007 | "I Ran 250 Miles With An Ostomy", The Cocodona 250 | Tom Plater

Can you complete one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world with an ostomy?This week on The Runs Club Podcast, Jonathan is joined by Tom Plater, who recently completed the legendary Cocodona 250, a 252-mile ultramarathon across the deserts and mountains of Arizona.After bowel cancer, emergency surgery and receiving an ostomy, Tom set himself an extraordinary challenge that would test every aspect of his physical and mental resilience.Together they explore what it really takes to prepare for an event of this magnitude, from training, nutrition and hydration with an ostomy to battling sleep deprivation, hallucinations, extreme temperatures and the moments where quitting feels inevitable.But this episode goes far beyond running.It's an honest conversation about identity, vulnerability, resilience and learning that life after surgery can still be full of adventure.In this episode:• Tom's bowel cancer and ostomy journey• Preparing for the Cocodona 250• The realities of ultrarunning with a stoma• Mental resilience under extreme pressure• Sleep deprivation and hallucinations• The importance of community after life-changing surgery• Why resilience is built through vulnerabilityWhether you're training for your first 5K, an ultramarathon, or simply navigating life with chronic illness, Tom's story is a powerful reminder that difficult chapters don't have to define your future. To donate to Tom's fundraiser: https://givewheel.com/fundraising/12763/252-miles-one-body-still-moving-forwardFollow The Runs Club on Instagram and Strava, and if you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a rating. Every review helps us reach more people living with Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis, ostomies and other chronic health conditions.New episodes every two weeks.