The Inspirational Runner Podcast

With UTMB race announcement planned for the 20th May I thought it would be a great idea to unpack each of the top four races that are currently scheduled for the last week of Aug, PTL, UTMB, TDS & CCC   There was no one more suited to this job than Ireland's very own Richard Nunan, who has crossed the finish line in PTL, UTMB & TDS , throw Tour de Geant into the equation and we have the perfect candidate.   There is a significant DNF rate in these races last year seen PTL (23% DNF) UTMB (39%DNF) TDS (395DNF) CCC (26% DNF) TDG (60%) so its remarkable that Richard managed to cross the finish line in each race.   In this episode which will be released today 9th May we lean on Richard's experience to gain an insight into each race, including kit break down, course profile, fuel and training, Richard is also the race director for the Maurice Mullin Ultra and has a strong back ground with good times in all distances along with a lot of success in the adventure racing scene that stands by him during these longer more challenging alpine races. Spring Energy Gels Code: InspireSpring 15% off all Vegan products during the month of May (2020). https://myspringenergy.eu/   If you haven’t already why not download the podbean app and follow The Inspirational Runner Podcast also found on Apple podcasts, iTunes, Spotify and other places I’m not aware of.... Find out more information by joining The Inspirational Runner group found on facebook, we welcome you into our community👉🏻👽👈🏻

We have a superb bonus episode for you this week with one of the most accomplished UK ultra runners Beth Pascall, she really hit the running scene with a bang in 2015 by winning The Spine, the Brecon Beacons Ultra, she came 2nd in the infamous Dragons Back stage race, and came first in a chanced 24hr race where she ran a staggering 142.9 miles. Since then she has had a remarkable 4th finish in UTMB, The Great Western State and the Transgrancanaria Ultra, she ran the second fastest female time on the Paddy Buckley and came 8th in the trail world championships, racing is on hold this year at the minute but before he lock down she knocked out a marathon pb in Seville with a 2.48 marathon.Blog https://www.bethpascall.com/Spring Energy Gels Code: InspireSpring 15% off all Vegan products during the month of May (2020).https://myspringenergy.eu/Beth's Amazing CV, superb effort from a UK Ultra Runner. https://www.bethpascall.com/race Link to facebook group The Inspirational Runner https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheInspirationalRunner/ Link to Podbean https://theinspirationalrunner.podbean.com/

I really don’t know where to start with this weeks guest, Inspiring in so many ways, co founder of one of the uks largest running groups ‘Vegan Runners’, she graces a 2:38 marathon pb holds four Guinness World Records, which includes winning the North Pole Marathon, finishing 8th in the Amsterdam marathon, and a top 20 finish in London. You have to know Fiona to know how remarkable she is, no coaches, no time off, she looks after over 600 animals at her sanctuary and only eats one vegan meal a day after she has tended to all her animals and to top it all off she lost her knee cap in her teens where she was told she will never walk again let alone become an elite runner on the world stage. She truly is a remarkable genuine person who runs purely for the love of the animals, if you have not yet seen her film ‘Running for Good’ then I’d highly recommend it currently showing on Amazon prime, which is a documentary based film following Fiona through her exploits during the Marathon de Sables. Unassuming, the girl next door, genuine, heart warming and forever giving, she is such a super star I didn’t even edit this podcast, she has more energy than a bolt of lightning. I’d just like to give a shout out to the sponsors of this episode Spring Energy gels, it’s a natural product and just what I’ve been looking for to help me navigate away from the GI issues and energy crashes that I’ve been having during my events whilst taking other gels and sports nutrition, it’s made from real food, it has no maltodrextrin added, no sugar added, no preservatives, artificial colours or concentrates, its made with 100% natural foods such as rice, beetroot, banana, coconut water, peanut butter, only high quality ingredients, driven by science, equipped with a vast athletic experience and inspired by passion for a healthy life style, all listeners can benefit from 15% off their Vegan range by using the code InspireSpring during the month of May 2020, they have a great 8 pack Vegan sampler pack so why not give them a try.

We have one of, if not the UKs most notorious race director on the show this week Mark Cockbain who has created events such as the 200 mile Tunnel Ultra which we have featured twice on the podcast, the infamous Hill Ultra which is technically a 160 mile not stop of significant hill repeats, the 260 mile Warrior Way just to name a few, I’ve attached his events page in the show notes so if you’re looking for a real challenge click in, but don’t say you haven’t been warned. Mark Cockbain Events click here at your own peril  http://www.cockbainevents.com/ Mark himself is a sub three hour marathoner but he has been drawn to events around the globe that have challenged his limits and beyond such as a double Badwater which was a 300 mile race in Death Valley Arizona, he completed the famous Spartathlon five years in a row and has finished crazy races like the Yukon Arctic Ultra, he has an extensive CV having completed 106 ultras and 198 marathons and it’s that experience he tries to bring to his events. I found this to be a brilliant episode that presents a road map on how to mentally manage and navigate through those more challenging times on course, I hope you enjoyed,I hope you find something that you can use yourself, I know I’ll be listening to this again as part of my prerace prep in my next big event. If you haven’t already why not download the Podbean app and tune into The Inspirational Runners podcast, also found on iTunes, apple podcast, Spotify and other places I’m not aware of.   Find out more information by joining The Inspirational Runners group found on Facebook, we welcome you into our community👉🏻👽👈🏻 RACE COUNTER   ULTRAS  106       MARATHONS 198 (PB 2:53) THE HIGH 2010 (WINNER and only finisher) JOHN O GROATS TO LANDS END (JOGLE) 2010 (15 days and 3 hours and 40mins) SPARTATHLON 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005   (PB: 34:23) BADWATER DOUBLE (DEATH VALLEY 300) 2007 BADWATER 2005, 2003, 2009   (PB: 46:12) GRAND UNION CANAL RACE 2009, 2007, 2006, 2002   (PB: 34:44) TRANS 333 2006 (second place overall) YUKON ARCTIC ULTRA (320) 2006 (sixth place overall) JORDAN DESERT CUP 2001 MARATHON DE SABLES 2000 COMRADES 2004 WEST HIGHLAND WAY 2005, 2006 VERDON TRAIL 2002 LONDON TO BRIGHTON 2001, 2002, 2003 MARATHON OF BRITAIN 2004 LIBYAN CHALLENGE 2008 BASEL 24 HOUR 2008 ULTRABALATON 135 2008 HULL 24 HOUR TRACK 2008 DAVOS 78K 2008 ULTRA TRAIL MONT-BLANC 2008 CAESARS CAMP 100 2008 ATACAMA CROSSING 2009 (seventh place overall) THAMES RING 250 2009 (fifth place) FINLAND INDOOR 24HR TRACK 2010, 2011 (PB: 201km) GLASGOW TO EDINBURGH 2010 THE ONER 2010 CRAWLEY 12HR 2010, 2011 (PB 75.83 miles) TRANSYLVANIAN 50K

Another superb episode for those that follow the Backyard Ultra, Anna was the last female athlete to DNF in the Quaratine backyard stealing the hearts of many as she ran loops around a frozen lake in Sweden north of the Arctic circle. She’s amazingly only been ultra running since 2017 but managed 4th place in UTMB’s TDS last year and competed in Big Dogs Backyard Ultra last Oct which she seen as a path way in to the Barkley Marathon which was unfortunately delayed this year. Anna really hit the lime light during the Quarantine Backyard but I decided to go a little deeper in this episode as we’re witnessing the birth of an ultra runner. **So you heard it here first folks Swedish Backyard Ultra Extreme, I think it would be epic under the northern lights, hope you enjoyed Anna’s story there are other podcasts and interviews out there which break down the Quaratine backyard so I did my best to navigate around the event and focus more on the runner If you haven’t already why not download the Podbean app and tune into The Inspirational Runners podcast, also found on iTunes, apple podcast, Spotify and other places I’m not aware of.   Find out more information by joining The Inspirational Runners group found on Facebook, we welcome you into our community👉🏻👽👈🏻