Advertise on podcast: Trails, Tales, and Fails - An Ultra Running Podcast

What does it really take to complete the TOR330? On this episode of Trails, Tales & Fails, we're joined by Mike Harrington from George & Falcon Trail Runners to talk about taking on the TOR330 — a brutal 330km ultra through the Italian Alps, packed with huge climbs, technical mountain trails, sleep deprivation and some seriously tough decisions. Mike takes us inside the race, sharing the highs, the lows, the moments when things got properly difficult, and what it takes to keep moving when you're running on empty. We also talk about his experiences at the Winter Downs 100 and UTS the realities of racing over extreme distances, lessons learned the hard way, and what it takes to tackle some of the biggest challenges in ultra running. Plus, we're introducing some new features to TTF, including Coaching Corner, Tales from the Trail and TTF Shout-Outs. We want your questions, stories and running disasters! 🎧 In this episode: What makes the TOR330 one of the ultimate ultra-running challenges Managing sleep deprivation, fuelling and fatigue over multiple days The highs, lows and toughest moments of a 330km mountain ultra Race strategy and lessons learned Advice for runners stepping up to longer ultras Mike's next big challenge Also with Truth or Lie and our quickfire questions. We're shaking things up! Alongside our usual chats with runners doing ridiculous things on the trails, we're introducing new features: 🏃 Coaching Corner — Your training, racing and fuelling questions answered. 😂 Tales from the Trail — Your funniest, strangest and most disastrous running stories. 🙌 TTF Shout-Out — Celebrating runners doing brilliant things, big or small. We want to hear from you, so send your questions, stories and shout-outs to [email protected]. You could even feature in a future episode! We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code 15TTF (one time code) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

This week, Max, Rob and Sarah are joined by one of the biggest names in UK ultra running — Damian Hall. Damian has finished fifth at UTMB, won the Spine Race, set multiple FKTs and taken on some seriously ambitious challenges. But there’s much more to his running than racing. He’s also a coach, author, journalist, climate campaigner and co-founder of The Green Runners — a group working to make running and the wider sport more environmentally sustainable. We chat about Damian’s recent running adventures, and with winter ultras such as the Spine and Winter Downs approaching, we also get practical: how do you train for 200 miles without destroying yourself? How much running do you actually need to do? What role does strength training play? How do you prepare mentally for several days on your feet? And how do you stay motivated when it’s dark, cold and absolutely miserable outside? We also chat about longevity and Damian’s latest book, Run Forever, which explores how we can continue to get the most out of running as we get older. Plus, there’s the usual Trails, Tales, and Fails chaos with Celebrity Pacer, Truth or Lie and the Quickfire Round. If you enjoy the episode, please give us a rating, follow the podcast and share it with your running friends. It really helps us grow the show. Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

Rob and Sarah sit down with UK ultra runner Leroy Valentine after his incredible 88 hours and 7 minutes at Bigfoot 200 in Washington State. Bigfoot 200 is a 200 mile point-to-point trail race through the Cascade Mountains, featuring 44,082 feet of elevation gain, 45,563 feet of descent and a 107-hour cutoff. It's the kind of ultra where running ability is only part of the equation — pacing, nutrition, strength, sleep, feet, mindset and the ability to adapt all become crucial when you're moving through the mountains for days. Leroy takes us behind the scenes of his journey to the start line, from how he got into ultra running and his experience applying for Bigfoot, through to the realities of actually taking on 200 miles. We talk about how you train for a 200-mile ultra, the importance of strength training, nutrition and fuelling, sleep deprivation, dealing with problems during a race, and the mental battle of continuing when you've been moving for days. And if you've seen Leroy's legendary frying-pan lunches, we couldn't let him get away without talking about those either. Plus, we've got our usual Truth or Lie and Quickfire rounds. If you're into ultra running, trail running, 100-mile and 200-mile races, endurance challenges or simply hearing what happens when someone decides that running for nearly four days is a good idea, this one's for you. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

Fresh back from Chamonix, this week we're bringing you a UTMB special. Sarah joins us to relive her journey around Mont Blanc after finishing UTMB 2026 in 28 hours and 14 minutes, placing 222nd overall, 37th female and joint-second British athlete. We break the race down from start to finish, covering the build-up, race week nerves, the dramatic two-hour weather delay, the electric atmosphere on the course, the highs and lows of a 174km adventure, and the difficult moments around Grand Col Ferret that tested both body and mind. We also discuss the fascinating British women's race, how Sarah ended up running the final part of the race alongside Charlotte Fisher, and what it was like crossing the finish line in Chamonix after more than 28 hours on the trails. Plus, we answer listener questions, including the toughest part of the race, the biggest surprises, and where UTMB ranks among Sarah's running achievements. If you've ever wondered what it's really like to take on one of the world's most iconic ultramarathons, this is the episode for you. As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, share the episode with a friend, and follow Trials, Trails and Fails wherever you get your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

It’s time for the BEST of Truth or Lie! 😂 Over the past 18 months, guests have thrown some seriously questionable statements at us — and now we're bringing together some of our funniest, strangest and most memorable Truth or Lies in one episode. Featuring Debbie Martin-Consani, Fi Pascall, Holly Stables, Susie Chan, Ben O’Connell and Ben Potts, this is a chance to revisit some of the best stories from the podcast and see if you can work out what’s actually true. Expect ridiculous claims, wild ultra-running stories, plenty of debate and a fair bit of cheating… 👀 How many can you get right? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

What does it actually take to run 50km every single day for 100 days? In this episode, we chat to David “Jacko” Jackson, former professional rugby player, breath coach and the man behind the incredible Mission IN-possible challenge. Jacko is attempting to complete 100 ultramarathons in 100 consecutive days, covering a minimum of 50km every day, while aiming to raise an incredible £1 million for brain injury charities Headway UK and Head for Change. When we spoke to David “Jacko” Jackson on Friday 14th August 2026, he had just completed Day 78 of 100 of his incredible Mission IN-possible challenge. In 2013, Jacko's professional rugby career was ended by a traumatic brain injury. His recovery was uncertain, and running and breathwork became a huge part of rebuilding his life. Mission IN-possible is his way of turning that experience into something positive — raising awareness, raising money and showing that what seems impossible can become IN-possible. And Jacko isn't doing it alone. The community support has been incredible, with runners and walkers joining him along the way. His route uses loops, meaning anyone can get involved — whether you're an experienced ultra runner or simply want to run or walk a few kilometres alongside him. Behind the scenes, his wife Catherine has also been absolutely integral to the challenge — running with him, driving, helping with food and fuelling and supporting him through the physical and emotional demands of doing this day after day. We chat to Jacko about the reality of 78 consecutive days of running, his brain injury and recovery, the toughest moments so far, the incredible community around Mission IN-possible, Catherine's role behind the scenes, the £1m fundraising target and what it takes to keep getting up and doing it again. A massive thank you to Jacko for giving us his time right in the middle of the challenge. At Day 78, this wasn't a conversation looking back from the finish line — he was still right in the thick of it. Want to get involved? You don't need to run a marathon. Join Jacko for a loop, bring your friends and run your own little IN-possible. 🧠 Headway UK – https://www.headway.org.uk/🧠 Head for Change – https://headforchange.org.uk/💷 Donate to Mission IN-possible – https://givestar.io/gs/mission-in-possible-2-marathons-a-day-for-100-days📍 Follow the challenge / get involved – https://thebreathrunningcoach.com/mission-in-possible📸 Jacko: @thebreathrunningcoach Jacko's book, Breathe Smarter, Run Stronger, is available here, as well as Amazon. Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

This week, we chat about Rob's recent Lakeland 100 finish. From pacing and nutrition to the mental battles that every ultra runner faces. We chat about Sarah's recent UTMB recce, sharing her first impressions of the course, key sections to look out for, and what runners can expect if they're heading to the Alps this summer. Whether you're training for your first ultra, taking on Lakeland 2027, or dreaming of UTMB, there's plenty of chat, race stories and the usual laughs along the way. Don't forget to follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share the episode with a friend—it really helps us reach more runners If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

What happens when you've reached the pinnacle of your sport and it's all over? In this episode we sit down with Mark Wilson—former England international, 2019 Rugby World Cup finalist and Newcastle Falcons legend—to talk about life after professional rugby and why he's found a new challenge in ultra running. Since retiring from rugby, Mark has thrown himself into some of the UK's toughest endurance events, including the Arc of Attrition 100 and the iconic Paddy Buckley Round. We discuss the similarities and differences between elite rugby and ultra running, the mindset required to succeed, coping with retirement from professional sport, and why pushing yourself never really stops. Whether you're an ultra runner, rugby fan, or simply fascinated by high performance and resilience, this conversation is packed with honest insights, inspiring stories and plenty of laughs. In this episode we cover: Why he fell in love with ultra running after retirement The mindset of elite athletes Identity and purpose after professional sport Tackling the Arc of Attrition 100 and the Paddy Buckley Round Advice for anyone starting their own endurance journey This episode is proudly sponsored by Harrier Trail Running. To celebrate, we're giving away Harrier's Ultra Trail Bundle—including a race vest, Z-poles, hydration bottles, safety essentials and more. To enter:✅ Like the giveaway post✅ Follow the podcast and Harrier Trail Running✅ Tag your friends⭐ Bonus entry: Share the post to your Instagram Story Full giveaway details can be found on our Instagram page. 🎁 WIN a Harrier Ultra Trail Bundle worth over £260! If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

What does it really take to run the legendary Western States 100? This week on Trails, Tales & Fails, we're joined by Lee Dunstall, who began his ultra running journey in 2019 before earning his place on the start line of the world's most famous 100-mile race. Alongside him is his partner Rebecca Parker, an ultra runner who crewed and supported Lee throughout his Western States adventure. Together we dive into everything you need to know about the Western States Endurance Run—from qualifying and navigating the lottery system to race-day strategy, crewing, pacing, the atmosphere on the trails, and what makes this race so special. We also chat about how both Lee and Rebecca got into ultra running, the highs and lows of the sport, and, as always, finish with our fan-favourite segments: Steady Pacer, Guilty Pleasures, and the Quickfire Round. Whether you're dreaming of running Western States 100, love ultra marathons, or simply enjoy hearing incredible trail running stories, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and inspiration. Topics covered: Western States 100Western States lottery and qualificationCrewing and race-day supportUltra running training and racingTrail running adventuresCeleb PacerGuilty PleasuresQuickfire RoundIf you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community. ⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

What does it take to become a seriously strong female ultra runners—and how do you train for mountain races when you live in one of the flattest parts of England? In this episode, we sit down with Helen Newman to explore her incredible journey through ultra running, trail running and sky racing. Helen is building an impressive ultra running CV, including:🏆 Winner – Five Valleys Ultra 🥈 2nd – Winter on the Downs 50 Mile 🏅 6th Female – South Downs Way 100 (19:50)🏆 1st Female & 8th Overall – Lake District Sky Race (65km / 4,500m elevation) We dive into her recent victory at the Lake District Sky Race, discussing what makes sky running so different from traditional ultra marathons, how she prepares for steep climbs and technical descents without living near mountains, and the lessons she's learned from both successful races and the ones that didn't go to plan. We also discuss: How Helen got into ultra runningTraining for mountain ultras from the South CoastThe South Downs Way 100 experienceTechnical trail running and descendingUltra marathon pacing and race strategyStrength, resilience and mindsetCommon mistakes ultra runners makeWhat's next on Helen's race calendarAs always, we have our regular icebreakers, Truth or Lie, and a quickfire round. Whether you're training for your first 50K, preparing for a 100-mile ultra, or simply love trail running, this episode is packed with practical advice, race insights and plenty of laughs along the way. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community. ⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners. If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.

Fresh from completing the Montane Summer Spine Race, today's guest joins us to unpack an incredible 275-mile journey along the Pennine Way. Finishing in around 150 hours, he battled challenging underfoot conditions, sleep deprivation, changing weather, and the mental and physical demands that come with one of Britain's toughest ultramarathons. Along the way, he shared conversations with some legendary names, including Nicky Spinks and Andy Glaze, while learning plenty about himself in the process. Having previously raced mainly over 50 to 100-mile distances, this was by far his longest event to date and a huge leap into the unknown. With another major challenge just four and a half weeks away, we discuss what worked well, what he'd change next time, how he managed the lows, and some of the unexpected and humorous moments that happened during nearly a week on the trail. If you're curious about the realities of racing beyond 200 miles, the mindset required to keep moving when everything hurts, and the lessons learned from one of the UK's most iconic endurance events, this is an episode you won't want to miss. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community. ⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners. If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.

In this episode we sit down with South Coast ultra runner Simon Withers, one of the rising stars of the UK ultra running scene. Fresh from a gritty 7th place finish at the South Downs Way 100, Simon reflects on racing one of the UK's most competitive 100-mile ultras, sharing his pacing strategy, nutrition, mindset, and what it takes to perform over such a long day on the trails. We also discuss his outstanding recent results, including 3rd place at the Arc of Attrition 2025 and 2nd place at the Arc of Attrition 2026, and how his performances have continued to improve year after year. Along the way, Simon shares lessons learned from years of ultra running, the mistakes that have shaped him as an athlete, what keeps him motivated to keep returning to the start line, and some of the highs, lows and failures that every ultra runner can relate to. Plus, we put Simon through our regular features: icebreakers, Truth or Lie, and the quickfire round. Whether you're training for your first ultra marathon, tackling a 100 miler, or simply love trail running, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest insights from one of the South's toughest endurance athletes. ⁠Coaching enquiries⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠Trailskin⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners. If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.

Sarah finished 5th female at Mozart 100 by UTMB — a 120km mountain ultra in the Austrian Alps with long climbs, technical descents and a strong international field. In this episode we break down the whole experience: race week preparation and kit decisions managing training around work and family life preparing for Alpine races while living on the South Downs how the climbs and descents compared to UK race pacing, fuelling and race strategy where the race got difficult and what a result like this means only three years into ultra running Recorded 36 hours after the finish, while everything was still fresh. Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners. If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.

This week on Trails, Tales & Fails, Max and Rob dive into a more honest conversation around ultra running, routines, streaks, escapism, addiction, and why endurance sport can sometimes become far more than “just running.” Why do runners become obsessed with structure?Why do 4am alarms, endless training blocks, and planning life around races somehow start to feel normal?And where’s the line between discipline, coping mechanism, identity, and unhealthy obsession? This isn’t a clinical conversation and we’re definitely not pretending to be experts — it’s simply an open discussion based on lived experience, ultra running culture, alcohol, mental health, validation, and the role running can sometimes play in helping people switch off, process stress, or escape life for a while. Coaching enquiries⁠⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners. If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.

In this ep, Max, Sarah and Rob are joined by Karla Borland — a runner whose results over the last 12 months have been steadily climbing, putting her firmly on the trajectory to becoming one of the standout performers in UK ultra running. In that time, Karla has put together some seriously impressive performances: 4th place at the South Downs Way 100 in 17:52 in a stacked field1st place at the Hundred Hills 50 in 4:37And most recently, the win at the Centurion Thames Path 100 in 17:21Thames Path is a unique kind of brutal — flat, fast, and relentless. There’s nowhere to hide. It becomes less about surviving the terrain, and more about holding pace, managing efficiency, and staying locked in for the long haul. In this episode, we get into: How Karla prepared for a race where you’re running so much of itWhat it takes to compete — and win — at the sharp end of a 100 milerHow her training and mindset have evolved over the past yearWhat’s driven that jump in performanceAnd of course, we’ve got our usual mix of celeb pacer, truth-or-lie, and a quickfire round to finish. Coaching enquiries⁠ Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee. We’re proud to be supported by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10. ⁠Trailskin⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20 Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements. 👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners. If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.