Feet First: A Running Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

I caught up with Ally Whitlock, who last year took third place at the inaugural Winter Downs 200, to find out more about the challenges she faced stepping up to this immense distance.

Cover photo credit to Pierre Papet / Centurion Running

A post-race conversation with Emma Stuart after her course record-breaking performance at the Winter Downs 200.

Photo credit to Centurion Running

In this episode, I spoke to John Kelly about the forthcoming 2025 Winter Spine Race, a 268-mile non-stop race along the Pennine Way in the middle of UK winter.

John won this race in 2020, and holds the FKT for the Pennine Way overall, but experienced a DNF at the Spine in 2024.

Will 2025 be the year he retakes his crown?

In this episode, I chatted with Winter Spine Sprint course record holder Jess Johnson about her experience at the 'baby sibling' of the 268-mile Winter Spine Race.

With the 2024 Spine Race officially under way, have a listen to my conversation with James Elson, RD at Centurion Running and 2023 Spine finisher, diving into his experience on the Pennine Way two years ago and why he's come back in 2025.

A conversation with Kim Collison after his victory at the 2025 Montane Winter Spine Race.

Photo credit to the Spine Race.

• Kim's website: https://kimcollison.co.uk/

With the 2025 Arc of Attrition just around the corner, I spoke to 2023 100-mile bronze medallist Dan Weller to find out what's drawing him back to to Cornwall to take on the 50-mile distance this year.

With Arc now being a UTMB event, we discussed how the event appears to be attracting a higher calibre of athletes than ever, and what the implications are for the sport.

A post-race conversation with Sarah Page after her 2nd place finish at the 100-mile Arc of Attrition by UTMB.

• Sarah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahp_runs/
• Dexshell socks: https://dexshell.com/

A wide-ranging conversation with ultra legend Damian Hall. We discuss the 2025 Winter Spine Race, including Damo's recce of the new Sprint North event; Damian's 2025 race season and his decision to race exclusively in the UK this year; and his new title sponsor following the end of an eight-year partnership with Inov-8.

Damian mentions a number of organisations and resources you might be interested to learn more about at the following links:

• Damian's Website: https://www.ultradamo.com/
• The Green Runners: https://thegreenrunners.com/
• Into Ultra: https://intoultra.org.uk/home
• Badverts: https://www.badverts.org/
• Fuel for Thought (book): https://www.adventurebooks.com/products/fuel-for-thought

A conversation with Rebecca Devereux after her third place finish at the 2025 Montane Winter Spine Sprint.

• Rebecca's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_runs_wild/
• Black Trail Runners: https://www.blacktrailrunners.run/