12 Months to Marathon

Send us Fan Mail Can running help you lose weight? The answer is yes... but probably not in the way most people think. In this episode, I draw on over 20 years of personal experience, my own 70lb weight loss journey, and 17 years of coaching people to lose weight and improve their fitness to explain where running fits into the bigger picture. You'll learn:  Whether running is an effective too...

Send us Fan Mail What if running could be about more than pace, PBs and race medals? In this episode, I sit down with Lucy Canham, founder of Run of a Kind Birmingham, a unique running community that combines running, local history, storytelling and exploration. Lucy shares how her love of running, travel and meeting people through her career as airline cabin crew led her to discover running tours...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you reach a point where enough is enough? In this episode, I’m joined by Mark Simpson, whose journey from 25 stone (350lbs / 159kg) to completing his first half-marathon is one of the most inspiring stories we've featured on the podcast.  Mark opens up about decades of struggling with his weight, being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the emotional impact of...

Send us Fan Mail In this special 100th episode of the podcast, I reflect on the biggest lessons I've learned from interviewing runners, marathoners, weight-loss success stories, world record holders, and everyday people who have achieved extraordinary things. From first-time 5Ks to marathon finish lines, one theme keeps appearing: You are capable of more than you think. I also share some pers...

Send us Fan Mail Should You Get a Gait Analysis Done? If you've ever bought running shoes, you've probably been told you need a gait analysis. But how useful are they really? In this episode, I break down what a gait analysis is, what it can tell you, what it can't tell you, and why so many runners place far too much importance on a 30-second treadmill assessment. We cover:  What pr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon podcast, I’m joined by Dawn Caddell to talk about her journey to completing the 2026 London Marathon at 51 years old. Dawn shares how she returned to running after a long break from raising a family, how running became a huge part of her mental wellbeing, and why she kept pushing herself further — from 10Ks to half marathons and eventua...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon podcast, I’m joined by an extraordinary guest — Andy Reid. Andy lost both legs and his right arm in Afghanistan in 2009 after stepping on an IED while serving in the British Army. Since then, he’s rebuilt his life in a way that genuinely redefines resilience. We talk about:  Andy’s journey into the military   The day his life changed fo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Beth McArdle, who recently completed the London Marathon 2026 after months of structured training. Beth shares her journey from losing three and a half stone, rebuilding her fitness through Women on the Move, taking on HYROX, and then stepping up to the challenge of the London Marathon. We talk about:  Starting again in her late forties and early fif...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 95 – The Record-Breaking 2026 London Marathon Review In this episode, I break down one of the greatest marathon days in history — the incredible 2026 London Marathon . We dive into:  Sabastian Sawe’s historic 1:59:30 marathon  Two men going sub-2 in the same race   Jacob Kiplimo breaking the world record and still finishing third   Tigst Assefa’s women-only world record   ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Dawn Deaville, who recently completed her first marathon at Manchester Marathon after working with me inside the coaching programme. Dawn shares how running helped her rebuild herself after having three children in five years, struggling mentally after her third child, and feeling like parts of herself had disappeared. We talk about:  Starting with a...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 93 – Scott Couldrey: From Weight Loss to First Marathon In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast , I’m joined by Scott Couldrey, who recently completed his first marathon at the Brighton Marathon after working with me inside the coaching programme. Scott shares his journey from feeling overweight, unfit, and self-conscious, to losing three stone , rebuilding hi...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 92 – Marathon Setbacks & Running Controversies In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast , I break down my recent marathon at Boston (Lincolnshire, UK) and share a real, honest look at what happens when race day doesn’t quite go to plan. After battling a brutal headwind that ended any chance of a PB, I talk through how to handle marathon setbacks , manage ex...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 91 of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast is a powerful conversation with Neil Johnson , a runner who came into my coaching community in late 2025 with one clear goal: run a sub-3 marathon after 40 . Neil had already broken the 3-hour marathon barrier in the past, but life had changed. Family responsibilities, less time, less recovery, more pressure, and the reality of being...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 90 – Why Discipline Always Beats Motivation If you’re waiting to feel motivated before you train, you’re already in trouble. In this episode, I break down why discipline will always beat motivation when it comes to marathon training, and why relying on “feeling like it” is one of the biggest mistakes runners make. As I record this, I’m just two days out from my 16th marath...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s a Spotify description for Episode 89 – How to Build True Marathon Confidence : Episode 89 – How to Build True Marathon Confidence What if confidence isn’t actually the thing you need before a marathon? In this episode, I break down the difference between confidence and competence — and why so many runners get this wrong in the final weeks before race day. If you’ve got a sp...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 88 – Coping with the Emotional Load of Marathon Training Marathon training is never just physical. In this episode, I talk about the emotional side of marathon training,   the doubts, the setbacks, the comparison, the frustration, and the mental spiral that can happen when things don’t go to plan. As I record this, I’ve just finished my final long-ish run before Boston Lin...

Send us Fan Mail 12 Months to Marathon – Episode 87: Anthony Bryan – From Brain Tumour Survivor to Marathon Runner In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Anthony Bryan,   brain tumour survivor , stroke survivor , para athlete , personal trainer , motivational speaker , Guinness World Record holder , and London Marathon finisher . Anthony shares his incredible story of being diagnosed with a brain...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 86 – 18 Mile Marathons & Charity Places Marathons have been dominating the running conversation this week, and not always for the right reasons. In this episode, I talk about three topics that have been doing the rounds online: the LA Marathon offering runners the option to finish at 18 miles and still receive a medal , the debate around charity places vs qualification...

Send us Fan Mail 12 Months to Marathon – Episode 85: Alcohol-Free Running, Identity & Control (with Clean Break Coaching) In this episode, I’m joined by Rich and Andy from Clean Break Coaching for a proper conversation about running, sobriety, identity, and what it actually takes to take back control in midlife . We talk honestly about the “weekend warrior” trap — training hard in the week, th...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 84 – Why Everyone Should Be Talking About Splits If you want to get better at running, we need to talk about splits. In this episode, I break down one of the most overlooked, yet most powerful,  concepts in distance running: controlling your mile or kilometre splits. Whether you're training for your first marathon or chasing a PB, your splits tell the real story of yo...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 83 — Naked Running (Minimalist Running & Why It Might Make You Better) Ever heard of “naked running” ? Don’t worry, you’re not getting arrested. In this episode, I’m talking about running without the extras : no headphones, no watch, no constant tracking… just you and the run. As I record this, I’m in week 9 of marathon training , right in the belly of the beast (weeks...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 82 – How Important Is Weekly Mileage? When it comes to marathon training, how much do your weekly miles actually matter? In this episode, I dive into one of the most common questions I get from runners: “How important is hitting my weekly mileage target?” Whether you're training for your first 26.2 or chasing a PB, this solo episode is full of honest talk on how to ap...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to be a runner for life? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Steve Till, a man who’s not only completed over 100 marathons and 500+ parkruns, but also represented Great Britain in both 100km and 24-hour ultra races. Steve is a student of the sport, an embodiment of endurance, and the author of The Run of Life – a book that threads together running, phi...

Send us Fan Mail The Dark Side of Marathons Marathon day is iconic.  The crowds, the build-up, the emotion — it’s unforgettable. But marathon training ? That’s a very different story. In this episode, I talk honestly about the dark side of marathons — not the distance, not the pace, but the mental and emotional challenges that show up during the training process, especially for first-time marathon...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ 12 Months to Marathon – Episode 79: Simplifying Running Speak Are you overthinking the terminology in your training plan? In this episode, I dive deep into the real reason runners get overwhelmed by terms like “tempo,” “threshold,” and “floating reps”  and why none of it actually matters if you’re not applying it in real life. He shares: A brutally honest take on over-intellect...