Two Average Runners

Alice made it to London (PB and all), and this week we unpack the lot. A weekend that rewrote the record books in a watershed moment for the sport. A young man running 33 marathons with a 25kg fridge on his back, for a cause that's deeply personal. The Paris marathon handing everyone a collapsible cup and a hosepipe and calling it a water station. And Alice's dad paddling to Robben Island at nearly 77,  because apparently that's how her family spends a bank holiday Monday. Underneath it all, a conversation about belief, and what happens when someone shows you a thing is possible.Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runners

We had listeners asking how Alice got on at the London Marathon last weekend. We record on a Monday, and our episodes come out a week later, so here's a quick bonus preview on how Alice did straight from this week's recording. The full debrief episode drops next week Tuesday.Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runners

We had so much fun recording this episode. Alice is one week from London, and the stress fracture scare is mostly behind her. Alice's mum wants to know why you'd bother running at all the week before a marathon, so it led to a proper chat about the taper. Huw talks about spending his weekend doing the Hippie Hill Challenge, which crazily starts at 4:20 am. We also answer a listener's question about our biggest running achievements and failures and the lessons we have (or have not!) learned.Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runners

This week, things got a little messy before London. Is Alice experiencing maranoia, or are her stress fractures back? This episode features being bitten by a dog on the way to a session run, and we answer listener questions about whether having a running coach is worth the investment, plus how we make and meet our running friends.  Huw is moved to tears again! This time by Rory McIlroy and Wout van Aert. Plus loads more fun topics!Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runners

This week, Alice shares how her tune-up half-marathon went: her Nomio experiment, race kit, and why she may or may not have come third. We get into race day, gels, and pre-race breakfast. We also answer a listener's question about juggling big races when your partner doesn't run. Then, somehow, with a Welshman and a South African on the mics, it was inevitable that the subject would turn to the great game of Rugby, and what it was like growing up in very proud Rugby-playing nations. We ended up talking about rugby for quite a while. And we learnt someone else also cried all the way through Project Hail Mary, which Huw is very pleased about.Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runnersChapters00:00 Easter Reflections and Weekly Scores02:57 Training Updates and Race Preparations05:52 Race Day Experience and Nutrition Strategies08:48 Mental Strategies for Endurance Running11:57 The Nomeo Experiment and Performance Insights21:38 Managing Nausea During Races22:59 Choosing the Right Gels for Performance24:33 Race Preparation and Nutrition Strategy27:44 Mental Readiness and Tapering for the Marathon28:11 The Cultural Significance of Rugby29:32 Personal Rugby Memories and Experiences34:30 Rugby as a Unifying Force in South Africa44:00 Cultural Pride in Sports50:59 The Connection Between Sports and Personal Identity01:00:12 Balancing Family Life and Athletic Pursuits

This week, we respond to our first non-family listener comment. She asked us to share the weird running experiments we try on ourselves. So we did. We also get into Alice's ongoing sock crisis, returning from a stress fracture, some strides Huw is doing, and has warned everyone not to try. Huw shares how the podcast started on the first anniversary of his father's passing. Plus a lot more fun topics.Also, Huw's mum follows him on Strava and has never given him a single kudos.Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runnersChapters00:00 Welcome and Weekly Ratings02:58 Running Experiences and Upcoming Races06:06 Work-Life Balance and Procrastination09:02 Stress Fractures and Running Trends11:47 Listener Engagement and Running Experiments15:01 Pre-Race Preparations and Gear Selection21:33 The Importance of Socks in Running25:11 Toenail Troubles and Tips27:43 Trail Running Challenges29:48 Experimenting with Trail Shoes30:54 Incorporating Strength Training39:41 Navigating Injury Recovery41:57 Building Back from Injury46:12 The Importance of Patience in Recovery51:04 Seasons of Running and Life58:01 Reflections on Family and Heritage

This week, we discuss the big running goal we are each working towards and the why behind doing so, given we are two average runners who aren’t elite or getting paid to do this!Alice shares her journey recovering from stress fractures and her aspiration to run a sub-3-hour marathon. Huw shares his plans to move back to the UK and his interest in attempting the Paddy Buckley Round, a challenging trail run in Snowdonia.We also discovered we both cried watching a movie this past week, and share the lessons we are taking from it in both running and non-running life. Finally, we answer a spicy listener question regarding societal perceptions of gender in sports. Plus more fun topics.Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runnersChapters00:00 Weekly Check-In: Training and Life Scores02:58 Home Alone: Finding Joy in Solitude05:57 Movies and Reflections: Immersive Experiences08:58 Setting Goals: Adventures in Trail Running12:01 The Challenge of Unstructured Goals14:58 Breaking Away from Corporate Races17:53 Exploring the Beauty of Wales: Hiking Adventures20:52 Embarking on New Adventures21:21 The Beacons Way 100 Race Experience23:13 Alice's Marathon Journey and Challenges24:37 The Allure of the Sub-Three Marathon26:25 Injury Setbacks and Future Goals27:43 The Competitive Spirit in Running31:39 Why Marathons? The Appeal of Long-Distance Running34:36 The Journey of Improvement in Running36:57 Exploring New Challenges in Running41:24 Pacing Challenges and Race Experiences43:07 Inspiration from Film: I Swear47:14 Existential Themes in Project Hail Mary51:17 Overcoming Doubt and Taking Action55:04 Listener Questions: Gender Assumptions in Running

We talked about how we fell in love with running as a lifestyle, the childhood experiences that play a role in this exciting yet not so exciting journey, and how it affects our lives and work. Plus other great topics!Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runnersChapters00:00 Introduction to Running and Life02:47 Perspectives on Running and Achievement05:54 Cultural Differences in Sports and Exercise08:59 Early Experiences with Running and Fitness11:52 The Social Aspect of Running14:57 Discipline and Consistency in Running18:00 Motivation and Mastery in Running21:05 The Role of Running in Personal Life23:52 Finding Balance Between Work and Personal Goals27:05 The Journey of Mastery in Running30:22 The Allure of Social Media and Consumerism32:56 Nutrition and Performance: The Science of Supplements37:07 Consistency in Training: The Key to Improvement39:40 Identifying Weaknesses: The Role of Coaching41:01 Patterns of Behavior: Learning from Past Mistakes46:14 The Ego and Commitment: Pushing Through Challenges50:28 The Mental Game: Managing Expectations on Race Day55:51 Future Conversations: Exploring Personal Stories and Lessons