West Coast Ultra Podcast

This week, we will go back to the normal format with an interview with one of the local legends in Ayrshire. Many of you will know Bert through the Fit Ayrshire Masses, but on this week's episode, we talk about: His fitness journey and early C25K ''ing' Realising that you don't have to run fast all the time and using running as a way of managing to lose over 6 stone Finding out what types of races...

Something a little bit different this week, where I am joined by not one, not two, but three guests. I am joined by a previous guest of the show, Scott (S1 E6) and our crew for the Ultra Scotland 100, George and Michael. Both George and Michael are also fresh off crewing duties from the West Highland Way Race, just two weeks after crewing Scott and I on the Scotland 100. I have been crewed by all...

Mixing things up a bit this week where we have previous guest and friend of the show Kayleigh interview me about my time on the Southern Upland Way completing GB Ultras Ultra Scotland 100 Race. This race covers 104 miles of the National Trails and around 18 thousand feet of climbing We talk about: Some of my background in running and what led me here Preparations for the race and what specific tra...

This week, we have another local legend, Catherine Armour. Catherine is an inspiration to many people in the local running and fitness community. Hear her story about where we talk about: How she used running and fitness to deal with a difficult change in her life Her couch to 5k journey Realising she could do more - and the going and doing it It's not been plain sailing all the way - hear how she...

I am back on the West Coast again this week, and I am joined by Alan Young, now the proud holder of the Kintyre Way Fastest Known Time (FKT). We talk about his latest adventure, but of course, there is much more: Initial forays into running, going from 10k to a (trail) marathon Finding what events work for him Deciding to get a bit more serious and join a running club, and get a coach Winning and...

This week, I am joined by ultra running legend Damian Hall a man who for many needs no introduction. He is one of the people whose stories are responsible for getting me hooked on the sport - his first book 'in it for the long run' is simply ace. Fresh off winning (and setting a new course record) at the 300km Northern Traverse at the beginning of April, Damian joined me and we talked about: His m...

This week, we were joined by a previous guest and friend of the show, Jo Findlayson. Jo joined the podcast waaaaaay back in Season 1, Episode 7, but a lot has happened since then. Jo started working with me at the turn of the year and has been putting in the work, in both training and races, with a big test coming in the recent Devil o' the Highlands Footrace. Instead of doing a 'normal' debrief,...

Hello everyone, and that is me back to normality again with a big block of training in front of me till the Ultra Scotland 100 at the beginning of June. No guest this week, but don't let that put you off, as I muse about some topics: Training while on holiday The new kit I have bought Thoughts on failure A study on protein intake guidelines (Study link here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.10...

Back to Ayrshire this week for a conversation with Jason McGinn. You will have heard about him and some of the adventures and charity challenges that he has done in a previous episode with Ricky (S3E3) and now we hear from the man himself. The early days, from football to Mauy Thai to running in lockdown Connecting with charities and setting big challenges and having big days (and weeks) out with...

This podcast is all about sharing stories from grand adventures to the triumphs (and struggles) of normal people being able to do amazing things and running ultras. Summit Fever Media is all about sharing peoples stories - some of the most inspiring and downright cool documentaries has been produced by them so jin me as I talk to Matt and Ellie Green about their journey from starting the company t...

You asked and I delivered. A number of you have mentioned to me that Ricky would be a great guest and you were absolutely right. Known for wearing a pick wig during races (more about that story in the episode) he has done so much more and has a fascinating story to tell. Here are some of the things we spoke about: The early days in fitness, from boxing to Muay Thai How he found his way into runnin...

During my Tea Round a couple of weeks ago I bumped into this rather chatty lady at the top of Robinson (pretty sure she was trying to beat us to the top). We then had a fun conversation about quite a few things - voom bars, poles and some of the hills we were going to climb that day (sorry it was in the lakes - Fells) It was a little while later that I realised I had been talking to a bit of a lak...

As we kick off season 3 I am joined by CEO and Founder of Precision Fuel and Hydration, Andy Blow. Andy became an accomplished triathlete but struggled when it came to racing in the heat - and here is where the story of Precision Fuel and Hydration begins. We talked about: How Andy's personal experience led to the formation of the company How PF&H has evolved and how it has helped athletes in...

For the first time, I am joined by two guests. Jack Gray and Josh Elston-Carr. Saying they are accomplished club runners is an understatement as they have represented their country but that's not the reason they are on the show... Looking at what is happening on the running scene there are two things that I think are contributing to records being broken all over the place, high-carb fuelling, help...

This week's episode is a solo one where I look at some beginner or wannabe ultrarunners' worries. Be warned, this is just my take on these things - my opinion and I try to come from a place of love and support. As you know I focus my coaching on people new to ultrarunning or people who want to improve so these are conversations that I have already had in some shape or form, so if you do want to co...

This week I catch up with Steven Watt, the Young Hearts Run Free podcast's cohost and all-around good guy. Steven and his co-host John Cassidy have been in my lugs (ears for non-Scottish people) on most of my long runs and for almost the entire time I have been doing ultras so it is an honour to be able to catch up with them and to turn the mic round and hear their stories. We talked about: The fa...

This week we catch up with a fellow coach I have known for a few years, Phill Young. Phill and I met on a coaching programme in 2000 and since then he has become a PT, running coach and Race Director. Being fit for life is different for everyone and he works with runners on getting more from their running now, and in the future. We talked about: Moving from IT contracting to personal training and...

Last week we were in Arizona, this week we are just along the road in Irvine (and about five minutes from my house). We are joined by Kyle McLaughlin owner of McLaughlin Sports Massage. While not an ultrarunner himself, he has seen and worked with various people from the average Joe to high-performance sportspeople. He takes a holistic approach to understanding the needs of his clients and his lat...

We go international again, this time I get to talk with fellow Team RunRun coach and all-around awesome athlete and human being, Des Clark. Des has been running for over 30 years and it was about eight years ago she switched to trail and ultra running and started coaching, Her journey, rooted in authenticity is inspiring, uplifting and shows the power of community and connection. We talked about:...

A shorter one this week and just spending time with me and myself before we go international again next week. I'm trying something different and giving you my hot takes on the top questions AI came up with for ultrarunning - so here we go... What I talked about: What you should eat for an ultra How to train for an ultra What gear do you need How do you handle mental challenges and what do you do w...

Joining the podcast this week, all the way from Canada, is fellow Team RunRun coach and psychotherapist Brant Stachel. Brant and I met when I started coaching with Team RunRun. He brings a powerful combination of skills, coaching a wide range of athletes from Olympians to 6+ hour marathoners. He is also a strength and conditioning coach, massage therapist, and psychotherapist specialising in sport...

To kick off 2025 we have the man, the myth, the legend of John Cassidy from the Young Hearts Run Free Podcast sharing his running journey with us. Many of you will have heard him (and Steven) talking with guests over the past few years and I have been listening and being inspired through his podcast since I started doing the longer stuff. But John has a great story to tell from where he started on...

Something a little bit different for your Christmas episode. I take you with me this week on the Stewarton Ultrarunners 100k run on the 14th of December 2024 with some heavy breathing, plodding steps and interviews with the guys along the way. We'll return to normal service next week but why waste an opportunity to tray something different :) Heres some of the key learning points: Big days out wit...

Kayleigh Webster is another legend who made it to the snowy edition of the Wildheart Runners birthday bash. What a story she has to tell, including her first ultramarathon win in the Back Yard Ultra format. What we talked about: Lockdown running and Couch to 5K Learning lessons on the way to going long The impact of moving to a plant-based and alcohol-free lifestyle and how 'The Happy Diet' was bo...

This week I chatted to Gemma Holloway. I met Gemma on the very snowy and cold Wildheart Runners anniversary meet. When she told me about her couch to 50k journey AND that she was a Sports and Performance Dietitian I couldn't not invite her on the podcast - food and running - that what it's all about isn't it. What we talked about: Early beginnings and meeting strange people in car parks Pushing th...