Running Tales
146 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago -Running Tales, presented and produced by husband and wife couple Michelle and Craig Lewis, aims to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners.
There are so many wonderful and inspiring stories in the world of running - this podcast aims to give as many of them as possible the publicity they deserve.
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Episodes
Kathy Saunders: 'Major lung surgery didn't stop me running'
February 05, 2021 15:51 - 22 minutes - 13.9 MBWhen Kathy Saunders had to have major lung surgery, she had a choice. After having part of her lung removed, she said she could have thrown in the towel when it came to running. Instead, she decided to re-evaluate what she could do - and running has remained a part of her life ever since. This is a story about never giving in, even when all the odds seem against you. This is Kathy's running tale... ============ The music in this podcast is: "Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)...
Andy Cottrell: The hundred marathon club member who can't stop running
January 29, 2021 16:32 - 49 minutes - 43.1 MBAndy Cottrell only started running when rugby, as he says, became too much for his body. It has now become an obsession. Inspired to take part in 12 marathons across a year, he quickly came across other runners who made even that incredible achievement look minuscule. The Northampton Road Runner, better known as Sharky, soon had his sights set on 50 marathons and then on becoming a member of the exclusive 100 Marathon Club. These days his mind has turned to the 300 mark - this is Sharky's run...
Gerald Billis: Sixty years without running... and then a silver medal
January 22, 2021 15:26 - 43 minutes - 36.5 MBGerald Billis is automatically recognisable at Northampton parkrun. He's one of a group of octogenarian runners who, pre-Covid at least, took part in the five kilometre event week-in, week-out. What people might not know is Gerald spent 60 years, between school cross-country success and parkrun, without running. Once he found parkrun, there was no stopping him though. From joining a running club, to becoming a Masters athlete to winning an international silver medal in his age group, this is ...
Doug Richards: How one runner went from being out of breath climbing the stairs to the Marathon des Sables
January 15, 2021 15:33 - 52 minutes - 44.9 MBDoug Richards was only in his 30s when he found himself out of breath having run up the stairs to see his son. It was then he decided to get fit - and start running. It's a habit he's found hard to shift since with Doug having run across all seven continents, including in Antarctica and across the Sahara and Gobi Deserts. He's also become an author, penning 'Running Hot & Cold' which tells the story of his varied running career. I spoke to Doug about everything from how running helped his men...
Lorraine Lewis: Running to help adult cancer patients
November 13, 2020 16:00 - 30 minutes - 22.3 MBThis week's guest is Lorraine Lewis, the driving force behind a charity which provides support and companionship for adult cancer patients. The Lewis Foundation sources, packages and - in normal, non-Covid times at least - hand delivers free gifts and support packs to people enduring the often lonely, frightening trial of cancer treatment. One way Lorraine funds the charity is through running, tackling events such as Tough Mudder and even a 26 mile obstacle challenge. I asked her why and how ...
Kevin Orchard: Redway Runners co-founder on how he became a British multisport international
November 06, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 8.44 MBKevin Orchard loves running - but it's not always enough. The Redway Runners co-founder decided to add cycling into the fray. Before too long he was excelling as a multisport athlete, competing for Great Britain in his age group. I caught up with Kevin at Redway Runners' Daytona 5,000 event earlier this year...
Rob Pope: The real life Forrest Gump who ran across America
October 30, 2020 15:00 - 39 minutes - 29.3 MBIf 'life is like a box of chocolates' it's fair to say Rob Pope's chocolate of choice is running. Seeking a challenge no-one had completed before, he decided to follow the route Tom Hanks' celebrated Forrest Gump character took in the film of the same name. In all he covered 15,000 miles and travelled six times across America, even growing a Gump style beard in the process. It's far from the only challenge Rob has completed. I talked to him about everything from winning the Nottingham Maratho...
Emma Timmis: The girl who ran across Africa
October 23, 2020 15:00 - 41 minutes - 31.1 MBIn 2014, Emma Timmis became the first person in the world to run across Africa, completing the equivalent of 94 marathons in 89 days. It's just one of a series of incredible challenges and experiences Emma has embarked upon, from roller skating across Holland to riding an Elliptigo bike across Australia. As if that wasn't enough she's just finished writing and illustrating a children's book about her African adventure, entitled 'The Girl Who Ran Across Africa'. It's safe to say we had plenty ...
Sarah Lightman: "I find race walking easier than running"
October 16, 2020 15:02 - 21 minutes - 16.5 MBI met Sarah Lightman as she whizzed round Salcey Forest at a recent Big Bear Events race. Sarah, however, wasn't running, she was race walking - and the event was her second Ultra in as many days. It perhaps shouldn't have been a surprise though. Sarah's dad, Shaun Lightman, finished 18th in the Men's 50km walk at the 1968 Summer Olympics. I spoke to Sarah about why she prefers race walking to running...
Lizzie Tovey: Visually impaired runner takes on cancer to complete the Virtual London Marathon
October 09, 2020 17:09 - 38 minutes - 27.9 MBLizzie Tovey is remarkable. Despite only recently taken up running when she started to struggle with her eyesight, the visually impaired runner completed the 2019 London Marathon. This year was to bring more battles though. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, she had original planned to drop out of the 2020 race. But when it became a virtual event, she decided to take it on over three stages, including a gruelling night run. Did she do it? Of course she did! Along the way, Lizzie's journey has al...
Wayne Chalmers: Running in memory of my daughter, Daisy
October 02, 2020 15:00 - 32 minutes - 21.2 MBRunning had never been a big part of Wayne Chalmers' life. Aside from the odd bit of training to keep fit as a referee, he - in his own words - "didn't really like running". His relationship with the sport changed, though, when his baby daughter Daisy sadly died just an hour after being born. Not one to stand idle, Wayne launched Team Daisy; a charity aimed at raising money for local causes and honouring the memory of his daughter. A host of fundraising events followed, including a number of ...
Menna Evans: Smashing the world record time to run the length of New Zealand
September 25, 2020 15:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBMenna Evans only started running seriously two-and-a-half years ago. This year she ran from the tip of New Zealand's north island to the depths of the south in an incredible 35 days and 27 minutes. In doing so, she smashed the previous fastest time for a woman to run the length of the country, becoming a Guinness World Record holder in the process. Menna started running in memory of her dad, completing the John O'Groats to Land's End run (JOGLE), a distance they had hoped to walk together. Sh...
Martin Lawrence: The man who turned a lunch time run into a 3,500 member club
September 18, 2020 14:43 - 32 minutes - 19.4 MBMartin Lawrence started running during his lunch time at work. He grew to love the sport so much that when he was made redundant, he was determined to carry on. He originally took part in running sessions at Milton Keynes' David Lloyd gym, but after it decided to end them he took the mantle on himself. Soon afterwards Redway Runners was born, and ten years later the club is one - if not the - biggest in the country boasting more than 3,500 members. This is his story... -----------------------...
Emergency podcast: Redway Runners Daytona 5,000
September 13, 2020 13:09 - 14 minutes - 9.99 MBIt's been a long hard year for those of us who like to get out and do some races. Coronavirus locked us down in our homes, limited us to one run a day and stopped us getting together to run for fun, PBs and those much valued medals. Now, finally, some races are starting again and today I travelled to Milton Keynes to speak to some of those people taking part in Redway Runners' first ever Daytona 5,000 event. The whole race was incredible well organised, social distancing was paramount and eve...
Jeff Kase: 'How running helped me overcome alcholism'
September 11, 2020 15:00 - 54 minutes - 39.9 MBJeff Kase was a star runner growing up in Michigan, but when he went to university partying and alcohol took over his life. For decades, Jeff was caught up in the pain of alcholism, experiencing personal tragedy along the way. I spoke to Jeff about how he finally managed to kick the habit and how how he embraced a new addiction - running - not only all the way to complete 100 mile races and the American National Senior Games, but also to the point where he could barely move due to over tra...
Jeff Kase: ’How running helped me overcome alcoholism’
September 11, 2020 15:00 - 54 minutes - 39.9 MBJeff Kase was a star runner growing up in Michigan, but when he went to university partying and alcohol took over his life. For decades, Jeff was caught up in the pain of alcoholism, experiencing personal tragedy along the way. I spoke to Jeff about how he finally managed to kick the habit and how how he embraced a new addiction - running - not only all the way to complete 100 mile races and the American National Senior Games, but also to the point where he could barely move due to over train...
Kath Kirkland: How one woman's baby weight inspired her first novel
September 04, 2020 15:00 - 17 minutes - 10.5 MBKath Kirkland wrote her debut novel 'Mum Runners' after her own journey saw her start running to lose her baby weight and take on the iconic London Marathon. It was such a success she has a sequel on the way. We chatted about running in the rain, how snooker sometimes beats marathons and the freedom you get on a good run... ----------------------------------- If you like this episode please consider donating to help us keep going: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepforward
Tony Audenshaw: From serving pints in Emmerdale's Woolpack to running marathons dressed as a smurf
August 28, 2020 14:59 - 30 minutes - 26.8 MBYou might know him better as Bob Hope, but Emmerdale star Tony Audenshaw is something of a running fanatic in his spare time. When he's not serving fictional pints, Tony can often be found pounding the pavements or talking about his favourite sport on the Marathon Talk podcast. He's recorded some pretty quick times as well and is prone to the occasional fancy dress costume, which regular listeners will know is a big plus for us on the Running Tales Podcast. I spoke to Tony about how his Emmer...
Bryan Lewin: From marathon runner to parkrun legend - with some fancy dress thrown in along the way!
August 21, 2020 15:46 - 20 minutes - 12.4 MBBryan Lewin is one of my favourite runners - but he's so much more than that. Every parkrun has that special volunteer who turns out in wind, rain and shine and Bryan is Northampton's. He even has his own special corner at the Racecourse where he cheers on every runner, walker and wheelchair user. I spoke to him about how he came to take up temporary residence at Bryan's Corner, running marathons and his love of fancy dress... ----------------------------------- If you like this episode plea...
Josh Lay: The 1,500m star with his sights set on the Tokyo Olympics
August 14, 2020 14:00 - 33 minutes - 29.9 MBJosh Lay is an athlete with a bright future ahead of him. The Loughborough University scholar and 1,500m runner has one eye on the Tokyo Olympics - and he's a Northampton lad so we had plenty to talk about. Josh's local 'claim to fame' may not be one he hopes to be remembered for - he sent two-time Olympian Andrew Baddeley the wrong way round the Northampton parkrun course (Baddeley still set a course record!) - but he's got every chance of creating some great memories in the future. I spoke ...
Mags Doyle: The woman who didn't start running until her 50s, but now run, walks many miles away
August 07, 2020 14:32 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBMags Doyle didn't take up running until she was in her 50s, but there's no stopping her now. Her love of the sport started after she did a number of long distance walking events, got bored one day and just started running. Mags tells me she switches between running and walking while taking part in races, but that hasn't stopped her completing around 80 to 90 events including more than 20 marathons. I spoke to her about coming to running late, her love of parkrun and how speed isn't everything...
Emergency podcast: Brendan Rendall completes Chester Zoo challenge
August 04, 2020 08:05 - 7 minutes - 5.27 MBYou might remember that back in episode 15 of the Running Tales Podcast we spoke to Brendan Rendall. Brendan put his hedonistic lifestyle behind him to complete a series of spectacular challenges, including running across Africa - if you haven't listened yet, it's well worth checking out. His latest challenge saw him attempting to raise money for Chester Zoo, which has been struggling financially due to the coronavirus lockdown restrictions. For the last two month, Brendan has been doing litt...
Katie Brown: 'Was Northamptonshire blogger supposed to say this?'
July 31, 2020 14:59 - 27 minutes - 24.5 MBKatie Brown's mission is to share how to live your best possible life. The Northamptonshire blogger does that through her inspiring and informative Cake vs Scales blog and her shiny, new podcast, 'Am I Supposed To Say This?' Part of Katie's journey has been to develop a love of running, and in between chatting about everything from cake to mental health we also discussed half marathons, podcasts and parkrun... ----------------------------------- If you like this episode please consider dona...
Suzanne Smith: "Running is my therapy"
July 24, 2020 14:41 - 52 minutes - 47.6 MBSuzanne Smith began running seriously when she tragically lost her twin son Jamie in childbirth. As she told me, she started running and just hasn't stopped - it has become therapy for her. Suzanne told me Jamie is on every run with her, and he's inspired her to half marathon PBs - and race wins - multiple marathons and even ultras. I talked to Suzanne about everything running related, from coping with Covid and the joys of parkrun to her unique marathon diet... ----------------------------...
Michael Aldridge: The uncertain future of Milton Keynes Marathon winner
July 17, 2020 15:00 - 41 minutes - 35.6 MBMichael Aldridge is one of Northamptonshire's most talented athletes. From 5km all the way up to the marathon distance, he is one of the best around on the British Masters circuit. A superb 2019 was topped off by victory in the Milton Keynes Marathon and Northampton Half. I spoke to Michael about how he swapped rugby for running, his training methods and how some surprising news has meant he may have to hang up his racing shoes for good... ----------------------------------- If you like this...
Steve Edwards: The man inside the machine trying to reach 1,000 marathons
July 10, 2020 14:57 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBFor some people, one marathon is a lifetime's dream. Others get the bug and go back for more, while the more hardy - and some would say foolish - push on into ultra races or towards the 100 Marathon Club. Steve Edwards, the self-styled Man Inside The Machine, takes all that to another level. He has already run 903 marathons, and is aiming to reach the 1,000 mark. As if that isn't impressive enough, Steve only counts official races - no virtual runs for him, doesn't count marathons he has to w...
Bonus podcast: What do you get when you add wife-carrying and a swimming pool?
July 08, 2020 16:00 - 24 minutes - 20.5 MBThe answer to the question in our episode title is Ovasinax. In this bonus episode of the Running Tales podcast, we've taken a slight detour from our normal format to meet a Canadian couple who've come up with a unique sport all of their own. Jerome and Lucy are the creators of Ovasinax, and got in contact after hearing the efforts of Northampton runner Chris Lamb in the UK wife-carrying competition (go and have a listen to episode 14 of Running Tales if you haven't already). Combining gymast...
Liz Yelling: How a double Olympic marathoner and Commonwealth gold medalist didn’t even make the start line of her first race
July 03, 2020 15:05 - 39 minutes - 34 MBIt's not every week you get to speak to a two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner. Liz Yelling is one of the very best long British long-distance runners of the last 20 years. She finished 25th in the marathon at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and 26th at Beijing 2008, but her greatest moment came in Melbourne, Australia when she finished third in the Commonwealth Games. Liz's other achievements include holding course records at Bath and Reading half-marathons. At Ba...
Liz Yelling: How a double Olympic marathoner and Commonwealth gold medalist didn't even make the start line of her first race
July 03, 2020 15:05 - 39 minutes - 34 MBIt's not every week you get to speak to a two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner. Liz Yelling is one of the very best long British long-distance runners of the last 20 years. She finished 25th in the marathon at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and 26th at Beijing 2008, but her greatest moment game in Melbourne, Australia when she finished third in the Commonwealth Games. Liz's other achievements include holding course records at Bath and Reading half-marathons. ...
Simon Elliott: Guide runner on how running for two can be the ultimate achievement
June 26, 2020 14:45 - 35 minutes - 27.1 MBGuide runner Simon Elliott has helped visually-impaired runners complete everything from 5km parkruns to marathons, and even cross-country ultras. It was something he only took up after his wife volunteered him to help twin girls complete the Daventry parkrun course, but it's become a huge part of his life since then. As well as talking about what it takes to be a good guide runner and how people can get involved, I spoke to Simon about some of the things he's been doing during the coronaviru...
Emergency podcast: Saving Wicksteed Park - Ben Currington's parkrun to parkrun 15 miler
June 20, 2020 21:09 - 9 minutes - 8.68 MBKettering's popular Wicksteed Park is in trouble - and that is, in my eyes, worth a special emergency podcast. The 99-year-old attraction is struggling financially due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a huge fundraising effort. One man raising money for the park is Ben Currington and earlier today (Saturday, June 20) he ran from Northampton parkrun's Racecourse home to Kettering parkrun, which takes place at Wicksteed Park itself. I spoke to him at the end of his 15 mile ...
Brendan Rendall: From profligacy to philanthropy - how a bet about running turned one man's life around
June 19, 2020 15:42 - 42 minutes - 38.4 MBBrendan Rendall loves a challenge. He's currently running a half-marathon every day in June, to be followed by a marathon a day in July and - on August 1 - he'll take on the 35 miles from Salford Quays to Chester Zoo. It's all to raise money to save the zoo, which is struggling financially due to the impacts of the coronavirus. You can sponsor him at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brendan-rendall3 This is not the first time Brendan has taking part in an incredible series of runs. From complet...
Chris Lamb: Meet the man who does everything from sub-17 minute 5ks to wife carrying
June 12, 2020 17:28 - 25 minutes - 58.8 MBIf your looking for someone who makes the most of everything running has to offer, Chris Lamb is your man. A British Masters athlete he recently completed 5kms in an impressive 16 minutes 16 seconds, while his marathon times take some beating as well. Chris isn't one of those super serious running types though. When he's not travelling at speed, he can usually be found taking place in some bizarre race or other, from the UK wife carrying championships to putting on his own Quirky Races. Meanw...
Eric Xiocca: A marathon a month, bears as running 'companions' and dreams of the American big three
June 05, 2020 14:52 - 45 minutes - 35.2 MBEric Xiocca likes a challenge. When he turned 40 he decided to run a marathon every month for each month of his 40th year. He enjoyed it so much he's kept going, and as he approaches 43 his next big goal is to run a marathon in every US state before he turns 50. Even Covid-19 hasn't stopped him, although it has at least delayed his hopes of running in three of the world's biggest marathons: Boston, Chicago and New York. He's hoping that dream can still be realised, but in the meantime we had ...
John Eales: Joining the 100 marathon club
May 29, 2020 16:57 - 28 minutes - 22.6 MBJohn Eales only started running to lose a bit of weight - but he quickly became addicted. In less than a year he had jumped from a 5km jog to his first marathon, and after that he just didn't stop. John told me how he would run "mile after mile" on the way to joining the exclusive 100 marathon club. We talk about what it's like to run seven marathons in as many days, and how he may have to swap his trainers for cycling shorts in the future. ---------------------- If you like this episode ple...
Michael Williams: 860 miles in 17 days? No problem... until the coronavirus came along
May 22, 2020 15:00 - 44 minutes - 32.4 MBRunning 860 miles in 17 days probably seems a nigh on impossible task. At 69 years old? I'm tired just thinking about it! Michael Williams, however, is a different kind of person. The Jogle - a lung-busting run from John O'Groats to Lands' End - was top of his bucket list this year. Sadly, his attempt was cut short by the coronavirus outbreak, but he told me he aims to be back having another go next year. Not that Michael's running CV is lacking in achievements already. After starting running...
Claire Hedges: Profoundly deaf parkrunner aims to create running group for all
May 15, 2020 15:50 - 27 minutes - 21.4 MBWhen Claire Hedges was at school, she used to hang around with the back markers at cross-country events - so she could have a sneaky cigarette! These days Claire is a committed parkrunner and aiming to run her first half-marathon, despite only taking up running seriously last year. Born profoundly deaf, Claire is now a run leader at All Together Running, a running group set up to include both deaf runners and those with normal hearing. I spoke to her about the parkrun experience as a deaf run...
Leonie Heard: Taking on cancer and making new Breast Friends
May 08, 2020 17:51 - 31 minutes - 26.7 MBLeonie Heard is one of the most inspirational people I know. I call her 'superwoman' in this podcast, a description she disputes but I'm sticking to. That's because Leonie not only overcame breast cancer - using the power of running to help her through - but has since formed her own support group to help others do the same. Breast Friends Northamptonshire has gone from strength to strength, being named the winners of the Community Group/Organisation of the Year at the Northampton Leisure Trus...
Paul Albon: Big Bear Events run director on coronavirus, organising races and getting bored of jelly babies
May 01, 2020 11:19 - 52 minutes - 43.8 MBIf you've never taken part in a Big Bear event, it's a pretty amazing experience. On a very basic level, they consist of running as many - or as few - loops of a variety of picturesque forest-based courses as you can/fancy in (generally) six hours. These very relaxed races attract everyone from gentle joggers to serious marathon and ultra runners. I spoke to race director Paul Albon on how he came up with the idea, the pressures of coping with the coronavirus... and plying entrants with beer ...
Susan Wheatcroft: 'The mad idea was a virtual race... within six months we were getting well over 1,000 people'
April 24, 2020 16:00 - 26 minutes - 20.9 MBWhen Susan Wheatcroft decided to run the London Marathon, she needed a sure-fire way to reach her funding target. What she came up with was offering people a reward to take part in a virtual race. The money they paid to do so went to her charity. The idea was such a success that 400 people took part. It was the start of Virtual Runner UK. These days Susan holds virtual races all over the world, with people's entrance fees going to charity. Virtual running works in the same way as any other ty...
Leo de Awa: 'Race walking was funny... then it became my Olympic dream'
April 17, 2020 16:59 - 53 minutes - 44 MBThis week I spoke to one of favourite people, Leo de Awa. He was responsible for the start of my own running journey, persuading me during a meal in Seville that I could run a marathon. I trained pretty hard for that I can tell you, but nothing like as hard as Leo trains. That's because he's a race walker with his sights set on the Olympic Games. He also makes me laugh. A lot... I hope you enjoy his story. ----------------------------------- If you like this episode please consider donating...
Deon Ehlers: The ultra marathon runner who took on South Africa's toughest race
April 10, 2020 16:46 - 37 minutes - 26.8 MBImagine running almost 90km and then not getting a medal or finishing time because you missed the cut off point by 33 seconds? That's what happened to Deon Ehlers when he took on the gruelling Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa. Fortunately for him it wasn't his first go at the race - in all he's officially completed it five times. I spoke to Deon about his numerous Comrades experiences, as well as being a parkrun event director, running for fun and working as a policeman in South Africa...
Carole James: The 'Maverick' whose love of wheelchair racing beat depression
April 03, 2020 15:56 - 24 minutes - 19.3 MBCarole James was left wheelchair bound after a car accident, suffering from constant pain, PTSD and depression. Her competitive streak wouldn't allow life to keep her down though and before too long she was trying all sorts of wheelchair sports. At first archery proved most attractive, but ultimately it was wheelchair racing that became her passion. Through Northamptonshire Sport and Northampton parkrun, she started to love life again. These days, she's one of the faces of Sport England's Thi...
Mark Kennedy: How a brain injury didn't stop one runner
March 27, 2020 20:07 - 26 minutes - 21.7 MBMark Kennedy was enjoying the holiday of a lifetime when he suddenly passed out. He was diagnosed with a brain injury that effects his mood, making him tired and anxious. His doctor said contact sport was out of the question, but he might be able to carry on running. Thankfully he could and Mark remains one of the most popular runners at Northampton parkrun and with Northampton Road Runners. Now he's written a book about his experience - entitled 'What the Hell Just Happened' (the reaction of...
Peter Currington: Mental Health Champion on facing up to the coronavirus and his own demons
March 20, 2020 18:48 - 28 minutes - 24.7 MBPeter Currington is a mental health champion with England Athletics, helping people to confront their problems and giving practical advice. One reason he is so good at that is because Peter has been there. He overcame drink, drugs and a spell in prison to get his life back on track. These days he gets his endorphins from running rather than any other kind of drug. Peter is brutally honest about his own journey and how he still has to work on his mental health. I also spoke to him about how he...
Catherine Hickford: "Running turned my life around in so many ways"
March 13, 2020 16:59 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBWhen Catherine Hickford first started at Northampton parkrun she was more than 21 stone, running at the very back of the field and piling on more weight under the pressure of taking a degree. These days, she says running has turned her life around. Catherine has lost more than eight stones, been honoured at Northamptonshire Sports Awards, completed not only her degree but a Masters and made new, valued friendships. She's truly inspirational - and a lovely person. Who better than Catherine to ...