Trails, Tales, and Fails - An Ultra Running Podcast

Mark Wilson: England Rugby World Cup Finalist Turned Ultra Runner

What happens when you've reached the pinnacle of your sport and it's all over? In this episode we sit down with Mark Wilson—former England international, 2019 Rugby World Cup finalist and Newcastle Falcons legend—to talk about life after professional rugby and why he's found a new challenge in ultra running. Since retiring from rugby, Mark has thrown himself into some of the UK's toughest endurance events, including the Arc of Attrition 100 and the iconic Paddy Buckley Round. We discuss the similarities and differences between elite rugby and ultra running, the mindset required to succeed, coping with retirement from professional sport, and why pushing yourself never really stops. Whether you're an ultra runner, rugby fan, or simply fascinated by high performance and resilience, this conversation is packed with honest insights, inspiring stories and plenty of laughs. In this episode we cover: Why he fell in love with ultra running after retirement The mindset of elite athletes Identity and purpose after professional sport Tackling the Arc of Attrition 100 and the Paddy Buckley Round Advice for anyone starting their own endurance journey This episode is proudly sponsored by Harrier Trail Running [https://harrierrunfree.co.uk/]. To celebrate, we're giving away Harrier's Ultra Trail Bundle—including a race vest, Z-poles, hydration bottles, safety essentials and more. To enter: ✅ Like the giveaway post✅ Follow the podcast and Harrier Trail Running✅ Tag your friends⭐ Bonus entry: Share the post to your Instagram Story Full giveaway details can be found on our Instagram page. 🎁 WIN a Harrier Ultra Trail Bundle worth over £260! If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.ultracoachmax.com/] Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/TrailsTalesandFails?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://proteinrebel.com/] — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.betaoutdoorsports.com/], where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.bvsport.com/uk/] compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.naak.com/] products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.trailskin.com/] get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://strava.app.link/fIugnHBnWYb] to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1874580990159559/] to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

Western States 100: Inside America's Most Iconic Ultra with Lee Dunstall & Rebecca Parker

What does it really take to run the legendary Western States 100? This week on Trails, Tales & Fails, we're joined by Lee Dunstall, who began his ultra running journey in 2019 before earning his place on the start line of the world's most famous 100-mile race. Alongside him is his partner Rebecca Parker, an ultra runner who crewed and supported Lee throughout his Western States adventure. Together we dive into everything you need to know about the Western States Endurance Run—from qualifying and navigating the lottery system to race-day strategy, crewing, pacing, the atmosphere on the trails, and what makes this race so special. We also chat about how both Lee and Rebecca got into ultra running, the highs and lows of the sport, and, as always, finish with our fan-favourite segments: Steady Pacer, Guilty Pleasures, and the Quickfire Round. Whether you're dreaming of running Western States 100, love ultra marathons, or simply enjoy hearing incredible trail running stories, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and inspiration. Topics covered: * Western States 100 * Western States lottery and qualification * Crewing and race-day support * Ultra running training and racing * Trail running adventures * Celeb Pacer * Guilty Pleasures * Quickfire Round If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community. ⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.ultracoachmax.com/] Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/TrailsTalesandFails?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://proteinrebel.com/] — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.betaoutdoorsports.com/], where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.bvsport.com/uk/] compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.naak.com/] products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.trailskin.com/] get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://strava.app.link/fIugnHBnWYb] to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1874580990159559/] to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

Helen Newman | Winning the Lake District Sky Race, Sky Running & Ultra Marathon Training

What does it take to become a seriously strong female ultra runners—and how do you train for mountain races when you live in one of the flattest parts of England? In this episode, we sit down with Helen Newman to explore her incredible journey through ultra running, trail running and sky racing. Helen is building an impressive ultra running CV, including: 🏆 Winner – Five Valleys Ultra 🥈 2nd – Winter on the Downs 50 Mile 🏅 6th Female – South Downs Way 100 (19:50)🏆 1st Female & 8th Overall – Lake District Sky Race (65km / 4,500m elevation) We dive into her recent victory at the Lake District Sky Race, discussing what makes sky running so different from traditional ultra marathons, how she prepares for steep climbs and technical descents without living near mountains, and the lessons she's learned from both successful races and the ones that didn't go to plan. We also discuss: * How Helen got into ultra running * Training for mountain ultras from the South Coast * The South Downs Way 100 experience * Technical trail running and descending * Ultra marathon pacing and race strategy * Strength, resilience and mindset * Common mistakes ultra runners make * What's next on Helen's race calendar As always, we have our regular icebreakers, Truth or Lie, and a quickfire round. Whether you're training for your first 50K, preparing for a 100-mile ultra, or simply love trail running, this episode is packed with practical advice, race insights and plenty of laughs along the way. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community. ⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.ultracoachmax.com/] Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/TrailsTalesandFails?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://proteinrebel.com/] — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.betaoutdoorsports.com/], where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.bvsport.com/uk/] compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.naak.com/] products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.trailskin.com/] get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://strava.app.link/fIugnHBnWYb] to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1874580990159559/] to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners. If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.

James Yeardley's Montane Summer Spine Race | 275 Miles on the Pennine Way

Fresh from completing the Montane Summer Spine Race, today's guest joins us to unpack an incredible 275-mile journey along the Pennine Way. Finishing in around 150 hours, he battled challenging underfoot conditions, sleep deprivation, changing weather, and the mental and physical demands that come with one of Britain's toughest ultramarathons. Along the way, he shared conversations with some legendary names, including Nicky Spinks and Andy Glaze, while learning plenty about himself in the process. Having previously raced mainly over 50 to 100-mile distances, this was by far his longest event to date and a huge leap into the unknown. With another major challenge just four and a half weeks away, we discuss what worked well, what he'd change next time, how he managed the lows, and some of the unexpected and humorous moments that happened during nearly a week on the trail. If you're curious about the realities of racing beyond 200 miles, the mindset required to keep moving when everything hurts, and the lessons learned from one of the UK's most iconic endurance events, this is an episode you won't want to miss. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community. ⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠ [https://www.ultracoachmax.com/] Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/TrailsTalesandFails?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://proteinrebel.com/] — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.betaoutdoorsports.com/], where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.bvsport.com/uk/] compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.naak.com/] products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠ [https://www.trailskin.com/] get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://strava.app.link/fIugnHBnWYb] to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1874580990159559/] to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners. If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.

Simon Withers: South Downs Way 100 2026

In this episode we sit down with South Coast ultra runner Simon Withers, one of the rising stars of the UK ultra running scene. Fresh from a gritty 7th place finish at the South Downs Way 100, Simon reflects on racing one of the UK's most competitive 100-mile ultras, sharing his pacing strategy, nutrition, mindset, and what it takes to perform over such a long day on the trails. We also discuss his outstanding recent results, including 3rd place at the Arc of Attrition 2025 and 2nd place at the Arc of Attrition 2026, and how his performances have continued to improve year after year. Along the way, Simon shares lessons learned from years of ultra running, the mistakes that have shaped him as an athlete, what keeps him motivated to keep returning to the start line, and some of the highs, lows and failures that every ultra runner can relate to. Plus, we put Simon through our regular features: icebreakers, Truth or Lie, and the quickfire round. Whether you're training for your first ultra marathon, tackling a 100 miler, or simply love trail running, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest insights from one of the South's toughest endurance athletes. ⁠Coaching enquiries⁠ [https://www.ultracoachmax.com/] Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/TrailsTalesandFails?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://proteinrebel.com/] — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.betaoutdoorsports.com/], where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.bvsport.com/uk/] compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.naak.com/] products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠Trailskin⁠ [https://www.trailskin.com/] get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://strava.app.link/fIugnHBnWYb] to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1874580990159559/] to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners. If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.