Young Hearts Run Free Podcast

Glenmore 24, move for 12 or 24 hours, sounds easy...right? Think again! This episode is focused on an insight into G24, which is organised by Rockets Events Your hosts Steven (support role) and John (athlete... read that again ) ventured up the A9 to Glenmore Forest, and had themselves a ball of a time. What does it take to run/walk/move for 12 or 24 hours (there are two options)? Well, that takes...

Our one-week hiatus is over, long live YHRF!! And we reckon you deserve a belting episode; this week certainly fits that bill. We kick off proceedings with a wee host catch up. We’ve a fair smattering of stuff to cover after what has been a busy few weeks in the world of running. 100k World Champs featuring plenty pals of the show, UTMB with Jim Walmsley wearing tights as the GOAT delivered yet ag...

In this week’s episode we focus on our trip last weekend to the inaugural Run with Pyllon event held in shadow of the Cairngorms at Badaguish Outdoor Centre. If gleaning knowledge from inspirational coaches, mixing with other like-minded folks from across the running community or indeed running in the breath-taking Scottish Highlands is your thing you’ll be keen to hear our review of what turned o...

Clicking Click it’s Season 6 Episode 6.  And we’re going running up that hill this week in pursuit of yards, lot’s of yards as we welcome a familiar face to the show for a long overdue debut. Joining us to have a deep dive into her recent outing at The Highlander Last One Standing is Fiona Watt (aka Steven’s other half).   With John asking the questions we get to know about Fiona the run...

Here it is our Lakeland 50 race report and review.  Warts and all, a no-holds barred episode all around our weekend down in Coniston. We had an agenda for the weekend, and top of that agenda was to cross both start and finish lines. What transpired was a whole lot better than we could have dreamed and that's because of the people. Listen in to hear the frustrations, the smiles, the pain and t...

Renee McGregor is a renowned sports dietician, she has worked with elite athletes across a spectrum of sports. You might wonder then why she agreed to speak to John n Steven.... We aren't sure either, but we made the most of our time in her company, and the result is an episode chock full of priceless golden nuggets any runner will benefit from. We not only find out about Renee the dietitian we al...

Coming at ya with our Young Hearts Run Free Summer Special! As you will be aware (if no where have ye been?) our gal Debbie was over in the U S of A taking on Badwater 135 We get the lowdown, delivered in Debbie's inimitable style about her adventure, the training, the crew, the build-up...the whole shebang! Debbie also describes a very personal part of the build-up to her race, one that turned in...

'John Connolly of Dumbarton, Scotland' the immortal words spoken as this week's guest's name was pulled out of the Western States 100 tombola earlier this year. We were as thrilled for John, as everyone was when we heard the news, in fact we'd even say it got us up to high-doh. Our enthusiasm though also got us into a wee bit of a bother with John......eeek. This week's episode is sensational.&nbs...

Hello Season 6, we’ve been expecting you. And we are off to a flyer, quite literally, with this week’s guest Robbie Dunlop. Robbie has enjoyed a remarkable 2022 so far and we were super keen to get the lowdown from the man himself. We start with a look at happenings over in California as our gal Debbie Martin-Consani mastered the conditions at the Badwater 135 AND we’ve a competition for all you t...

It is our Season 5 finale!! It is episode 100!! Best make it a good one eh! A massive thanks for tuning in, it has been the most unexpected of times since we launched the podcast back in 2020. Meeting new folks and being constantly inspired. Life enhancing, we really hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have. Our guest this week is quite fitting for us hitting the big century. We’re going transa...

Welcome to another episode of YHRF, it’s our 99th, it’s our penultimate of season 5 and needless to say….it’s a belter. Joining us this week is none other than the incredible Lynne Allen. Hot off the heels of her magnificent West Highland Way Race victory we were stoked to get the chance to catch up with Lynne. We cover her superb day on the Way, but we discover much much more too. We start tho wi...

You might've heard of Stranger Things but have ye heard of Hairy Things? No? Well step on in. Last weekend was a busy one, this weekend is a busy one, in this episode we do our best to unpack it all. From West Highland Ways to Western States with plenty stops along the way. With John undertaking his support duties for Gillian McGale (Team 67) and Steven managing a flying visit to Bridge of Orchy t...

And just like that we’ve been at this podcast caper for 2 years…..time for a brief interlude. This week you have the veritable treat of a hour long chat between your hosts. In a poll of our listeners at least 5% of you expressed such episodes as their very fav, and we aim to please as many folk as we can. Thankfully we’ve got more than just mangled feet pictures and the latest state of John’s unde...

Episode 96 of the Young Hearts Run Free podcast is upon us. You’ll know by now we don’t like to disappoint. We’ve another smasher of a guest to tell an amazing tale for you. We kick off with our wee round up of the week’s happenings, covering a whole heap of crap before catching up with this weeks headline act Rebecca Brennan. Rebecca has just completed the arduous Cape Wrath Trail on Scotland’s r...

This week we were super duper chuffed to catch up with Dr Nicki Lygo. Nicki has played a huge part in some massive FKT attempts in the UK over the last few years. Most notably crewing for Damian Hall and John Kelly on their Pennine Way record breaking ding-dong. Nicki brings a wonderful insight into what it takes for the athlete to give themselves the best chance possible of breaking a FKT. These...

Have ye met the fella who’s completed 141 Ultra marathons and doesn’t class himself as much of a runner?  We bet a few of you have, and those of you that have not are about to. You are all in for a treat. Neil MacRitchie is a ‘one in a million’ guy, as humble as they come yet with an extraordinary story to tell. It’s not all about racing at the sharp end, it’s not all about medals and awards,...

Join us for Episode 13, Season 5 of the Young Hearts, Run Free Podcast. We insist. This week’s guest, Sam Amend, doesn't do things by halves. And at 43-year-old she shows no signs of slowing down. Hot off the heels of breaking her own British 100-mile record Sam lifts the lid on her running story, she says it's been a slow burner. We’re not sure you'll agree. We kick off the show though with a loo...

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 12 of the Young Hearts Run Free Podcast! We are coming at ya this week with a quadruple strength episode! First up John n Steven have their customary weekly blether, it’s unscripted ya know! Then joining us for a brilliant chinwag we welcome ultra-runner Dave Andrews. Proud Northern Irishman Dave has been a regular at the sharp end of ultra-marathons for nigh on a decad...

This week we spend some time with winner of the 2022 women's Highland Fling (Ding Ding) Footrace Jo Meek. Jo's running journey is quite something, her writing is awesome too, be sure to check out her blog at https://jomeekblog.wordpress.com/ Jo has raced in some awesome places all over the world, as well as having had the honour to pull on both an England and GB vests.  Still the highest ever...

Take a seat (or head for a long run) we've a feature length episode for your listening pleasure....it's only our Boston Marathon 2022 debrief. We take a 'deep dive' into co-host Steven's experience as he headed to take on a race he's chased for some time, with nuggets and nuggets of insights into the race itself and on his trip to Boston to enjoy one of the most iconic running experiences out ther...

The Highland Fling is a 53 mile trail race which traditionally takes place every year in April. This years race is the first since 2019 as a result of the global pandemic. Ding Ding The Highland Fling is back! The route follows the West Highland Way, Scotland’s oldest official long distance footpath, through the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The Fling is one of the hottest race tick...

The time has come, the time is now.  Be brave, be bold, show us yer shwanks... Since January this year, a large part of Steven's focus has been on preparing for running the 2022 Boston Marathon. A dream come true? Damn right! Listen in to hear how Steven's training has went, how he's feeling a few days away from lining up at the start line in maybe the biggest, most famous marathon  of t...

Gather together….it’s time to be awesome. You’ve maybe heard us mention once or twice that we were looking forward to the Anglo Celtic Plate. It’s been and gone now, it was every bit as epic as we had predicted, the gathering of awesomeness did not fail to deliver. Both the 50K and 100k events turned it to classics, and we had ringside seats. In this week’s episode we take a deep dive into how the...

Welcome to the Young Hearts, Run Free podcast. Ed Furtaw is many things.  Being first ever finisher of the Barkley Marathons would maybe top that bill for most mortals. A total of 22 outings at the Barkley Marathons have since followed. Even a book, Tales from Out There, published on the topic. However, Ed’s greatest ever Barkley appearance came very recently, in 2022 he made a glorious return to...

*Cue CONCH* Baby, this is what you came for………. No April Fools tomfoolery here at YHRF, 100% we’ve another humdinger of an episode for your listening pleasure, it’s no joke. To start us of we treat you to a first. John & Steven have a new toy, a hairy toy. Our hairy pal joined us to capture a first stab at an outside broadcast, join your hosts for a walk and talk around the hallowed turf of th...