Running Tales

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.

Running Tales is a sports podcast hosted by Michelle and Craig Lewis, with 171 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Michelle and Craig Lewis hosts Running Tales, a sports show with 171 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #215

  Joshua Schofield: PGC1-Coaching founder on racing Jacob Kiplimo and the basics every runner should master

  Jul 27, 202644 min

  Joshua Schofield is a former sub-elite road, track and cross-country runner, who represented England as a Junior Male and for the North of England as a Senior Male. Josh originally competed in triathlon before finding success as a runner, but it is working as a coach which has defined his place in the running world. Josh's achievements include coaching at the Loughborough Talent Hub, working with athletes who were training for England and at The Commonwealth Games, and becoming an England Athletics Talented Coach Mentor. But his biggest success came in 2019 when he formed PGC1-Coaching, originally to help him get through his Master's Degree. Since then, more than 250 athletes from three continents have been coached at PGC-1 and the club has attracted a host of top level coaches. In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Josh about racing against Jacob Kiplimo, how coaching became his life, and the basics every runner should master... More about PGC1-Coaching Find out more about the work Josh and his team do, and how you can become part of PGC1-Coaching: https://www.pgc1coaching.com Visit Running Tales on: Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales. Buy Me A Coffee: Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our affiliates: ◾ TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business. I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me! If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ◾ SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace. Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ◾ DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset. Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change. If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #214

  Bob Bell-Johnson: How running helped one man come to terms with the pain of grief

  Jul 13, 202642 min

  For Bob Bell-Johnson, running is not simply about fitness. It is thinking time. The 39-year-old, from Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire, is training to become a personal trainer, a major career change after a long and complicated journey with his physical and mental health. Bob was born with a club foot, which required surgery when he was young and left his lower left leg permanently weaker. Later, he faced serious back problems, including major spinal surgery in 2013 for cauda equina syndrome. After that operation, he used walking sticks for two years. So running was never the obvious path. As Bob puts it: "Me and running is like eating chocolate with gravy. It can be done but it is not great." But running has given Bob something he describes as essential: space to think. It has become a way to process grief, rebuild his confidence and take care of his mental health. Bob was 18 when his mother, Liz, told him she had been diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare type of cancer. She died just over a year later, in November 2005, aged 53. Liz was outgoing, joyful and deeply present in Bob's life. He remembers dancing around the kitchen with her to Dire Straits, and seeing her in the audience when he played bass in teenage bands. Losing her at such a pivotal age left a lasting mark. For many years, Bob buried the grief. He has spoken openly about struggling with depression and using alcohol to cope. More recently, he stopped drinking and found in running a healthier way to process what had happened. This year, Bob ran the London Marathon for Sarcoma UK . For him, it was not just a physical challenge. It was a way to honour his mum, support others affected by sarcoma and turn reflection into action. In this episode of Running Tales, Bob talks about grief, running, sobriety, mental health and why being able to run feels like a privilege... What is sarcoma? Sarcoma is a rare cancer that can affect bone or soft tissue, including muscle, fat, nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. Because these tissues are found throughout the body, sarcoma can appear almost anywhere. There are more than 100 different subtypes, which means people's experiences can vary widely. Some people first notice a lump. Others may have pain, swelling or symptoms that are harder to explain. Because sarcoma is rare and often little-known, diagnosis can sometimes take longer than it should. Sarcoma does not only affect the person who is diagnosed. It can affect partners, children, parents, friends and wider families. For people like Bob, the impact of sarcoma continues long after someone they love has died. About Sarcoma UK Sarcoma UK is the national charity for anyone affected by sarcoma. The charity funds research, provides information and support, campaigns for better treatment, and works to improve awareness and earlier diagnosis. Sarcoma UK's Support Line is staffed by healthcare professionals and is available for people with sarcoma, family members, friends, carers and healthcare professionals. You can find out more about sarcoma, Sarcoma Awareness Month and Sarcoma UK's support services at sarcoma.org.uk . Visit Running Tales on: Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Me A Coffee: Help us continue to tell extraordinary stories: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ◾ TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear around. I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a decidedly average runner like me! If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #213

  Chris Marritt: The ultra runner who found the real meaning of failure

  Jun 29, 20261h 3m

  When Chris Marritt DNF’d at the Ring O’ Fire, a 135-mile coastal ultra in Anglesey, he started to doubt his whole identity as a runner. As someone who had been running for nearly 25 years and had racked up 2,000 miles in preparation for the race, dropping out hurt Chris more than he had expected. He spent the following year trying to repair the damage, while working out what needed to change second time around. Spoiler alert: redemption was round the corner… and now his full story is set to be chronicled in a forthcoming memoir entitled Did Not Fail, which he will be self-publishing on August 19. In this episode, we speak to Chris about the real meaning of failure and how that has changed for him, why he'd been nowhere near as well prepared for his first Ring O' Fire attempt as he'd thought he was, and how runners can confront the little voice in their head that tells them to stop... Find out more about Chris' memoir, Did Not Fail, and register for updates on its publication at didnotfail.wordpress.com Visit Running Tales on: Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales. Buy Me A Coffee: Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our affiliates: ◾ TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business. I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me! If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ◾ SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace. Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ◾ DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset. Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change. If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #212

  Ian Williams: The marathoner born with Spina Bifida

  Jun 1, 202646 min

  Ian Williams was born with spina bifida myelomeningocele, a severe form of the condition. At the time, outcomes were very uncertain, with a survival rate of about 70% and only around 15% of those born with the condition going on to walk unaided - let alone run. Thanks to an operation in the early weeks of his life, and despite a risky school time pursuit of rugby, Ian bucked that trend and over the last 22 years has completed four marathons and two ultramarathons - including the London Marathon twice. His journey is demonstrated not only by the races he has completed, but by a scar on the base of his spine that tells the story of the challenges he has overcome. But Ian's story isn't confined to just his own achievements. In 2004, he founded Fetcheveryone , an independent UK running community which has more than 100,000 users today. In a world of Strava and Instagram influencers, it is a reminder that running is ultimately about community. In this episode, we speak to Ian about the joys of running the 100m at school, taking part in events as varied as the London Marathon and Race to Meriden, and why the authentic nature of Fetcheveryone works... Join the Fetcheveryone community. Visit Running Tales on: Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales. Buy Me A Coffee: Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our affiliates: ◾ TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business. I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me! If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ◾ SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace. Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ◾ DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset. Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change. If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #212

  Ian Williams: The marathoner born with Spina Bifida

  Jun 1, 202646 min

  Ian Williams was born with spina bifida myelomeningocele, a severe form of the condition. At the time, outcomes were very uncertain, with a survival rate of about 70% and only around 15% of those born with the condition going on to walk unaided - let alone run. Thanks to an operation in the early weeks of his life, and despite a risky school time pursuit of rugby, Ian bucked that trend and over the last 22 years has completed four marathons and two ultramarathons - including the London Marathon twice. His journey is demonstrated not only by the races he has completed, but by a scar on the base of his spine that tells the story of the challenges he has overcome. But Ian's story isn't confined to just his own achievements. In 2004, he founded Fetcheveryone , an independent UK running community which has more than 100,000 users today. In a world of Strava and Instagram influencers, it is a reminder that running is ultimately about community. In this episode, we speak to Ian about the joys of running the 100m at school, taking part in events as varied as the London Marathon and Race to Meriden, and why the authentic nature of Fetcheveryone works... Join the Fetcheveryone community. Visit Running Tales on: Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales. Buy Me A Coffee: Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our affiliates: ◾ TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business. I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me! If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ◾ SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace. Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ◾ DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset. Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change. If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Running Tales. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

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