Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Welcome back to the resident podcast for the 2025 Montane Winter Spine Races! In this episode we speak to the women of the race! We have trail interviews with Lucy Gossage, Robyn Cassidy, Nicki Arthur, Sarah Perry and Laura Swanton Rouvelin. We talk to checkpoint staff about their observations on how the women are doing and how they personally draw inspiration from them battling against the weather and the terrain of Britain's Most Brutal Race! Nicki Ly...
Jan 15, 2025•49 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Welcome back to the resident podcast for the 2025 Montane Winter Spine Races! In this episode we speak to the women's and men's podium for Challenger South and North. We talk to Nicki Spinks and Samantha Lissauer about Challenger North and Jon Shield gives us a lesson in gluing his Leki poles back together! (as well as his thoughts on the race, obviously) We also catch Kim Collison briefly at CP2 Hawes, where he was leading the race ahead of Eugenie and...
Jan 13, 2025•46 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ This is not a traditional podcast episode but......this is the audio from the start line interviews during the extended Instagram LIVE. If you're a SPINE nerd you will appreciate this....if not then please don't come at me in the comments! Featured are Laura Swanton Rouvelin, Hannah Rickman, Allie Bailey, Sarah Perry, Simon Roberts and a host of off the cuff interviews. Maybe you recognise a voice and can tell me who I spoke to? Send me a message! URS @...
Jan 12, 2025•37 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Episode 2 dives into some of the contenders from the mens race and Jack and Damo interview each other? Next they will be arm wrestling! More episodes to come this week so stay tuned! URS @ultrarunning_sam @hometrails_ http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam
Jan 11, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ The Ultrarunning Sam Podcast becomes the resident podcast for the Spine Race 2025! Tune in for regular episodes throughout the week! This episode is an intro to the week and some thoughts on Challenger South. URS @ultrarunning_sam @hometrails_ http://www.youtube.com/@ultrarunningsam...
Jan 11, 2025•36 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ I talk to Mike and Craig from the Running Show about what they have in store for us at this years show. We talk about what Mike has been up to since we last spoke. We talk about Craigs baptism of fire at the LA Marathon and when he will complete his first ultra! Was great to catch up with the team and hear about all of the stuff they have planned......including a 48HR world record attempt on the treadmill by Sophie Power! (rather her than me!) For ticke...
Jan 11, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Myself and Robin are joined (briefly) by Kate to start the TURA 2024 awards podcast! We dive into the stats and reveal the winners. From best brand, most sustainable race to the big one........Trail runner of the year! Theres lots to unpack from the awards and we will be releasing the additional info from each category to give everyone the full picture of how people voted. We've learned a lot from the experience and we hope that people enjoyed the first...
Jan 06, 2025•49 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to Laura Swanton Rouvelin, who is returning to this years Spine Race. Laura has had mixed success at the Spine over the years, from a DNF due to back pain, to returning only to have the same back issues, but gutting out the rest of the race to finish. She then came back in the summer of 2023 to land on the podium in 2nd place and 7th overall for Britains Most Brutal race. This time she takes on the winter race hoping to better he...
Jan 04, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to Tom Hoyle, AKA The Hiking Hairdresser on Instagram, to find out about the man who seems to be everywhere there's some Spine Race action to be had. From training weekends to the race media team, Tom is making a name for himself! We talk about his route into trail running, his career as a professional photographer and his latest project ULTRA IMPOSSIBLE - 'A raw insight into the unique individuals from within the running communi...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to returning guest Emma Stuart, AKA The Running Vet! We talk about her recent win at Centurion Winter Downs 200 and the aftermath of her spectacular performance where she not only led the entire race, but finished with an injury and still took first lady and second overall! We talk about her recovery, what she's been eating and the surprises she's had since finishing, including an unscheduled visit to the dentist this week. We ta...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 18 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to Rebecca Devereux about her journey to this years winter Spine Sprint, the first 46 miles of the Pennine Way. Rebecca is a member of the ever growing community and charity, Black Trail Runners. A group seeking to increase the inclusion, participation and representation of people of Black ethnicity in trail running. We talk about her path into ultra trail running, her training and racing leading up to this years race and how she...
Dec 12, 2024•57 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast I speak to returning guest Gavin Dale. Last week Gavin made a successful attempt to lower the BGR record down to 14 hours 57 minutes and 45 seconds! In this chat we talk about what he's been up to in the last year since we spoke and how this attempt at the record came to fruition. Gavin speaks about the history and traditions that surround the classic Lakes round and how the weather that was predicted didn't materialise, b...
Dec 09, 2024•55 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast I speak to US trail and ultra podcasting legend Finn Melanson from the Singletrack podcast. Finn has rapidly build a podcast in the USA that is the 'who's who' of trail and ultra. Singletrack is noted for being on the cutting edge of ultra running news with race previews, commentary and keeping everyone up to date with what's going on right now in our beloved sport. We dive into his humble beginnings as a podcaster, the mi...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 22 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode we welcome back returning guest Mel Sykes. @mellywellywoo We last spoke when she won The Spine Challenger South in the summer of 2023, so we had some catching up to do! Mel was on a trajectory for success the last time we spoke, but something got in the way of her lofty plans, chiari malformation! (The medical term) So after brain surgery and recovery, her racing career was in question. But thankfully for Mel she has been able to return ...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast I speak to Paul Booth, sports nutritionist. Paul has carved out a career working with elite ultramarathon runners at his testing facility at Leeds Beckett university and specialises in high carb fuelling and performance. In this episode we talk about the newest trend to sweep ultramarathon running, ingesting 140-150g of carbohydrates per hour, a vast increase from the previously recommended maximum of 90g per hour. We talk...
Nov 22, 2024•59 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to returning guest Charlotte Fisher. The last time we spoke, Charlotte had just won the @centurionrunning North Downs Way 100. But after a disappointing year of injuries and race cancellations, she decided that she needed to turn the negatives into a positive. She did this by planning and executing a new women's FKT record on the IOW coastal path! She did this in 11 hours and 48 minutes, knocking nearly 2 and a half hours off the...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ 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...
Nov 08, 2024•45 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ 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 ...
Nov 05, 2024•59 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ 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 ...
Nov 01, 2024•40 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ 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 th...
Oct 30, 2024•54 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ 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 Am...
Oct 24, 2024•53 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ 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...
Oct 19, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ 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 ove...
Oct 08, 2024•47 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ 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...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ I speak to Kate Allen from RUNULTRA about the Camille Herron controversy. We talk about what allegedly happened and what the media has to say about it all. We discuss 'trial by social media' and the effect not just on Camille herself, but also how it affects our beloved sport of ultra running. This isn't an episode of hate towards Camille, just a conversation about what actually happened and what could happen in consequence. URS @ultrarunning_sam @homet...
Sep 27, 2024•34 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode we welcome back Will Roberts. Normally we speak to Will about all things @SpineRace but this time we did a deep dive into his professional career as a photographer in some of the worlds most extreme environments. We talk about his career in media, his passion for travel and how he essentially blagged his way into his first media job for @BeyondTheUltimateRaces Obviously we do speak about the Spine Race because we both feel so passionatel...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to US ultra running legend Max King. Max recently popped over from the USA to win the legendary Dragons Back Race. A 380KM stage race over 6 days traversing the length of Wales from Conwy in the north, to Cardiff in the south! In this interview we chat about his experience of the iconic British stage race, that tests even the hardest ultra runners. We talk about his nonexistent recces of the course and how everyday was for him, f...
Sep 14, 2024•52 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Josh returns as a guest to the podcast with an outstanding performance at this years UTMB. Josh ran himself into a final position of 11th, making him the highest placing Brit at this years race! When you hear how his race started out, the more you realise what a great result he had on a day that could have ended as a DNF, like it did for so many others at this years race. As always, we talk about his training leading into this years race. We talk about ...
Sep 07, 2024•50 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ For the super nerds that wanted to hear the first edit before it was cut down for visual aesthetic reasons! An extra 7 minutes of training talk that was removed from the video version after this version. So it's essentially the same but with some additional insights into his training and prep. More conducive to listening in the podcast format. The video can be found here https://youtu.be/qQcDPLj1YUY?si=rP_FCDy__4sPNvun URS @ultrarunning_sam @hometrails_...
Aug 28, 2024•44 min
Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I team up with Kate from RunUltra to speak with David. We talk about his historic race at the Leadville 100 where he not only won his debut 100 miler, but actually broke Matt Carpenters 19 year old course record in the process! Dropping it from 15:42 to 15:26! We talk about his training and preparation leading into this race. We discuss his specific approach involving numerous interventions designed to give David the edge on the long sta...
Aug 24, 2024•1 hr 12 min
