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Sam and Robin round up the recent events in the world of Ultra trail running from around the world!

We talk about the recent controversy surrounding UTMB Mallorca, with the last minute cancellation of the 100 mile race and subsequent fallout from not offering refunds or clear communication.
We hear from Charlotte Fisher who spent 5 months preparing for this race. She tells us how disappointed she is with the race organisers.

We also talk about Matt Choi and his lifetime ban from all road races after he was disqualified from the New York City marathon for having a film crew follow him on E-bikes!

Lastly I talk about how pleased I am with myself after Rich Roll responded to my Instagram, Jamil Courey followed me back and Bymaximise used my footage from the Jasmin Paris - Home Trails episode to make a short film about The Barclay Marathons!

More news as it happens folks......

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On the podcast this week I talk to Cameron Wright, digital communications lead at Beyond The Ultimate and The Spine Race.

As an outdoor photographer and videographer, Cameron talks about his experiences covering the Global Race Series for BTU around the world and the obvious challenges that it presents. From sideways rain in Scotland, to sand dunes as big as houses in 45 degree heat, he gets to see it all!

In this interview we talk about Camerons route into his new role, through his background in outdoor and sports photography. Cameron has built up a vast amount of experience through his own freelance photography and videography business and has now taken on his biggest project to date, overseeing the media juggernaut that is the winter Spine Race in January 2025.

We talk about the race and what it means to the running community. From the dot watchers at home, to the hardworking teams on the ground that make the race a reality.
Cameron has big plans for the media team this year and I can't wait to see the coverage take more leaps forward as I'm sure it will!

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In this episode I speak to returning guest Greg Vollet, creator of the GTWS.

We talk about the highlights from the 2024 series, that controversial pass at Mammoth Trail Fest and the future of the series in 2025.

Greg defends criticism of the series 'flower petal' design for courses that allows maximum spectator access and media coverage. He goes on to talk about the potential for the format being used at the upcoming Olympics in LA.

As always its great to speak to Greg and hear about the growth of the sport and what the future holds for trail running.

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In this episode I speak to Robin about the recent backyard ultra championships.

But firstly we talk about his instagram page "The Running Accountant"
where Robin breaks down the past week in ultra running and explains this crazy sport that we love, for newbies and the ultra curious.

'Robins Running Roundup!' breaks down races and events and explains how they work to your average Joe. Robin aims to get more people into trail running and this is one of the avenues he uses.
The other way is to organise trail runs in the Peak District through Highpeak Runners where he aims to fill the gap between couch to 5k and trail running.

So who better to come onto the podcast to talk about the recent Backyard Ultra National Championships!
Robin breaks down the weird and wonderful world of backyard and speaks about who did well, what the challenges are and what to expect from our own British backyarders next year at the world championships!

Something tells me that Robin might become a regular feature on the pod so keep your eyes peeled for more of Robins Running Roundup!

links to his socials below

@highpeak.runners
@the.running.accountant

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In a break from our usual programming......I speak to Amy Hart.

Amy is, in her own words, 'just a normal runner' which is true, but aren't we all? Even us ultra runners are just normal runners! Well, between snacks and sit downs when we're actually running......

In this interview we talk about Amy's life growing up in foster care, her struggles with moving schools frequently and feeling like she would end up uneducated, jobless or even in prison!
But Amy didn't let herself become just another statistic, she threw herself into university and came away with a degree.

Throughout the years Amy has used running to destress, see new places and most importantly to keep her mental health in check. She now believes so strongly about running as therapy that she is running London Landmarks half marathon for the mental health charity Still I Run and is team captain for Just Strong.

Still I Run are a charity dedicated to promoting the benefits of running for mental health, which is a subject close to not only Amy's heart, but mine as well.

We talk candidly about our own struggles with mental health and how running has helped us cope with what life throws at us!

links to Amy's fundraising are below.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/amyhealthhart

https://www.realbuzz.com/just-strong-london-landmarks-half-marathon

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On this weeks episode I speak to former SAS: Who Dares Wins contestant and now author, James Gwinnett.

James has had a colourful past to say the least!
After a serious neck injury ended his rugby career, he fell into a deep depression that turned into alcoholism. But after seeing the London marathon on TV, he decided enough was enough and sought professional help.
AA and running helped him quit his drinking and set him up with his new passion of running. The London marathon was just the beginning and he quickly found himself signing top for some big ultras! including the 145 mile Kent and Avon canal race. (where he came a very respectable 2nd place)
This is where he met our mutual friend Matt Fynn and struck up a conversation about their shared troubled past.

James realised that in capturing the stories of others that have overcome great odds to achieve something in life, he was building up conversations that could help others navigate similar struggles.

This is how the book was born!
Ready Set Life is a collection of his own stories of struggle and change, but also that of many others. From former special forces, doctors, ultra runners, a former heroin addict, polar explorer and an England rugby captain....to name just a few.

The book is in his own words, a cynical look at society and although it deals with some serious subject matter, it is equally as funny as it is serious!

Go buy the book on Amazon.

https://amzn.eu/d/4mz2kfo

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In this episode I speak to Sarah Perry.

Sarah by her own admission is a reluctant podcast guest, but after months of me asking, she finally relented! I'm so glad she did because we had a great chat about a number of subjects.

We did the obligatory "superhero question" to find out how she got into running. We talk about her successful FKT of the South West Coast Path earlier in the year and we obviously talk about her record setting win at 13 valleys over the weekend.

We also dive int a subject that came up after a post she made on the morning of our interview. At the startline of 13v she was subjected to a comment about her weight. This sparked a conversation about body shaming in our sport.

Listen to the interview to hear how she felt about it.

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In this episode I speak to returning guest Kim Collison.

Last month, Kim won the Swiss Peaks Trail 360km 85,000ft mountain race.
In this interview Kim talks about overcoming past DNF's in long ultras to finally put together the performance he knew he had in him.

Kim talks about how significant this race is in his build to the Spine race in January 2025. With this successful race in place, Kim plans to hit 'Britains Most Brutal' race with everything he's got. With 3 unsuccessful attempts now behind him, he is laser focused on getting the result that we all agree he deserves.

To be honest, I even told him in the interview that he was giving away too much of his plans to his competition. He just shrugged his shoulders and more or less said 'what will be, will be'.

This years race is shaping up to be an interesting one!

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