The Trail and Error Podcast

Jay heads over to Chamonix to take on the TDS. A race with 9400m of elevation change over 145km of remote alpine trails, the TDS has a formidable reputation for difficulty and testing the endurance of those seeking more of a challenge than the classic UTMB 100 miler can offer. TDS takes its participants from Courmayeur in Italy back to the iconic finish line in Chamonix, giving the runners a maxim...

In this episode Tris and Jay talk to the team behind the iconic Cornish winter endurance race the Arc of Attrition and learn about what's changing and what's staying the same with 'The Arc' now that it has joined the UTMB stable of races as part of their World Series. We're joined by Hayden, Jane and Ferg as we discuss the logistics of adding the additional 25 mile race and how...

In this episode Jay is joined by Stephen Cousins of Film My Run and friend and runner Richard Hurdle as they discuss their experiences of TDS over the past 5 years. Starts tactics, the never ending climbs, and the tragic fatalities this race has seen over the past few years all come up as they impart their wisdom and knowledge of this iconic mountain race. At approximately 94 miles and 30,000ft of...

As promised, here is the bonus audio recorded by Jay with guests Stephen Cousins and James Forbes, after each day on the Cape Wrath 2024 Ultra. And at the end there is an interview with Event Director and Ourea founder Shane Ohly, where he discusses how the event team managed an infectious outbreak in the race camp and how they managed to keep it’s infection rate to a mind blowingly low 12.8%. Low...

Jay takes on the 400km Cape Wrath Ultra along with friends Stephen Cousins and James Forbes Winding along the route of the historic Cape Wrath Trail from Fort William at the base of the Great Glen this race heads north into the Knoydart region over 8 days. As with all mountain races the weather and its unpredictability can affect the conditions massively and this edition of the race was to prove c...

Jay takes on the Cape Wrath Ultra by Ourea Events from May 19th and he’s joined on this episode by fellow race participants James Forbes of Trench Foot Cream and Stephen Cousins of the YouTube channel Film My Run. You can hear more from James on episode 59 and from Stephen way back on episode 4 and again on episode 35. They chat about their race preparations (or lack of), the kit required to take...

This is available as a video episode on the Trail & Error YouTube channel. Laura O’ Driscoll is an ultra runner, cyclist, swimmer and yoga instructor. Laura has clocked up numerous races in her time, including 1st place female at Cape Wrath, 1st place at the Kerry Way Ultra, 1st at Seven Sisters Skyline ultra, 1st place at Waterville WFT 3day, and many more. Following a car accident in 2012, s...

Sam Downing is a Cornwall based trail and ultra runner and the founder of the Ponnek trail running brand. On the episode we talk about the ethos behind Ponnek, how it was founded and where it’s going. He gives some hints as some new products in the pipeline and products that will never make it into the pipeline. We talk about the most useless bits of running gear and getting the longest lifespan o...

Lewis Ryan is a Scarpa sponsored ultra runner who recently won the Arc 50 in Cornwall, resulting in is his fifth race win in the past year. On the episode we talk about cramping in Hayle,  Lewis’ past races and upcoming challenges (including the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB and Dragon’s Back). We also talk about training around a young family and balancing a life in the alcohol industry with runnin...

David Barry is the host of the Film My Trail Run YouTube channel and an ultra runner currently based in LA. On the episode we talk about some of David’s recent racing experiences, including the UTMB Canyons race, Transgrancaria, Cape Wrath Ultra, and running some of the biggest marathons in the world (including Kelvin Kiptum’s record breaking Chicago Marathon in October of last year). We also have...

Shane is a former elite mountain runner and the founder of Ourea Events, which organise some of the toughest races in the UK including the Dragons Back and Cape Wrath Ultra. This is his second appearance on the podcast. On this episode, which was recorded between Christmas and New Year, Jay is hosting solo and chats to Shane about his experience running the Dragon’s Back race in Autumn 2023 and lo...

Loyd Purvis is the host of the Run4Adventure YouTube channel and a prominent member of the Cornish trail running community. On this episode Jay and Loyd talk about the Cornish trail running scene, UTMB, Loyd’s transition into content making and the birth of Run4Adventure, what it takes to run his channel, pushing the limits, the Arc of Attrition, and much more….

Victoria Cousins is an ultra runner who has had a dramatic rise to running supremacy over the past couple of years, going from knee surgery to completing Centurion’s Grand Slam of 100 milers in 2023 and running three marathons in three weeks in three countries. Spurred on in part by her husband and previous podcast guest Stephen Cousins, we think she’s one to watch, however as you’ll see Victoria...

On this special episode which was held at the pop-up Ponnek Running Store in Falmouth on 28th October (yeah, took a while to get this out!) Tris records the first every live episode of Trail & Error with Jay Medway from Left Handed Giant Running Club in Bristol. On the episode we talk about the Arc of Attrition, Jay’s philosophy on running clubs and the details of how LHG running club operates...

Allie Bailey is an ultra runner, and endurance and mindset coach. She has run across Lake Khovsgol in Mongolia, crossed the Namibia Desert, run the full length of the Panama Canal, run the length of the UK and was the winner of the Wild Horse 200 mile race in the Brecon Beacons. On top of that she has run over 200 marathons. So it’s all the more incredible to hear that much of this was achieved un...

Elsie is a doctor, North Face sponsored trail ultra runner, 2:33 marathoner, and a returning guest on the T&E podcast. On the episode we talk about her recent win at Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB, her winter Bob Graham round record, and reaching her limits with heat stroke at the Calamorro Skyrace. We touch on some of Elsie’s training strategies, including her 40% incline treadmill and depriving hersel...

Our biggest ever race deserves our biggest ever episode. Join Jay and Tris as they delve into the belly of the beast that is the Montane Dragon's Back, a six day ultramarathon through Wales. Featuring content captured throughout the course of the week, a day by day synopsis of the event, as well as our own experiences on course, this is the Dragon's Back recap that you are looking for.

With most of the training done and a two week taper left, Jay & Tris discuss their preparations for Dragon’s Back 2023 - a 380km, six day, stage race, through the length of Wales with 18,000m of elevation gain and loss. On the episode we discuss the highs and lows of training, our training plans, nutrition, kit, hopes, and fears.

Ben is an evolutionary biologist, primatologist and broadcaster. He has been Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement at the  University of East Anglia  since 2019. Much of his career has been focussed on primates in Africa. On this episode we talk about the Dragons Back race, which Ben, Jay, and Tris are all training for. We hear about Ben’s experiences reccying the course, and in...

Andy Blow is the founder of Precision Fuel & Hydration, a company that makes sports supplements for endurance athletes. He has a BSc Honours degree in Sports and Exercise Science from the University of Bath and has co-authored a number of scientific studies and books. He was once the Team Sports Scientist for the Benetton and Renault Formula 1 teams and remains an adviser to the Porsche Human...

James Forbes is a mountain leader, rock climber, kayaker and runner. He is also the founder of Trench foot cream. On this episode we talk about James’ experience in endurance events, the 300km Northern Traverse, hallucinations, the founding of Trench and its subsequent success, being support crew on the Dragons Back, and how to plan and prepare properly for multi day events. https://trenchfootcrea...

Matt Whyman is an ultra runner, artist, dad, and author of a number of very good books (fiction and non-fiction) including one about running: Failure Is An Option “the story of an average runner who sets out to discover just how far he can go.” On this episode we take a deep dive into the Dragon’s Back Race, a six day ultra in Wales which Matt ran in 2021 and is attempting (along with Tris and Jay...

Another race special, and this time Jay is racing the Canyons 100k by UTMB in California. In the first half we discuss Jay's planning, the route (and how it has changed) and all aspects of the race. In the second half we pick through the wreckage like carrion crows, discussing how the race went for Jay as well as the elite performances.

Race Special - Tris competed in the Centurion Track 100 mile race at Bedford International Athletics Track on 22nd April. In the first half of this episode (recorded a few days before the event) Tris and Jay discuss Tris’ preparation for the event, the event format, and his goals. In the second half (recorded the day after) we find out how he and the other athletes got on!

Shane Benzie is a running coach, researcher, and author known for his work on the biomechanics of running. He is the founder of Running Reborn, a coaching company that helps runners improve their performance and prevent injuries by focusing on proper technique and natural movement patterns. Shane has worked with a range of runners, from recreational to Rhonex Kipruto and Elide Kipchoge. He has als...