Young Hearts Run Free Podcast

It’s only another SEASON FINALE!!! Episode 160 coming at ya! First up we take a moment to celebrate and be thankful for the support we’ve had from all quarters in helping us grow YHRF to where it is now, we’ve nae intention of stopping. A thorough intro covers a cracking amount of goings-ons in the wonderful world of running including UTMB, G24/12 landmarks, Loch Ness 24 review, Dunoon Ultra competition winners, Tiree Ultra, Canal Race victories, Auchterarder Running Festival final countdown and last but by no means least the opening of the 2024 Lakeland 50 / 100 ballot. A neat segway to our final guest of season 8 as we welcome to the show Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn. The Multiple Lakeland 50 winner makes a fitting season finale guest. We get the Katie running back-story and find out how she's adapted to the juggling demands of being a mum along with some bumps in the road with illness and yet still maintain her place at the very top table of British ultra-running. Adaptability personified. We'd be telling big fibs if we said that the chat didn't turn heavily to the Lake District but we do take a fair winding road before arriving in Conistone to hear Katie's tales of her 4 Lakeland 50 victories. We couldn't leave appearances for Team GB trail team out of the conversation really, could we? Katie's affinity with the Lakeland event shines bright though, it's become a defining part of who she is and a huge motivation for her to keep pushing the boundaries of her abilities. Course records have come her way, more than once, we get a rich insight into her approach and race tactics as she recaps her memorable outings. We do get to YHRF fav questions of kit choices, nutrition preferences but not before covering the important topic of how to deal with post ultra-marathon blues. Katie leaves us with some food for thought on how she approaches races and lastly there's some exquisite tips on mastering those technical downhills. So, another season comes and go's, only one thing to do....lets get tore right into season 9.......coming real soon!! Remaining entries to the 2023 Auchterarder Running Festival here https://www.entrycentral.com/arf2023 Throw your name in the Lakeland ballot here https://lakeland100.com/enter-the-event/

John's recovered from his 100 miler and there's much to catch up about. Welcome to the penultimate episode of season 8 (featuring John live from a toilet cubicle!) On the agenda we've got (in no particular order) Auchterarder Running Festival Competition Winners Dunoon Ultra Marathon Competition opening Devil o the Highlands Recap Loch Ness 24 Preview John's post 100 mile recovery Friend of the show Martin Heggie takes on the Canal Race Josh Kerr wins gold Annual UTMB excitement festers There might be some other chit chat too, you'll need to listen in to find out. Back next week for the season 8 finale joined by a very special guest! Remain in aboot it y'all!! Find out about and enter the 2023 Auchterarder Running Festival here https://www.entrycentral.com/arf2023 Find our about and enter the Dunoon Ultra Marathon here https://www.entrycentral.com/festival/2634

This week we're joined, live from Germany, by the man of the moment Mr John Cassidy. He's in bouyant mood, he has a hundred reasons to be. We get to hear all about his wunderbar Berlin Wall adventure as he conquered the Berlin 100 Miler Ultra Marathon. Is he emotional? Of course, he is, he's just done something momentous afterall. From good feels on the start line, to the inevitable highs n lows that go with running 100 miles, to a euphoric finish line we leave no stone unturned as John recounts his experience. He's made new pals, he's made some lifelong memories and he's even gate crashed a wedding. Yip, welcome to the wonderful world of John's Berlin adventures! From taking the power of all your messages of encouragement to the most bizarre of hallucinations ever experienced (Mick Hucknall features heavily!), there's a lot of sh*t happens when running for this kinda distance. Throw in John's effervescent approach to life and you've a heady cocktail ripe for some prime storytelling! John let's us in on some unique new nutrition discoveries, how his kit choices worked out and just how the hell he dealt with both the fierce midday sun and the darkness of the nights. All in all, it's an epic as was John's race performance. Chill out and enjoy the 100% gold hour of YHRF unplugged and naked(!) all the way from Germany. Our Auchterarder Running Festival competition remains open head to our Twitter and Instagram to enter or enter the event here https://www.entrycentral.com/arf2023 Be sure to leave us your feedback on the episode using the link below or on our socials, we love some audience chatter! If you're on Spotify try out the new leave us a voice message feature too!

In this week’s episode we’re mega chuffed to be joined by the 2023 Montane Lakeland 100 men’s champ Andy Berry. It’s a classic YHRF conversation with a diamond of a fella. Before we get cracking with chatting to Andy, we’ve a few topics to cover, one being the news surrounding the cancellation of this year’s Pentland Skyline race. A controversial subject that we try our best to dissect. Also, on the agenda we’ve Devil o’ the Highlands, a superb Auchterarder Running Festival competition and, of course, John’s trip to Germany to take on 100 miles of the former Berlin Wall! Andy, hot off his thrilling win in the Lakes, then joins us. We cover much more than his recent victory as we take a trip through his running story. It starts in a familiar setting, making pacts with mates in the pub. We learn of his first forays into ultras and fell runs before getting the low-down on his spring 2023 24 hours fells record. A record he snatched from his very own coach! It would be amiss not to spend a chunk on his Lakeland win and we get a 1st hand account of how he approached the race day and how he managed his race. Kit, nutrition, and mindset all poured over. The result is no surprise, but hearing how those last crucial few miles panned out from the horses’ mouth is spectacular. With a candidness when recounting his experiences, a relatable start into running and his post-race glow still fully present this episode is not to be missed! Enter the Auchterarder Running Festival 10k or Half Marathon (or both?) here https://www.entrycentral.com/arf2023

Join us for the 2023 season finale of Access All Areas, our Montane Lakeland 50 & 100 podcast series. We’ve two special guests join us to help wrap up the 2023 Lakeland experience. We catch up with the familiar faces of Race Director Marc Laithwaite and Chief of Staff Terry Gilpin aka Uncle Terry in the immediate aftermath of an epic weekend in Coniston (and surrounding areas!). Relaxed after another successful delivery of the UK’s largest ultra marathon Marc and Terry are in fine spirits as John n Steven dissect the 2023 edition in their company.  We get tore into a retrospective look at how this year’s races panned out from their perspective. Uncovering just what it’s like organising and overseeing the event, it’s insightful stuff and leaves us with a greater appreciation of the scale of logistical operations going on to help the success. We spend time chatting about the charity legacy the race leaves each year, the nonstop challenges going on behind the scenes throughout the weekend and get to delve into some of the unique craziness that makes the Lakeland 50 & 100 into the memorable, euphoric event it is so well known for. Take a look back at our previous episodes on the You Tube channel or segway across to John and Steven’s world famous Young Hearts Run Free Podcast link and explore a whole world of running inspiration here https://t.co/4PnqqFBGpa

Let’s talk about the Conistone. People have to know! Last weekend your dynamic duo headed off on our hotly anticipated summer road-trip to the Montane Lakeland 50 and 100 for an epic weekend. In this week’s episode we regale our unforgettable experience helping behind the scenes. A weekend that promised so much delivered in spade loads. We met old pals, met listeners for the first time and made hundreds of new pals. It exceeded even our high expectations, listen in to hear our tale. We’ve just about recovered from our own event jetlag and we weren’t even taking part in the hard task of racing! We run-down on our roving reporting role, our access to behind the ropes and cover some insight from behind the scenes of this hoe-down of an event. We got first-hand experience of what it’s like being on the other side of a large-scale event where fun, euphoria, and endeavour shines bright. Needless to say, we had an absolute hoot along the way. We’ve been long-time evangelists for this uniquely brilliant festival of trail running, our 2023 experience has simply swelled that sentiment further. So, sit back, relax and enjoy our stories, laughter and emotion from the Lake District. Entries open to the 2024 Montane Lakeland 50 and 100 at 9am on 1 September, we’ll maybe see you next year 😉

We’re off on our summer road trip this week, but fret not, we’ve managed to squeeze in a corker of an episode to keep the good times rolling. It’s been a while in happening but we reckon we got the chance to speak with this week’s guest at just the right moment, Mike Raffan is that man, the freshly crowned champion of the 2023 Highlander Last One Standing. In typical YHRF style we first up get the lowdown on Mike’s running story, he’s literally a lot of ground to cover. And we learn about a big hurdle in his journey that Mike reflects on openly and honestly. Mike isn’t the type of guy to let a hurdle deter him and hearing how he responded to a major health set back proves inspirational stuff. With a glittering list of ultra finishes and podium places peppering his running CV Mike looks back fondly at how things have unfolded for him. Mike spends time talking to events that have drawn him in, most notably The Tunnel Ultra and The Bridge Ultra, two races from the wicked mind of Mark Cockbain. We then spend a chunk talking Backyard Ultra, it’s obvious that Mike has been captivated by the event format.  With 7 race outings under his belt his expertise, race craft and learning is still growing, how many yards has Mike got in him?? This is an awesome keek into the mind of Mike and what drives him to go longer…..and longer.  We finish up finding a little more about Mike’s own media project appropriately titled ‘Run Till You’re Done’ See link below.With hints, hacks and tips galore Mike delivers, was there ever any doubt he wouldn’t? You can catch Mike’s Run Till You’re Done YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/@runtillyouredone

The boys are back in town this week as Stevie Boy re-joins the fray after John’s expertise in running the show for the last few weeks.  And, as you’d expect, we’ve plenty to catch up about!   A wee glance back at the last few weeks of happenings gets us underway. There’s talk of the hairy toy getting a new name, it’s all serious stuff, along with a chat about recent races including the Great Glen Way and the formidable Courtney Dauwalter’s outing at the Hardrock 100!   Steven then updates us on his 2023 running trials and tribulations as he looks to get over a series aches n pains, this running malarky isn’t always a bowl of cherries.  A right good look at the mindset needed along with the ups and downs of injury rehab. Adaptability and patience seem key. Our headline news then follows as we reveal all the details of our up and coming ‘Summer Road Trip’. Yip, your YHRF hosts are off on their travels! John’s talking outfit choices, think gold, think cowboy hats.  We also discuss the Summer LeBuffBuff design origin story, it’s all linked. YEEEHAAA!!!   We take a quick look at this weekend’s Highlander Backyard Ultra with some good pals of the show readying themselves for an epic before the 2nd of this week’s sensational reveals.  It’s over to Mr John Cassidy as he furnishes us with the lowdown on an August trip to the continent for quite the undertaking……ACHTUNG BABY!!   Enjoy getting your lugs roond this, we’ll be back next week with a belter of a guest lined up!

Alison McGill has made history this year, not only did Al win the 2023 Women's West Highland Way Race in 19:02:41, she is also the very first guest to record a full episode with the Young Hearts Run Free hairy toy! There is some background noise to this episode, it's real authentic and quite magnificent. The North Inch in Perth was the setting for our meet-up and chat for over an hour about everything really, all of the lessons learned and preparation for this years West Highland Way Race. We speak a wee bit about Als experiences representing Scotland at three Anglo Celtic Plate events, and what these experiences have brought to Als running toolbox. We often use the term 'golden nuggets' here at YHRF, and Al delivers those nuggets big time in this episode. Mindset features a lot in the chat, and how we can pick up 'one little thing' from a variety of sources, and all of these 'one little things' can turn into an unstoppable force. How many of us actually listen to our body? You might listen a wee bit more after this episode. Did we mention the power of smiling? We're sure there's loads more to come from Al, but for now, let's embrace the opportunity to listen in to what Al put in place to travel on foot from Milngavie to Fort William, and how it feels to be the winner of the West Highland Way Race 2023 Some reading resources Al mentions in this episode: Training Essentials for Ultrarunning by Jason Koop Rebound by Cindy Kuzma and Carrie Jackson Cheadle

Taking on a 108 mile challenge on the Pennine Way is no small feat. But then our Yorkshire Correspondent Mel Sykes loves a challenge doesn't she? Mel does most of her training alone and on the hills and moors, perfect preparation for this kinda endeavour...right? Pushing personal boundaries is something we all should do now and again, and this episode may just inspire you to do just that. Did we mention that Mel did this as part of recce for a future challenge? Oh...we maybe missed that bit out! Mel finished nearly six hours ahead of the second fastest woman, running a 32:22:19 and had also been inside the women’s record until some tough overnight conditions kicked in...we speak about that a bit! This is a full and in-depth conversation about Mel's time on the Montane Summer Spine Challenger South event on 17/18 June 2023 From prepping (getting her hands on) essential kit, planning where to top up with water, mastering the use of poles, management of hydration, nutrition and sleep, there's quite a bit to cover and talk about! As you'll find out during the episode, this was Mel's longest distance endeavour so far, and you might say it didn't all go to plan, but that's where we learn our most valuable lessons, and there's lots more to come from our Yorkshire Correspondent, You'd better believe that! Also included in this episode are a number of answers from Mel to questions sent in over social media platforms, that cover shall we say 'a broad range' of topics! Enjoy.