RUN RiOT podcast - talking all things running, mental wellbeing, and physical benefits

Episode XIII - why running sucks with Raz Rauf

Anyone who runs thinks it sucks at least some of the time. Those first couple km in particular suck, when your legs, heart and brain haven't yet got their act together. But that suckiness is at the centre of why running is so good too. Type 2 fun they call it - a little bit grim while you're doing it, but totally excellent and rewarding in retrospect. In this episode, we talk to Raziq Rauf, runner and writer, and author of the most excellent substack Running Sucks [https://www.runningsucks101.com/]. (Not to mention a great new book on running culture called THIS IS RUNNING [https://www.waterstones.com/book/this-is-running/raziq-rauf//9781837330423].)

Episode XII - Mental Health Awareness week with Ben Grey

The theme for this year's Mental Health Awareness week is Action. Perfect for Ben Grey as his work involves getting people running and/or walking to help with their mental wellbeing. Dom talks about a recent new study that looks at how running can be as effectives as CBT or anti-depressants at helping with depressing. AND we announce an upcoming initiative that Run Riot is collaborating on with Run Talk Run. If you're interested in how exercise can be medicine for the mind, have a listen.

Episode XI - the Run Talk Run episode with Ben Grey

A great discussion about the Run Talk Run initiative - on a mission to increase accessibility to mental health support through running & walking peer support groups - with Ben Grey. There is a link to the published paper references in this talk in the comments below. We talk about everything related to getting into running, the importance of running for your mental wellness, the upcoming London Marathon and the preparation for AFTER any big run when you need to consider your physical, emotional, and mental recovery.

Episode X - the unrace episode

At the heart of this episode is Danny Bent’s idea of the Unrace, a philosophy that challenges the traditional view of running events as competition. Instead of focusing on times, rankings, or podiums, the Unrace is about shared experience, exploring landscapes, building community, and discovering what happens when running shifts from “I” to “we”. We get there by taking a slightly unexpected route. The conversation begins with Danny describing his most recent adventure only a couple weeks ago, where 20 people spent a week living together on a remote island in the Maldives. Danny explore how people change when the usual structures fall away, and how quickly a group can move from individual survival to collective effort. From there, the conversation turns to Danny’s work creating adventure-led running experiences like the Great Norse Run. The Unrace philosophy runs through it all - running not as something to win, but as a way to explore, connect with others, and discover what happens when the journey matters more than the finish line.

Running vs Alcohol - trailer for RUN RiOT podcast Episode IX

Jeremy Kuhles [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-kuhles-running-in-japan/] talks very openly to Oliver Childs [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-childs-31721b25/] about his struggles with alcohol and how running proved a great release and opportunity to find balance in his life. Very grateful for Jeremy's candour AND his journey spanning over 2 decades in Tokyo learning about Japanese running culture.