Running Commentary

Rob and Paul run off into the new era in this episode... except Paul has to walk. FeaturingPaul's bad back - and the blame for it - Acast+, running among the morning runners, dirty dogs, monks not warriors, a sad shrine, some belated celebrity mourning, two Georges, gig report, training plans, Tom Price, Beth and Phoebe the birthday dog, and Paul's Runners World-based Proustian rush. And thanks fo...

Rob and Paul tour the estate and check on their state in this, Running Commentary's four-hundredth episode. On a hot day at home, they talk memories of early days, relatives on the move, the little jumps that change your perspective, walking the wetlands, eschewing Glastonbury, foot care and foot craziness, parkrun preview, old habits and good decisions. Happy four hundred to YOU, dear listener; i...

Sunshine blazes over Hampstead Heath as Rob and Paul take stock. Featuring kids at their outside-y best, flower power running gear, what, if anything they'd want from a watch, lockdown memories, Yorkshire Marathon training thoughts, that difficult second book, the folly of foolish influencers, the throbbing health of the Heath, noises and voices, Rob tree-climbing tree and Paul Bush-singing, and l...

Under June's blazing sun - and Highgate's leafy trees - Rob and Paul catch up on all their adventures, physical and spiritual. Featuring van hire, when dreams come true, the highs and lows of Zoom, yoga, transcendental meditation and checking in with yourself, being 'in the moment' in the face of curfews and memories, a lifetime in a loft, Scottish running adventures, the Parkland Walk being the p...

SO much to catch up on on this jaunt to and through the woods! Paul's illness, recovery and adventures, the comedians' cost of living crisis, professional break-ups, when it all goes wrong and you feel alright, a review of all our great guests, Rob's happy hols and faulty feet, drinking and parkrun reports, training, event and other life plans for the rest of the year - including our 400th episode...

Hopefully Paul will be all better and back next week, but in the mean time Rob's in beautiful Hyde Park with brilliant Ivo Graham, talking about anything and everything. Featuring 'if in doubt, go out', Machynlleth memories, Egyptian Goslings, top-end trainers, Rob's runs in retrospect - and his Albert Hall gigs - scary dogs, Ivo not-quite running the London Marathon with his brother - and channel...

With Paul still benched, Rob runs instead with lovely Ben Willbond - through the usual parts of North London, but on some new routes. Featuring Ben's knee, the Captain's challenge, the decision making skills of pregnant women, closed toilet drama, marathon memories, the deleterious effects of falling over as a career, Ben's mountain-related hopes, good and bad parenting, Horrible Histories and Gho...

With Paul on the bench, our old friend Eleanor steps in. Featuring convenient conveniences, when and when not to run fast, how even good shoes have limitations, Tom Cruise on a cruise, Eleanor's Brighton Half Marathon story - featuring a shocking admission - countryside comedy and parkrun plans, big fish, the whys and wherefores of different distances, more details from Rob's Bannau Brycheiniog ad...

On the weekend Rob ran over 50k in Bannau Brycheiniog, Paul's final column for Runner's World hit the nation's magazine racks and doormats, so there's plenty for them to catch up is this sunny episode. Featuring Rob's riddle, Paul's regret, getting granular on the Pen y Fan massif, mud, mountains, potatoes and parkruns - but not quite Alanis Morisette. Thank you to anyone and everyone who sponsore...

This was Paul and Rob's second run this week; at this rate Rob's pre-event taper might have to wait til he's done all his events. Featuring green leaves, bluebells, good gigs, trail training, mud, motivation, fuel, fear and walking the hills of life. Thank you once again to all of you who have ‘bought us a coffee’ - or more - through the Acast Supporter button. And thank you, always, for sharing a...

Before, during and after Rob's 2023 London Marathon - plus Paul's big plan and your amazing PBs. Featuring when third place in an Ultra is not third place in an Ultra, how Denise Richards was going to help Rob run London, how the other half live on the start line, Rob's shonky feet and exemplary support team, the carrot that's going to inspire Paul's Race To The Stones, how Rob felt once the dust...

The comfort of a classic Tonkinson turn - up the Walk and around the Woods - is welcome to a somewhat strung-out Rob in this episode. Featuring surprise chill, family drama, failing friendships, a poorly mother, a Tough Mudder, being famous and posh, Woodland Blooms, comedy slackers, toxic TV, and of course another looming marathon. Congratulations on all your marathon and other-event successes -...

It's been a long time since Paul and Rob ran together, so their new-month catch-up on Hampstead Heath is overdue, meaning there's plenty to talk about. For example... running and not running on holidays, shonky superannuated feet, the treado, Rob wearing big shoes, Paul playing big rooms, incredible Ultra achievements, an exciting commitment for Tonkinson, musical marathon memories from Deering, s...

Rob comes to you live and direct from the 2023 Brighton Marathon, as Paul flies home from his tour. Featuring serious fuelling, cold beginnings, a Preston Park summary, spotting loved ones on the course, inspiring drums, following and/or ignoring pacers, planning for the next marathon in the final mile of the last, and those all-important, hard-but-fun last yards. All that, plus all the problems o...

With Rob's Brighton Marathon coming up, Paul and Rob talk preparation - and execution. Featuring taper talk, pace plans, moderating mileage, curating carbs, Rob's reservations, finishing fine, multiple marathons in no more than a month, and a strange new take on gold, silver and bronze predictions. Thank you to everyone who's sponsored Rob for Sarcoma UK (https://tinyurl.com/BrightonMara4Phil), an...

Rob's having a bit of a nightmare but Rudi's work search is going well on this muddy run round Finsbury Park and the reservoirs. Featuring a pet heron, a drop-and-roll, the Oscars, other comedians' trials and tribulations, gig-and-parkrun report, a variety of international accents, bumping into on-brand Jim, wave philosophy and dog distraction. Thank you once again to everyone who shares their run...

Rob and Paul take their new recorders for a freezing cold, snowy trot round Hampstead Heath, featuring little birds singing and small dogs yapping, runs up Norwegian mountains and around midlands parks - but not at events - Paul's adventures with his actual child, his inner child and people passing on, International Women's Day, Eilish McColgan's record-breaking 10k and your record-breaking PBs. T...

There are some exciting trails between Crouch End and Highgate, apparently, and in this episode Paul and Rob head off up 'em. Featuring finding your people, Rob's son turning eighteen, Paul's son walking the creative road, gig report, the joy of music, highs, lows and being in the moment, a few more of your questions - fancy dress, RTTS tips, dream running buddies - some strangely positive trouble...

Our Q&A special continues! In this instalment Rob and Paul talk about great advice, sub-20 parkruns, running in books and movies, medals and events, that pre-marathon long run, the perfect event and a potential Deering-Yelling jaw-off. Meanwhile, a woman runs round Woodberry Wetlands - will she get away with it? Thank you once again for all your great questions - and, as ever, for sharing your run...

In the first part of our Q&A special, Rob and Paul wrestle with all the big subjects: coming back after illness and injury, food - whether you're feasting or fuelling, drink - from electrolytes to two-bottle-Sundays, perfect places to run, what I talk about when I talk about shoes, how stretching helps, and how important is is to breathe. Plus more of your PBs and, perhaps the most important quest...

Paul's back, and on a beautiful morning he and Rob head to Wanstead Park for a lovely turn through the woods and round the lakes there. Featuring Paul's trip to Ireland, Rob chasing mileage, the mirror-like lakes and grassy swards of the park, gig reports, adventures around Britain for Rob including a full Dudley parkrun report, Paul's friend the Doc with the tick-tocking clock, Sunday drinking, s...

Paul is away having adventures, so runner extraordinaire, world record holder and erstwhile friend-of-the-show Kate Carter steps in for a sunny turn around beautiful Battersea Park. Featuring memories of running on an empty tank, gatecrashing a movie set, the blessing and the curse of chasing times, panda costumes and space suits, marathon memories and London anticipation, a 50k and a composer fau...

Paul and Rob take their monthly turn around Hampstead Heath, and talk about preparations for their 10k and Half Marathon in March - but only after they've covered spousal socials, Steven Spielberg, good and bad gigs, dogs and dinosaurs, Henry, Roger and Ian Moore, the group dynamics of Black Moss Pot, the beating heart of Notting Hill, and a Die Hard / Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em crossover. Apologies...

A classic Parkland Walk catch-up in the January chill. Featuring Rob's 10k report - and Paul's 10k plans - talking Ultras and Water Bras at the National Running Show, argumentative compadrés, dog grooming, winter underfoot, boiler trouble and the culture of D.I.S.E., towpath slapstick, birthdays and anniversaries, the ephemeral nature of parkrun, and why dogs don't trust Rob. Thank you as ever for...

Sub-zero temperatures and winter sunshine as Paul and Rob take a turn through frost-covered Walthamstow and Hackney Marshes. Featuring icy beauty, all kinds of birds, gig, run and booze reports, 10k prep or the lack thereof, dramatic river scenes, Ultra thoughts, shonky knees and spicy calves, a surprise moment of familial pride, long-distance yoga, 'Blue Monday', not wasting time, and a gauntlet...