The Brig Boys Podcast

Ground control to Major Karl - The Brig Boys get back together to discuss Karl's epic trip to the USA to complete the most prestigious of Marathons. With Major Marathon season in full flow we get the immediate reaction of Sebastian Sawe's record breaking London win alongside the incredible standard set for sub-2 marathon runs. If you've any interest in marathons, be them major or minor - we've got you covered.

Spring has well and truly sprung as we head into marathon season; discussing our upcoming events including the epic Boston Marathon journey for call and the hot dog Manchester Marathon for Ste. We head into April full of hope and carbohydrates and discuss fuelling strategies, pacing plans and of course how we continue to learn with every run. Here we go!

The Brig Boys spread their wings once again and speak to Dave Ross of the world famous "Ross Running News" - coming live via Zoom from the USA. Dave has forgotten more than we'll ever know about running (and celebrity birthdays) and we caught up with him in Karl's lead up to Boston Marathon. As a chap who has rubbed shoulders with some of the greats including Mr Kipchoge - we wanted to know Dave's story and his journey to Major Marathon completions...

The Brig Boys are BACK and catch up with Elite Trail Team star and all round fantastic person - Poppy Collingwood. One of the runners made during Covid times, she has continued to develop into a magnificent runner as well as a mentally tough athlete. Poppy has some epic performances to her name including an Arc of Attrition win as well as podium finishes in some of the most difficult races in the world. We discuss the lows of injuries and how to deal with that in an emotionally mature manner, as well as the importance of safety on the mountains. Love Poppy's energy and as she prepares to crew at the Speed Project - we are excited for her road to recovery... All roads lead to Chamonix!

At Brig Boys HQ we pride ourselves on giving a platform to both established and upcoming talent in the world of sport. Matt is Blackburn Harriers latest export with some incredible performances at a young age, including his recent 10K win at Ribble Valley (29.05 - ludicrous!). Matt is on his way to a great running career, with a positive attitude and love of the sport - it was great to hear another local lad smashing it! Instagram: @matt_ramsden

Most people don't see an advertisement for joining a team to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic with no prior rowing experience and think "Yes Please!" - but Ellie is not most people, she's an ordinary woman doing extraordinary things. We want to know all about her adventures after the recent release of her book "There She Rows", heading back to her days completing at Iron Man before taking to the oars to spend 39 days at sea alongside the There She Rows team. Amazing story and another awesome guest! Instagram: @ellies.row.journal

The Elite Trail Team are a force to be reckoned with and continue their huge results and performances since founder Doug Stewart took charge. The team are data and insights driven with focuses on sleep, nutrition and psychology living up to the old adage "If it can be measured, it can be managed". The team features some of the finest trail runners across the globe and their results continue to speak for themselves. With a few former guests being in the team, it would be daft not to speak to the founder and their 2026 plans wouldn't it... Elite Trail Team Instagram: @elitetrailteamDisclaimer: All audio clips and copyrighted material used in this episode are owned by their respective rights holders. Used under Fair Use guidelines for commentary and analysis.

After a short hiatus from the studio, the Brig Boys are BACK with a bang. Discussing Ste's journey down to Cornwall to experience his first UTMB race at the Arc of Attrition 100K. With 50 miles of mud, sweat and (nearly) tears, there's a lot to unpack as he continues to chase running stones. What's the verdict, is it recommended and what actually happened on the 100 mile route too!? Karl kindly provides some therapy and helps Ste process his emotions on this January ultra... What's next for the Brig Boys!?

With the upcoming Arc of Attrition weekend, we spoke with one of Cornwall's finest imports - Loyd Purvis of Run4Adventure. We discuss Loyd's entry into running, the Cornish fresh air that miraculously cleared his asthma, and of course his awesome adventuring through his running history. Loyd & Liga have been around the globe and have encouraged countless runners to get out on adventures - we talk all things Arc, UTMB, fuelling, kit of choice and running strategy. A big 2026 is on the horizon for this fantastic team! Instagram: Run4AdventureYouTube: Run4Adventure

2025 has come and gone and The Brig Boys discuss their personal running highlights as well as some fantastic race performances from previous guests or local legends. After the Ribble Valley 10K we discuss positioning and some (since resolved) issues around chip and gun time. Do people take park run too seriously? and what's next for the boys in 2026, more progress and a lack of excuses... we hope.

Another member of Elite Trail Team is back in the St-Hugh-dio!Hugh is an incredible athlete and a gentleman and it was our pleasure to host him over the Christmas period.

Midlands based athlete Joe Farrelly has burst onto the running scene after a string of epic performances on both road and trail. We wanted to know more about the person who cruised into a fantastic 3rd place finish at Kullamannen 100K and booked himself a spot in UTMB history. Joe talks us through what made him the man (and athlete) he is today, from his journey into some dark places to the ultra disciplined athlete we see today. This open and frank conversation was an absolute belter and with his attitude and dedication we are fully expecting Joe to achieve great things.Joe's Instagram: @jfarrelly95

Also known across the socials as @runfreerehab - Sophie joins the Brig Boys to discuss her recent injury and the impact that has had both physically and mentally, as well as unpacking the myths and facts about REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). This episode was another fantastic education for us, as we learn some of the key ingredients for a successful home workout, the importance of calorie intake and most importantly: Recovery Runs - are they all they're hyped up to be or should you avoid them entirely? There's something here for everyone to learn, and we had a fantastic time chatting to Sophie... Next stop - Cornwall! Instagram: @runfreerehab

This week the Brig Boys are joined by Lake District legend - Tom Smith, who continues to get bigger, better, faster and stronger at every distance and race! Tom has recently set a blisteringly fast new course record at one of our favourite events (The Lap) as well as annihilating the course at the 7 Valleys ultra. Tom's mental strength and resilience accounts for a lot of his success, he truly embodies the grind and seems to thrive on hard work and dedication. It was great to chat to this fantastic character who is getting some much deserved recognition from the likes of Janji, Trail Skin UK & Voom. Tom's Instagram: @tomsmithrunning

The Brig Boys reunite to discuss the latest races and review not only their own performance but each event including Chester Marathon 2025, 5 Valleys (part of the 13 Valleys series) and Rivington Half Marathon. With plenty of events to choose from it gets harder every year to plan and target certain races. As always we learn from every mistake and performance to see how we can continue to improve in all aspects of our running. It's not always about the time, but it is always about having a good time... Let's have it!

This week we have the honour and privilege of hosting 2nd place female from our favourite race: The Lakeland 50/100. Placing 2nd in the 50 in such a competitive and highly popular race is a magnificent achievement and Alice's story is as engaging as it is inspirational. Alice's love for running and the social element that comes with the sport is clear, and this conversation seemed to flow and fly by! Alice's journey has been no means easy and as she continues to flourish in the running world, we are so pleased we could be the first podcast to interview her and see where her incredible mileage takes her... Perhaps a future legend of UTMB Instagram: @alicebourneeIntro Music: Dakota - Stereophonics

In this episode The Brig Boys talk to the fantastic Sonny Peart and recount his journey into running from the first marathon experience, taking on London Marathon to wild future plans including the Mountain Ultra - taking on approx 200km of terrain in Kyrgyzstan - a far cry from the canals of London. Sonny is the co-founder of Black Trail Runners and gives us great insights into the experiences of People Of Colour within trail running, how and why it was created, and what we can do to as allies to support. The story of the creation of BTR is worth a podcast episode on its own and the growth of the club is fantastic to see. Sonny's Insta: @runny.sonnyBlack Trail Runners Insta: @blacktrailrunners

The Brig Boys got together with Speed Project extraordinaire and former Commonwealth athlete, Holly Stables for a chat around all things speed, strength and suffering. We dive deep into the highs and lows of her incredible effort in The Speed Project - an ultra endurance event covering well over 300 miles where each individual has one aim - get from A to B as quick as possible on foot. Holly talks through the road to recovery from injury and the importance of strength work when it comes to achieving your speed goals. An amazing insight to a truly special athlete.

Meryl's rich history in sport comes apparent in this episode where we learn from one of Scotland's finest trail runners and coaches. From a background in football - once playing (and partying) with Diego Maradonna - to her current fantastic running streak as part of Team GB. Meryl has been all over the world and her fitness journey most recently took her to the home of mountain running - Chamonix in Switzerland, shortly after winning the Swiss Alps 100km in an amazing race in tough conditions. From Snowdonia, Chamonix, Transgrancanaria and Dubai - Meryl's elite ultra story is one worth sharing.

Keswick is home to some of the UK's most talented runners and Jacob is no exception. After smashing a lifelong ambition of following in his grandfather's footsteps to complete an impressive Bob Graham round, he has a rich history in fell running and his love for both the sport and the landscape comes across clearly in this interview. Jacob rose to fame through the short movie George; both heartbreaking and heartwarming telling the story of Jacob's struggle before and after his diagnosis of Crohn's to discovering his 4 legged best friend. Check out the movie and listen to Jacob as he recounts his running history and epic tales of the fells in the beautiful Lake District.

We've followed Mel's journey for a while now and love her attitude, sense of humour and incredible athletic performances she continues to show on a daily basis. Mel is one of the first names on the team sheet for Lakeland 100 and she proves why in this frank and open discussion. Mel is genuinely inspiring and only 2 years ago discovered she needed treatment for Chiari malformation (a rare neurological condition) - since then she has returned to the trails stronger than ever, completing The Winter Spine in January 2025 as well as smashing her Lakeland 100 times. Mel runs on feel, negating the pressure of checking the watch every mile - there's a lot we can learn from this proper Yorkshire lass as we delve into her history and future in the sport we love.Instagram: @mellywellywoo

Join us this week in an exclusive episode with Lakeland 50 outright winner and Inov8 sponsored athlete: Lewis Bowness. There's no slowness when it comes to Bowness as he cruised into Coniston in a cool 7 hours and 52 minutes, knocking over 2 hours off his 2022 time. At just 23 years old, he speaks with a maturity beyond his years and has an exceptionally bright future ahead. The tale of the victory is awe-inspiring and it was fantastic to see a local lad take home the trophy in 2025.

The Brig Boys are BACK together and spend some time unpacking this year's fantastic Montane Lakeland weekend. Once again - we had a great time in Coniston and on the course. In this episode we breakdown the course, nutrition and the performances at this year's event. Will you be in the ballot for 2026?

Running won't save you. But you already knew that... Our guest this week is author, athlete and coach; Allie Bailey. This episode flew by after covering a range of topics surrounding the world of ultra running, addiction and attitude towards 'grindset mindset'. Allie demonstrates her core values better than most and is admirably honest about her past in her quest to help people enjoy the adventures of life (with some pretty impressive running achievements in the mix). We absolutely loved this conversation, she really doesn't give a f*ck.

As part of our 'Countdown To Coniston' when nerves, niggles and nutrition are at their peak - we wanted to speak to veteran of the trails and physiotherapist Danny Brunton. Danny has completed a Lakeland 50 and no less than FOUR Lakeland 100s - in search of the elusive slate on his fifth visit to Coniston this year. Danny gives us advice on coping with injuries, some key exercises and guidance on how to win the head game and get round over 100 miles of trails in a single run. We appreciate Danny taking time away from his punditry to dig into his fantastic running career... See you in Coniston!

All roads lead to Coniston and after 2 years of podcasting together, The Brig Boys find themselves once again ready to take on the Lakeland course. With experience over a number of years in both distances, we share our advice, high points and lows. The Lakeland weekend was at our core when launching the podcast back in 2023 and 2 years to the day we return to our favourite topic. This episode is for any budding ultra runners or those in search of advice from people that have been there, done it and worn the t-shirts (size medium). Will you be in Coniston?

With Lakeland 50/100 weekend fast approaching, we took some time out to speak to ultra distance adventure runner and Coniston connoisseur - Hannah Elizabeth Campbell. With a passion for the outdoors, Hannah has taken on some fantastic feats at a young age including solo running/hiking trips to the Dolomites, The Cheviots and of course her recent completion of the summer Spine Sprint on behalf of Team Montane. Hannah embodies the spirit of ultra running - an incredibly positive attitude, a love of people and of course a passion for living life to the fullest. We'll be seeing her at the Montane tent in Coniston!

Swift by name, Swift by nature. We are joined by local running legend; Dan Swift as he talks us through his relatively short but ultimately impressive running career so far. A staunch member of Rivington Run Club, Dan unpacks his Bob Graham round (well under the required 24 hour membership time!) as well as his Lakeland 100 result, and his plans for the future whether that is supporting others within the club or pushing his body to further limits. A fantastic character with an almost unbreakable mindset and attitude towards life, running & community. It's a rarity that we get to talk to someone with a more northern accent than us - so you're in for a real treat for the ears with this ep.Instagram: @dannyswift89Rivington Run Club: @rivingtonrunclubThe Brig Boys: @the_brigboyspodcast

Join us on our latest episode as we talk to Chianti 120KM winner and recipient of the much coveted "Golden Ticket" for Western States Ultra - none other than Fi Pascall. We discuss her consistency and the incredible results she continues to produce across UTMB Europe when it comes to long distance trail running. Fi shares with us some of her top tips for trail and ultra running as well as unpacking her history and where her love for outdoor running came to fruition. If you're down south, Fi also co-owns Trail Retreats - where you can get involved with trail running at any level and learn from the very best.Fi's Instagram: @fipascallTrail Retreats: @trail.retreats

As the dust settles on marathon season we wanted to end 'Marathon May' with a bang, as we have a great chat with Welsh International athlete; Olivia Tsim. Not only did she finish a fantastic 2nd place at Manchester in a time of 2:35:43, she did it off the back of giving birth 7 months prior and in her FIRST marathon attempt. Liv is an absolute delight of a person, we could have talked all evening and we can't wait to catch up again. Her insights into training whilst working and being a mother are invaluable and we are excited to see what she can do in the near future! Insta: Ojt_Runs

On Mental Health Awareness week, we wanted to understand the impact of injuries, tough times and retirement on professional athletes operating at the highest level and how important support is. Bob Beswick is an ex Rugby League player who has represented Ireland at international level. We talk about the transition of young athletes going into a tough sport and the importance of building mental resilience alongside physical prowess. After a fantastic career in Rugby League, Bob moved into a role for Rugby League Cares delivering wellbeing support - that not just players can benefit from. However physically tough you are, focussing on your mental health is paramount - there's a lot of people that care.

The Brig Boys return for a milestone episode to unpack marathon season. Sometimes things don't always go to plan and with over 25 marathons between us, we talk all things strategy, speed, nutrition and training. One of the most important parts of any marathon is to review and learn from the mistakes and figure out what you can take into your next event. With both London and Manchester the same day, we review the weekend races and some of the fantastic performances left out there. 50 not out.

Emily and Hannah (E&H) are more commonly known as "Twice The Health" and join us this week to unpack their fantastic running, swimming and cycling career. We find out how the dynamic duo came to fruition, some racing highlights, future plans and how the world is undergoing changes to make running a much more inclusive sport. E&H's influence on new runners or triathletes has been instrumental in the campaign to see underrepresented athletes get into sport and outdoor activities - these two have done it all and we loved chatting to them!

We all know how important the head game is when it comes to endurance sports, but how much time and effort do we actually put in to cultivating it? We're joined this week by Peak Performance Psychology's very own Ross Preston. We discuss all aspects of mental wellbeing and performance in sports, as well as how the UK competitive model compares against other nations and how do we protect and prepare our young athletes for the future? Insightful and informative, this was a great chat we hope helps on your own journey to self improvement."Don't let perfect be the enemy of great"

The Brig Boys utilise the power of Zoom once again to communicate across the Atlantic and dial in Hyrox Hero - Dylan Scott. With some incredible achievements at the North American Open Championships, Dylan continues to impress and go from strength to strength. His unconventional methods and infectious enthusiasm for all things sport, mind and body makes for a fantastic discussion. Show up and get after it!

The Brig Boys are joined by the incredible Dmytro Moyseyev this week as they discuss what it takes to run the length of Ireland in 138 hours and the small matter of 50 marathons in 50 days. Dmytro's resilience, commitment to training, being at his best and engagement with the running community is great to be a part of. Dmytro is a humble gentleman forming a big part of who he is and what he does, we loved discussing some amazing physical achievements after some difficult times. What a man, and what a physique!

One of our most exciting episodes to date, interviewing one of the elites from the world of ultra running. "Ultra Damo" Hall unpacks his career including his most precious moments, his new deal with Nnormal, advice for Lakeland runners and how to win the mental game when it comes to extreme distances. We hear all about FKTs, UTMBs and DNFs, an absolutely fascinating and insightful conversation.Damian also talks us through the need to change when it comes to sustainability in racing and what we can do as runners to ensure our children's children will have a safe and clean environment to experience.

The world of nutrition and supplements can be a complex one, and not just the carbohydrates! Janie is an established Sports Nutritionist who supports a range of athletes looking to up their game by exploring the world of nutrition. What supplements can improve your sleep, aerobic performance, and energy levels? Is creatine a good idea? What vitamins should we take? Janie has also completed every major marathon so she knows a thing or two about what she's talking about... After a hip operation she is BACK and continuing to peak. This was a great conversation with such a positive person and we urge you to get your food education right here!

The Brig Boys are BACK in the studio (big shoutout to PodPod UK once again) with elite level cyclist and content creation extraordinaire Cameron Jeffers.Cameron has been a professional cyclist for years and comes from a family where all 3 siblings excel in their chosen fields - Mark & Emma are already big names in their relative sports! He kindly joins us to discuss his career highlights, how he continues his mission to 'make cycling cool' and gives us the lowdown on the Zwift 'incident' of 2019. An absolute pleasure to share the studio with Cam and a joy to hear his unique and inspiring story.

Most races (and especially ultras) have an age limit of 18; Anna has been pushing boundaries and running ultras since the age of 15 and is making a successful career of doing it. Anna has recently ran her furthest distance, 165KM across the entire length of Lofoten, Norway - see link below for the YT Documentary with Mount To Coast. Anna is an inspiration to young people that are chasing their dreams (mentally and physically) and here she unpacks her travels, aspirations and her attitude and approach to training, manifestation and what exciting projects are on the horizon! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXaR9M1LB5I&t=1697s

The Brig Boys return with a "Spine" tingling guest, with the third place finisher of the Winter Spine Sprint - Rebecca Devereux. We hear her fantastic story of how she found herself at the start line of one of the toughest trail races around. We talk about how important representation is in the sport we love, and how we can help to make the trails an inclusive environment for all. Rebecca is an inspiration to us and others when it comes to unrelenting positivity and love of running; one of our favourite episodes so far! Powered by Torq, caffeine and family values - we look forward to seeing what Rebecca can do as a proud member of Black Trail Runners and as an individual athlete.

If you've ever seen Power Slap, you know just how brutal it can be. We wanted to know more about the kind of person that can voluntarily put themselves in a position to hit and be hit without any defence. Darren is the first and - at the time of writing - only Power Slap signed athlete from the UK. Here, we learn more about the man behind the slap seen across the world. A different episode for us but so interesting to listen to; confident, courageous and a gentleman underneath the bravado of Power Slap, we'll be keeping a close eye on The Tarantula's progress!

Everywhere you go, always take the Dever with you... The Brig Boys are BACK and this time with another local legend from the Preston area; Patrick Dever. Patrick now runs for Puma Elite Running Team; based in North Carolina. With a strong history in running, and a claim to fame as the second fastest UK 10K time after Sir Mo Farah, Patrick shares his wisdom and insights into the world of professional running and the tactical element of racing at the elite level. You do not want to miss this one!

Another inspirational guest for The Brig Boys as they chat with GB Mountain & Trail Runner; Chris Holdsworth. Not satisfied with the stress of performing at an elite level, coaching and representing none other than Inov8 - he also owns and operates one of the best running events organisation in the UK with Pennine Trails (@penninetrails). Chris has worked harder than most and has faced some formidable challenges, which he unpacks and discusses with us. Start your year right and check out Chris's incredible story!

As we close for the year, we spend some time discussing how much has changed over our time podcasting - and how many excuses we have made along the way... A reflection on all we've learned so far from our incredible guests, and our biggest takeaways from the races we've taken part in. As we prepare for 2025, what will we do differently this year and how will you be ready to thrive in 25?

It's a Christmas Cracker from the Brig Boys as they go back to their running roots but stick with the international athlete theme; interviewing power couple Nic Jackson & Billy Cartwright. With a mixture of humility, athleticism and a love for running outdoors, we learn about their rise to stardom in the fell racing scene and their most challenging times along with some great advice for aspiring fell runners. Both of these incredible athletes are Inov8 ambassadors and unpack their career so far and what's next for the duo. Merry Christmas from The Brig Boys!!

Another oar-some interview for the Brig Boys as we interview another Olympian; this time Team GB stalwart Graeme Thomas. A consistently high performer, he has maintained a top 5 ranking in British rowing since 2011. We delve into his experiences across Rio, Tokyo (The COVID Olympics) and Paris with the highs and lows of being a world class athlete. A fellow Prestonian, we were proud to hear how this man believed in himself and with a solid support network has had a fantastic career in elite level rowing.

Dr Juliet has been a pioneer on engaging women going through the menopause and encouraging exercise and in particular running; making sure that no one feels alone and sharing her insights into how running and exercise can remain an important part of every woman's life. We received an incredible education from Dr Juliet and we can't wait for you to hear it and understand just how difficult it can be for women in sport and how every single day the empowerment is visible through people like Juliet - a proud and active director at 261 Fearless running club.

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog. The Brig Boys are back and it is worth the wait as they are joined by pro boxer and English Super Middleweight Champion, Mark Jeffers. As he tells us his story and how his hard work and self proclaimed 'obsession' with being at his best has put him in the top end of boxing and physical fitness. We unpack the mental resilience it takes to be a fighter in arenas and how mindset is everything when it comes to peak performance. Jeffers is a gentleman with the world at his feet and we can't wait to see what he achieves next.

Our first attempt at a video podcast with us discussing our thoughts and background on raising awareness and funds for some amazing charities featuring the types of challenges we have been most impressed by. An in depth review of the Chester Marathon and our very first 'Charity Shoutout' segment discussing Mind Over Mountains.