The Brig Boys Podcast

This week we welcome back an incredible athlete and a man whose journey in life has been tumultuous to say the least; we've never met someone with such resilience and had the pleasure to share the airwaves with Luke Grenfell-Shaw who currently sits in the top 1% in the world in UTMB rankings. His story is unique from a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis at a young age to donning the coveted Team G...

If you're anything like us, you've had your fair share of blisters and chafe in places you didn't think you could... Foot care is the bane of many a trail / road runner and is something we are constantly on the hunt for advice and guidance on. Up steps Dave Johnson, a man who has now dedicated a business to support runners of all capabilities to have one less thing to worry about come...

The Brig Boys return to discuss all things ultra distance. One week after Ste's completion of a solo 86 mile run from Wallsend to Bowness On Solway on the Hadrian's Wall Path, we discuss what goes on both physically and mentally during and after these extreme distances. How do people prepare for ultra distances, and most importantly how do people recover?! What kind of planning does it tak...

Fresh out of Snowdonia after another podium finish, Keith discusses his 3rd place finish at the UTS 100K and unpacks the challenges and tribulations that comes with being at the top end of the field. Keith talks us through his history from getting into the ultra scene relatively late and the changes he's seen since joining the Elite Trail Team with coach and friend of the podcast - Doug Stewar...

Ground control to Major Karl - The Brig Boys get back together to discuss Karl's epic trip to the USA to complete the most prestigious of Marathons. With Major Marathon season in full flow we get the immediate reaction of Sebastian Sawe's record breaking London win alongside the incredible standard set for sub-2 marathon runs. If you've any interest in marathons, be them major or minor...

Spring has well and truly sprung as we head into marathon season; discussing our upcoming events including the epic Boston Marathon journey for call and the hot dog Manchester Marathon for Ste. We head into April full of hope and carbohydrates and discuss fuelling strategies, pacing plans and of course how we continue to learn with every run. Here we go!

The Brig Boys spread their wings once again and speak to Dave Ross of the world famous "Ross Running News" - coming live via Zoom from the USA. Dave has forgotten more than we'll ever know about running (and celebrity birthdays) and we caught up with him in Karl's lead up to Boston Marathon. As a chap who has rubbed shoulders with some of the greats including Mr Kipchoge - we wan...

The Brig Boys are BACK and catch up with Elite Trail Team star and all round fantastic person - Poppy Collingwood. One of the runners made during Covid times, she has continued to develop into a magnificent runner as well as a mentally tough athlete. Poppy has some epic performances to her name including an Arc of Attrition win as well as podium finishes in some of the most difficult races in the...

At Brig Boys HQ we pride ourselves on giving a platform to both established and upcoming talent in the world of sport. Matt is Blackburn Harriers latest export with some incredible performances at a young age, including his recent 10K win at Ribble Valley (29.05 - ludicrous!). Matt is on his way to a great running career, with a positive attitude and love of the sport - it was great to hear anothe...

Most people don't see an advertisement for joining a team to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic with no prior rowing experience and think "Yes Please!" - but Ellie is not most people, she's an ordinary woman doing extraordinary things. We want to know all about her adventures after the recent release of her book "There She Rows", heading back to her days completing at...

The Elite Trail Team are a force to be reckoned with and continue their huge results and performances since founder Doug Stewart took charge. The team are data and insights driven with focuses on sleep, nutrition and psychology living up to the old adage "If it can be measured, it can be managed". The team features some of the finest trail runners across the globe and their results conti...

After a short hiatus from the studio, the Brig Boys are BACK with a bang. Discussing Ste's journey down to Cornwall to experience his first UTMB race at the Arc of Attrition 100K. With 50 miles of mud, sweat and (nearly) tears, there's a lot to unpack as he continues to chase running stones. What's the verdict, is it recommended and what actually happened on the 100 mile route too!? Ka...

With the upcoming Arc of Attrition weekend, we spoke with one of Cornwall's finest imports - Loyd Purvis of Run4Adventure. We discuss Loyd's entry into running, the Cornish fresh air that miraculously cleared his asthma, and of course his awesome adventuring through his running history. Loyd & Liga have been around the globe and have encouraged countless runners to get out on adventure...

2025 has come and gone and The Brig Boys discuss their personal running highlights as well as some fantastic race performances from previous guests or local legends. After the Ribble Valley 10K we discuss positioning and some (since resolved) issues around chip and gun time. Do people take park run too seriously? and what's next for the boys in 2026, more progress and a lack of excuses... we hope.

Another member of Elite Trail Team is back in the St-Hugh-dio! Hugh is an incredible athlete and a gentleman and it was our pleasure to host him over the Christmas period.

Midlands based athlete Joe Farrelly has burst onto the running scene after a string of epic performances on both road and trail. We wanted to know more about the person who cruised into a fantastic 3rd place finish at Kullamannen 100K and booked himself a spot in UTMB history. Joe talks us through what made him the man (and athlete) he is today, from his journey into some dark places to the ultra...

Also known across the socials as @runfreerehab - Sophie joins the Brig Boys to discuss her recent injury and the impact that has had both physically and mentally, as well as unpacking the myths and facts about REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). This episode was another fantastic education for us, as we learn some of the key ingredients for a successful home workout, the importance of calo...

This week the Brig Boys are joined by Lake District legend - Tom Smith, who continues to get bigger, better, faster and stronger at every distance and race! Tom has recently set a blisteringly fast new course record at one of our favourite events (The Lap) as well as annihilating the course at the 7 Valleys ultra. Tom's mental strength and resilience accounts for a lot of his success, he truly...

The Brig Boys reunite to discuss the latest races and review not only their own performance but each event including Chester Marathon 2025, 5 Valleys (part of the 13 Valleys series) and Rivington Half Marathon. With plenty of events to choose from it gets harder every year to plan and target certain races. As always we learn from every mistake and performance to see how we can continue to improve...

This week we have the honour and privilege of hosting 2nd place female from our favourite race: The Lakeland 50/100. Placing 2nd in the 50 in such a competitive and highly popular race is a magnificent achievement and Alice's story is as engaging as it is inspirational. Alice's love for running and the social element that comes with the sport is clear, and this conversation seemed to flow and fly...

In this episode The Brig Boys talk to the fantastic Sonny Peart and recount his journey into running from the first marathon experience, taking on London Marathon to wild future plans including the Mountain Ultra - taking on approx 200km of terrain in Kyrgyzstan - a far cry from the canals of London. Sonny is the co-founder of Black Trail Runners and gives us great insights into the experiences of...

The Brig Boys got together with Speed Project extraordinaire and former Commonwealth athlete, Holly Stables for a chat around all things speed, strength and suffering. We dive deep into the highs and lows of her incredible effort in The Speed Project - an ultra endurance event covering well over 300 miles where each individual has one aim - get from A to B as quick as possible on foot. Holly talks...

Meryl's rich history in sport comes apparent in this episode where we learn from one of Scotland's finest trail runners and coaches. From a background in football - once playing (and partying) with Diego Maradonna - to her current fantastic running streak as part of Team GB. Meryl has been all over the world and her fitness journey most recently took her to the home of mountain running - C...

Keswick is home to some of the UK's most talented runners and Jacob is no exception. After smashing a lifelong ambition of following in his grandfather's footsteps to complete an impressive Bob Graham round, he has a rich history in fell running and his love for both the sport and the landscape comes across clearly in this interview. Jacob rose to fame through the short movie George; both...

We've followed Mel's journey for a while now and love her attitude, sense of humour and incredible athletic performances she continues to show on a daily basis. Mel is one of the first names on the team sheet for Lakeland 100 and she proves why in this frank and open discussion. Mel is genuinely inspiring and only 2 years ago discovered she needed treatment for Chiari malformation (a rare neurolog...