Are you enjoying the podcast? Help us cover some of the costs: buymeacoffee.com/runalive

The clocks have changed, and so it's dark at night and as the running community we need to look after each other. It's an issue that particularly effects women, and so our conversation focuses on the increasing concerns surrounding women's safety while running in the dark. Gill shares her personal experiences, and we discuss societal responsibilities, and practical tips for both men and women to ensure safety during night runs.

Thank You:

Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe, leave a review and share! Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Help us cover some of the costs: buymeacoffee.com/runalive

This week

Ed Gill and Ro catch up on the major news from Frankfurt Marathon and some fab performances at the Valencia 1/2 including a PB for Jenny! We also look forward to New York this weekend.

Win and Fail of the week

Ed had a hill session that didn't feature any hills.

Gill has been riding the highs and lows of parenting during half term

Ro has been living vicariously on the wins of others, especially team mates from Clapham Pioneers.

Our Guest this week:

Carla Molinaro is a record breaking professional ultra runner proudly representing HOKA. She is also the founder of SCY for runners; an online membership platform designed to enable runners to reach new heights whilst fostering a community. Carla is the current 50km World Champion and races all distances from 10 to 100km.

Summary:

Carla shares her journey from a casual athlete to a professional ultra runner, discussing the importance of enjoyment in her training, the challenges of transitioning to a structured athlete life, and the mental resilience required in ultra running. She emphasises the significance of finding personal joy in running and how her past experiences, including her time in the military, have shaped her approach to challenges both in running and life. Carla shares her journey in founding SCY for runners, her future goals, and the life lessons she has learned through her running experiences.

Key Takeaways:

Forge Your Own Path

Carla took an unconventional route and followed her instincts rather than a traditional path. She shifted from triathlons to long-distance runs—and eventually became a professional runner—shows that everyone's journey can be unique and inspired by passion rather than just competition.

The Power of Community and Joy in Running

Carla finds motivation and resilience through the community of friends she trains with, illustrating that running isn't a solitary pursuit. Sharing the experience makes it more enjoyable and helps maintain a positive mindset, especially during challenging training or races.

Consistency in Strength Training Prevents Injuries

Her motivation for creating SCY was to fill a gap she saw in accessible strength and yoga training for runners. Just one consistent strength and mobility session a week can make a significant difference, proving that small, consistent actions can help prevent injuries and support long-term performance.

Find out more to about Carla by following her on instagram or at www.carlamolinaro.com/scy

Thank You:

Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe, leave a review and share! Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Help us cover some of the costs: buymeacoffee.com/runalive

We're back with the second interval of this series! Ed, Gill and Ro discuss the complexities of post-marathon recovery and the decision to rest or run again. Ed can hardly walk after a marathon, Gill has run multiple marathons in fairly quick succession, and Ro has done 10 in 10 days! So we have a chat to explore the physiological impacts of marathon running, the mental resilience required for multiple marathons, and the balance between training and recovery.

Thank You:

Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe, leave a review and share! Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Help us cover some of the costs: buymeacoffee.com/runalive

This week

Ro is away, so Ed and Gill are holding the fort and reflect on

• Marathon is excluded from the Commonwealth Games
• Valencia Half is coming up and might we see a British record?
• Future guest on the podcast Jacob Fincham Dukes gets some funding from UKA.

Win and Fail of the week

• Positive vibes only this week as Gill has been learning to rest well and not be too hung up on a plan over half term while parenting.
• Ed is full of the joys of Autumn running as he's finally feeling like the injury is behind him

Our Guest this week:

James Thie is the head coach at Coopah, as well as a senior lecturer and Performance advisor for Athletics at Cardiff Metropolitan University. A former International middle-distance runner, who was a finalist at World, European and Commonwealth championships. To add to this, a multiple British champion and sub 4 minute miler both indoors and outdoors. Not done with running into his 40’s, he’s a 4 World masters champion & recent World masters record breaker.

Summary:

We chat to James about the life-changing impact of running, from competing to coaching athletes at all levels. He reflects on the importance of perseverance, belief, and community, emphasising that the greatest victories often come from personal growth rather than race results. Whether it's pushing limits, overcoming setbacks, or finding joy in running with others, James sees running as a lifelong journey.

Key Takeaways:

Running is a lifelong journey – It's not just about race results, but about continually pushing your limits and discovering new strengths over time.

Community is essential – The relationships and support systems built through running are as important as the individual achievements, providing motivation and joy along the way.

Perseverance and belief are key – Success in running, as in life, comes from having self-belief and the resilience to overcome setbacks, learning from challenges to keep moving forward.

Thank You:

Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe, leave a review and share! Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Help us cover some of the costs: buymeacoffee.com/runalive

In this first RunAlive Interval of Season 4, Ro, Gill, and Ed dive into something that's made a few people quite upset: the recent changes to Championship and Good For Age qualifying times for both the London and Boston Marathons. We explore how these changes are impacting runners at various levels—from club runners to those chasing lifelong goals. Gill shares her personal experience with the championship start, and we ask whether major marathons should be looking to be inclusive or exclusive.

Is this a natural progression given the advancements in running technology, or are marathon organisers moving the goalposts unfairly in the middle of a qualifying window?

We reference Kara Goucher and Des Linden's podcast on Boston Marathon times which you can find here

Thank You:

Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe, leave a review and share! Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Season 4 of the RunAlive Podcast - so excited to be back with you and welcoming 2 new CoHosts in Gill and Rohan.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Help us cover some of the costs: buymeacoffee.com/runalive

This week:

We introduce Gill and Rohan to the podcast and we've been thinking about:

• Ruth Chepngetich's groundbreaking performance at the Chicago Marathon - can we believe it?
• London Marathon Champs times have been lowered - we're not happy. We reference Des and Kara's podcast on Boston times which you can find here
• Later in the episode we'll hear from Jenny with an expert slot, reflecting on Mario's interview.

Win and fail of the week

• Gill runs 1:28 at the Leicester Half in her first race since having her second child
• She also had a technology fail - did that actually help?
• Ro had a transport nightmare and failed to even make it to the start of XC this weekend
• Ed went too far with the S&C and is regretting it still.

Our guest this week:

Mario Fraioli is a Bay Area-based running coach who works with a number of Olympic Trials-level marathoners, top ultrarunners, and competitive age-group athletes. He also writes and publishes the morning shakeout, a weekly email newsletter and occasional podcast that covers running and other topics that interest him.

Summary

In this episode, Mario shares how running serves as a powerful lens through which he views and navigates life. He opens up about the evolution of his relationship with running, which began in high school as a way to stay fit for basketball but has since grown into a lifelong passion that shapes his approach to coaching, personal growth, and self-discovery.

Key Takeaways:

Coaching as Holistic Development:

Mario emphasises that coaching goes beyond physical training—it's about nurturing the whole person. He aims to understand how running fits into an athlete's life and help ensure it occupies a healthy space.

Curiosity as a Driver for Growth:

Mario highlights curiosity as a motivating force. Rather than comparing himself to his past achievements, he remains curious about what he can accomplish at his current stage in life.

Knowing When to Quit with Confidence:

Mario talks about the importance of quitting when something isn’t working, framing it as a positive and brave choice. He sees it as essential for avoiding unnecessary suffering and reevaluating one's approach.

Thank You:

Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe, leave a review and share! Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special wrap-up episode of the RunAlive Podcast, Ed, Gary, and Jenny come together to reflect on their highlights of Season 3.

They kick things off with a nostalgic look back at their conversation with ultra-running legend Nicky Spinks, whose inspiring journey as a breast cancer survivor and her "rule of three" left a lasting impact on the team.

Gary shares his admiration for Marcus Brown, whose advocacy for athletes of colour and personal story of discovering his autism later in life resonated deeply. Jenny recalls the conversation with Innes Fitzgerald highlighting the importance of pursuing one's passion despite challenges. Ed discusses the privilege of running, a lesson he learned from Gary Laybourne, whose work with coachcore emphasises the joy and opportunity that running and sport provides. The team also delves into the community aspect of running, with Jenny highlighting Ben Pochee's dedication to grassroots events like the Night of the 10,000m PBs, and Ed emphasizing the fun and camaraderie he experienced at the Greenbelt Relay. The episode also revisits memorable insights from guests like Steph McCall, who reminded listeners about finding joy in new challenges, and Mike Peace, the ever-present London Marathon runner whose humility and cause-driven motivation were truly inspiring.

As the hosts reminisce, they underscore the importance of perspective, community, and the shared passion that binds runners together. With plans already underway for Season 4, make sure you catch up on any episodes you missed, stay connected on social media, and look forward to more inspiring stories in the upcoming season.

Thank You:

Thank you for being part of the RunAlive podcast this season, please leave a review, and share with anyone who might be inspired by the stories we've told. Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hardlines Coffee: Need a coffee top up? You can get a massive 20% off your orders from Hard Lines Coffee - Pods, Beans, Ground and Merch. Hard Lines is a Cafe and Roastery in Cardiff with Running at their heart. Use RUNALIVE20 art www.hard-lines.co.uk

Race Day Prints: It's marathon season! Commemorate your big day in style with a Race Day Print. Get 15% off a poster of your big race with the code runalive15 or by following this link.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're talking to Ben Pochee, the passionate race director behind the Night of the 10,000m PBs. The UK's premier track running event. From his personal journey as a competitive runner to the inception of one of the most unique track events in the UK, Ben shares his deep insights into the world of running, community building, and event innovation. Tune in to discover how a love for Afro-funk and a desire to fill a gap in domestic competitive opportunities led to a revolutionary approach to track meets that focuses on athlete experience and community participation.

Three Key Learnings from This Episode:

1. Community and Identity in Running: Ben illustrates the profound impact that running can have on personal identity and community formation. Starting from his own experiences in school and local clubs, he emphasises how running extends beyond physical activity to become a significant social connector and a source of lifelong friendships and memories.
2. Innovation in Athletic Events: We dive into the story behind the creation of the Night of the 10,000m PBs, an event born out of necessity and sheer creative will. Ben discusses how overcoming the logistical challenges of traditional track events with innovative solutions like Facebook-driven athlete recruitment and creating a festival-like atmosphere can dramatically enhance participant engagement and performance.
3. The Power of Inclusive Event Planning: Learn about Ben's approach to making athletic events more inclusive and engaging. By involving athletes in the success of the event and experimenting with new ideas like the WaveLight pacing system, Ben has redefined what it means to participate in and spectate at track events, making them more accessible and enjoyable for the broader community.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in sports management, community engagement, and how traditional sports can adapt to modern demands while maintaining their core values.

Go along to the Night of the 10k PBs next weekend! All details here: www.nightofthe10kpbs.com/

Thank You:

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with anyone who might be inspired by Gill's story. Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hardlines Coffee: Need a coffee top up? You can get a massive 20% off your orders from Hard Lines Coffee - Pods, Beans, Ground and Merch. Hard Lines is a Cafe and Roastery in Cardiff with Running at their heart. Use RUNALIVE20 art www.hard-lines.co.uk

Race Day Prints: It's marathon season! Commemorate your big day in style with a Race Day Print. Get 15% off a poster of your big race with the code runalive15 or by following this link.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.