The Jake Dearden Podcast

In this episode, we dive deep into the science and practice of endurance performance — from starting sport at a young age and discovering swimming at 13, to VO2 max, efficiency, training intensity, nutrition, hydration and heat adaptation.

We also explore why working harder isn't always the answer, how to structure training effectively, and the key principles athletes can use to improve performance without simply adding more hours.

New episodes every Tuesday & Friday.

00:00 — Intro

10:00 — Discovering Swimming at 13

20:00 — What Actually Drives Endurance

30:00 — Training Smarter, Not Just Harder

40:00...

Luke joins us for a conversation about his journey from football into elite running, the decision that changed his sporting path, and his experience of competing and training in the US.

We talk scholarships, cross-country, track, brutal training, racing pressure, marathon preparation, learning how to win, and the mindset required to keep pushing when the goal is to become the best possible athlete.

New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

00:00 – Meet Luke & his sporting background

09:50 – From football to running

18:40 – The US scholarship opportunity

26:30 – Discovering life as a run...

Saskia is a full-time doctor, elite HYROX athlete and lifelong runner — and in this episode we get into how she balances high-level training with a demanding medical career.

We talk about her journey from running at nine years old to competing at an elite level, the impact of stress fractures and RED-S, strength training, nutrition, the female menstrual cycle, performance pressure, and what it's really like trying to train around long days and night shifts.

New episodes every Tuesday & Friday

00:00 — Meet Saskia: Runner, Doctor & HYROX Athlete

01:42 — How Running Starte...

In this episode, HYROX World Champion Meg Jacoby shares her journey from NCAA Division 1 distance runner to becoming the first woman to break the 60-minute mark in HYROX. She breaks down her training routine—including double threshold days, high-volume cycling, and heat adaptation—and opens up about overcoming back surgery and a severe knee injury. Meg also discusses quitting her engineering job at age 32 to turn pro, being coached by her partner Benny, and her plan to return to the Elite 15.

New episodes every Tuesday & Friday.

00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:06 – Who is Meg Jacoby?

00...

In this episode, we break down the reality of reaching an elite level - from consistency, high mileage and recovery to genetics, running drills, mindset, super shoes, double-threshold training and heat training.

We also get into the demands of being a full-time professional runner, HYROX training, shoe rotation, and why doing more isn't always about running harder.

New episodes every Tuesday & Wednesday.

00:00 Intro

05:33 The Mile World Record & Super Shoes

13:23 What's Happening in Track & Field

15:58 How Do You Become an Elite Runner?

19:16 Genetics...

Sean Noble joins the podcast to break down what it really takes to become one of the world's best HYROX athletes.

We discuss why he left his legal career to go all-in on HYROX, how he coaches himself, the biggest mistakes athletes make in training, race strategy, running performance, wall balls, sled work, injury setbacks before the World Championships, and the mindset required to compete at the Elite 15 level.

New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

00:00 Intro

04:00 Why simple training beats complicated programming

10:00 Strength training that actually...

CrossFit Games legend Noah Ohlsen joins the podcast to discuss his incredible 15-year career, transitioning into HYROX, balancing elite competition with family life, and why winning isn't everything.

We dive into the differences between CrossFit and HYROX, training for longevity, the mindset behind competing at the highest level, the sacrifices elite athletes make, and what's next for Noah after competition.

New episodes every Tuesday & Friday.

00:00 Introduction

04:45 How Noah Found CrossFit & Became a Pro

11:10 Inside a CrossFit Training Week

17:50 Jake's Journey Into HYROX

24:10...

Fergus Crawley joins the podcast to break down what it really takes to become a hybrid athlete. From lifting 500lbs and running a sub-5-minute mile to completing Ironmans and ultramarathons, Fergus shares the training, mindset, and sacrifices behind his incredible achievements.

We also dive into his powerful journey through depression, purpose, men's mental health, and why vulnerability became his greatest strength.

New episodes out every Tuesday & Friday.

00:00 Introduction & Fergus' incredible achievements

05:20 How hybrid training really works

15:30 The 500lb squat + sub-5-minute mile challenge

31:30...

In this episode, Jake Dearden sits down with HYROX co-founder and three-time Olympian Mo Fuerste to discuss the story behind HYROX, how it became a global fitness phenomenon, his Olympic career, the future of the sport, and much more.

Episodes out every Tuesday & Friday.

00:00 Meet HYROX Co-Founder Mo Fürste

05:15 The Origin Story of HYROX

14:30 Designing the Perfect Race Format

24:45 Why HYROX Never Changes

34:20 The Story Behind the HYROX Name

42:00 Growing HYROX Into a Global Brand

52:30 Judging, Penalties & Fair Competition

In this episode, we sit down with podcast host, content creator, and runner Calum Goddard. Callum shares his journey transition from behind-the-scenes producer on The Fellas Podcast to stepping in front of the camera and documenting his personal fitness and running journey.

New episodes out every Tuesday & Friday.

00:00 - Intro

04:35 - From Producing The Fellas Podcast to Being On-Screen

07:15 - The Fitness Transformation: Overcoming Bad Habits & Gym Anxiety

16:38 - First Marathon Experience & How Running Brands Took Notice

18:50 - The Science of Marathon Fueling & Hitting the...

Elite marathon runner Jake Smith opens up about running a 2:11 marathon to battling an eating disorder, RED-S, stress fractures, and dangerously low testosterone, Jake shares the reality behind elite endurance sport.

We discuss the obsession with being lighter, the physical and mental consequences of under-fuelling, how he rebuilt his health, and why he's now happier and running better than ever.

New episodes out every Tuesday & Friday.

00:00 Introduction & Jake Smith's incredible journey

10:15 The eating disorder that nearly ended his career

20:30 RED-S, stress fractures & asking for help

British ultra runner Imogen Boddy joins the podcast to share her incredible journey from team sports in Yorkshire to breaking records in some of the world's toughest endurance events.

We dive into her 77-hour Speed Project record from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, running John O'Groats to Land's End, completing the National Three Peaks the hard way, and the mindset required to keep moving when your body wants to stop.

We also discuss nutrition, recovery, sponsorship pressure, mental resilience, and why learning to enjoy the process transformed her running career.

00:00...

Olympic marathon runner Phil Sesemann joins us on the podcast to talk about what it takes to compete at the highest level while balancing life as an elite athlete and NHS doctor.

We dive into marathon training, race preparation, mindset, recovery, the realities of professional running, and the lessons Phil has learned on his journey to the Olympics.

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Olympian, World Champion and professional climber Shauna Coxsey joins the podcast to share her incredible journey from discovering climbing at just 3 years old to becoming one of the most successful climbers in the world.

We dive into the reality of competing at the highest level, the sacrifices required to become World No.1, the impact of climbing entering the Olympics, overcoming injuries, motherhood, mindset, motivation, and her next big challenge: attempting the hardest climb of her career.

00:00 Intro

05:24 Why Climbing Is So Addictive

08:03 How Climbing Changed Over the Last 30 Years<...

In this episode, Jake Dearden sits with Anya Culling to discuss her incredible journey from running a 4:34 marathon to representing England with a 2:34 personal best.

We dive into the health challenges she overcame, the mindset that fueled her transformation, lessons on nutrition and RED-S, social media, chasing big goals, Ironman training, and what it really takes to perform at your best.

00:00 – Introduction

01:30 – Taking 2 Hours Off Her Marathon Time

04:45 – Health Struggles, Tumours & Thyroid Disease

08:15 – Building a Resilient Mindset

10:10 – Why Running Changed Everything During Lockdown

16:00 – RED-S, Losin...

British ultra runner Imogen joins the podcast to share her incredible journey from team sports in Yorkshire to breaking records in some of the world's toughest endurance events.

We dive into her 77-hour Speed Project record from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, running John O'Groats to Land's End, completing the National Three Peaks the hard way, and the mindset required to keep moving when your body wants to stop. We also discuss nutrition, recovery, sponsorship pressure, mental resilience, and why learning to enjoy the process transformed her running career.

00:00 Introduction

01:15 The...

James Warnock joins the podcast to share his journey from working at PwC to building SAP, one of the fastest-growing brands in the running space. We discuss grief, social media, entrepreneurship, endurance sport, building community, and what it really takes to create a business from scratch.

00:00 Introduction

02:25 Losing His Dad & A New Perspective on Life

04:00 Working at PwC & The Corporate Career Path

07:25 Starting on Social Media & Finding His Voice

11:55 Grief, Therapy & Mental Health

16:10 Leaving Accountancy & Taking the Leap

18:10 Building SAP: The Idea Behind the...

Jake Wightman joins the podcast to share the journey from growing up in a family of elite runners to becoming the 2022 World Champion over 1500m.

We dive into his upbringing, being coached by his dad, signing his first Nike contract, Olympic experiences, brutal training sessions, sponsorships, injuries, the business side of athletics, and his mission to bring runners together through his coffee brand.

00:00 Intro

01:00 Growing Up in a Family of Elite Runners

03:05 First GB Vest & Signing With Nike

07:00 Being Coached by His Dad

15:10 Why the 1500...

Michael Murray is the CEO of Frasers Group, board member of Hugo Boss, HYROX World Championship qualifier, and a sub-3-hour marathon runner.

In this episode, we dive into Michael's journey from building businesses at university to leading one of the biggest retail groups in the world. We discuss fitness, leadership, HYROX, marathon training, building Everlast Gyms, managing pressure, balancing family life, and the mindset required to perform at a high level in both business and sport.

00:00 - Introduction: CEO, Athlete & Dad

00:38 - Growing Up in Sport & Fitness

03:49...

Hercules Nicolaou joins the podcast to share the incredible story behind his 1,200km run across Greece, averaging 85km per day for 14 days. We dive into ultrarunning, entrepreneurship, mental resilience, building a successful business, overcoming self-doubt, and the lessons learned when everything goes wrong.

00:00 Intro

01:00 The 1,200km Greece Challenge Explained

05:25 Training While Working Full-Time

07:15 Childhood, Confidence & Growing Up as "Hercules"

15:00 Building a Multi-Million Pound Delivery Business

21:40 Entrepreneurship Lessons & Never Quitting

26:45 Leaving His Business & Joining Cadence

31:30 Work Ethic, Fear & Providing for Family

35:30...

Paige Dana joins the podcast to share her journey from professional dancer to content creator, coach, marathon runner, HYROX athlete, and Ironman finisher.

We dive into how she built a fitness career online, trained for her first marathon, learned to swim as an adult for an Ironman, balanced coaching with high-level competition, and developed the mindset needed to chase elite performance.

00:00 Intro

01:00 Growing Up Playing Football & Discovering Dance

02:00 Training as a Professional Dancer

04:40 Covid, PT Qualifications & Entering Fitness

09:40 Starting a Food Page & Building Social Media<...

HYROX MC Faisal Abdullah (Mr PMA) joins the podcast for an honest conversation about positivity, confidence, fatherhood, mental health, and the incredible growth of HYROX. We dive into Faisal's journey from being a movie extra and Barry's Bootcamp instructor to becoming one of the most recognisable voice in fitness. He shares powerful lessons on resilience, grief, mindset, social media, and why positive mental attitude has become his life's mission. We also discuss the future of HYROX, Olympic ambitions, upcoming athletes to watch, and what it's really like being the man on the microphone during the biggest races in the...

Theo Baker joins Jake Dearden to talk about his 12-year journey on YouTube, building successful podcasts, dealing with burnout, and turning content creation into a full-time career. We discuss dropping out of university, the evolution of YouTube, and how fitness transformed his life.

We also explore Theo's journey into running, triathlon, Hyrox, marathon training, Ironman preparation, injury setbacks, and the mindset needed to balance elite-level endurance goals with a busy creator lifestyle.

00:00 - Intro

01:30 - How Theo Got Started on YouTube

05:00 Crazy McDonald's Stories & First Jobs

09:15...

Holly Archer joins Jake Dearden to share her incredible journey from getting detention after a school cross-country race to becoming a European silver medallist and one of the most respected endurance athletes in the UK.

We dive into her experience in America, missing out on the Olympics by the smallest of margins, life as a professional runner, altitude training, sponsorships, Hyrox, and what it really takes to perform at an elite level.

00:00 Intro

00:07 Chasing A Scholarship To America

00:12 NCAA Life, Culture Shock & Learning To Compete

00:20 Full-Time Work...

On todays episode we sit down with Sam Griffiths. In this episode, we dive into his training, nutrition, recovery, mindset, injury prevention, and how he rapidly lost 110lbs. We also discuss his weekly mileage, marathon-specific workouts, building accountability and the lessons he's learned chasing peak performance.

00:00 – Intro

05:30 – Gaming & Health Issues

12:45 – Falling in Love With Endurance Training

21:10 – Travel, Adventure & Lessons From Around the World

34:20 – Building a Marathon Runner’s Mindset

53:35 – Morning Routine & Training Discipline

56:08 – Why Podcasts Changed His Running

57:20 – The Monster Marathon Workout

01:02:00 – In...

Gabby Moriarty joins the podcast to share her journey from a young athletics athlete in Northampton to becoming one of the UK's top HYROX competitors.

We dive into her running background, marathon success, the coaches who shaped her career, why she stepped away from competitive running, and how she eventually found her way into HYROX. Gabby also opens up about resilience, training alone, competing at the elite level, and what it takes to keep improving when you're constantly chasing the athletes ahead of you.

00:00 - Intro

02:00 - Childhood Athletics, Running & Learning...

Rugby league star Josh opens up on the highs and lows of his career, from being dropped at 14 to becoming one of the sport’s top try scorers. We talk mental resilience, family, autism, training, recovery, switching to rugby union, losing the love for the game, and finding it again at Leigh Leopards.

00:00 – Intro

02:31 – Growing Up in Leigh & Discovering Rugby

06:12 – Getting Dropped by Wigan at 14

10:09 – The Comeback & Signing Again

13:12 – Mental Resilience & Family Life

18:24 – Super League Debut & Early Success

24:26 – Winning Finals & Career Highlights

33:33 – Switching to Rugby...

Jack Birch is a strength & conditioning coach at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center, working with some of the best athletes in the world - from Olympians and skaters to endurance athletes and world champions.

In this episode we discuss elite performance, recovery, genetics vs hard work, burnout, confidence, injury rehab, and what really separates good athletes from great ones. Jack also shares behind-the-scenes insight into the Red Bull APC in Austria and LA.

00:00 – Intro

02:45 – Jack’s Journey From Devon to Red Bull LA

05:08 – Working at West Ham as a Young...

Olympian Andy Butchart and elite runner Alfie Manthorpe joins the podcast to talk marathon disasters, Olympic Village stories, altitude camps, elite running culture, Hyrox potential, and building a new running community in Manchester. From sh*tting yourself mid-race to chasing Olympic dreams.

00:00 – Intro

08:00 – Olympic Village stories, Rio & Tokyo experiences

16:00 – Marathon disasters, injuries & race horror stories

24:00 – Recovering from the marathon & training struggles

32:00 – Altitude camps, Flagstaff & how elites train

40:00 – Building a Manchester running community

48:00 – Training mindset, pressure & staying relaxed

56:00 – Running shoes, gear obsession & recovery

1:04:00 – H...

In this episode James Kelly joins the podcast to talk about his rise from Aussie Rules football to becoming one of the world’s top HYROX athletes. We dive into elite training, mindset, pressure, coaching, race strategy, Melbourne lows, World Championship goals, and what really happens behind the scenes in professional HYROX.

00:00 – Intro

05:11 – Building an elite aerobic engine as a teenager

07:14 – Aussie Rules culture & stepping away from football

10:30 – Discovering HYROX through Hunter McIntyre

16:04 – Debut race in Birmingham & going sub-60

18:18 – The insane 15-minute World Champs call-up

23:09 – Pres...

In this episode, we sit down with Cassia, an ultra runner who completely transformed her life after discovering running during lockdown. From struggling with confidence and losing over 100 pounds, to running marathons and 100km ultras. We discuss the success, the deeper story with burnout, social media pressure, and the decision to walk away from it all for an entire year.

00:00 – Intro

04:30 – Lockdown, Rock Bottom & First Steps Into Running

10:00 – Building Confidence & Running Her First 5K

16:00 – Going Viral & Entering the Social Media World

24:00 – First Marathon & The Leap Into Ultras

32:00 –...

In this episode, HYROX Elite 15 athlete Charlie Botterill joins Jake Dearden and coach Jonathan Bullough for a deep dive into what it really takes to compete at the top level of hyrox racing. From Charlie’s journey from pro cycling in France to becoming one of the UK’s fastest HYROX athletes, this episode covers race tactics, movement efficiency, training philosophy, mindset, recovery, and the small details that separate elite athletes from everyone else.

They break down sled tactics, burpee efficiency, Zone 1 training, balancing volume with recovery, and why humility and constant learning matter more than tale...

Ultra runner Will Goodge joins the podcast to break down what it’s really like running across America and Australia, averaging nearly 70 miles a day, surviving on minimal sleep, dealing with accusations of cheating, and pushing the limits of human endurance.

00:00 – Intro

04:00 – Running across America: 3,000+ miles

11:00 – Nutrition, recovery & surviving 16-hour days

16:00 – Team dynamics, breakdowns & mental battles

20:00 – How the body adapts to extreme endurance

24:00 – Running across Australia & breaking records

29:00 – Accusations of cheating & online hate

32:00 – The Speed Project experience

35:00 – Moab 240 & racing against elite ultra runners<...

In this episode, Jake Dearden joins ultra runner Tom Evans to break down his insane journey from the Army to winning UTMB.

We dive into his mindset, training secrets, heat prep, hybrid fitness, and why chasing perfection might be holding you back. This episode is packed with elite-level insights on endurance, mental resilience, and performing when it really counts.

00:00 – Intro

01:15 – First Race Ever

05:05 – Western States

09:20 – Mental Strength

13:59 – Hyrox vs CrossFit vs Ultra Running

20:12 – Why Problem Solving Wins Races

29:35 – Heat Training & Performance Hacks

33...

In this episode, Jake Dearden sits down with Mary Mccarthy to talk about her journey from competitive swimming to elite running breaking down her first marathon success, the chaos of the Speed Project, and the mindset behind her “Beat the Boys” movement. We dive into training strategies, injuries, triathlons, and what it really takes to push limits at the highest level.

00:00 – Intro

09:00 – First marathon & unexpected 3:03 finish

18:00 – The Speed Project (LA to Vegas)

27:00 – Injuries & pushing through

36:00 – “Beat the Boys” mindset

45:00 – PBs, racing strategy & beating expectations

54:00 – Marathon training stru...

In this episode, Jake Dearden sits down with Danny Rae to talk about his incredible journey from serving 12 years in the British Army to becoming one of the fastest-rising names in HYROX.

We dive into how the Army shaped Danny’s mindset, discipline, and mental toughness and how those traits helped him go from a 1:18 HYROX Pro debut to running sub-58 in less than a year. Danny opens up about military life, basic training, deployments to places like Kenya and Poland, the realities of Army culture, and why he ultimately made the tough decision to leave th...

In this Episode we discuss the London Marathon 2026 with elite runner Alfie Manthorpe and championship marathon runner Hugo Fry who are aiming to get a 2h15m and 2h09m30s in the upcoming London Marathon. 

00:00 – Intro

02:15 – Championship vs Elite Start Explained

04:18 – Carb Loading & Pre-Race Nutrition Talk

08:59 – Shakeout Runs, Drills & Race Morning Routine

14:21 – Race Goals & Predicted Marathon Times

19:25 – Elite Men & Women Predictions / Shoe Tech Talk

22:04 – Heat Training, Saunas & Ice Baths

27:42 – Marathon Training Hacks & Treadmill Sessions

34:04 – Hardest Marathon Workouts of the Block

40:50...

Todays Podcast episode is with Jake Deardens long time coach Jonathan Bullough.

Jonathan Bullough is a movement specialist who’s spent over a decade refining how people train, move, and recover. From the art of perfect movement to the philosophy of never losing, only learning, Jon shares the principles that have shaped his coaching and his life. The pair unpack what it truly takes to stay pain-free, perform at a high level, and find purpose in both victory and failure.

00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:00 – Jon's Background

00:06:30 – Jon’s coaching philosophy

00:10:00 – How fixing m...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Heaton to dive deep into his journey from a shy, creative kid to co-founding one of the UK’s biggest fashion brands.

He opens up about the early days of building the business, the reality of scaling to a global level, and why he still works harder than ever despite success. We also get into his mindset, fitness routine, creative process, and even some wild stories from LA trips to late-night conspiracy theories.

00:00 – Intro

08:30 – Childhood, Creativity & Early Personality

18:30 – Starting the Brand & First De...

Todays Podcast Guest is Olympic silver medalist and Red Bull athlete Kieran Reilly.

Kieran Reilly breaks down the reality of elite BMX-ing, from the Paris Olympics to pushing limits in a high-risk sport. He also shares how he trains like a hybrid athlete and why being willing to fail is key to improving and avoiding regret.

00:00 Intro

05:30 Journey into pro BMX

09:40 The reality of BMX

14:20 Training & staying in elite shape

20:15 Risk, crashes & pushing limits

27:50 Learning to be willing to fail

35:10 Fear...