Young Hearts Run Free Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

We catch up with our Yorkshire Correspondent Mel Sykes to talk all about her 268 mile traverse along the Pennine Way during the Montane Winter Spine Race 2025

Think 'challenging' weather, think sleep deprivation, think sleeping in public toilets and churches.

Think Alston Lasagne!

Mel replays her pre race thoughts and preparations, takes us on a detailed journey from Edale to Kirk Yetholm and reflects on the challenge and adventure of such an undertaking.

This is an absolute belter of an episode, Mel done it for Yorkshire, Mel done it to inspire, Mel done it because..she is Mel Sykes, our Yorkshire Correspondent.

Winter Spine Race...completed it mate.

It's taken a wee bit of organising to get Dr Jamie Pugh on the podcast. Jamie is a senior lecturer and researcher at Liverpool John Moores University, Jamie is also a coach at Centurion Running.

An expert in nutrition and all things to do with the gut, Jamie shares golden nuggets aplenty that will benefit runners and athletes of many disciplines. Coached by Robbie Britton, Jamie has a wealth of running expertise under his belt too, from a first marathon (Nottingham Robin Hood marathon) to training simply for fun, Jamie now is more interested in the world of ultramarathons, and has his sights set on some big things.

How do you run when you have ankles made of Weetabix as a result of football injuries? Jamie talks us through ankle rolls and how he copes with these and how the technical trails bring that heady mix of joy and challenges.

Being a coach and having specific information is one of Jamie's passions, coaching for Centurion Running since 2023, Jamie looks to bring and share knowledge from academia and his own experiences to invest in athletes across an array of distances to help them achieve their dreams, this is a fascinating listen.

Jamie's work at Liverpool John Moores University is all about understanding what can be done to make improvements (big or small) to athletes at all levels. We also talk a wee bit about muscle biopsy, say what? Find out more by listening in...

Testing what works for himself and athletes takes us to chatting about what we put in our gut to fuel us during our running activities, does what we put in deliver what we need? Jamie explains it all perfectly, you may listen to this section more than once!

The chat is a latest product up=to-date conversation full of golden nuggets from someone in the know, we talk about athletes aid station management, how to deal with nausea, do you remember the cartoon the Numbskulls, maybe a first ever mention on a podcast?

Lots of food (pun intended) for thought in here in a perfectly timed episode as we move towards the running season to come. See what others are doing, that's cool, but it might not work for you, there's so many things to think about and it's all discussed in our chat with Dr Jamie Pugh.

How much has sports science changed in the last decade, and what's to come for sports science in the future...we get Jamie's thoughts. There's chat too about Jamie's recent running and his tinkering with shoes to find out what works for him, and Jamie's dialect dictionary entry, a belter...

In this inspiring episode, Marcus Smith, founder of InnerFight, shares his journey and the philosophy behind the InnerFight brand (and how it got its name!) Marcus discusses the importance of mental toughness, pushing beyond physical limits, and the significance of building a supportive community.

This episode is also a first for our co-host, none other than our Yorkshire Correspondent Mel Sykes, massive thank you to Mel for adding her own style and guiding us through this episode.

Marcus delves into his personal experiences and guides us through a quite amazing and transformational 2018, when his life and fitness literally came crashing down. Marcus speaks about the comeback from injury, highlighting how these have shaped his approach to fitness and life, and also completing 30 marathons in 30 days!

Marcus explains the motivation behind starting InnerFight and its mission to improve people’s lives through fitness and mental resilience. We speak about how it’s important to be ‘holistically ready’ and what that means.

How do we push ourselves beyond our perceived limits and develop the mindset required to achieve extraordinary feats. The key is to keep it simple, clear your mind, this can be achieved through journalling, setting intentions and showing gratitude, Marcus describes this in his own style, you’ll be hooked, we guarantee it.

You’ll find this episode motivating and empowering, as Marcus provides practical advice and shares his experiences to help us unlock our full potential.

Marcus Smith Website

Innerfight Website

Fight For Every Breath Video

The Untethered Soul Book

The Barkley Marathons. From the mind of a genius has spawned a phenomenon. We’ve been lucky to chat to some guests about taking part in Barkley. But what about behind the scenes?
We’re joined by Larry Kelley to find out. Larry has the privilege to see the Barkley going-ons through a very different lens than most. He’s part of the extensive event team who together make the Lazarus Lake magic happen.

Larry, a seasoned ultra-runner in his own right with multiple finishes on his CV tends to follow his ‘a lot of stupid in me’ moto. This is a man who run all the way across Iowa after all, just the 310 miles!

We’re treated to an unprecedented insight as Larry respectfully lifts the lid into not only the Barkley Marathons but also the Barkley Fall Classic. The routes, the characters, the challenges along with some sensational stories from his time supporting the races in Frozen Head State Park.

Larry gives us his take on what attributes make a Barkley starter a good candidate to become a Barkley finisher. He dishes out tips and anecdotes galore.  It’s gold. So is Larry who describes the races as magical, is there another race on the planet requires athletes to show aggressive patience??! What even is aggressive patience?!?
Strap yourself in. Larry delivers in spades.
Warning, after listening you may find yourself checking out ways to get to Tennessee. We know we are!

In this episode we’re joined by returning guest Robbie Britton. We’ve plenty to ask him and, as always, he has plenty to tell us! It’s not every day you break GB records after all!

After a chunky opening intro segment covering Twenty Along the Forth, an Anglo Celtic Plate preview and a little bit of empathy for those starting to taper for spring marathons the wee man joins us for high paced run down of what’s been going down since we last spoke.

Robbie is back at the very top of his game, his recent outing at the 24-hour race in Torino, Italy testimony to that. He walked away with a freshly baked new GB 24-hour record tucked under his arm and boy does it suit him.

We get the full monte low-down on his prep and execution of a spectacular day (and night) in Piedmont. Robbie is super generous with his time and knowledge, we delve into an intricate look at his fuelling, training, and mindset. The record he breeched had stood for an incredible 40 years!!

We spend a plenty time just chewing the fat with Robbie and hearing his take on all sorts, mostly but not exclusively running related. The cadence is high, the takeaways are endless. This one might well take you 2 listens.
Phew, we’re outta breath even thinking about it, enjoy gettin’ yir lugs roond this!

Get the full run down of Robbie’s nutrition plan from his record breaking 24 hour race HERE Keep up with goings-ons over at the Anglo Celtic Plate in Northern Ireland HERE

A big welcome back to the Young Hearts, Run Free podcast. We were thrilled to have the pleasure of catching up with the legend that is Jasmin Paris.

She needs little introduction, so we dive right in to find out what brought Jasmin to where she is today, her intro to fell-running and how she found a love for ‘the longer stuff’.

Still recovering from her very recent outing at the 2023 Barkley Marathons we’re able to grill Jasmin on her 2nd experience over in Tennessee and just what it took for her to finish 4 loops of the daunting 20-mile (in Laz miles)) course. Whether you’re a Barkley newbie or seasoned Barkley fanatic it makes for compulsive listening!

We also chat plenty about Jasmin’s iconic Spine Race course-record as she regales how she found her love for wild places and how she unearthed a world-class knack of moving effectively over tricky terrain. There’s simply no doubting that last statement.

Passionate about her role within The Green Runners, a movement she is proud to have co-founded, Jasmin enlightens us all in ways we can contribute to reducing our footprint, as their moto puts it ‘You don’t need to be perfect, just keep improving by putting the planet first when making decisions’.

It was a privilege to speak to Jasmin and we can’t wait for you to get your lugs around this.

‘Messieurs, wiz zese bonus episodes you are really spoiling us…..’ Find out more and sign up to a pledge on THE GREEN RUNNERS

We love to welcome back former guests for a catch-up. The last time we spoke to Nikki Johnstone was 2 years ago, you might remember him, the quickest Elvis Pressley on the planet, ah ah ah.

So, jetting in from Germany, with a freshly baked new Scottish 50k record under his belt and a refreshed lust for racing in tow it was a joyous occasion for us to reconnect with Nikki in this week’s episode.

Of course, we start the show with our usual rip snorting intro featuring a stacked agenda topped with a close inspection of the state of John’s undercarriage obliterators! It’s the content ye all crave!

Nikki then joins the craic. It’s been far from plain sailing the last couple of years, he admits to his running being a bit up and down. Curtailed by injury and even a temporary loss of mojo (it happens to us all!).

But boy has he got his swagger back now topped off with a landmark 50k time set over on the continent that took him by surprise as much as anyone else. Nikki gives us a lap-by-lap account of his race day, that lovable alternative mindset of his is apparent throughout.

With a 2023 planned around ‘New faces. New places. New races.’ We can’t wait to see how far this lad can stretch his ability, we know our prediction.

It’s a brilliantly honest account as Nikki lets us know how he’s battled back to the top of his game and rekindled his love for the sport, for life and for racing. MR RACE DAY IS BACK!!

That inspirational Zach Miller North Face 50 video clip - take 3 mins of your time to watch it HERE

We have proper running royalty join us in this episode as Liz McColgan dials in from Qatar to talk all things running with John and Steven.

From humble beginnings Liz stormed on to the world athletics stage back in 1986 with heroics at Meadowbank Stadium. We find out her story from way back before then as she entertains us with her running story.

Memories are recalled from all her major outings both on the track and out on the world marathon circuit. A real glittering career.

Liz also treats us to her pride in watching her daughter Eilish follow in her footsteps culminating with a that tear jerking last lap in the 10,000m in Birmingham in 2022.

Full of tips, advice and spade loads of inspiration we were just over the moon to get the opportunity to speak to Liz, she takes time to give John some stellar marathon training advice as well as give us her take on the evolution of the running shoe.

Settle in and join us as we meet Liz McColgan. One of our running heroes.

A video of out interview is also available on our You Tube Channel here LIZ MCCOLGAN MEETS YHRF YOU TUBE INTERVIEW

Marco Consani is our guest this week, it was smashing to finally catch up with him after having him in our sights for ages.

Marco, who has repped Scotland and GB in a glittering ultra-running career takes us through his running story.

We loved this chat with Marco who kicks us off with his introduction to running in the early noughties and takes us right through to his recent foray on the Pennine Way as he took on the 2023 Winter Spine Race.

Peppered with insights and a heap of fond reflection our blether entertains throughout as we find out just how Marco is adapting his running and his mindset to prolong his love affair with the sport.

Tales from the West Highland Way, the Lakes and beyond ensue along with coping with the set-back of injury. Adapt, adapt, adapt is the message that rings out loud and clear as we are treated to the evolution of an ultra-runner.

Thing is though, we kinda underestimated just how big a story he has to tell. It feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface, a return appearance for chapter 2 will be a necessity!

A magic episode featuring not 1, not 2 but 3 bawbags.

John and Steven kick off proceedings with a thorough intro rounding up a hot week of action as the Scottish half marathon season gets well underway in Inverness and Alloa along with the iconic D33 Ultra. We also take a hurl over to Tennessee for a Barkley Marathon update and figure out what we’re up to ourselves as John starts shitting his breeks ahead of the Manchester Marathon.

Now come on in, grab a comfy seat or your comfy shwanks and settle in for a few hours of proper class YHRF chit chat.

This week we meet Phil Shin and Mark Murphy, they’ve an immense story share with you all.

A chance meeting with Steven in Boston last April resulted in us learning about the reason they’d completed the Boston Marathon that very same day. Phil is a 2-time liver cancer survivor. Mark is his liver donor, or as Phil prefers to call him his hero.

In our most uplifting episode to date we are lead through Phil and Mark’s story. From their own running history right through to the here and now. Simply put, this is an unmissable edition that will inspire and warm your heart.

Phil has given cancer the boot, running has played a huge part in that. Mark, a much more reluctant long-distance runner, has embraced the role he has played with a humbleness, the selfless act of organ donation almost whimsically passed off.

The result is an incredible conversation touching on mortality, the bond of running connections and being inspired by the people you meet along life’s unpredictable path.

West Coast USA based Phil and Mark quickly get into the spirit of some of our YHRF fav questions. Food, fuel, fav places to run, unique dialect dictionary entries and music choices all covered.

We also find out that they show no signs of resting on their running laurels, 2023 has big plans in store for both these super-human beings. Life is being richly grabbed. Sensational.

John and Steven have a raft of matters to discuss in their intro chatter, the weeks break since our last episode has seen shed loads happening as listeners and former/future guests take on the start of the year with gusto. We’ve also not 1 but 2 competitions to announce, you can get yir name in for those over on our socials!