004 | "Find your why, find your way": Breaking The Small Town Mentality | Jack Cullinan

007 | "I Ran 250 Miles With An Ostomy", The Cocodona 250 | Tom Plater

Can you complete one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world with an ostomy? This week on The Runs Club Podcast, Jonathan is joined by Tom Plater, who recently completed the legendary Cocodona 250, a 252-mile ultramarathon across the deserts and mountains of Arizona. After bowel cancer, emergency surgery and receiving an ostomy, Tom set himself an extraordinary challenge that would test every aspect of his physical and mental resilience. Together they explore what it really takes to prepare for an event of this magnitude, from training, nutrition and hydration with an ostomy to battling sleep deprivation, hallucinations, extreme temperatures and the moments where quitting feels inevitable. But this episode goes far beyond running. It's an honest conversation about identity, vulnerability, resilience and learning that life after surgery can still be full of adventure. In this episode: • Tom's bowel cancer and ostomy journey • Preparing for the Cocodona 250 • The realities of ultrarunning with a stoma • Mental resilience under extreme pressure • Sleep deprivation and hallucinations • The importance of community after life-changing surgery • Why resilience is built through vulnerability Whether you're training for your first 5K, an ultramarathon, or simply navigating life with chronic illness, Tom's story is a powerful reminder that difficult chapters don't have to define your future. To donate to Tom's fundraiser: https://givewheel.com/fundraising/12763/252-miles-one-body-still-moving-forward Follow The Runs Club on Instagram and Strava, and if you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a rating. Every review helps us reach more people living with Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis, ostomies and other chronic health conditions. New episodes every two weeks.

006 | Chronic Fatigue Explained: Why Rest Isn't Fixing Your Exhaustion | Laura Ahern

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms experienced by people living with chronic illness, yet it's often one of the least understood. In this episode of The Runs Club Podcast, we sit down with occupational therapist Laura Ahern to explore the reality of chronic fatigue and why it is so much more than simply feeling tired. We discuss the difference between fatigue and exhaustion, the impact it can have on your physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships, work, and fitness, as well as practical strategies for managing your energy more effectively. For anyone living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, an ostomy, autoimmune conditions, or any long-term health challenge, this conversation offers valuable insight, reassurance, and practical tools. Topics covered include: • Chronic fatigue and invisible illness • Brain fog and cognitive overload • Pacing and energy management • Mental health and self-compassion • Exercise and recovery • Living with chronic illness • Practical fatigue management strategies A powerful and informative conversation that will leave you feeling better equipped to understand your body and navigate life with greater awareness and confidence. Contact Laura Email: enhancelife.occtherapy@gmail.comInstagram: @enhancelifeot Follow The Runs Club Podcast for conversations on running, resilience, chronic illness, ostomy life, health, mindset, and community.

005 | Why We Started The Runs Club | Ant Andrews Lockett & Jonathan Healy

In Episode 5 of The Runs Club Podcast, Jonathan Healy and Ant Andrews Lockett (@ibdlife) sit down for their first real deep-dive conversation about why The Runs Club was created, the realities of living with Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and life with an ostomy bag, and how running, movement, and community can completely change your life. This is one of the rawest and most honest conversations we’ve had so far. Jonathan shares his journey with severe Crohn’s disease from childhood, emergency ostomy surgery at 19, multiple bowel surgeries, mental health struggles, body image issues, and the moment he went from saying “I’d rather be dead than have a stoma bag” to realising it gave him his life back. Ant opens up about his own battle with Ulcerative Colitis, years of failed medications, biologics, surgery, body confidence, relationships, and how social media and community helped him accept life with a stoma. Together, they discuss: • Crohn’s disease & Ulcerative Colitis • Life with an ostomy bag • Mental health & chronic illness • Body image after surgery • Fitness & running with IBD • The power of community • Counselling, journaling & healing • Why movement matters • The vision behind The Runs Club • Building an inclusive running community for people with chronic illness This episode is for anyone navigating IBD, chronic illness, ostomy surgery, mental health struggles, or anyone looking for proof that life can still be beautiful after adversity. Join The Runs Club community: Follow on Instagram Join the Strava Club Get moving with us New episodes every second week.

004 | "Find your why, find your way": Breaking The Small Town Mentality | Jack Cullinan

In this episode of The Runs Club Podcast, I sit down with Jack Cullinan, founder of The Small Town Project — a growing fitness and community movement bringing training and connection to rural Ireland. What started as simple group workouts has evolved into something much bigger. We talk about: * Why fitness is only the starting point * How community drives real transformation * The biggest mistakes people make when starting from zero * Building confidence through small, consistent wins * Breaking limiting beliefs and “small town mentality” * Finding your purpose and using it to drive your life forward This episode also takes a deeper turn into personal adversity, mindset, and the importance of finding your why — especially when life gets difficult. If you’re struggling to get started, feeling stuck, or searching for direction, this conversation will give you a new perspective. Key message: It’s not about where you start. It’s about deciding to take the first step. Follow the podcast for weekly conversations on: fitness, running, mindset, resilience, and personal growth. If you found value in this episode, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Join The Runs Club strava: In this episode of The Runs Club Podcast, I sit down with Jack Cullinan, founder of The Small Town Project — a growing fitness and community movement bringing training and connection to rural Ireland. What started as simple group workouts has evolved into something much bigger. We talk about: * Why fitness is only the starting point * How community drives real transformation * The biggest mistakes people make when starting from zero * Building confidence through small, consistent wins * Breaking limiting beliefs and “small town mentality” * Finding your purpose and using it to drive your life forward This episode also takes a deeper turn into personal adversity, mindset, and the importance of finding your why — especially when life gets difficult. If you’re struggling to get started, feeling stuck, or searching for direction, this conversation will give you a new perspective. Key message: It’s not about where you start. It’s about deciding to take the first step. Follow the podcast for weekly conversations on: fitness, running, mindset, resilience, and personal growth. If you found value in this episode, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Check out Jacks socials: @thejackcullinan @thesmalltownproject Join The Runs Club Strava: https://strava.app.link/L571zK8EW2b

003 | Pelvic Floor Health: Surgery, IBD & Returning To Running | Leah Bryans | @leahbryansphysio

Returning to exercise after stoma surgery or living with IBD isn’t straightforward and most people aren’t given a clear roadmap. In this episode, I’m joined by pelvic floor physiotherapist Leah Bryans to break down how the body actually recovers after surgery, what the pelvic floor does, and how to safely rebuild strength and confidence. We talk about recovery timelines, bladder and pelvic floor issues, returning to running, and the importance of doing things gradually and correctly. This is a practical, honest conversation for anyone trying to get back to movement after surgery or struggling to trust their body again. If you’re enjoying The Runs Club Podcast, make sure to follow and share the show with someone who might need it. Join the strava group: https://strava.app.link/HEyjIQjkz2b IG - @the.runs.club Leah: https://leahbryansphysiotherapy.com IG - @leahbryansphysio