Brian's Run Pod

Send us Fan Mail We speak with trail runner and coach Andrew Erasmus about what makes trail running feel different from the road and how to start with confidence. We get practical about safety, fuelling, and mindset so you can enjoy the trails and still finish strong. • wildlife concerns in South Africa and why basic awareness matters more than fear • simple safety habits including first aid and r...

Send us Fan Mail You’ve heard the voice, but now you can see the conversation. Brian’s Run Pod is stepping up with video podcast episodes, giving you the choice to listen as normal or watch the full chat unfold on screen. If you’ve ever wondered who’s speaking, how a guest reacts in real time, or what gets left unsaid between the lines, video adds that extra dimension without changing what you alr...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with trail running coach Andrew Erasmus about moving from road running to trail running without getting humbled by hills, technical ground, or the urge to chase pace. We share practical ways to train for climbs and descents, build strength without overcomplicating it, and stay safe when you run in remote places.  • key differences between road running and trail running, fr...

Send us Fan Mail We dig into what actually matters when trail running gets real, where lab-perfect metrics collide with fatigue, terrain, and the mental game. In part two of my chat with Jonathan Fors we share practical strength ideas, honest mindset shifts, and a standout story of running Portugal’s coast that brings the whole philosophy to life. • metrics versus reality in trail and ultra-distan...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with trail runner and coach Jonathan Fors about going from a non sporty childhood in northern Sweden to building a steady running habit that eventually becomes a major part of his life. We dig into what makes trail running harder than road running, and what training actually keeps you strong when terrain and fatigue start to bite. • Jonathan’s early relationship with sport...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Crystal Aguilar about using running and walking as a steady practice that supports mental health and recovery, especially when motivation is low and life feels out of control. Crystal shares how community, core values, and the courage to restart can turn isolation into connection and help people believe change is possible.  • assessing readiness and motivation before...

Send us Fan Mail We explore why people run for more than fitness and how a simple habit can become a lifeline for coping, connection, and recovery. Crystal Aguilar, who works in substance misuse treatment, helps us separate healthy stress relief from avoidance and obsession when running becomes the only tool. • Crystal’s work in substance misuse treatment and how co-occurring mental health shows u...

Send us Fan Mail We dig into why AI-generated training plans can look personal while still missing the most important details about you, your history, and your real-life constraints. We also share practical ways to stay consistent, avoid injury, and build the recovery, balance, and mindset habits that keep running enjoyable for years. • AI training plans as a starting point rather than a perfect a...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Rachel Marks about why copying someone else’s training plan can leave runners tired, sore, and stalled, even when they do everything “right”. We explore personalised coaching through body structure, epigenetics, sleep, HRV, and mindset so you can stop guessing and start working with your own biology. • Rachel’s path from flight attendant to personal trainer after illn...

Send us Fan Mail In the second part of my conversation with Dr Ben Bumguardner we break down what everyday runners can copy from elite sport to stay consistent, avoid injury, and recover faster without overcomplicating training. We also dig into how to use AI training plans safely, plus the simple body signals that tell you when to back off and get checked out. • taking recovery as seriously as tr...

Send us Fan Mail We get honest about why runners keep picking up the same injuries and why the fix is rarely just “rest more”. With Dr Ben Bumguardner, we break down under-recovery, smarter strength work, and a resilience approach that helps us run consistently without constantly breaking down.  • underfueling as a common root cause of stress reactions and stress fractures  • repetitive microtraum...

Send us Fan Mail We speak with registered dietitian Lauren Ganim about how underfueling can quietly derail both running performance and long-term health, from thyroid slowdown to disrupted hormones, sleep, and rising heart rate. We also look at the emotional and cultural forces that shape how runners eat, then land on simple, practical ways to fuel, hydrate, and recover well.  • low energy availab...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with registered dietitian and runner Lauren Ganim about the hidden cost of underfueling and the pressure many runners feel to control pace, weight, and calories. We share practical ways to fuel better, support gut health, and rebuild trust through body-led healing rather than rigid rules.  • why many beginner and recreational runners underestimate how much food they need ...

Send us Fan Mail We pick up our chat with running coach and author Elizabeth Clor, from building a following by sharing daily miles to what it takes to stand out on Instagram now. We also get into perfectionism, sports psychology, and simple habits that help beginners keep running when motivation dips.  • starting on Instagram to promote a self-published running book and finding a long-term commun...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with marathoner and author Elizabeth Clor about starting as a treadmill-only runner and building towards big goals through steady, smart training. We dig into what finally unlocked her jump in performance, and how to use strength work and running data without letting either derail progress.  •finding running through aerobics classes and treadmill routines  •making treadmil...

Send us Fan Mail We get honest about what “good” form feels like and why wasted energy is the quiet reason so many runners plateau or pick up injuries. Then we map a realistic route from running into triathlon, with simple swim and bike priorities that help you improve without burning out.  • running efficiency as reducing wasted energy and keeping heart rate controlled  • avoiding cross-body arm...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Coach Cath Spencer about why “perfect running form” is personal and how small technique tweaks can make running feel easier and reduce injury risk. We also dig into the mindset and practical steps that help runners move into triathlon without doing too much too soon.  • Cath’s background in martial arts and how it shapes discipline and coaching  • The real reason runn...

Send us Fan Mail We keep running practical by talking through how to organise a week, when to add structure, and how to use data without letting it hijack your head. Amanda Brooks helps us separate what truly improves fitness from what simply creates pressure, from shoe choices to Strava habits. • practising early mornings to match race day routines • building consistency first before heavier work...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with running coach and author Amanda Brooks about learning to love running, cutting through modern training noise, and building fitness without obsession over pace. We focus on simple habits that reduce injury risk and make running fit real life, from easy effort to strength work and sleep. • Amanda’s path from multi-sport childhood to a half marathon that changes everythi...

Send us Fan Mail Hiking becomes a serious endurance option for runners when you treat footwear, layers, and planning with the same care you give training. We learn how quickly things can go wrong with cold and wet conditions, and how skills, judgement, and simple systems keep you moving safely.  • why hiking builds endurance differently from running  • choosing trail runners over heavy boots for f...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with adventurer and writer Belinda Coker about how hiking helps her rebuild fitness, confidence, and joy after a tough decade. We connect hiking to running by breaking down endurance, strength, mindset, and the practical skills that keep you safe and steady on the trail. •an outdoors childhood in New Zealand with hiking and school trips •a COVID-era reality check that spar...

Send us Fan Mail We bring you a best-of highlight reel of ten powerful moments that can change how you start, train, recover and think about running. We move from simple reasons people fall in love with running to practical tools for pacing, sleep, mindset and long-term progress. • running as the most accessible way to build a healthy habit • a late-life spark that leads to ultrarunning goals • co...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever wondered why your body can handle a training block for a few weeks, then suddenly feels stiff, fragile, or niggly, the answer might not be in another running session at all. I’m joined by Wendy Welpton, founder of Reclaim Movement and author of Move Well for Life, for a grounded chat about what modern life removes from our bodies and how runners can rebuild it throu...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Wendy Welpton about how a love of running turned into years of chronic pain, and why healing starts when we stop treating the body like separate parts. We dig into natural movement, movement variety, and the small daily changes that help runners rebuild confidence and move well for life.  • Wendy’s early relationship with exercise, outdoor time, and solo sports  • get...

Send us Fan Mail We dig into why recovery is the part of training that actually makes you fitter, and how sleep can be the difference between steady progress and repeat injuries. Dr Michael Betler breaks down modern therapies and timeless basics so recreational runners can heal faster, train longer, and age with strength. • sleep routines that drive growth and repair • what shockwave therapy is an...