Running Tales – Details, episodes & analysis

Sho Gray has a big goal in 2024.

The professional runner, who is the Tennessee state record holder for the 100-mile distance, is betting on himself to make the US national 24-hour race team.

Sho is using his savings to dedicate himself to running in the hope of winning the American 24-hour race championship in November, and in doing so qualifying for the national team.

It’s all a far cry from his first manoeuvrings in the world of running, when as a youngster at a Japanese international school he started taking part in the sport - with the somewhat disputed aim of beating his sister in the cross-country.

Running Tales spoke to Sho about going from enthusiastic amateur to professional, entering the pain cave and exercising his toes, and how he wants to inspire everyone to do whatever their version of better is… 

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

This week's Running Tales Podcast has a somewhat different theme.

Our guest is Stan Robertson, the man behind Northampton-based rough sleeper charity Project 16:15.

Running Tales is once again backing the 16:15 Charity Run, which will take place at The Racecourse in Northampton, England on Saturday, March 23.

The event, which aims to raise awareness of and funding for rough sleepers in the town, will take place over six hours - with runners encouraged to run as long or as short a distance as they like over that period.

There is more information about the event on our Substack newsletter page and on the 16:15 Charity Run Facebook group.

Stan started Project 16:15 back in 2018, during the infamous Beast from the East cold snap, when he began delivering hot drinks and food to rough sleepers in Northampton town centre.

His over-riding aim is bring dignity and respect to those on the streets.

You can help fundraise for the 16:15 Charity Run here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/fun-run2024

Running Tales spoke to Stan about the dangers rough sleepers face on the streets, how his own experiences of homelessness and addiction help him connect to those he now helps, and whether he will be doing any running himself on March 23...

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Natasha Swartley wasn't particularly sporty growing up - and running certainly didn't feature on her to do list.

Even after she joined the US Navy at just 18, fitness was a punishment for being 'sarcastic' with push-ups and squats proving particularly unpopular.

But Tasha slowly developed a love of fitness and eventually running, ending up being responsible for training 3,000 men under her watch.

By 2019, she had completed her first ultra marathon - a 50-miler which she conquered despite neglecting race nutrition and training on a treadmill.

Tasha has since left the Navy to become a wilderness EMT, but her love of ultra running has blossomed - despite two DNFs at the 100-mile distance.

Running Tales spoke to her about life in the Navy as a high-ranking woman, hauling ammunition across ships and how it prepared her for running long distances, and the power of three little letters: DFQ. 

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Doug Richards was only in his 30s when he found himself out of breath having run up the stairs to see his son.

It was then he decided to get fit - and start running.

It's a habit he's found hard to shift since with Doug having run across all seven continents, including in Antarctica and across the Sahara and Gobi Deserts.

He's also become an author, penning 'Running Hot & Cold' which tells the story of his varied running career.

I spoke to Doug about everything from how running helped his mental health to scaling the Great Wall of China...

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

The music in this podcast is:"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week's guest is Lorraine Lewis, the driving force behind a charity which provides support and companionship for adult cancer patients.

The Lewis Foundation sources, packages and - in normal, non-Covid times at least - hand delivers free gifts and support packs to people enduring the often lonely, frightening trial of cancer treatment.

One way Lorraine funds the charity is through running, tackling events such as Tough Mudder and even a 26 mile obstacle challenge.

I asked her why and how she started the charity, and whether she fancied taking on that extra 0.2 miles to go full marathon... 

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This is, incredibly, the 40th episode of Running Tales.

The podcast, originally meant to capture people's running experiences - where possible - at running events or parkrun or at least on a face to face basis, has lived most of its life during the coronavirus pandemic.

With a second lockdown upon us and Christmas round the corner, we've decided to take a break.

There are hundreds - if not thousands - of inspirational running tales still out there, so we'll be back in 2021.

In the meantime, please check out all our previous episodes on Apple, Spotify, Podbean and all good podcast providers.

Thanks for your support.

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Kevin Orchard loves running - but it's not always enough.

The Redway Runners co-founder decided to add cycling into the fray.Before too long he was excelling as a multisport athlete, competing for Great Britain in his age group.

I caught up with Kevin at Redway Runners' Daytona 5,000 event earlier this year...

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

If 'life is like a box of chocolates' it's fair to say Rob Pope's chocolate of choice is running.

Seeking a challenge no-one had completed before, he decided to follow the route Tom Hanks' celebrated Forrest Gump character took in the film of the same name.

In all he covered 15,000 miles and travelled six times across America, even growing a Gump style beard in the process.

It's far from the only challenge Rob has completed.

I talked to him about everything from winning the Nottingham Marathon, competing for America and Australia in elite races despite being a born and bred Liverpudlian and taking part in the gruelling Marathon des Sables.

Run Rob, run...

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

In 2014, Emma Timmis became the first person in the world to run across Africa, completing the equivalent of 94 marathons in 89 days.

It's just one of a series of incredible challenges and experiences Emma has embarked upon, from roller skating across Holland to riding an Elliptigo bike across Australia.

As if that wasn't enough she's just finished writing and illustrating a children's book about her African adventure, entitled 'The Girl Who Ran Across Africa'.

It's safe to say we had plenty to talk about...

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

I met Sarah Lightman as she whizzed round Salcey Forest at a recent Big Bear Events race.

Sarah, however, wasn't running, she was race walking - and the event was her second Ultra in as many days.

It perhaps shouldn't have been a surprise though.

Sarah's dad, Shaun Lightman, finished 18th in the Men's 50km walk at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

I spoke to Sarah about why she prefers race walking to running...

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.

Lizzie Tovey is remarkable.

Despite only recently taken up running when she started to struggle with her eyesight, the visually impaired runner completed the 2019 London Marathon.

This year was to bring more battles though. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, she had original planned to drop out of the 2020 race.

But when it became a virtual event, she decided to take it on over three stages, including a gruelling night run.Did she do it? Of course she did!

Along the way, Lizzie's journey has also seen her campaign to have guide runners given London Marathon finishers medals, while she completed a self-isolated 26.2 miles on the treadmill - complete with an array of fancy dress outfits.

Personally, I think she needs to write a book next...

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Visit Running Tales on Substack: ⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠

Search for Running Tales wherever you listen to podcasts to find our audio version of episodes.