Young Hearts Run Free Podcast

Stevie McKenna joins us to share the story behind his incredible five-hour improvement at the West Highland Way Race, reducing his time from 28:18 to 23:23 and achieving a coveted sub-24-hour finish. From recovering from an ACL injury that first introduced him to running, to becoming a dedicated ultra-runner, Stevie reflects on the lessons, sacrifices and mindset shifts that fueled his breakthroug...

In this powerful and emotional episode, we welcome Melissa McLarnon to the podcast. After being timed out at Beinglas in the 2025 West HighlandWay Race and a subsequent battle with anxiety and mental health challenges, Melissa returned this year with a completely different mindset. What follows is a story of resilience, recovery, friendship, and ultimately crossing the finish line of Scotland'...

Trail runner and endurance athlete Serena Broadway joins the podcast to share her journey into ultra running and her experience taking on the Summer Spine Challenger North, a brutal 160 mile race along the Pennine Way. From Couch to 5K beginnings to navigating bogs, sleep deprivation, and blisters, Serena reflects on resilience, community, and what it really takes to keep moving when everything sa...

Something a little different this week as John Cassidy and Rachel Macpherson sit down for a raw and honest debrief just hours after completing the Montane Summer Spine Challenger South. From months of preparation and recce weekends, to bogs, blisters, hallucinations, cow encounters and unforgettable sunrises, they relive every high and low of their 108-mile journey along the Pennine Way. Rachel re...

What does it take to run the entire length of Scotland ? In this powerful episode of the Young Hearts Run FreePodcast , we sit down with Gregor Yates , who completed anextraordinary challenge: running roughly 415 miles from Kirk Yetholm to CapeWrath , covering a marathon a day for 17 consecutive days. But this wasn’t just about endurance. Gregor took on this journey in memory of his mum and torais...

You go out for a casual 5K during lockdown to clear your head, and suddenly you wake up a few years later with a 96-mile trail race on your calendar. Classic mistake. This week, Steven is joined by Callum Clarke to chat about his absolutely rapid, slightly chaotic, and totally inspiring rise through the running ranks. Callum went from chasing a football around to knocking out a casual ~2:50 road m...

This week on Young Hearts Run Free, we’re joined by our Yorkshire Correspondent Mel Sykes to unpack her incredible run at the Ultra Trail Snowdonia 100K. After a last-minute entry, brutal Welsh mountain conditions and some seriously technical terrain, Mel powered her way to a🥉 3rd female finish in 19:41:53. Expect: Wild weather, boulder fields & midnight (ish) finishes The moment everything t...

It’s a just the two of us Steven and John special this week with a fun packed catch up episode. We kick off recapping the launch of the Auchterarder Running Festival 2026 , where the 10K has already sold out and limited places remain for the Double Dare, while entries for the Half Marathon are still open. This year’s theme? New York City baby🍎 Sensational news on the merch front too… YHRF is drop...

From Couch to 5K to Race DirectorKayleigh Webster joins us to share the story behind the inaugural Beecraigs Backyard Ultra — a sell-out event built on community, grit, and pure love of running.🔑 Highlights🏃 What a backyard ultra really is (last one standing!)💡 How Beecraigs BYU came to life🔥 150 places sold out in 22 days💯 19 runners hit 100 miles🥇 Craig McQueen takes the win💛 Why It Matte...

From a cancer diagnosis at 17 to the relentless hills of Newton, Karl Hodgson joins us for a deep dive into the grit, the gear, and the no-filter reality of the 2026 Boston Marathon. This isn't just a race recap; it’s a masterclass in perspective. Karl opens up about how running shifted his life path and why, sometimes, a 2:50:37 in Boston is worth more than any flat-course PB. Inside the Episode:...

In this episode, Steven and John are joined by Lewis Bowness, a Lake District based fell and ultra runner whose journey from village fell races to winning the Lakeland 50 and podium‑finishing at the Arc of Attrition is nothing short of inspiring. Lewis shares how growing up in the Lake District shaped his love for running, the influence of his family, and how fell running became normal from an ear...

In this episode, John and Steven look back on an unforgettable weekend at the Schneider Paris Marathon 2026. From elite-level organisation and iconic Parisian scenery to injury management, mindset battles, charity fundraising, and the magic of marathon community — this is a deep dive into what makes marathon running so special. The episode begins with a heartfelt tribute to a much-loved member of...

Frank McGaffney is back for his hat-trick appearance on the Young Hearts Run Free Podcast—and this time, he’s a 100-mile Backyard Ultra finisher! 🏆 In this weeks episode we sit down with Frank for a grippy, deeply honest and of course amusing 90-minute breakdown of his 24-hour / 100-mile journey at the Rasselbock Backyard Ultra. From the "accommodation from hell" to vomiting in the corr...

In this episode we sit down with ultra-running powerhouse Anna Troup, winner of both Summer and Winter Spine Races including the 2025 Summer Spine outright. Anna opens up about training in the Lake District, navigating injuries, managing menopause, building resilience, and rediscovering her running identity. Episode Highlights Anna’s journey from Oxford rowing → triathlon → ultras Living and train...

After a four year wait, the legend himself finally returns. This week John and Steven welcome back ultra‑runner, adventurer, and all round good guy Martin Heggie for his hat‑trick appearance on the podcast and he brings with him one of the wildest race stories you’ll hear all year. Martin has just completed The Tunnel, Mark Cockbain’s infamous 200 mile, 100 lap underground sufferfest in the darkne...

This week, Steven and John take the podcast on the road for a very special first: recording live from a professional podcast studio at Stravaig Sessions near Aberuthven. Joining them for this landmark episode is Lee Campbell. Lee is widely recognised across the Scottish running community for his infectious passion for trail running, his generous ‘Pentlands Socials’, and his adventures both at home...

Would You Run If No One Was Watching? ​In this episode of Young Hearts Run Free, we sit down with ultra-runner, coach, and author Allie Bailey for a conversation that strips endurance running back to its raw, unvarnished truth. ​Allie isn't here to sell you the "running is a cure-all" dream. Instead, she challenges the modern obsession with metrics, exploring how watches, apps, and s...

​🎙️ SEASON 15 KICKS-OFF🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽️ ​The wait is over, the squad is named, and we are officially kicking off Season 15! You know us for the tarmac and the trails, but this season, we’re bringing a different kind of energy to the podcast. ​🏆 The Season Theme: The Summer of ‘26 ​With Scotland heading to their first World Cup since 1998, we are leaning into our obsession with the beautiful game. This...

It’s time for the Season 14 finale episode featuring backyard ultra runner world champion Sarah Perry. What a way to sign off season 14? We welcome back Sarah Perry for her third appearance on the podcast. Following Sarah’s previous milestones discussed on the show, running 41 yards at Rasselbock and then setting a UK women’s record with 59 yards at the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships, the...

In this episode, John and Steven sit down with one of the most accomplished ultra runners in the world, Beth Pascall. Known for her calm demeanour (earning her the school nickname "Millpond"), Beth shares her journey from medical school rowing to shattering course records at Western States and the Bob Graham Round. We dive into the mental and physical grit required to win iconic races in gruelling...

In this "2 Of Us" episode, Steven Watt and John Cassidy catch up on recent winter running highlights, provide a comprehensive wrap-up of the brutal conditions at the Winter Spine Race, and reveal their own massive running and fundraising goals for the upcoming season. Discussions include: Looking back at "Running Rants," the "UN Awards," and the challenge to create cr...

In this episode, we welcome back ultrarunning legend Debbie Martin Consani for her 9th (NINTH) appearance on the show. As the 2026 Winter Spine Race unfolds, Debbie provides her expert perspective on what makes this nasty 268-mile trek along the Pennine Way so unique. From the deep thaw slush of the current race to her own legendary 2022 victory, Debbie shares insights on gear, the psychology of '...

Yer running rants Yer dialect dictionary entries Yer gid cunt o' the year It's aw aboot you...ken

It's part one. It's long, you made it happen, it's brilliant...

Vote in the UnAwards2025 We sit down with Scottish running superstar Morag Millar for an honest, engaging and fun chat! Morag dives into her journey from a football-obsessed kid (opposing parents thought she was a boy) to becoming a European Junior champion. She reveals about her Commonwealth Games race (mostly powered by... aqua jogging?)Morag also gets seriously personal about balancing elite tr...