Young Hearts Run Free Podcast

In this episode we catch up with Martin Heggie, top 20 finisher in The Spine Race earlier this month, a quite phenomenal accomplishment, and as you'll hear, it wasn't all plain sailing! Martin shares his running history, he's covered (literally) a lot of ground in the last 3 years, yep you read that right...3 years!  Given that short time Martin's running resume is a belter! From Skye to Devon and pretty much everywhere in between, yer man's been inabootit There is a wee gap in the audio as Martin show us his bespoke running shoe box, when we say box...check oot the photies on our socials! If you like your ultra chat open, honest and from the heart, you've arrived at the right place. Martin describes his Spine experience and friendships made very humbly and, careful now...inspirational.  DISCLAIMER: if you feel like signing up to The Spine after listening, it's nothing to do with us! For those that like to read race reports: Martins Blog on The Spine Enjoy the chat with Martin, and get back  to us on socials. let us know what you think, we appreciate all the chat.

OH YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE NEVER BE HUNG UP, HUNG UP LIKE MY MAN AND ME….. We’ve got a guest!! No hour of John n Steven chewin’ the fat this week, yeh we know some of you lap that up too, so we make sure to have our customary 10 min weekly catch up. Then, joining us in the YHRF studio this week is Joe Symonds. Joe is a not too shabby a runner, in fact we’d say running is laced through his blood.  Named after the King of the Fells Joss Naylor, born and bred in the shadows of the Lake District, inspired by his fell-running father…..yip greatness was written in his stars. Joe has starred both for his country of birth and his adopted homeland, home is now at the foot of the Campsie Hills, in mountain running championships around the globe. A born hill runner maybe, but that hasn’t stopped him from dippin’ his bruised and battered toes into the world of road running! We explore Joe’s remarkable running journey; we unearth most of his greatest achievements and dig into some incredible experiences he’s had along the way. Our focus shifts to what became a quite amazing and emotional 2021. Joe lost a dear dear friend to suicide in springtime of last year. We find out how this tragic event fuelled a personal endeavour that saw him scale 3 local peaks 100 times each during the year. His 300 for Polly challenge saw an eyewatering amount of elevation gained but more importantly a huge sum raised for the Scottish Association for Mental Health (see link at bottom of show note to donate) Joe charms us with his openness and honesty. Running is a huge part of his life and hearing how he describes his favourite place in the world to run is worth the listen alone, ye’ll need to tune in to find out where that is! And 2022 promises to be another big year in the running journey of Joe, all is revealed! He also has the honour of being the first guest ever to submit their one song into the YHRF playlist, and what a choice it is. Enjoy the episode, and remember, RUN FREE!! Joe Symonds SAMH Fundraising LINK HERE YHRF Le BuffBuff Collection Vol. 1 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST Grab a paid of Stonewall Rainbow Laces HERE

We did have a guest this week, then we didnae. Circumstances sometimes take a turn BUT you know us, we couldn't let a week slip by without an episode. And quelle surprise, we've plenty to chat about! So join John & Steven for an hour as we mediate over this week's various running news, happenings and inspiration. And it's been quite the week.... Taking top bill is our coverage of this weeks Montane Spine Race. Britain's most brutal race is in it's 10th year and is coming to a stonking end out on the Penine Way. We provide some commentary and updates on what has been another phenomenal edition as we watch 'the dots' making their impressive way towards the finish line Kirk Yetholm. We also introduce Pyllon Ultra's just announced Pyllon Exposure Dark, taking place on sat 29 January the 2022 version comes with a few new twists and all for tremendous awareness and fundraising causes! See link at bottom of show notes. This leads us to speak about some 2022 races we're both looking forward to, from Western States to Chatelherault! Maybe even some inspiration for our listeners in there? January is the month we make contracts and plans after all! We make time to hear about Steven's new relationship with Training Peaks, the app he's using to consume his new Pyllon Trax coaching plan. A bit of an explanation and his own take on how it's used. We also hear how early into his 'Boston Bound' training he's had to adapt to circumstances! You'll be glad to hear that we'll be back to normal guest service next week! But for now, enjoy this week's episode and remember, RUN FREE! ENTER Pyllon Exposure Dark here

2022, how the hell are ye?!?! We're right back in the old routine here at YHRF HQ. And we've our first guest of 2022 in this brilliant episode that see's us get the year off to a flyer! First up, John n Steven catch up on what's been happening this last week. We chat about the WHW bridge crowdfunder for the late John Kynaston, annual mileage goals, John's race plans for 2022, running every street in your home city (like Michael Shanks just done in Glasgow) and we set Steven on his way to the Boston Marathon with a first look at his coaching under the expert tutelage of Bob Turner & Pyllon Trax. Soon you'll have enough of us and it's over to the magnificent Karla Borland to brighten up your entire week. Karla took up running (seriously) whilst at Uni and managed a superb debut marathon time of 3 hrs 20 mins in 2008. Since then, she has pushed that marathon PB down to well below 3 hours. She's also had the sheer delight of repping her home country, Northern Ireland, in the 2021 Anglo Celtic Plate 100k champs. Amongst tons of running adventures a trip to complete the Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa ranks high up her list of achievements. So, an extremely talented athlete. But she finds time to do much much more aside, a busy day job already mixed with a disciplined approach to her training, Karla also blogs regularly on her own website (link at bottom of show notes) about her own running as well as some fantastic interviews with runners from across the spectrum of distances.  Essential reading! Karla is a brilliant guest who loves the social side of running but has found a real stubborn streak in her approach to running to squeeze out every bit of talent she has, she calls it being 'thran' we call it being awesome. Oh, and last thing. We've a challenge for you this week! We want you to share with us the oldest (and mouldiest?) bit of running kit you own! Head on over to our social channels to 'show us yours' Show links What Karla Did John Kynaston Bridge Fundraiser AMASS 2022 Mileage Accumulator Challenge City Strides - Glasgow Street Challenge

Season 4 Episode 13 The Inbetweener It's thon filthy time of year for most of us. Christmas in the rear view mirror. New Year front centre. Crack open another tub of Heros? Give in to the wink from the beer in the fridge? Tan the last of the uneaten cheeseboard? Or..... start planning an explosive 2022 running attack! And we've the perfect antidote for that last point in this week's episode. It's all about looking forward. Looking forward to our own plans for 2022 and looking forward at the plans of you the listeners. We find out what many of your have in your sights. What's your goals? What's your A races? We're blown away by some amazing sounding targets and some spectacular race trips in the pipeline. We've also big news. Our first ever collaboration is upon us and it's one that's got us helluva excited. In fact, we'd even class it as being up to high doh. Have a fantastic New Year from us here at YHRF. And let's pick up 2022 in style.

Welcome to our Ho, Ho, Ho Down. In a first, we love a first, we recorded this episode in the same room as each other. Yip, it's only taken us 72 episodes to get together, but it was well worth the wait. Join John & Steven as they catch up to chat mostly about you, the listeners. We focus this episode on 2 things. Firstly, people (or things) that inspire you to run. Secondly, what has been your running achievement of 2021 you're most proud of. We got tons of folk get in touch with us through our socials to let us know theirs. We, of course, manage to cover our own inspirations and proudest achievements as well as a heap of other, erm, wisdom. It's a little different, and yes we are still learning how to use a microphone. Go use this episode to kill some time out on your festive runs, burning off the excess turkey, puddings and cheese! Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!!

Welcome back to the YHRF party! We've a stoater of an episode this week that'll fuel your advent(ures). We start with our now customary pre-guest chat covering a veritable selection box of topics of the week, we've some asks of you the listeners so be sure not to skip straight to this weeks headline act!! Joining us is Nicola Duncan. Edinburgh based Irish gal Nicola made a huge splash when she inadvertantly landed on the running scene over 10 years ago. Already a talented athlete in other disciplines an unexpected spot on the start line of a local 10k saw her unearth her almighty strength in running. We love hearing Nicola's humble take on her remarkable running evoloutuion since that initital 10k. From crushing marathon's without even realising it to taking on the worlds best representing her beloved homeland.  It's not just a talent she unearthed it's an apptitude and spirit that has taken her to the very top level of both the road-running and ultra-running worlds. Couple that with her quiet determination to strive for even bigger and better future acheivements as she approaches a landmark birthday and you've quite the inspirational listen. We spend time chatting Nicola's fav races, fav achievments and fav running pals. We head to Patagonia, to Chamonix and spend a fair bit of time in her adopted home city of Edinburgh. Hear how an eye-watering FKT on the Fife Coastal trail for a cause so very close to her heart became her favourite day of 2020, and what next for the Galway Girl? 2022 see's some big plans already laid, featuring some iconic races we simply can't wait to see this inspirational lady continue to fly. Go 'get your lugs aroond this'!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at YHRF HQ!! And what better way to usher in the festive season than to catch up with a couple of Twatts about hosting the first ever official Ultra Marathon on the Orkney Islands. Yes, we move off mainland UK to welcome Erica Clarkson and Sarah Scarth to the famed YHRF couch. At first the plan was to speak about the launch of the Back Yard Ultra taking place on 25 June 2022, after all Erica and Sarah are part of the driving force behind bringing this spectacular event to the place they proudly call home. Continuous hourly 4.1667 mile loops until there's only one person left standing anyone?? Tempted, visit the website for more information here BACK YARD ULTRA TWATT However, in true Young Hearts Talk Pish spirit we covered literally heaps and heaps more. First we find out about Erica and Sarah's running history and soon realisie their friendship and camaraderie is a big part of it. And all this talk of Twatts, well thats the farm on Orkney where the Back Yard Ultra will take place in June. More important matters are raised though, ones that we never shirk from. Sarah speaks openly and honestly about the menopause, backed up ably by Sarah this enlightening discussion skirts on some topics that are often not raised. We learned so much ourselves and feel that many of our listeners, of any gender, will too. (please see links at bottom of show notes for more info!) Sarah, herself a dab hand at ultras and marathons amongst many other things tells us about her love of trail and mountain running. A love which is made all the harder living on Orkney where there aren't many trees or mountains! She also explains to us, as simply as anyone we've heard, the science behind the Keto diet and how it can help endurance athletes. Truly interesting stuff! To add to things, little did we know before the recording that Erica has a place in the Guinness World Records. 10 days of running an Ultra Marathon distance everyday around a track on Orkney, listen in to hear all about that and the role that Twatty-mole played in her fuelling strategies as well as the incredible community togetherness of her endeavour, all for the charity Wellbeing of Women An exceptionally fun episode to record with plenty laughs mixed in with some serious topics. Please go and get your lugs aroond this asap! Here is the links to various links we discussed around the  Menopause https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/ https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/ https://www.dietdoctor.com/intro-welcome?c_source=google&c_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzMGNBhCyARIsANpUkzOXQaFow-U59oJFCBDJeMJwJKLsQJlwbXk9e2QiNo28Ek0fDVEfFxAaAoyGEALw_wcB https://www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/

Hello December!! The festive season is upon us, but that's nae excuse for us not to keep churning out the podcast goods. In fact we hear Santa is a big fan, and we wouldn't want to disappoint the big man this month. We like to speak to athletes from the front of the pack, the back of the pack and of course the middle of the pack. Our episode guest today admits to being a bonafide member of the middle of the pack gang. It's an esteemed gang with John's membership being stamped for approval at the mo and Steven being a long standing member. Ross Beveridge, a Dad of 2 young kids (or bairns as we like to call them) juggles a busy home life with his adoration of running.  Running, especially ultra running, can be time consuming.  Ross though has managed to find the balance of that hectic home life and still achieve the remarkable in his running world. A self confessed non-runner before finding a treadmill in the gym whilst on honeymoon he soon found an attraction to pounding the pavements. The bug then grew and today he stands with multiple (and we mean multiple!) finishes in an array of ultra marathons across the UK. His race CV reads like a glittering prize. We have a brilliant chat with Ross covering his running story, he's remarkably understated about his achievements but we soon unearth his motivations, his passions and of course his favourite post race refuelling rewards! And after a tumultuous 4 or 5 years of races behind him what lies ahead for him, *spoiler alert* 2022 see's quite the change of direction bubbling away! We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did recording it, use it to build your own plans for 2022, it'll inspire you to plan a big big year!

Black Friday these days is a lot diff to the Black Fridays we used to enjoy back in our heyday. Today Black Friday means tons of faux discounts along with the release of another Young Hearts Run Free episode. We do have a BIG Black Friday announcement to make during our pre-guest catch up as YHRF merch finally lands!  Yip, you can now support the podcast by grabbing a YHRF Buff. Contact us through Twitter, Instagram or email us on youngheartsrunfreepodcast@gmail.com to secure yours! And our conveyor belt of top notch guests just keeps churning out the goods.  Joining us for our 68th episode is former professional footballer Mark Reilly. Mark enjoyed a sparkling career in the top flight with memorable spells at Kilmarnock bringing career highs that would fulfil any boyhood dreams. On retiring Mark found a new passion, that passion eventually led to completing the Marathon des Sables in Morocco in October 2021. Listen in to find out the driving force behind some of his mammoth running endeavours as he speaks openly and honestly about his charity fundraising on behalf of Reverse Rett. Mark's daughter Dionne was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome early in her life. To date Mark has raised in excess of £21,000, and as you'll hear, his every step has been fuelled with the desire to raise awareness and money for a cause so very close to his heart. Get Mark's inside track on participating in the gruelling and iconic Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert. A real from the horses mouth account of the before, during and after of toeing the line. And in Mark's own words, for a boy from Bellshill it was certainly a bit different! Mark also completed an inspiring run between his former Scottish Football clubs he turned out for during his career.  100 mile plus covered in an astonishing time. Mark's take on approaching these challenges is refreshing, a steely determination to put himself through the ringer and how mind over matter can help achieve what feels like the impossible. Sponsor Mark's Reverse Rett fundraising attempts here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-reilly12 Read more about Mark's charity Reverse Rett here https://www.reverserett.org.uk/