Running Tales

Mags Doyle didn't take up running until she was in her 50s, but there's no stopping her now. Her love of the sport started after she did a number of long distance walking events, got bored one day and just started running. Mags tells me she switches between running and walking while taking part in races, but that hasn't stopped her completing around 80 to 90 events including more than 20 marathons...

You might remember that back in episode 15 of the Running Tales Podcast we spoke to Brendan Rendall. Brendan put his hedonistic lifestyle behind him to complete a series of spectacular challenges, including running across Africa - if you haven't listened yet, it's well worth checking out. His latest challenge saw him attempting to raise money for Chester Zoo, which has been struggling financially...

Katie Brown's mission is to share how to live your best possible life. The Northamptonshire blogger does that through her inspiring and informative Cake vs Scales blog and her shiny, new podcast, 'Am I Supposed To Say This?' Part of Katie's journey has been to develop a love of running, and in between chatting about everything from cake to mental health we also discussed half marathons, podcasts a...

Suzanne Smith began running seriously when she tragically lost her twin son Jamie in childbirth. As she told me, she started running and just hasn't stopped - it has become therapy for her. Suzanne told me Jamie is on every run with her, and he's inspired her to half marathon PBs - and race wins - multiple marathons and even ultras. I talked to Suzanne about everything running related, from coping...

Michael Aldridge is one of Northamptonshire's most talented athletes. From 5km all the way up to the marathon distance, he is one of the best around on the British Masters circuit. A superb 2019 was topped off by victory in the Milton Keynes Marathon and Northampton Half. I spoke to Michael about how he swapped rugby for running, his training methods and how some surprising news has meant he may h...

For some people, one marathon is a lifetime's dream. Others get the bug and go back for more, while the more hardy - and some would say foolish - push on into ultra races or towards the 100 Marathon Club. Steve Edwards, the self-styled Man Inside The Machine, takes all that to another level. He has already run 903 marathons, and is aiming to reach the 1,000 mark. As if that isn't impressive enough...

The answer to the question in our episode title is Ovasinax. In this bonus episode of the Running Tales podcast, we've taken a slight detour from our normal format to meet a Canadian couple who've come up with a unique sport all of their own. Jerome and Lucy are the creators of Ovasinax, and got in contact after hearing the efforts of Northampton runner Chris Lamb in the UK wife-carrying competiti...

It's not every week you get to speak to a two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner. Liz Yelling is one of the very best long British long-distance runners of the last 20 years. She finished 25th in the marathon at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and 26th at Beijing 2008, but her greatest moment came in Melbourne, Australia when she finished third in the Commonwealth Games....

Guide runner Simon Elliott has helped visually-impaired runners complete everything from 5km parkruns to marathons, and even cross-country ultras. It was something he only took up after his wife volunteered him to help twin girls complete the Daventry parkrun course, but it's become a huge part of his life since then. As well as talking about what it takes to be a good guide runner and how people...

Kettering's popular Wicksteed Park is in trouble - and that is, in my eyes, worth a special emergency podcast. The 99-year-old attraction is struggling financially due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a huge fundraising effort. One man raising money for the park is Ben Currington and earlier today (Saturday, June 20) he ran from Northampton parkrun's Racecourse home to Ketteri...

Brendan Rendall loves a challenge. He's currently running a half-marathon every day in June, to be followed by a marathon a day in July and - on August 1 - he'll take on the 35 miles from Salford Quays to Chester Zoo. It's all to raise money to save the zoo, which is struggling financially due to the impacts of the coronavirus. You can sponsor him at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brendan-rendall3...

If you’re looking for someone who makes the most of everything running has to offer, Chris Lamb is your man. A British Masters athlete he recently completed 5kms in an impressive 16 minutes 16 seconds, while his marathon times take some beating as well. Chris isn't one of those super serious running types though. When he's not travelling at speed, he can usually be found taking place in some bizar...

Eric Xiocca likes a challenge. When he turned 40 he decided to run a marathon every month for each month of his 40th year. He enjoyed it so much he's kept going, and as he approaches 43 his next big goal is to run a marathon in every US state before he turns 50. Even Covid-19 hasn't stopped him, although it has at least delayed his hopes of running in three of the world's biggest marathons: Boston...

John Eales only started running to lose a bit of weight - but he quickly became addicted. In less than a year he had jumped from a 5km jog to his first marathon, and after that he just didn't stop. John told me how he would run "mile after mile" on the way to joining the exclusive 100 marathon club. We talk about what it's like to run seven marathons in as many days, and how he may have to swap hi...

Running 860 miles in 17 days probably seems a nigh on impossible task. At 69 years old? I'm tired just thinking about it! Michael Williams, however, is a different kind of person. The Jogle - a lung-busting run from John O'Groats to Lands' End - was top of his bucket list this year. Sadly, his attempt was cut short by the coronavirus outbreak, but he told me he aims to be back having another go ne...

When Claire Hedges was at school, she used to hang around with the back markers at cross-country events - so she could have a sneaky cigarette! These days Claire is a committed parkrunner and aiming to run her first half-marathon, despite only taking up running seriously last year. Born profoundly deaf, Claire is now a run leader at All Together Running, a running group set up to include both deaf...

Leonie Heard is one of the most inspirational people I know. I call her 'superwoman' in this podcast, a description she disputes but I'm sticking to. That's because Leonie not only overcame breast cancer - using the power of running to help her through - but has since formed her own support group to help others do the same. Breast Friends Northamptonshire has gone from strength to strength, being...

If you've never taken part in a Big Bear event, it's a pretty amazing experience. On a very basic level, they consist of running as many - or as few - loops of a variety of picturesque forest-based courses as you can/fancy in (generally) six hours. These very relaxed races attract everyone from gentle joggers to serious marathon and ultra runners. I spoke to race director Paul Albon on how he came...

When Susan Wheatcroft decided to run the London Marathon, she needed a sure-fire way to reach her funding target. What she came up with was offering people a reward to take part in a virtual race. The money they paid to do so went to her charity. The idea was such a success that 400 people took part. It was the start of Virtual Runner UK. These days Susan holds virtual races all over the world, wi...

This week I spoke to one of favourite people, Leo de Awa. He was responsible for the start of my own running journey, persuading me during a meal in Seville that I could run a marathon. I trained pretty hard for that I can tell you, but nothing like as hard as Leo trains. That's because he's a race walker with his sights set on the Olympic Games. He also makes me laugh. A lot... I hope you enjoy h...

Imagine running almost 90km and then not getting a medal or finishing time because you missed the cut off point by 33 seconds? That's what happened to Deon Ehlers when he took on the gruelling Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa. Fortunately for him it wasn't his first go at the race - in all he's officially completed it five times. I spoke to Deon about his numerous Comrades experiences, as w...

Carole James was left wheelchair bound after a car accident, suffering from constant pain, PTSD and depression. Her competitive streak wouldn't allow life to keep her down though and before too long she was trying all sorts of wheelchair sports. At first archery proved most attractive, but ultimately it was wheelchair racing that became her passion. Through Northamptonshire Sport and Northampton p...

Mark Kennedy was enjoying the holiday of a lifetime when he suddenly passed out. He was diagnosed with a brain injury that affects his mood, making him tired and anxious. His doctor said contact sport was out of the question, but he might be able to carry on running. Thankfully he could and Mark remains one of the most popular runners at Northampton parkrun and with Northampton Road Runners. Now h...

Peter Currington is a mental health champion with England Athletics, helping people to confront their problems and giving practical advice. One reason he is so good at that is because Peter has been there. He overcame drink, drugs and a spell in prison to get his life back on track. These days he gets his endorphins from running rather than any other kind of drug. Peter is brutally honest about hi...

When Catherine Hickford first started at Northampton parkrun she was more than 21 stone, running at the very back of the field and piling on more weight under the pressure of taking a degree. These days, she says running has turned her life around. Catherine has lost more than eight stones, been honoured at Northamptonshire Sports Awards, completed not only her degree but a Masters and made new, v...