Tooting Run Club: Chatty Miles Episode #5 – Simon Gallacher on Tooting’s running community and the power of parkrun

Tooting Run Club: Chatty Miles Episode #5 – Simon Gallacher on Tooting’s running community and the power of parkrun

Episode 5 of Chatty Miles sees Julia and Kate discuss upcoming races including Kate’s Blenheim Palace Sprint Triathlon, as well as the first ever Run South London half marathon in the diary for March 2027. Julia shares more about the Welsh parkruns she visited on a half-term trip across the border, while Kate chats about her 500th parkrun celebrations – which were slightly upstaged by Darren Wood’s 1000th parkrun on the same day! Our guest this month is the wonderful (Dr) Simon Gallacher, a local runner, regular volunteer and key part of the marshalling team at Tooting Common parkrun. Simon has also started volunteering with TRC more recently, so we loved hearing about how he first got into running, what motivates him to keep showing up to volunteer each week, and to hear his take on the power of community running. Fun fact: Simon’s volunteer to run ratio at parkrun is a whopping 4933%! Follow us on Instagram: @tootingrunclub @sgallacher65

Tooting Run Club: Chatty Miles Episode #4 - Sophie Austen, nutritionist and TRC member, on fuelling, balance and her running journey

On episode 4 of Chatty Miles, Julia and Kate cover the last couple of weeks of Julia's London Marathon prep (spoiler: she ran a strong race and got a PB!), as well as the mental games that can come with marathon training. As usual, there's plenty of chat on parkrun tourism, with Julia's recent tour of Ireland providing 3 new parkrun opportunities, and Kate having visited a couple of fast flat courses recently too. Our guest this month is the wonderful Sophie Austen, a day 1 TRC runner who qualified as a nutritionist last year. Sophie works with her clients to provide evidence-based, practical advice to help them feel and perform their best, both in sport and in regular day-to-day life too. Sophie shares her top fuelling tips with us, and busts a few common nutrition myths along the way. Her Instagram page is full of advice on building healthy habits and incorporating balance, and we're so pleased she joined us on Chatty Miles to share her knowledge! Follow us on Instagram: @tootingrunclub @sophs.balanced.life

Tooting Run Club: Chatty Miles Episode #3 - Pete Cooper on running as medicine and the inspiration behind Coopah

On episode 3 of Chatty Miles, Julia and Kate share what Tooting Run Club members have been up to lately, from LonDONE parkrun adventures to the results of the club's annual Birthday Bake Off. The kilometers versus miles debate heats up further, and the long-awaited results of the club poll are shared... with a landslide victory for one particular metric. This month, we're thrilled to be joined by our latest podcast guest, Pete Cooper. Pete is a local Tooting runner, mental health advocate, dedicated marathoner, and founder of the running app, Coopah. Pete's running journey is so inspiring; we loved sitting down to hear a bit more about the story behind how Coopah came about, and to discover how their work in the local running community is changing lives. Tooting Run Club members can get a 2-week free trial of the app, and 20% off if you decide to continue, by using the code TOOTINGRUNCLUB when you sign up to Coopah. One of our members, Eleanor, is running the London Marathon later this month and is fundraising for TRC. If you have a few pennies to spare, we'd be really grateful for any donations, which will go towards keeping the club free and continuing to support members of our amazing community: https://www.justgiving.com/page/elle-trc-lm2026 [https://www.justgiving.com/page/elle-trc-lm2026] Follow us on Instagram: @tootingrunclub @petecooperc @coopahruncoach

Tooting Run Club: Chatty Miles Episode #2 - Joanna Rowsell on Olympic gold medals and returning to fitness postpartum

Episode 2 of Chatty Miles kicks off with Julia and Kate catching up on recent runs, testing the boundaries of how many Havant parkrun puns one podcast can take, and thought-provoking debates around the pronunciations of Saucony and Lululemon. Julia also puts Kate in the hot seat with the same quick-fire questions we'll be asking each of our guests throughout the series. Joining us this month is Joanna Rowsell, former Team GB cyclist and double Olympic gold medallist. Joanna shares how she first got into cycling, her journey to representing Great Britain at the Olympics, and the achievement that stands out most from her incredible career. We also chat about returning to fitness after having a baby, and how her mindset around training and sport has evolved over time. An inspiring and honest conversation, packed with practical takeaways for runners and cyclists alike. Follow us on Instagram: @tootingrunclub @joannarowsell

Tooting Run Club: Chatty Miles Episode #1 - Geoff Jerwood, former GB athlete and expert coach

Episode 1 of Chatty Miles sees introductions from Julia and Kate, with some chat about upcoming races, 2026 running goals, and recommendations for local running routes and the all-important post-run coffee and cake spots. The main event is our guest segment with Geoff Jerwood, a former GB athlete turned coach at Herne Hill Harriers. We discuss how Geoff got into running, his incredible 2:17 marathon PB, and his passion for coaching the next generation of athletes. Stay tuned for some of his invaluable coaching insights and tips for both seasoned and new runners! Follow us on Instagram: @tootingrunclub @geoffjerwood