Running Commentary

Paul and Rob's traditional taper trot - a triple loop of Stoke Newington's Clissold Park - five days out from the Yorkshire Marathon. Featuring fitness and fear of falling (Rob) versus non-specific pre-marathon malaise (Paul), a double parkrun report, momentum in all its forms, a Gulman gig, youth and power versus age and wisdom, final Gold / Silver / Bronze predictions - and a wonderful, arboreal...

Sweary Helen Thorn returns! And since last she ran with Rob, she's completed the Sydney Marathon, meaning she's done all seven of the World Marathon Majors - so here she takes Rob through them all, on a couple of loops of *checks notes* her local cemetery... SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more... BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Ro...

Paul's son George is off to Rome for a Half Marathon; here they anticipate the event - but first an explanation of why and where they're not running, and what they're up to instead. SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more... BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-trac...

Here's to the late Carlene Hutchinson. Paul & Rob trot from Finsbury Park to Clissold Park and back along the new River. Featuring a posh party, a pacy parkrun, famous friends and their work, the weekend's adventures, hill training, booze and other habits, last long runs before the Yorkshire Marathon - plus final preparation plans and tips - an excellent PB, and some Gold / Silver / Bronze thought...

Lots of running to report on as Rob & Paul head up the Walk and round the Woods. Featuring Tonks' long run, Rob's Battersea Half, not drinking, the reset of Autumn, funding the next generation, parkrun report, overtaking and being overtaken, a little negative-split negativity, Yorkshire Marathon predictions - and a spanner in the works for Paul... SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠ fo...

The new month approaching means Paul and Rob are on Hampstead Heath, greeting Autumn head on. Featuring the Saucony Run Shoreditch 10k in review, getting long Yorkshire Marathon training runs in, treadmill tribulations for Rob, how good gait helps, speed bumps and cheat days for Paul, 'don't drink the wine!', table stakes, Jules' PB victory... and they run on. SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.super...

Sundry disasters befall Paul before and during a gentle run from Kings Cross back to Clissold Park, while Rob bristles with local info - and celebrates an anniversary. SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/...

Paul and Rob continue their long run, heading back south to Wanstead and Leytonstone. Featuring book talk, the drama and non-drama of finishes, the ascetic clarity of distance running, the Hemulen Factor, experience-hungry youngsters, Rob's dream, Paul's wife hob-nobbing, getting arrested, a beautiful parenting poem for September, and general proof of one the central theories of Running Commentary...

Rob and Paul set off on a double run in the sun - from Wanstead Flats to Highams Park and back. Part one features fear of falling, healthy eating, parkrun report, new routes and spots, the Great North Run and other Half Marathons, fun gigs at The Stand Newcastle, 10k romance, the perennial putative marathon pace conversation, over bridges into Essex, pushing up the miles, plans for the Coast-to-Co...

Beautiful sunshine on Hampstead Heath, as Paul and Rob talk training runs - and recovery, runs in different places, Paul's new haircut - and Rob's wife hairdresser trouble, pre-marathon thoughts, why August is special - and what's next, and an auspicious delivery from above. GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at ⁠nordvpn.com/runcompod⁠ -  there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee. SUBSC...

Our interview season continues as Paul runs and chats with amazing runner and running and fitness writer Lily Canter, author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism In Sport (https://www.waterstones.com/book/ultra-women/lily-canter/emma-wilkinson/9781914487101). Thanks Lily. GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at ⁠nordvpn.com/runcompod⁠ -  there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarante...

Reunited, Rob and Paul head back to the familiarity of Highgate and Queen's Woods and the Parkland Walk. Featuring adventures in other countries, running and otherwise, taking training up a notch, and - yes - Ronaldo's Underpants. GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at ⁠nordvpn.com/runcompod⁠ -  there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee. BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Trac...

Our interview season continues with Rob on the road again - catching up with erstwhile guest Juliette Burton in Edinburgh, with the Fringe just about to begin. Featuring The innocent Railway, Juliette's many shows, harsh soft play and empowering cosplay, computer games and super heroes, sexism and sexuality, and the intersection of running, performance and mental health. Thanks Juliette! Do see he...

For this insightful interview episode Rob went down to Hove to run with writer Jamie Doward - and found some fascinating similarities between Jamie, himself and Paul. Plus the weather was gorgeous. Thank you Jamie. You can get Jamie’s books here: https://www.waterstones.com/author/jamie-doward/1833592 (And you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-track...

Paul and Rob mixed things up by including a parkrun in their regular visit to Hampstead Heath - a parkrun they recorded at once before, one sunny Saturday, some time ago. Featuring foot trouble, Paul’s writing, Rob’s exercises, supporting - and being chastened by - younger runners, and rain; lots of rain. GET the exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/runcompod -  there's no risk with Nord’s 30 da...

As the hot weather relents a little, the boys take a turn around Regents Park and over Primrose Hill. Featuring a haircut for Rob, more mileage for Paul, go Jules go, Raworth's Alpine joy, festival report, Wimbledon, foot and throat trouble, a little timber, to socialise or not to socialise, tour tales, running ravers, and so to Warren Street, and your fabulous PBs. SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod...

One of the usual spots at an unusual time of day. Featuring the new bridge, good and bad tour moments, a disastrous trip to a Grand Prix for Rob, trouble with the neighbours (and their dogs) for Paul, meeting lovely folk over bananas and chips, helping the hunted, those we have recently lost - including a brilliant bandit, some band having a reunion, the tennis, and finding your power for the big...

Hampstead Heath is resplendent in the sunshine on the hottest day of the year, and Paul and Rob are loving it. Featuring Glastonbury thoughts, gig report, blue skies and green greenery, Parkland Walk news, a spooky story, fast culture, Paul’s MDS-centric year, new routes, writers all round, Tonkinson ancestry and AI, clarity and gratitude, Mums and Dads, and a little bit of running. SUBSCRIBE at ⁠...

Fresh from West Sussex, Rob has just run the 100k Race To The King, and is keen to tell Paul about it on a recovery run round Wanstead. Featuring heat, lost affirmations, a bonus 2.7km, all kinds of runners and walkers, friends on the trail, from the seaside to the hills, falling over and not falling over, half way (less than half way), the heat intensifying as the trail lengthens, companionship,...

With Rob's Race To The King just days away, and Paul just not running much, the boys take a gentle jog round Clissold Park. Featuring writing over running, Aberdeen boot camp, a deep dive into sounds & smells - and interesting words for both - and some words of wisdom ahead of the long trail. SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and mo...

Paul and Rob loop London’s poshest parks and catch up. Featuring high-end dogs, international ponies, world-class comedy, a pitch for planking, the luxury of low-key family life, and what you can learn from a rubbish run. SUBSCRIBE at https://runcompod.supercast.com/ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...  BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https:/...

A rainy morning in north London sees Paul and Rob heading along the Parkland Walk and through the woods. Featuring a high wordcount for Paul and high mileage for Rob, half term adventures, highs and lows in comedy, a runcommer in the wild and a famous fella in the woods, food before you run - and after - and other fuel, anglers and birders, and a return to Bannau Brycheiniog. SUBSCRIBE for early a...

Paul and Rob take their traditional trot round the Heath to see in the new month. featuring perfect running weather, more football talk, signs of Summer, when a run is too far to train for, walking the hills - and hubris on those hills, beetroot and lemon juice, food on the trail - and in childhood, a pond full of dogs, morning drinking, and Autumn marathon plans. BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's...

It’s been quite the quest for Rob to complete a marathon this year, and the trouble didn’t stop on the start line in Edinburgh. Here Rob reports to Paul on a great-but-crazy day in Scotland. BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.wat...

Rob and Paul trot out east to Wanstead on a jewel of a day. Featuring career news for the progeny, white bread with butter, cultural activities at the weekend, Rob the roadie, stumbling upon a half marathon, Paul's classic Sunday, Tom's trousers, Edinburgh Marathon anticipation - and Fringe memories, 'have fun', a bit of gratitude, a tickle of tempo - and where will Paul watch the football? SUBSCR...