PODCAST · sports
Running Won't Save You
by Allie Bailey
A podcast for people that hate running podcasts. Hosted by author, coach and ultrarunner Allie Bailey, Running Won't Save You aims to be the most fun it can be whilst also offering a bit of insight, some proper advice and (sorry about this) some coaching tips in a way that won't make you want to throw your phone in the sea. With a weekly rotation of incredible co-hosts including former GB athlete Holly Stables, and WMRA expert and decorated ultrarunner Kirsty Reade, Running Won't Save You is the antidote to the influencer fronted bullshit you might be used to. Gosh there is a LOT of that about, isn't there? Each series is loosely based on a theme that carries through all ten episodes, allowing listeners to take action and hopefully create some results for themselves wherever they are in real time. It's an actual helpful podcast because I'm a coach and that's what I do. As well as the useful stuff, there's all the usual nonsense that you should be used to with
Episodes
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Great Norse Run Special
Here’s a special episode where we chat bit about the good and bad UTMB but also Allie's run across Iceland with the Great Norse Run. This one's more about feelings than anything else but we think it important to talk about the effects these long multi day things can have, so hopefully you enjoy…
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Menopause and Ultrarunning: The Female Hormone Odyssey with Dr Nicky Keay
We are thrilled to welcome hormone and menopause expert Dr Nicky Keay for our end of season special where we answer your questions and bust numerous myths about the symptoms and effects of perimenopause and menopause on female runners. There are some really surprising findings in this episode, as...
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My Bumhole is Perfect
Laura is back to tell us all about her amazing win at Race Across Scotland a few weeks back and share all the secrets of how she kept chaffe free and silky footed. We also ask why it is that people feel the need to comment on female runners body shapes, and what we as women can do to help each...
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Fast Fashion and Maths with UTMB
This week Holly and Allie ask when is a 100km race actually a 80km race and why do Nike think it's a good idea to make camo running kit for mountain races? We also have a bit if a deep dive on coaches and coaching - when is it time to change your coach and what should you be getting from…
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Blind and Clueless Enthusiasm
Its Kirsty's final show of the season and we're talking about feeling, processes and non binary emotions. Thats some heavy shit, BUT it is sprinkled with and exclusive ontrail Q&A with the legendary Sophie Grant plus we go through some of the weird shit you have found on the trail. Severed hand...
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Who Runs The World? Girls.
This week Allie and Laura are talking about all the amazing stuff that's been going on in the world of female ultrarunning. From Sophie Grant to Katherina Hartmuth to Sarah Perry, Mel Sykes and Hannah Rickman - they've all been out this week doing epic and inspiring stuff and we couldn't be...
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The Impatient Slug
Holly joins us from French France to tell us all about her most recent race and to discuss Kirsty's amazing Hardrock experience (yes we are still talking about that). We ask why more top level runners don't discuss their races when they don't go to plan, what Allie did with the dog she found and...
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Hardrock 100 Special: Kirsty, are you Wild and Tough?
Kirsty is back just two days after finishing the loop at the Hardrock 100. She tells us all about it, from hanging out in the toilet with Courtney to seeing a bear up a tree and sliding on her arse down multiple scree slopes. We find out how she feels about the completion after the cut off, what...
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The Bum Buff
Please join us in welcoming out guest host for the season - the wonderful Laura Swanton Rouvelin! Join us for an in depth game of getting to know you that may go a bit too in depth and threaten to bring up your breakfast - but we are nothing if not honest, lads. Please make sure to send in your...
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When not to race Cocodona
Holly's back for this episode taking us through the various changes she's been experiencing in the last few months - warning - they're a bit sad. We talk about her Cocodona DNF and why watching Western States was a joy plus we answer some of your ace questions - keep them coming! This seasons...
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Change Isn't The Exception - It's The Rule
Allie and Kirsty are back for season six! Allie has been running 200 miles round mid wales on the Wild Horse 200, while Kirsty reports from Colorado ahead of her taking on the Hardrock 100. GOD IT'S SO EXCITING! There's the usual waffle about stuff like what the circle pit was for and why Kirsty…
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The Reality of Being an RD with James Elson
In our final episode of the season we are joined by Centurion Race Director and highly decorated UK ultrarunner James Elson. James has spent 15 years building Centurion from the ground up and talks to us about the process behind making these races work, the reality of what goes into them, how…
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P*ss Bags and The Sh*t Running Club
Theres more Community Contraversity this week as Allie and Kirsty (but mainly Allie) continue to be baffled by the 'not AI' weirdness that is their instagram feed. We also chat about whether mistakes are part of the process or you can always get it right first time? Plus we celebrate the best…
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When is a Club a Cult?
This week Allie and Kirsty talk about clubs, cults and other things starting with the letter C. Can you guess what they are? Do all clubs have a duty to support runners of all abilities? Are any of them actually nice? Plus we dive deeper into the Community Traverse debate and end up just as...
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There Has To Be Some Sort of A Struggle
This week Allie and Kirsty talk struggle, Imo Body and the curious case of the Community Traverse. What are your thoughts on the CT starting as a race company? Would you give money to a company who have little to no info about their races on their website? Let us know! This series is once again...
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Sitting With The Stuff You Don't Want To Sit With
TW - this podcast contains talk of suicidal ideation and mental illness. This week Kirsty steps in for Holly as we cover everything from wholesome weekends away to quantification fixation. There's some proper talk around acceptance and grief here, as well as a short discussion around suicidal...
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The Best You Can Be
This week Allie and Kirsty talk about the importance of human interaction within the process with regards to running and book writing; especially when it comes to learning, growing and sharing ideas. We also have some great listener emails and discuss why curiosity is always better than…
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After The Event
Holly is back fresh of her win at the Green Man with some brilliant advice about how to process your brain after your event. We talk The Dip - depression, impermanence and post race crashes - as well as covering the awful news about ourea events and Allie plans for 2026 and beyond. We also talk...
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Why Do We Value Outcome Over Process?
This week Allie and Kirsty discuss everything from Kirsty's hotly anticipated return to road running to why being a dick to yourself makes you a member of the partricahy, ladies. We also ask why it is that we as a society value outcomes over process - we don't have an answer for this - if you do...
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The 200 Mile Process
Holly is back and she has got some epic advice re: Process for those of you with 200 miles plus on your to do lists. Apologies in advance about how juveille and all over the place this episode is - I recorded it, then lost the recording, then made us record it again 12 hours later......but I...
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The Delicious Struggle
We back! Welcome to the season opener where Allie and Kirsty spend ten minutes talking absolute shite before introducing the topic for season five - PROCESS. We discuss what process actually is, why it's important and how a lot of us are getting it wrong, plus we marvel at how the women of the...
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The 2026 Barkley Marathons Special with Damian Hall
It's the morning after the two days before and we have an exclusive interview with Damian Hall, one if only two runners who made it to the end of loop three at the Barkley Marathons 2026. Here we get a very tired insight into the conditions and route this year, and clarification on whether or not...
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Montane Winter Spine 2026 Recap with Allie, Holly and Kirsty
In this one off episdoe, Allie chats to Holly and Kirsty about her 2026 full WInter Spine experience. As well as Allie's view from the race, there are also some great nuggets from Kirsty who was working on the Byrness CP, reflections on the race and a whole load of helpful tips from future Spine...
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Once it's Scone, it's Scone.
In the final episode of the series, Allie and Kirsty cover every topic ever including Kirsty's miraculous place at Hard Rock, who is the hardest on the podcast, Allie's new book, Sarah Perry doing Sarah Perry things and what the most tasty snack they have discovered via xmiles is, plus there's a...
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Seventeen Coffees and some Correspondence
Allie is joined by Holly for the penultimate pod of the season and it's a correspondence special! There are a load of questions answered plus some TV chat and an update on the Boston Bellend - how far will we go to get him banned? The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles…
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The Kendal Ket Club
This week Allie and Kirsty discuss being gaslighted by Hoka, the Kendal mountain festival, alcoholism, the not yet theory and emotional avoidance vs endurance plus we talk about our fave Xmiles snacks and try and answer the age old question am I ready for an ultra? What a show! The Running Won't...
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When the Gym Is The Hard Thing
Praise be Holly is back! This week it's a bit of a strength special because so many of you tell us you find the gym to be the hard thing - so we have got some ace info for you to get you started or keep you going - let us know if its helpful - PLUS there is an update on last weeks prick from the...
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You're Doing Winter Wrong
In this week episode, there's something for everyone from fell racing to butt plugs to pants. Allie and Kirsty discuss why we're all getting winter wrong, we answer some of your questions and launch an investigation into a man being an absolute bellend (I know - hard to believe). Let us know what...
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Backyard Ultra World Champion Sarah Perry on doing The Hard Thing
Holly's on erm...Hollyday, so we are absolutely thrilled to be joined by extra special friend of the show and backyard ultra world champion Sarah Perry! Sarah is not only one of the most wonderful humans ever to grace the earth but also one of the greatest ultrarunners this country has ever...
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Blind Tolerance and the Misery Muscle
In this week's highly professional and well-presented podcast, Allie and Kirsty cover pretty much everything from David Goggins to why they don't go to parties. Fresh off a lovely trip running up and down all the Northern Wainwrights, there is some hopefully inspiring chat about how to cope in...
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Ear Bleeding Hardness vs Long Term Suffering
This week Allie and Holly talk injuries and setbacks, where suffering actually comes from and the problem with entwining yourself worth with your hobby. Be warned - this one gets deep. Theres also some chat about the awesome Sarah Perry as she continues to smash the women's BYU record and we…
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The Hardest Reader
Podcast favourite Kirsty Reade is back, and she knows what she's talking about which is a massive relief for everyone. This episode we talk a LOT about Tour Des Geantes and Tot Dret, discuss books, chat disaster planning, play a bit of hardness top trumps thanks to ChatGPT, and talk about why the...
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The LIDL Hammock
We're back! Our fourth season theme is Doing Hard Things and in this episode Holly and Allie talk about what we actually mean by that - and the results may surprise you. There's a lot of chat about mental health that some people may find triggering, some might find helpful and we try and answer…
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Finding Your Purpose with Dr Josie Perry
Our end of season interview is here and we are thrilled to be joined by top sport psychologist Dr Josie Perry. In this episode we discuss the problem with Strava, how not to attach your identity to an outcome and how to define what success means to you to make your running more fun and…
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Lakeland 100 recap with Damian Hall
Damo and Allie are back for the final co-host episode of the series to discuss Damians successful win at the Lakeland 100. Damo talks us through the highs and lows of the race, his focus, plan and how he exectued it but the big question is how many times wil he mention UTMB? Spoiler alert - it's…
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Performance over Results
Welcome to your diverse sports episode! This week Allie and Kirsty talk about football, golf and of course Via Ferratta (never forget) and are joined by a special guest in the form of Allie's sister Janey who at 55 has just completed her first 100 miler. There's also come chat about getting the...
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The Heat and Light of Dan Lawson
This week Allie and Holly talk about Dan Lawson's incredible success on the SWCP, setting a new FKT and doing it in the quietest, simplest, and most pure way possible - we could all be a bit more like him? There's also some chat about Hollys most recent race at Ham and Lyme and as always, we…
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Damian's Never Won a Buckle
It's a packed show this week as Allie and Damo talk about Lakeland 100 prep, John Kellys' AT attempt and Dan Lawsons jog along the Southwest Coast path as well as answering some of your listener questions and discussing your successes. There are some discussions around HRT and menopause - links…
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The Successful DNF
Strap in everyone - this one goes deeeeeeep. This week Kirsty and Allie talk everything from AI induced sexism to being manhandled off a course. The bulk of the podcast focuses on defining success and the ways in which we can refocus ourselves to see the best and not worst in our efforts, how all...
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Poo Residue
Allie and Holly finally catch-up post Summer Spine and of course end up talking about foot flakes, chaffing, poo residue and how Jon Shield went, in their eyes, from zero to hero by failing to meet his own standards. Success takes many forms and sometimes not getting the result you want can be a...
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18 Minutes Sleep and 160 Miles Later…
In this episode, Damian catches up with Allie just hours after her incredible win at the 160-mile Montane Summer Spine Challenger North. With one of them running on just 18 minutes of sleep, they attempt to piece together what happened — while trying (and mostly failing) to keep the conversation...
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The Ultrarunning Gilead?
She's back! This week Allie is rejoined by her friend, mentor, and hero Kirsty Reade - fresh of the back of an ego smashing race in Italy. In this episode we talk books (as always), ego, FUCKING INFLUENCERS, Italian mountains, Kevin Munt, tennis, skill, effort, and talent. PLUS, we try to answer...
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Be More Hippo
Our season three opener covers everything from depression to tiny hippos as Allie and Holly dig into what success means to them. There's some interesting chat around societal vs personal success plus the usual catch up and rants - and who on earth actually thinks they can pace Killian at Western...
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The Ultimate Comparison: Life as a Transgender Athlete with Siân Longthorpe
Our season finale features the incredible Siân Longthorpe. Running has been an integral part of Siân’s life for the past 35 years. For many years, as a decent club runner, the focus was on training hard to race everything from 5Ks through to ultra marathons – both on the road and the trails –…
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The Horror of Danby Wiske with Damian Hall
This week we have the Northern Traverse course recording holding, tea drinking, Danby Wiske hating Damian Hall co-hosting a podcast that we had to record twice because Allie deleted the first set of files. Find out what Damos best bits, worst bits and most babyish bits of the NT were, how he…
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Comparing hallucinations on the Northern Traverse with Kirsty Reade
What have poodles, umbrellas, VIP boxes and the sky falling in got in common? They are all things that Kirsty saw on her incredible run from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay on this year's Northern Traverse. In this episode Kirsty talks about comparing events when you've done them more than once, and…
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The Speed Project Special with Holly Rush
This week Allie is joined by Holly straight off her incredible second place at The Speed Project - we talk about the highs and lows, the blood, sweat, tears and people telling you wrong distances. Theres a great 15 mins section at the end where we have all the hosts on for the first time ever, as...
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Comparing Cruelty: Can you Compare a Barkley to a Spine? With Damian Hall and John Kelly
Thie weeks podcast is a bit different, and some might find it distressing from the start. Please jump straight to the interview at about 10 mins in if you don't want to hear about Allie's struggles with depression over the last few days. The main feature today is a brilliant interview between...
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Don't Measure Yourself Against Someone Else's Ruler
There is discussion about mental health crisis and suicidal ideation from the start. This week Allie is re-joined by podcast fave Kirsty Reade who has once again 'done the research' and has a whole host of interesting stuff to share. You can expect chat about Bullshit Comparisons (the excellent...
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Unsound Mind, F*cked Body
Brace yourself! (that's a super funny joke about this week's pod....) This week is a Holly Stables special where we talk about all things Speed Project before she jogs off into the sunset via some horrendous roads, deserts and bitey things. This episode has some ace questions for you lot plus a...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast for people that hate running podcasts.
Hosted by author, coach and ultrarunner Allie Bailey, Running Won't Save You aims to be the most fun it can be whilst also offering a bit of insight, some proper advice and (sorry about this) some coaching tips in a way that won't make you want to throw your phone in the sea.
With a weekly rotation of incredible co-hosts including former GB athlete Holly Stables, and WMRA expert and decorated ultrarunner Kirsty Reade, Running Won't Save You is the antidote to the influencer fronted bullshit you might be used to. Gosh there is a LOT of that about, isn't there?
Each series is loosely based on a theme that carries through all ten episodes, allowing listeners to take action and hopefully create some results for themselves wherever they are in real time. It's an actual helpful podcast because I'm a coach and that's what I do.
As well as the useful stuff, there's all the usual nonsense that you should be used to with
HOSTED BY
Allie Bailey
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Running Won't Save You have?
Running Won't Save You currently has 64 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Running Won't Save You about?
A podcast for people that hate running podcasts. Hosted by author, coach and ultrarunner Allie Bailey, Running Won't Save You aims to be the most fun it can be whilst also offering a bit of insight, some proper advice and (sorry about this) some coaching tips in a way that won't make you want to...
How often does Running Won't Save You release new episodes?
Running Won't Save You has 64 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Running Won't Save You?
You can listen to Running Won't Save You on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Running Won't Save You?
Running Won't Save You is created and hosted by Allie Bailey.
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