made us record it again 12 hours later......but I actually think it's a really good episode!

This series is once again sponsored by our friends at XMILES - your one stop nutrition shop, You can get 10% off your orders using the code RWSY10.

We back! Welcome to the season opener where Allie and Kirsty spend ten minutes talking absolute shite before introducing the topic for season five - PROCESS.

We discuss what process actually is, why it's important and how a lot of us are getting it wrong, plus we marvel at how the women of the winter olympics are getting it right and why it's important to keep two eyes on the path.

The book Kirsty mentions is The Score by C.Thi. Nguyen.

We'd love to answer your questions on process - send them...

It's the morning after the two days before and we have an exclusive interview with Damian Hall, one if only two runners who made it to the end of loop three at the Barkley Marathons 2026. Here we get a very tired insight into the conditions and route this year, and clarification on whether or not Damian actually did run the third loop with no shoes on.

In addition we have some crew insight from Allie on what it takes to crew a person with no tracker and no phone and with no idea of where they are...

In this one off episdoe, Allie chats to Holly and Kirsty about her 2026 full WInter Spine experience.

As well as Allie's view from the race, there are also some great nuggets from Kirsty who was working on the Byrness CP, reflections on the race and a whole load of helpful tips from future Spine runners.

I'd say the pace of this pod is slow at best - sorry about that!

But we will be back in February with more mega banter filled podacs to keep you trotting along! The Running Won't Save You...

In the final episode of the series, Allie and Kirsty cover every topic ever including Kirsty's miraculous place at Hard Rock, who is the hardest on the podcast, Allie's new book, Sarah Perry doing Sarah Perry things and what the most tasty snack they have discovered via xmiles is, plus there's a bit of correspondence to end the season on.

Thanks so much for listening to season four - we will be back in the new year!

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

Allie is joined by Holly for the penultimate pod of the season and it's a correspondence special! There are a load of questions answered plus some TV chat and an update on the Boston Bellend - how far will we go to get him banned?

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

This week Allie and Kirsty discuss being gaslighted by Hoka, the Kendal mountain festival, alcoholism, the not yet theory and emotional avoidance vs endurance plus we talk about our fave Xmiles snacks and try and answer the age old question am I ready for an ultra? What a show!

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

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...