The Runna Podcast

Most people found her two years ago. She's been running for 19. This week on The Runna Podcast, Ben and Anya sat down with running content creator Mary McCarthy to go behind the times, the content, and the self-belief of one of the UK's most exciting marathon runners right now. From competitive swimmer to cross-country champion to 2:50 marathoner. From zero followers to hundreds of thousands of wo...

"Last year, I was learning about myself. Now, I am myself." This week on The Runna Podcast, Ben and Anya speak to dancer, content creator, and marathoner Austyn Farrell. Austyn Farrell's online feed is full of joy, from hilarious skits to viral dance videos. But this conversation goes deeper. Austyn shares his history of mental health struggles, substance misuse and a loneliness that performing co...

"My passion has always been in helping people achieve their active goals - which is how this all started." After 5 years building Runna from an idea to the world's top-rated running coaching app, Coach Ben has made the decision to move on and take a well-earned break.  In this special farewell episode, Ben and Anya look back at over 100 weekly episodes together: the most inspiring conversatio...

Mike Wardian's ultra marathon training schedule is unlike anything you've heard. Full-time job. Two kids. 4:45am starts. And at 52 years old, he recently won the World Marathon Challenge for the third time - breaking the world record for seven 50Ks on seven continents in seven days by almost four hours! This week Kayla sits down with Mike to find out exactly how he does it. From early morning alar...

Reggie Yates thought a 5k would finish him. Then he trained for a marathon - and fell completely in love with running. In this episode of The Runna Podcast, British broadcaster and filmmaker Reggie Yates joins Anya Culling for an honest conversation about his first marathon training journey.  The early treadmill sessions that nearly broke him with boredom. The outdoor runs that set him free....

Whether you're chasing a marathon PB or simply wondering what you're actually capable of - Olly Murs just raised the bar for everyone. The X Factor star ran, rowed, and cycled 400km across England in 5 days, raising over £1 million for Soccer Aid for UNICEF! No marathon experience. No route until each morning. A knee that's had five operations. And he loved every horrible second of it. Anya Cullin...

Tatiana Forbes started running postpartum in 2023, unable to run for more than 30 seconds. She joined us on The Runna Podcast after crossing the finish line of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon. Anya Culling and Kayla Jeter sit down with runner, content creator, and founder of the Best for Last Run Club. The self-proclaimed 'slow runner' shares the struggle of being left behind at a run club,...

Keira D’Amato broke the American marathon record at 37. She did it after a decade away from the sport - while raising two kids, building a real estate career, and rediscovering what running meant to her. In this episode, Keira sits down with Anya and Kayla to unpack one of the most remarkable stories in modern running. From the injury that forced her out of the sport, to the identity crisis that f...

From a devastating back injury to a 3:29 marathon at 50 - Ben Shephard just ran his first marathon in 16 years. Whether you're returning from injury, chasing a marathon comeback, or trying to stay fit as you get older - this conversation will make you rethink what's possible. Just days after crossing the finish line in London, the beloved British TV presenter sits down with Ben and Anya to talk ho...

Calli Hauger-Thackery won a marathon at 8 weeks pregnant. The world had no idea. She joined us before lining up in Boston at 22 weeks - with her husband, coach, and training partner Nick Hauger racing alongside her. This episode goes behind the scenes of one of the most unusual high-performance partnerships in elite running: how they train together, compete individually, and what it really means t...

Russ Cook, ‘Hardest Geezer’,  joins Coach Ben and Anya Culling for a special live recording in London, chasing a blistering 2:35 marathon goal. Despite running across a continent, he shares how marathon training is pushing him in new ways. From raw, often hilarious stories from Africa to his broader journey from rock bottom, Russ reflects on completing one of the toughest endurance feats in h...

"Everyone told me I'd peaked. Then I ran my fastest marathon at 40." Whether you're questioning your running longevity, chasing a marathon PB after a setback, or wondering if the best is really behind you - this conversation with Sara Hall will make you think differently about what's possible. Sara raced in Boston this week and called it the most painful race of her life. Hours later, she sat down...

If you’re underfuelled, you will underperform.  Most runners are unintentionally holding back their PBs because of "carb fear"-this week, we’re fixing that. In this episode of The Runna Podcast, sports nutritionist Sian Seccombe explains why underfuelling is one of the most common mistakes runners make. From ‘hitting the wall’ to the serious risks of RED-S, Sian breaks down sports nutrition f...

What should you actually do before a marathon? And how do you stay calm, confident, and in control on race day? In this episode of The Runna Podcast, Coach Ben and Anya guide you through your entire marathon race day - from the night before to the start line, through the race itself, and into post-race recovery. Whether you're running London, Boston, your first marathon or your fiftieth, this epis...

**Please note, this episode contains discussion of drug addiction, substance misuse, and suicide, which some listeners may find upsetting. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional support.** "Discipline is the only thing that will set you free" He beat opioid addiction. Then ran a 2:29 marathon at 50. Ken Rideout is the fastest masters marathon runner in the world - and t...

"It's a home Olympics. The goal is to WIN." So why did a 2x Olympic medalist choose a race where success wasn't guaranteed? Grant Fisher joins us the day after his half marathon debut at the United Airlines NYC Half - where he ran 1:00:53, one of the fastest American-born debuts ever. But this wasn't a perfect race. He went out hard, took risks, and learned more because of it. This is a real-time...

Zouhair Talbi just ran 59:41, placing 1st American at the United Airlines NYC Half - and we got the inside scoop.  Fresh off a 2nd place finish last weekend, elite runner and Olympian Zouhair Talbi joins us to break down the mindset, decisions, and race instincts behind elite performance - and what it means heading into Boston in five weeks. Zouhair takes us inside the race - sharing how he r...

Who is running really for? Can everyone be “a runner”? This week, beginner runner and performance artist Scottee joins us on The Runna Podcast the day after his first half marathon to talk running confidence, mental health, and why he almost never started. This is a raw, funny and honest conversation about starting running when the sport hasn’t always felt welcoming.  Highlights include:&nbsp...

Can you run while pregnant? And how do you safely return to running after having a baby?  In this International Women’s Day special of The Runna Podcast, we’re joined by two incredible women redefining what strength looks like in women’s running. Anya speaks to Hannah and Em from Twice The Health about running during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and balancing motherhood with performance. H...

“If you put more work in, you will see the results.” But how much is enough? In this inspiring episode of The Runna Podcast, Coach Anya sits down with 2:17 marathoner and content creator Hugo Fry - serious about speed, but not about himself.  From lockdown 5Ks to becoming one of the UK’s fastest sub-elite marathoners, Hugo reveals his training secrets around sleep, fuelling, and the ‘delusion...

Is marathon training meant to feel this hard? 🏃‍♂️  If you’re halfway through your training block and suddenly your legs feel heavier, marathon pace feels daunting, and your confidence has dipped - you’re not alone. In this episode, Ben and Anya bring you a mid-marathon training check-in for anyone building towards a spring race like London or Boston (or any marathon, really). We break down...

Can a pro cyclist simply swap the bike for running shoes? 🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️ In this episode of The Runna Podcast, hosts Ben and Anya sit down with Manon Lloyd, former Team GB pro cyclist and GCN presenter, as she swaps the velodrome for the road and trains for her first half marathon with Runna. Manon shares the brutal reality of being a beginner again after years at the top of elite sport. She opens up...

Are elite runners born, or built? This week on The Runna Podcast, 1500m World Champion Jake Wightman reveals the training secrets and mindset shifts that helped him beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen and conquer the world stage. Jake shares the reality of middle-distance running at the highest level with Coaches Ben and Anya. From the "Nature vs. Nurture" debate and the unique pressure of being coached by hi...

This episode contains discussion of eating disorders, which some listeners may find upsetting. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available. In the UK, Beat Eating Disorders offers confidential support at  beateatingdisorders.org.uk . In the US, you can contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) at  nationaleatingdisorders.org . “It’s about what your body can...

"I didn’t think running was for someone like me"  This week on The Runna Podcast, Ben and Anya speak to journalist, bestselling author, and mental health advocate, Bryony Gordon. Bryony didn’t grow up sporty - in fact, exercise often felt like punishment. But during some of the hardest moments of her life, while battling mental illness and alcoholism, she turned to running out of desperation...