Home Trails Podcast

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode we welcome back returning guest Mel Sykes. @mellywellywoo  We last spoke when she won The Spine Challenger South in the summer of 2023, so we had some catching up to do! Mel was on a trajectory for success the last time we spoke, but something got in the way of her lofty plans, chiari malformation! (The medical t...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast I speak to Paul Booth, sports nutritionist. Paul has carved out a career working with elite ultramarathon runners at his testing facility at Leeds Beckett university and specialises in high carb fuelling and performance. In this episode we talk about the newest trend to sweep ultramarathon running,...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak to returning guest Charlotte Fisher. The last time we spoke, Charlotte had just won the  @centurionrunning North Downs Way 100. But after a disappointing year of injuries and race cancellations, she decided that she needed to turn the negatives into a positive. She did this by planning and executing a new...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ Sam and Robin round up the recent events in the world of Ultra trail running from around the world! We talk about the recent controversy surrounding UTMB Mallorca, with the last minute cancellation of the 100 mile race and subsequent fallout from not offering refunds or clear communication. We hear from Charlotte Fisher who spen...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ On the podcast this week I talk to Cameron Wright, digital communications lead at Beyond The Ultimate and The Spine Race. As an outdoor photographer and videographer, Cameron talks about his experiences covering the Global Race Series for BTU around the world and the obvious challenges that it presents. From sideways rain in Sco...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak to returning guest Greg Vollet, creator of the GTWS. We talk about the highlights from the 2024 series, that controversial pass at Mammoth Trail Fest and the future of the series in 2025. Greg defends criticism of the series 'flower petal' design for courses that allows maximum spectator access...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak to Robin about the recent backyard ultra championships. But firstly we talk about his instagram page "The Running Accountant" where Robin breaks down the past week in ultra running and explains this crazy sport that we love, for newbies and the ultra curious. 'Robins Running Roundup!'...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In a break from our usual programming......I speak to Amy Hart. Amy is, in her own words, 'just a normal runner' which is true, but aren't we all? Even us ultra runners are just normal runners! Well, between snacks and sit downs when we're actually running...... In this interview we talk about Amy's life...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ On this weeks episode I speak to former SAS: Who Dares Wins contestant and now author, James Gwinnett. James has had a colourful past to say the least! After a serious neck injury ended his rugby career, he fell into a deep depression that turned into alcoholism. But after seeing the London marathon on TV, he decided enough was...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak to Sarah Perry. Sarah by her own admission is a reluctant podcast guest, but after months of me asking, she finally relented! I'm so glad she did because we had a great chat about a number of subjects. We did the obligatory "superhero question" to find out how she got into running. We talk...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak to returning guest Kim Collison. Last month, Kim won the Swiss Peaks Trail 360km 85,000ft mountain race. In this interview Kim talks about overcoming past DNF's in long ultras to finally put together the performance he knew he had in him. Kim talks about how significant this race is in his build to t...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ I speak to Kate Allen from RUNULTRA about the Camille Herron controversy. We talk about what allegedly happened and what the media has to say about it all. We discuss 'trial by social media' and the effect not just on Camille herself, but also how it affects our beloved sport of ultra running. This isn't an episod...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode we welcome back Will Roberts. Normally we speak to Will about all things  @SpineRace but this time we did a deep dive into his professional career as a photographer in some of the worlds most extreme environments. We talk about his career in media, his passion for travel and how he essentially blagged his way int...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak to US ultra running legend Max King. Max recently popped over from the USA to win the legendary Dragons Back Race. A 380KM stage race over 6 days traversing the length of Wales from Conwy in the north, to Cardiff in the south! In this interview we chat about his experience of the iconic British stage race...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ Josh returns as a guest to the podcast with an outstanding performance at this years UTMB. Josh ran himself into a final position of 11th, making him the highest placing Brit at this years race! When you hear how his race started out, the more you realise what a great result he had on a day that could have ended as a DNF, like i...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ For the super nerds that wanted to hear the first edit before it was cut down for visual aesthetic reasons! An extra 7 minutes of training talk that was removed from the video version after this version. So it's essentially the same but with some additional insights into his training and prep. More conducive to listening in...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I team up with Kate from RunUltra to speak with David. We talk about his historic race at the Leadville 100 where he not only won his debut 100 miler, but actually broke Matt Carpenters 19 year old course record in the process! Dropping it from 15:42 to 15:26! We talk about his training and preparation leading in...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak to returning guest Fiona Pascall. We talk about #vanlife as Fiona is already in the Alps to finish her training whilst residing in her 4 wheeled home. We chat about her success at Mozart 100 and how British the weather was!  We talk about her training leading up to this point and the injury post Mozart th...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak to returning guest Hugh. Hugh's first appearance on the podcast was after his win at Dragons Back last year. This time we catch up with him as he prepares to race CCC at this years UTMB races. We talk about what he's been up to since we last spoke, including joining the Elite Trail Team and trai...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this weeks episode I speak to British runners Keith Wigley and Tom Joly about their plans for UTMB at the end of the month. We talk about their friendly rivalry and banter as they train together in Tignes ahead of the greatest trail running show on earth! This is the first episode in a short series leading up to the race, so...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast i speak to one of the founders of FREETRAIL the US trail and ultrarunning media empire. Ryan makes up 1/3 of the Freetrail team along with Dylan Bowman and his wife Harmony. In this chat we talk about Ryan's involvement in the growing business that produces podcasts, short form and long form m...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak to Sarah Woodley Williams about her new book for runners, How To Survive An Injury With Ben. Sarah's book is a lighthearted look at how we as runners try to get navigate the doom of an injury. The book highlights the fact that we're all the same when it comes to having to hang up our runners for...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ In this episode I speak with Ajay Hanspal, who at the start of this month set a new DPB round in 52hrs 51mins 35secs. Covering a staggering 131.93 miles with 58,537ft of vertical! This was over 4 hours quicker than the original record set by Nicky Spinks. We talk about his route into running, which is an unusual one given that h...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ I this episode I speak to Rich Gill, also known as Rich Trails and Gillyphotography on socials.  Rich is fast becoming a household name in trail running photography, having shot at UTS, UTMB, the Arc and numerous other events in the UK and Europe.  Rich talks about his route into running and his ever growing photographic experie...

Message Home Trails here - include an email or name for a response ⬅️ If you're a regular listener to the podcast you will know all about this documentary. If not, please head to the YouTube channel to watch it. Obviously I couldn't let this golden content just be available in the video version only, so here's the audio version for anyone who wants to enjoy it while out and about. O...