The UKRunChat podcast.

For most runners, Lazarus "Laz" Lake is the creator of the Barkley Marathons and the inventor of the Backyard Ultra. But after spending a year filming the first authorised documentary about him, filmmaker Paul Mellor has discovered there's much more to the man than his legendary races. Paul takes us behind the scenes of the documentary and shares what it's like spending hundreds of hours with one...

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle talks to Mel Bound, founder and CEO of This Woman Runs, one of the world's largest women's running communities. What began with a simple Facebook post asking if anyone wanted to be her running buddy has grown into a movement supporting tens of thousands of women across the UK through free weekly walks, runs and beginner-friendly programmes. Mel sh...

What if your running club, community group or local organisation had access to funding that could help more people get active and break down barriers to participation? In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle is joined by Tanya Kenrick, General Manager of the ISPO Impact Foundation, to discuss the Foundation's new €1 million annual fund and how it aims to support projects that use sport...

Just under a year after our first conversation, race director John Yelland returns to the UKRunChat Podcast to talk about the realities of organising grassroots events and why community matters more than ever. John is the founder of Mad Hatter Sports Events in Cornwall and creator of the unique Hourglass Race, a "front yard ultra" where runners tackle two-mile laps against a steadily shrinking tim...

Just under a year after our first conversation, race director John Yelland returns to the UKRunChat Podcast to talk about the realities of organising grassroots events and why community matters more than ever. John is the founder of Mad Hatter Sports Events in Cornwall and creator of the unique Hourglass Race, a "front yard ultra" where runners tackle two-mile laps against a steadily shrinking tim...

In this inspiring episode of the UK RunChat Podcast, Michelle chats with adventurer, mountain leader, polar expedition guide, photographer, and author Alex Nemeth, the first Hungarian to complete the legendary Seven Summits challenge—climbing the highest mountain on every continent, including Mount Everest. Alex shares the remarkable journey that took her from a marketing career in Wimbledon to su...

This week on the UKRunChat Podcast, we’re joined by comedian, writer and runner Paul Tonkinson. Paul’s new book, Running Through Sand , follows his attempt to complete the legendary Marathon des Sables, a 250km self-sufficient ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert. But this conversation goes far beyond the race itself. We talk about: ageing as a runner adapting to physical changes losing competit...

What if the secret to running stronger, longer and staying injury-free isn’t another hard workout, but walking? In this episode of the UK RunChat Podcast, Michelle speaks with Dr. Courtney Conley, foot and gait specialist, founder of Gait Happens, and co-author of Walk: Your Life Depends On It — about why walking could be one of the most powerful tools runners are overlooking. From foot strength a...

This week on the UKRunChat Podcast, we’re joined by award-winning writer, director and poet P Burton-Morgan , ahead of their UK tour of Running Commentary,  a unique solo show blending stand-up, poetry, and real-life running experiences. After over a decade without exercise, P returned to running in their 40s during a period of major life change. What began as a way to cope quickly became som...

Dejon Noel-Williams: Running, Mental Health & the London Marathon In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, we chat to Dejon Noel-Williams—personal trainer, reality TV personality, and founder of London run club Vibe Tribe—as he prepares to take on his first marathon. Dejon shares how running went from being a “punishment” during his football career to becoming a powerful tool for coping with...

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle is joined by James Hunter, who is nearing the finish line of his incredible “Mission 40” challenge. To mark turning 40, James set out to complete 40 endurance events in 12 months, including marathons, half marathons, trail races, cycling and hiking, all while raising money for RUHX, the official NHS charity of Bath’s Royal United Hospital. With 34...

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle speaks to Aaron Sharples about his ambitious project, El Camino Español, a 1,600km run along the entire east coast of Spain. Starting in Portbou near the French border and finishing in La Línea at the gateway to Gibraltar, Aaron plans to complete the route in just 28 days, averaging around 80km a day. The challenge could set a Fastest Known Time a...

In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, Michelle speaks with Lia Fyles, the driving force behind the London Landmarks Half Marathon. What started as a fundraising challenge for Tommy's has grown into a 20,000-runner event that celebrates London’s history, community, and charitable spirit while raising millions for good causes. Lia shares how the event came to life, the challenges of closing cent...

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, we’re joined by returning guest Dr Juliet McGrattan to talk about her new book, The Runner’s Guide to Menopause . Menopause is something every woman will experience, yet many runners feel unprepared for how it can affect their training, performance, and motivation. Juliet shares expert insight — alongside her own lived experience — to help runners better u...

What happens when someone who only started running a year ago decides to run 100 marathons in 100 days? In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle speaks with Hannah Cox, the founder of the Better Business Network and the woman behind Project Salt Run — a world-first endurance challenge running the length of India’s historic Inland Customs Line. Over 100 days Hannah covered 4,224 kilometre...

Breathing is something every runner does thousands of times on every run — yet it’s something most of us never think about. In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle speaks with breathing coach and former professional rugby player David 'Jacko' Jackson about how improving the way we breathe can impact running efficiency, mobility, and performance. After a serious brain injury ended his ru...

At 48, Neil Mills is taking on one of the biggest challenges of his life: running and walking 950 miles in just 21 days. But this isn’t just about covering 45 miles a day. Neil is visiting every Young Lives vs Cancer Home from Home across the UK, raising funds for families facing childhood cancer. Behind the distance lies a deeply personal story of addiction, late-diagnosed ADHD, rebuilding identi...

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle is joined by Catherine and Pippa, co-founders of Trail & Bloom, a trail running retreat designed to support women navigating midlife. Both share deeply personal journeys of how their relationships with movement evolved. From early experiences of feeling “not good enough” in sport, to running as punishment for eating, to rediscovering joy and c...

This week on the podcast, Fiona Horsfield takes us inside the Montane Winter Spine Race, Britain’s Most Brutal endurance event along the Pennine Way. We talk about: 🥣 Eating when you don’t want to 😴 Sleeping when you can 🎒 Getting kit decisions right 🧠 Staying mentally steady when fatigue hits If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to move for days through winter conditions, this episode...

In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, we’re joined by Meryl Cooper, who has represented Britain on the international ultra stage. Hailing from Aberdeenshire, Meryl shares her journey from a background in football to discovering trail and ultra running in 2017, and how quickly the sport became a defining part of her life. We explore her progression from early races to earning selection for Grea...

In this episode of UKRunChat , we’re joined by endurance runner James Lewis , whose challenges sit far outside the usual rulebook of endurance sport. With a willingness to learn the hard way, James has taken on a series of unconventional endurance projects that test resilience, adaptability, and mental toughness more than finish times. From running 92 miles in his first-ever 24-hour event on a 400...

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, we catch up with adventurer and world-record holder Mitch Hutchcraft following the completion of his extraordinary Great British Dog Walk Challenge. Just weeks after we last spoke, Mitch ran 16 back-to-back ultra marathons, covering 720 kilometres from the UK’s lowest point at Holme Fen to the summit of Ben Nevis, battling freezing rain, snow and exhaustio...

In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, Mike Seaman, the driving force behind The National Running Show joins us to chat about the show's roots and also his own endurance running, having recently completed the Winter Downs 200, Javelina Jundred (100 miles), a 50k ultra, and summited Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. We talk about Mike’s journey into running, hi...

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, we’re joined by ultrarunner, campaigner and community builder Sabrina Pace-Humphreys. Sabrina came to running in her 40s while navigating postnatal depression, looking for something that might help her survive a difficult period in her life. What started as a lifeline became a path to purpose, and eventually led her to some of the toughest endurance events...

This week, Michelle chats with Lisa Jackson, Runner’s World columnist, 100 Marathon Club member, and author of Running Made Easy, Your Pace or Mine?, and her brand new memoir Still Running After All These Tears: A Runner’s Journey Through Grief. Lisa shares how running helped her rebuild her life after loss, what finishing last in 25 marathons has taught her about success, and how we can all...