Runner's World Podcast

Paralympic royalty joins Rick and Ben this week as Richard Whitehead MBE came in for a chat. We talked about how he continues to get faster with age, how is training is continually evolving and the key thing all runners need to do to keep improving. Plus we talk about the 2012 legacy and how he wants nothing more than for people with disabilities have access to the joys of movement and sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining Rick and Ben this week if Death Cab for Cutie frontman, Ben Gibbard. An accomplished ultra runner as well as a musician, Ben's journey into running is a fascinating one and he's so into it, he's even designed his own running shoe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining Rick and Ben this week is Sam Tomlinson, a runner who has completed some of the biggest races in the world, yet he's also DNF'd and DNS'd them all too. In the podcast this week, we talk about "failure" in running and why it's so important, misunderstood and treated with shame rather than as part of the natural process of improving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and comedian Paul 'Tonky' Tonkinson joins us on the podcast this week to talk finding his running mojo again, why he needed to race the MdS (and what he thinks about the race), training incidents with dogs, writing his new book, why running will always be part of his life and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's written a book about ageing and running, so Damian Hall is back on the podcast to encourage us all to keep going as we age. We chat around the health benefits, but also how to continue to be competitive, the best approach to training, why the right attitude to age can make all the difference and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the podcast, Rick and Ben are joined by Hugo Fry, a running influencer who brings a much lighter and entertaining side to the world of 'runfluencing', whilst also being an undeniably fast runner. We chat about Hugo's route into running, his training, the best way to cook rice, why running is just a hobby and shouldn't be that serious and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A moment in history happened at the 2026 London Marathon as Sabastian Sawe became the first person to run a sub-2 hour marathon. Rick and Ben chat about this incredible run, the history behind this moment and what it means for the future of distance running, especially now that Yomif Kejelcha has also broken the two hour mark. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick and Ben are joined by Rachel and Joe and between them all, they've run quite a few marathons, so they're sharing all they know about about what to do and what not to do when it comes to running 26.2 miles successfully. We've got advice on how to fuel the race, why the heat can make all the difference, how to navigate the expo, supporting advice and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor, James Norton, joined Ben and AT (from Men's Health) for this special joint podcast to talk all about his prep ahead of running his first marathon at London Marathon at the end of the month. We chatted training, how he structures it all around filming, why we need to bring back those mini trampolines from the 90's, how he manages his T1D with training and much, much more. James is raising money for Breakthrough T1D, a charity that helps young people with Type 1 diabetes. Here is his JustGiving page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest this week is Dr Miranda Layton aka Dr_Mimi_Runs, a running influencer who is also an actual doctor, using her platform to try and stop the spread of misinformation for runners online. She's also got a marathon PB of 3:03, so we chat about her taking about that, how she started running and much, much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh from reclaiming his 3000m crown, Josh Kerr joined Ben and Rachel for a special bonus episode to talk about his comeback from some career lows, why he sees rivalry as a healthy part of the sport, his upcoming mile world record attempt, one day winning a major and why his beard is always so immaculate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining Ben and Rick this week is Kevin Quinn. Kevin's route into running wasn't typical, but he showed real talent regardless. All of this came to halt when 10 years ago he found out he needed major, emergency heart surgery. Since then, Kevin has been chasing the elusive dream of running a sub 2:20 marathon and this year at the London Marathon, aged 46, he's hoping to do just that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick and Ben are joined by sports psychologist, Dr Josie Perry, to discuss that all-important brain-body connection, how to focus on goals and offers some practical advice and cues that all runners can use to unlock their potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, writer, academic, composer and proponent of the joys of nature, Robert Macfarlane joins us this week to discuss how running helps his creative process, the need for everyone to experience nature, why running near a river will always improve a run and why eating chillis might be the next great nutrition hack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might have seen, but Harry Styles is going on the cover of our May issue of the magazine (on sale April 1st) and so we thought we'd sit down and chat about this momentous moment and what it means for us, for running, why it's significant and much more. You can pre The May issue of Runner’s World with Harry Styles is on sale April 1st. Pre-order it here to secure your copy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writers and authors of 'Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport', Emma Wilkinson and Lily Canter join Rick and Ben to talk about the book, what it unearthed for them as runners, a celebration of women doing incredible things and what more needs to done about sexism in the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest this week (and cover star of the April issue of the magazine) is comedian, podcaster and now running influencer, Josh Widdicombe. A champion of running for the sake of running, Josh chatted to Ben and Rick at the cover shoot about why he started running, what it does for his physical and mental health, his sobriety, why he'll never sign up for a marathon and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RW columnist, Lisa Jackson, joined Ben and Rick to talk about her new book, "Still Running After All These Tears", which Lisa wrote after not only losing her husband to cancer, but her father and sister too. They three talk about grief, the power that running gives us to do hard things, companionship and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Considered the greatest Traitor ever to do it, Harry Clark won the show when he was only 22. However, as he explains to Rick and Ben, life wasn't going to plan and it's only now that he can look back on that time and reflect. Taking on the London Marathon to raise money for the Duke of Edinburgh' Awards, Harry talks about his love/hate relationship with running, his desire to push himself, discovering a sense of self, his faith and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The coach and running shoe expert discusses her new book – and the simple steps runners can take to build speed, strength and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From how to start running, the kit to wear, how to pace those initial efforts to taking on your first race, Tom Craggs (top running coach), shares his wisdom and advice for newbie runners or those returning to the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ultrarunner Sabrina Pace-Humphreys joins Ben to talk not just about her new book, 'Start Where You Are', but a whole host of things about running including why she wants to get more women running, why 2025 was such a big year, her DNF at UTMB and how to move on from a race that doesn't go to plan, making future plans and much more. If you want to join the Runner's World Club event that's taking place on Feb 7th, then click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two stalwarts of the game, winners of the race and a course record holder, Damian Hall has been running the race since the third edition and Jasmine Paris won the race outright in 2019 and set a course record whilst expressing breast milk for her 13-month-old child. Both chat about the draw of the race, their experiences running it and what makes it so unique, plus offer up some expert advice for anyone interested in taking on long races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's January and for a dedicated few and come keen dot-watchers, it can only mean one thing - The Spine Race. Quite possibly the toughest race in the UK, the Spine is a 268 mile race up the Pennine way and as Phil reveals, the 2027 version is going to get tougher! We talk the evolution of this amazing race, why runners are attracted to such extreme races and how the Spine community might be one of the nicest in running. Hosts: https://www.instagram.com/the_rick_pearson/https://www.instagram.com/benhobson/ Wellness video producer: https://www.instagram.com/chelia.batkin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angus Read graduated from university in July and, like any adventurous 22-year-old, wanted to go travelling. His plans grew, as did his desire to do something to not only better himself, but also raise money for charity, so he planned to do it all - a solo trip where he'd make his way across Europe, running a marathon in as many countries as he could, fund raising for Cancer Research. He's just finished this four month long trip and joined us to discuss the planning of such a trip, why running solo across Europe was the best experience he could have hoped for and how a rogue pizza in London nearly scuppered the whole experience.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a bumper year for running, from mass participation at an all time high to elite sprints at the marathon, Rick, Ben, Rachel and Jen discuss some of the highlights and chat about their own personal moments too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not only did she set a new world record at Big's Backyard ultra this year by running close to 400 miles over four days, but Sarah Perry also recently won a race called 'The Hill', which saw he run over 1 1/2 times the height on Everest in 48 hours. Rick and Ben spoke to Sarah about her amazing performances this year, what's so special about backyard ultras, the joy of running with dog and why running still needs to be fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mick Duplock is truly remarkable. A season ultra-runner and Comrades finisher, he developed retinitis pigmentosa (aka tunnel vision) in his fifties, leaving him unable to see. Did it stop him from running? Not likely. Instead, at 82, he says he's never been more passionate about it. 'There are lots of things that I can't do,' he says, 'but I can still run.' If you're visually impaired and want to find a guide runner, visit: englandathletics.org/take-part/programmes/findaguide/ If you're interested in becoming a guide runner, visit: https://www.englandathletics.org/take-part/programmes/findaguide/become-a-guide-runner/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining Ben and Rachel this week is former GB athlete and now supreme running coach, Jo Wilkinson. We chat about what it means to train hard, the different versions of this and what the main goal of any running that requires a lot of effort should be. We only mention David Goggins once. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We sat and down and thought, "What do we need to invent to make running better?" and here is what we came up with! Set a new PB using the FuelDrone or continue to run whatever the weather with ClimaBubble. These and many more semi-useful inventions that smarter people need to make. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Rick speak to James Greenwell, a former elite pentathlete who is now finding gold medal success in the fast-paced world of biathle, aged 50. We talk training methods to cope with the need for speed, but avoiding injury, why swimming helps absorb some of the training load and how backing yourself to win is the greatest defensive against getting slow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He got fourth place in a stacked field, on debut at a major, but who is Patrick Dever? We had a chat with Patrick to talk about this stand out performance, why he chose New York for debut, his training, the appeal of the marathon, the Olympic dream and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, writer and journalist Duncan Craig joins Rick and Ben to talk about his recent attempt to race his younger self. 24-year-old Duncan ran the London Marathon in a time of 3:23, but 25 years later, can he beat that time? Well, you'll have to listen to find out, but more importantly (as with most running challenges) the lessons learned getting to the start line was much more significant than the end result. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freshly crowned with not only a gold medal but also a world record from the 24 hour World Championships in Albi, France, Sarah Webster joined us to talk about her incredible performance, winning gold, what it takes to run for 24 hours, how a dislocated shoulder nearly ruined her build up, what it's like to hit your running peak in your forties and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taking a punt at listing some of the hardest races out there, Rick and Ben are joined by Rachel to discuss the criteria of what makes a race hard and what races should be on your bucket list if all you want to do is really suffer! There are of course some ultras, but what about a 2K race with 1000m of elevation? Yeah, that kind of thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever heard someone say something like, "the marathon begins at mile 20" and thought that simply isn't true? Us too. Rick and Ben discuss running's greatest fallacies, most being just daft things people say, some are a bit troubling or dismisses and others are fundamentally wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick, Ben and Rachel sit down and critique the spotify marathon playlist and discuss whether the songs would make it onto their own running playlist, plus they offer up a song each that really gets them ready to run! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The RW team discuss the 18 top road-running shoes they've been testing over the past few months. From PB-smashing supershoes to reliable daily trainers, we cover the full gamut of what's currently out there. 310baac894a292188e912c7a54b43bc3fac3935f Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining Ben and Rick this week is Levi Moore aka The Mummy Physio. Following childbirth, the return to running for many mums can be a huge physical and psychological undertaking, so Levi explains how to approach a return to running without fear, explaining what can happen to the body and how best to make that comeback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Running is rife with issues of etiquette; some obvious and some utterly made up. Most are made up tbh, but that won't stop us from trying to figure out what is ok and not ok when it comes to running behaviour. The episode also features/deviates more into a pop quiz, but we try to stick to task. Sort of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick and Ben are on the road this week and recorded a few special interviews live from The Great North Run. Their guests are Minah and Alexander from the hit TV show Traitors, Joe Wicks aka The Body Coach and running royalty, Dame Kelly Holmes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh (perhaps not so fresh) from the trails and podium of the UTMB, we chat to Tom Evans and Ruth Croft in this extra special bonus episode. Like and subscribe etc etc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Anya Culling reveals how she slashed two hours from her marathon time. She talks about the importance of community, enjoyment and self-belief when it comes to marathon training – and offers advice to others looking to get the best from themselves over the distance.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have we reach peak saturation for big ultrarunning challenges? With more and more people running more and more miles over more and more continents, has the normalisation of going massive devalued what are incredible feats of endurance? Well, Ben, Rachel and Ali have a rambling chat about it and try to figure it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode, in the company of RW’s senior writer, Rachel Boswell,  we discuss the pros and cons of solo running vs group running, looking at what the latest science says.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's often hard to know where to spend your money on when it comes to running - yes of course shoes are essential but do they NEED to be expensive? Using a very professional scale of swerve, scrimp and splurge, Rick and Ben and Ali discuss (and argue) over what they think are the important bits of kit when it comes to running.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the continued growth of trail running and brands from inside and outside of running scrambling for a piece of the pie, we got the chance to speak to New Balance about why they have decided now is the time to enter back into the scene with gusto, what drove the decision and what they promise to do for the sport. This episode is NOT sponsored by New Balance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

50 years following his death, Rick and Ben are joined by journalist and author Brendan O'Meara, to discuss why his legacy within running continues to shine when so many others are forgotten. Brendan's book - The Front Runner: The Life of Steve Prefontaine - is available wherever you get your books! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taking on a fast mile is something that all runners should try at least once. Fast is obviously a relative term, but we think spending some time focusing on achieving the best time that you can over the mile is not only deeply satisfying, but is a relatively easy running challenge to fit into life. Rick guides us through how he set himself the challenge of doing just this and you can try out his training plan here - https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/motivation/a30220376/fast-mile-training-plan/ Join Runner’s World Club today: www.runnersworld.com/uk/podcastoffer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining us this week is ultrarunner Jonty Brown, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 11-years-old. We discuss what it's like to run with the autoimmune disease, how runners can manage the symptoms and why is should never stop anyone from giving running a go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices