Marple Runners Podcast

56 Miles, 7,000ft, & The Windgather Trophy: Our Golden Bullock Smithy Special! To celebrate our milestone 20th episode, we are diving headfirst into an epic local legend. The historic Bullock Smithy Hike celebrated its Golden Anniversary over the weekend of 5th–6th September 2026. This brutal 56-mile circular route starting from Hazel Grove throws 7,000 feet of punishing Peak District elevatio...

Can you run 66 miles, scale 42 peaks, and conquer 27,000 feet of elevation in under 24 hours? Back in Episode 15, we chatted with Simon and Richard about the legendary Bob Graham Round. They were joined by Lisa Capes, who was deep in training for her own epic attempt. Today, Lisa is back to share her incredible triumph! On 15th May, she took on the Lake District's ultimate test. Tune in to hea...

Can a local runner smash the elusive sub-40-minute 10k barrier under the guidance of a double Olympian? This week, we sit down with Marple Runner Mike Taylor to unpack his journey inside the elite Run North West 40 under 40 project.  Out of hundreds of regional applicants, Mike was selected for a grueling 9-week training program coached by Olympic legend Andy Butchart, all leading up to a high-sta...

Can two running captains keep an entire club in stride? In this episode, we sit down with Marple Runners’ newly appointed Men’s Captain, Steve Grace, alongside our Women’s Captain, Hannah T. As club ambassadors, they share their vision for welcoming new members, supporting every runner—at any pace or ability—and what they have planned for the year ahead. We also dive into their personal running jo...

Whether you're chasing a PB or just trying to survive your first Spring Marathon, this one's for you. We’re diving into the "bizarre, brutal, and beautiful" world of 26.2 miles with one of our club’s most seasoned legends,  Kevin Day , a man who has completed an incredible 287 marathon events. Kevin chats to the team about everything from his earliest events to his most recent training for Manches...

What does it really take to complete the legendary Bob Graham Round ? In this episode, we dive into the world of ultra running and endurance training and sit down with ultra runners Simon, Richard, and Lisa to hear the highs, lows, and everything in between from their 66-mile, 26,900ft adventure through the Lake District. Lisa also shares what it’s like to be mid-training for her first attempt thi...

This month, we attempt journalism. Mark unveils his latest “performance enhancements” ahead of Wilmslow Half (legal, we think), before we pivot to what is definitely a tightly structured and impeccably delivered news bulletin about all things Marple Runners this Spring/Summer. On tonight’s completely-under-control agenda: Equaliser Race 1 (may the odds be ever in your favour) Pub 2 parkrun (reduce...

The grand finale of our Marple Runners Origins series has arrived, as we celebrate 10 years of Marple Runners — a club that definitely started with a sensible training plan and not at all with someone saying, “Go on then, we’ll just see who turns up.” We’re joined by some genuine Day Ones: Simon, Maria, Karen and Alistair — plus, despite our repeated attempts to lock the doors and pretend we weren...

Like the stubborn black toenail of the running-podcast world that just refuses to fall off, we’re back with another fine episode. This time, it’s party time. We took the mic down to the Marple Runners End of Year Celebration to soak up the atmosphere and catch up with some of the winners. Compared to last year (see Episode 2 for the full carnage), it was a slightly more sober affair—but no less br...

Why should women stop running outside when the clocks go back and evenings get darker? In this powerful episode, Marple Runners amplifies the call to " Lift The Curfew ," a national campaign from @ThisGirlCanUK tackling safety concerns that force women to change their running behaviours through winter. Listen as Eleanor takes the reigns, meeting club runners; Hannah, Helen & Lauren, to share t...

We've made it to the finish line—for now! This is our Season 1 finale , and we're celebrating with Manchester Area Cross Country League action. We sent Mark to Match 1 in Stockport to witness the hardy souls who embrace the "mud lust" every winter (and stick around for the cake!). He even snags a brief chat with the MACCL Chair. Also in this episode: Mark debuts his brilliant invention to help Nei...

Like a cat with nine lives, we're back with a new episode! This time, we dive into the Marple Runners Equaliser Race —the inclusive, four-race series that's become a club favourite. We meet two of the series' architects to hear how this new format transformed the old Time Trial, making it accessible and competitive for all paces and abilities. Then, we take you to the action! Mark was at Race 4 wi...

Could this be one of our last episodes? We've reached the precarious Episode 8 , and we're tackling the challenge head-on by inviting the man who constantly reminds us of the statistical probability of failing: John Bailey ! John joins us to chat about his 4.5 years as Marple Runners Club Secretary . What secrets did he pick up in the role? What were the best (and worst!) moments? Tune in for a fu...

Carnival Season is here, and we're dedicating this episode to the Marple Runners Carnival Races: the 10k Trail Race & Family Fun Run ! We go behind the scenes of this historic event: Hear from the source! We chat with Andy Lord about how the race was first conceived. Get the development story from Richard , who served as Run Director for the first six years. Current Run Director Neil shares wh...

A major era has ended at Marple Runners! Our dedicated Club Chair of five years has stepped down, and in this episode, we grab him before he starts his new career in gardening. Join us as we interview Richard about his incredible tenure, from leading the club through the initial challenges of lockdown to nurturing Marple Runners into the vibrant club it is today. Find out what he's done for the cl...

It's Episode 5, and we're exploring a running technique that's taken the club by storm: Jeffing ! We invited members of our Jeffing Group —who use US Olympian Jeff Galloway's run-walk method—to explain why it's so popular. Get the inside story from Run Leader Debbie C , with commentary from dedicated Jeffers Cathie & Alistair . Host Mel C (not that one) guides the chat as they discuss how Jeffing...

We are thrilled to welcome a very special guest this week: Club President Andy Lord ! Join us as the "Elvis of Running" drops in to share his running career journey and, more importantly, the inside story of how he started Marple Runners and steered the club through its formative years as Chairman. Don't miss this essential piece of club history! Plus, stick around for the usual fun: Race Round-up...

Deep into the training cycle? You're not alone! In this episode, we tackle all things marathon prep with our expert coaches. We welcome our Coaching Officer, Simeon F-N , who shares his running journey before joining fellow UKA-qualified coach Andy H to break down the essentials: training plans, must-have kit, and marathon nutrition. Then, we go straight to the source! Simeon and Andy bravely take...

Forget the red carpet—we brought our microphones to the Marple Runners End-of-Year Celebration ! Neil & Mark crashed the party to catch members and hear their running highlights of 2024 . We'll be honest: it took a few "sherbets" to loosen tongues, but once they started talking, we were bowled over! Get ready for amazing, funny, and inspiring (if slightly tipsy) stories that capture the spirit...

After a few fun evenings and a bit of planning (but not much!), we're thrilled to present the first episode of the Marple Runners Podcast ! Our goal is simple: to share the diverse, inspiring, and entertaining stories from our incredible running community. Our inaugural guest is the legendary James Kemp —Club Championship Coordinator, original 2016 Committee member, and the father of Marple parkru...