Explore every episode of the podcast The PKS Running Club

Paul sits down for the first time with Simon, better known online as Egbert — a nickname born from a running joke about newborns being basically eggs, not (as suspected) a Narnia reference. What follows is a wide-ranging, genuinely funny conversation that somehow moves from Herodotus and the Roman legions to crème brûlée for six people to running seven miles home at 2am after missing a train stop.

Simon opens up about being "five stone heavier" as a teenager and the decades-long process of losing weight through weights, trial-and-error dieting, and eventually running — which he only picked up during COVID, running his first 5K past age 30. He and Paul dig into what actually makes weight loss sustainable (spoiler: rigid restriction isn't it), why consistency matters more than perfection, and how both of them frame training and eating around being present for their families rather than chasing extremes.

The conversation turns to the mechanics of the sport too: Simon's goal of a sub-3 marathon, the dangers of jumping into a marathon too soon, zone 2 training fads, the Maffetone method, and an honest debate about club running versus solo miles. Paul shares a story he's never told publicly — seven marathon-distance training runs in a single year, chasing a since-abandoned goal — and the two trade shoe opinions (Altra, New Balance, Nike) before agreeing to team up for a half marathon PB attempt.

Funny, candid, and unexpectedly reflective — this one covers running, food, family, and the occasional Roman Empire tangent.

From Devastated to Ironman: Danny's Story of Running for His Dad

Danny's had a six-pack since he was a "tubby toddler," ran a sub-3-hour marathon on his second attempt, but this episode isn't really about any of that.

In December 2023, Danny's dad Steve was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Two and a half years later, in May this year, he passed away. In the middle of that, Danny signed up for Ironman Wales — a 2.4 mile sea swim (jellyfish and all), 112 miles on the bike, then a full marathon, all inside 17 hours - to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and show his dad exactly how much he loved him.

We talk about hitting the wall at mile 23 of his first marathon (nutrition lesson learned the hard way), training for an Ironman around a 9-day fortnight and family life, the doom-scrolling that eats more time than you'd think, and the work colleagues who are matching every pound raised and taking a Friday off to run or walk a full marathon along the Southeast Coast Path with him.

This one's honest, funny in places, and properly moving in others. Danny's monthly Instagram videos with his dad have had us in tears more than once — go and watch them, and if you can, throw a few quid at the JustGiving page linked below.

Support Danny's fundraiser for the Motor Neurone Disease Association

Follow his Ironman training and his dad's story on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/dannysknight/

If you've got a running story worth telling, get in touch — I'm always looking for more people to put through the podcast wringer.

#running #podcast #ironman #motorneuronedisease #marathon #interview

He heckled me mid-run on the NDR, and eighteen months later he's here on the podcast.

Jake Mulholland (or Jacob, depending which side of the family you ask) is a Bridgwater runner who scrolled past one of my Instagram reels, felt a pang of guilt, laced up, and ran his first 10K in five years. Six months after that he was lining up for the Brighton Marathon after a drunken promise to his brother at Centre Parcs — no training plan, a £500 fundraising target for his late granddad, and a proposal planned for the finish line.

We talk about what actually gets you out the door when it's dark, cold and your bed is right there. The financial-guilt spiral of buying a £600 watch. Why the NDR might be the most psychologically punishing two kilometres in Somerset. Losing the streak — and the mojo — after three weeks in Thailand. The unglamorous reality of race-day fuelling (and what happens when you get it wrong). And yes, he did propose at the finish line, and yes, she said yes.

Jake's now nine weeks out from the Bridgwater Half Marathon, chasing a sub-two, and I'm pacing him. This one's a proper natter — England's World Cup nerves, radioactive waste engineering, Nando's carb-loading strategy, and why nobody ever really regrets a run.

If you've got a story like Jake's, get in touch — I'm looking for more people to put through the podcast wringer.

What happens when months of training meet race day mayhem? In this episode, I sit down with Ed Powell to unpack the full story of the 2024 London Marathon — from perfect pacing to painful cramp, emotional meltdowns, and a freak incident involving a rogue rivet through my carbon-plated race shoes. No, seriously. We cover:

👟 The freak shoe malfunction that nearly ruined my race🌡️ How the unexpected heat crushed runners across the course🧠 Why the mental game is everything when your body wants to stop🪙 Medal chat, world records, and the guilt of wearing last year's “finisher” top🎥 Being vulnerable online — and dealing with toxic masculinity in the comments♻️ Why we need to talk about littering and that one guy who keeps dropping gels⚖️ The tension between running for time vs running for joy🧵 Plus: Will Ed run another marathon? And is an OnlyFans the key to funding this channel?

This one’s raw, ridiculous, and very real. Whether you’ve just run London, are training for your first race, or just love hearing two mates rant about the weirdness of long-distance running, you’ll get it here.

🎧 Subscribe to the PKS Running Club Podcast for more honest, unfiltered conversations about running and real life.
📲 Follow me at @PKSRuns on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
🙃 And follow Ed… nowhere really. He’s offline.

What does it take to win a marathon in 2:39 after five stops? In this episode, I sit down with Ellie Stevens, a true running legend who's not only representing Team GB at Masters level, but also smashing PBs well into her 40s. We dive deep into:

🏃‍♀️ Her incredible comeback after illness
🎯 How she balances training, racing, and coaching
🏅 Her gold medal sweep at the World Masters Championships
🥇 Winning the Mesa Marathon despite mid-race chaos
🔥 Training tips for amateur runners prepping for big races like London
💥 Why she’s faster now than at 22—and how that’s even possible
🌱 The barefoot running buzz and the role of recovery
🚫 The biggest mistakes she sees runners make
🎤 And yes, what it feels like to win a world title as a Masters athlete

Whether you’re chasing a PB or struggling through a taper, Ellie’s passion, mindset, and story will inspire you to fall in love with running all over again.

🎧 Subscribe to the PKS Running Club Podcast for more conversations with runners from all walks of life.
📲 Follow Ellie at @runellie1 on Instagram
📸 Follow me at @PKSRuns on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

The PKS Running Club Podcast is back for Episode 2, and this time, we’re talking running in New York City, marathon fuelling strategies, and whether Ed will ever actually go for a run!

What’s Inside This Episode?

🌎 Paul & Ed’s Travel Diaries – From New York City to London (including a trip to the Houses of Parliament?!), hear what they’ve been up to.
🏃‍♂️ Running in Central Park – Why is NYC packed with runners, and did Ed finally lace up his trainers?

🥵 Marathon Nutrition & Fueling – Gels vs. real food: what’s the best way to keep energy levels up?

💪 How Much Training is Too Much? – Paul’s 5:30 AM training routine, balancing gym, running, and life (while Ed just tries to survive).

👟 Why Footwear Matters – The #1 mistake people make when walking or running in cities & why your shoes could be ruining your experience.

😂 Did Ed Actually Press Record This Time? – A behind-the-scenes fail from our last attempt at this episode.

🏁 The Next Big Challenge – A PKS Runs vs. Dom Valeting Showdown: Can a Nissan X-Trail be fully deep-cleaned faster than Paul can run a half marathon?

Who is This Podcast For?

If you’re a runner, marathoner, or just enjoy raw, unfiltered running chat, this podcast is for you. Whether you’re training for a 5K, half marathon, or full marathon, we cover the realities of training, fuelling, motivation, and the occasional running-related disaster.

Subscribe & Join the PKS Running Club!

👟 Join the PKS Running Club on Strava: PKS Running Club

📲 Follow Paul on Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @PKSRuns

🔥 Got Running Questions? Drop them in the comments for the next episode!

🎧 Listen, laugh, and get inspired to hit the road (or at least walk 40,000 steps in NYC).

Welcome to the first-ever episode of the PKS Running Club! Things kick off with an unforgettable confession involving a Christmas Day "incident" (you'll never look at bushes the same way). Paul is joined by his brother-in-law Ed—a self-proclaimed “average runner”—as they dive into your questions about marathon pacing, pre-race fueling, running motivation, and even why Paul started running in the first place.

With plenty of banter, tales from the Loch Ness Marathon, and a questionable ice bath adventure, this episode sets the tone for a podcast that's raw, hilarious, and genuinely all about the ups and downs of running.

🎧 Got questions for the next episode? Drop them in the comments!
👉 Join the PKS Running Club on Strava and follow along on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok (@PKSRuns).

#RunningPodcast #PKSRunningClub #MarathonConfessions