Young Hearts Run Free Podcast

Ha'way!! We've another blazing episode for you all! This week we're joined by Devon Scott. Glasgow based Ultra runner Devon was all set to complete her first ever West Highland Way race in 2021, as we all know COVID put paid to that. So what do you do when you need to scratch the ultra itch? You replan, that's what you do! Devon settled on running the iconic Great Glen Ultra, Rocket Events superb 71-mile Ultra Marathon following the Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness. What a dreamy route eh? Join us as we not only find out how her race day panned out but much much more on top of that. Devon enlightens us all with her running story and gives both seasoned and new ultra-runners some amazing tips and strategies that have become the cornerstone to her ultra-approach. There's some devastating news for John too, it involves drop bags and disappointment. John & Steven find some time too for a quick update ahead of their Lakeland 50 adventure happening real soon. Food and kit being prominent in that discussion. Episode Links Rocket Events - for some of the best Ultras the UK has to offer Harrier Trail Running - John & Steven's hydration vests of choice for LL50

Some of you, like us, might listen to some other podcasts. You listen to some for a few episodes then drift away, others become mainstays in your favourites. One of John and Steven's favourites is the well established Tartan Running Shorts. This weeks guest is co-host of the TRS podcast Kyle Greig. We've been chasing Kyle for a while now so are super chuffed at being able to welcome him along for a chat on Young Hearts, Run Free. Kyle certainly is a busy lad as you'll find out! An uber accomplished runner with some eye wateringly good PB's Kyle progressed through the distances and is now amongst the cream of the crop of Scottish Ultra runners. He's represented GB and has proudly represented Scotland too. An elite, some might say, but Kyle remains firmly grounded and passes an hour or so entertaining us with tales of his running story, his proudest moments, juggling a hectic workload and how he's recently become both a proud Dad (again) and a proud Race Director. We chat podcasting and how it's allowed us to connect with a whole new network of folk who inspire and motivate us to get the most we can out of running. We talk about the Moray Way Ultras series Kyle is Race Director of and how the pandemic has impacted on his debut races. And of course we find out about what Kyle is up to now, including how his training is ahead of his next Scotland vest at the Anglo Celtic Plate 100k in August. In fact we cover a veritable sh*tload of stuff and have the usual laughs along the way, anyone for a TRS x YHRF Beer Mile Collab??!! Tune in, zone out and listen to us chew the fat with the fella who is 16th on the UK all-time list for the 100k. The same guy who was bold enough to try to run his way into the world records with a 24hr treadmill attempt! A few links we mentioned: Kyle offers run coaching through TRS Training Kyle is fundraising manager at the newly formed charity at Athletics Trust Scotland And once again get your ass along to one of the brilliant ultras that from part of the Moray Way Ultra Series. They are sure to become an absolute fixture in the Scottish Ultra calendar. PIC: Kyle reps GB at the 102km Tarawera Ultra Marathion in New Zealand in 2018

Coming back at ya with another laugh filled episode! This week runnings answer to Ant & Dec are joined by Sam Miller. Sam likes to do things a little unconventionally. Before our catch up with Sam we visit 2 things happening this weekend that mean a fair bit to us. First a wee race preview of the Western States Endurance Run which starts Sat 26 Jun over in California and second a wee bit of awareness raising for a previous guest. David Wallace (S1 Eps 6) is attempting a DOUBLE Ramsay Round in the Lochaber Munros this weekend. Raising funds while taking on this monumentally epic endurance feat. But our main event! Sam Miller recently participated in the first road marathon on Scottish soil for over 18 months, the first post COVID lockdown get together.  The Strathearn Marathon takes in some beautiful scenary as it snakes it's way around the country roads of rural Perthshire. Sam only realised he was due to be on the start line 3 weeks before. Listen in as Sam enlightens us as to his unique approach to getting around 26.2 miles. We chart some of his past glories too, he's a man who likes to take on a challenge shall we say. In his own unique style Sam entertains us for the entire episode with a series of amusing tales from his 10 years of running. He'll maybe never win a race but, like us, the sheer satisfaction of completing drives Sam on to take on some mad cap challenges that many would turn their back on. With the carrot of a footlong Meatball Marinara Subway being dangled drawing him towards the finish line come find out if Sam completed his Couch to 42k! Sam also asks you the listeners a question, what Ultra Marathon should be his first!? Throw in a couple of our fav dialect dictionary entries so far and it's an episode not to miss! Please visit our socials Twitter and Instagram to say hello and to leave your suggestions for Sam's Ultra Marathon to enter!! A few links John and Steven mentioned in the episode David Wallace Double Ramsay Round Fundraising AND Track David's attempt LIVE Western States Endurance Run website with links to all the live footage #seeyouinstates

Let us introduce you to a right pair of FKT'ers. Your pod hosts John & Steven are now in the history books grabbing their first ever Fastest Known Time!! On Fri 11 June 2021 they completed the River Tay Way, a long distance path in Perthshire, Scotland. Starting in Kenmore in Highland Perthshire they made their way to their home city of Perth. 50 odd miles in the Scottish summer, it really was a special memorable day out. In the episode John & Steven review their day and unpack a lot.  The planning, talking through the route and it's many highlights and most importantly about the folk who helped make the day even more special. Plenty words of wisdom (have you ever tried running up hills backwards?) loads and loads of lessons learned and, as if it was ever in question, we cover what fuelled us both during AND after!!   We analyse in detail John's amazing ability to find an excuse to have a walk or a seat.  The list is never ending!! We'd like to say a huge thank you to Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust who helped us plan and support our wee FKT attempt.  Find out more about the route on their website here RIVER TAY WAY INFO John & Steven's FKT attempt now appears on the FKT website, you can see it (and explore other routes) here Fastest Known Time RIVER TAY WAY Lastly, we'd like to personally thank Pam, Lyndsey, Alison and Lesley for taking the time to come run sections of the route with us, they gave us a massive lift. And to Dave Martin for the most welcome aid station set up in Dunkeld for us. Oh, and our finish line cheer squad of John's wife Susan, who witnessed the first ever finish of a River Tay Way FKT. Come listen in to pals having the craic looking back on a brilliant day doing what they love , you'll lap it up!! And once you're done go plan an adventure, go smash our FKT, get out there and enjoy yourself. PIC: John & Steven on the steps of the Albert Monument on the North Inch of Perth. The finish line of the River Tay Way

Big wheel keep on turning, episodes keep on burning!!! We're back with another topper of an episode. Not only have we a sensationally inspiring guest we also reveal details of a BIG challenge your podcast hosts are taking on very very soon!! First our guest this week.  Chiara Franzosi hails from Northern Italy but in 2015 she swapped the Italian climate for that of Edinburgh. She soon fell in love with Scotland and fell in love with many other things including running. In May 2021 she was bold, very bold. Under the tutelage of friend of the show and Pyllon Ultra coach James Stewart took on a challenge of running an incredible 7 marathons on 7 consecutive days all around the streets, trails and hills of Edinburgh.  Find out why she done so, what fuelled her desire and why it meant the absolute world to her to be joined by many running friends along the way. We also treat(?) you to 20 mins or so of John & Steven shooting the breeze whilst unvieling details of their very own FKT attempt happening imminently. A challenge that will test their friendship as well as their resolve! It's fun, it's light hearted, it's Young Hearts, Run Free.  ENJOY!!! You can still donate to Chiara's fundraising efforts by clicking here Chiara's Just Giving Fundraising Page Find out more about Chiara's charity BEAT by clicking here

If you've listened to any previous episodes of Young Hearts Run Free you'll have at some point heard us mention the West Highland Way Race.   It's a trail that is very dear to us both. Well, we were honoured to be joined by West Highland Way Race Director Ian Beattie and seasoned WHW race finisher (as well as race crew extraordinaire!) Lorna Macmillan for our latest episode. We find out all about the impending 2021 Virtual West Highland Way which starts on Friday June 11 (entries open now!).  It's not the race we all know and cherish but it's a unique way to be part of the humungously welcoming West Highland Way Race Family. With vast expereince of delivering the most iconic ultra in Scotland under their belt there's not much Ian and Lorna don't know about the West Highland Way Race so we spend the chat finding out all about it. Some of the cherished characters of the race, some fab memories and how electrician goggles & bracken should be in your essential kit!! We also have a MASSIVE reveal of a brand new race AND updates on plans already afoot for the return of the race proper in 2022.................this is exciting stuff...........as you'll be able to tell by John's reaction!! Enter this years virtual WHW Race here SI Entries Virtual WHW 2022 entries avail right up until Mon 14 June Donate to the Virtual WHW fundraising efforts in memory of the late John Kynsaton here Just Giving - Play for Change Find out more about the WHW Race and all past results, future plans and race info here WHW Race Website

The power of 3!! James Stewart is back for Episode 3 of Season 3 for his 3rd Young Hearts Run 'Three' appearance!! It's a welcome return to Croy's force of nature himself as James joins John & Steven to recount his most recent audacious Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt. The route targetted this time around was the iconic Fife Coastal Path. Starting in Kincardine and finishing some 116 miles later in Newburgh navigating the entire coastline of Fife, a stunner. James lifts the lid on his prep, his (lack of) planning and then regails with brutal honesty how his day in Fife panned out. The highs, the lows, the ups, the downs and of course the folks who played a vital part in what turned out to be a memorable day in the Kingdom. There are tips, there are stories, there are nuggets of inspiration. We can't thank James enough for again giving up his time to share his experience.  Prepare yourself, in typical YHRF style, for some choice language and talk of Giant Wotsits.

In this Episode John & Steven catch up with the winner of our most prestigious competition to date, Michelle Melville won a spot on the start line of the recent Pyllon Exposure Ultra Marathon. Michelle had never before been to Ultra Marathon distance and we were super keen to hear all about her 6 hour Expsoure went. The challenge was dreamt up by the guys over at Pyllon Ultra and set athletes a comfort zone pushing test of resolve. Each hour a text would arrive letting folks know how far they had to cover in the next hour, that sounded uncomfy to us! So dive in and find out how Michelle coped, did she bag a finish to her first ever Ultra?? Steven also takes the oppo to quiz John on how he got on exposing himself.  John took on the 12 Hour Exposure, we find out about how he planned, executed and recovered from what turned out to be a sensational Saturday.  Not many stones are left unturned and in true YHRF fashion we find out the fascinating answers to what John ate, both during and after the fun of running an Ultra. A massive well done to all runners and riders who took part in Pyllon Exposure.  To the winners, we salute you. To the DNF's and back of the packers, we salute you. To everyone in between, you guessed it, we salute you too.

Steven’s Why? It’s only our Season 3 launch episode!! Time to dig a little bit deeper into one of your podcast co-hosts running story. John takes his turn to quiz Steven on his running why to find out his passions, influences, motivations and thinking behind running. We hear about who and what inspires Steven to lace up his running shoes and get outside on the tarmac, trails and hills. It's a journey well worth listening in to, it may be similar to your own, or it may be very different. Steven's story is guaranteed to inspire you to challenge yourself, maybe try something new, or push yourself that wee bit further (or big bit further?) As expected, there is plenty talk about food, drinks, drop bags and some wonderful race day memories. The chat about Stevens favourite ever race day experience is worth the listen alone! It's a full 1 hour 30 minutes of golden nuggets and insight into the ‘Strava Schwanker’ himself, so charge up those headphones, and enjoy the journey into Steven's Why. Catch up with Steven on here >>> Steven the Strava Schwanker

And in the blink of an eye the final episode of season 2 is upon us!! We end on a high, there's no other way! Are you ready for the weekend? Cos this week's guest is, in fact he's ready for more than just the weekend, he's ready for a welcome return to racing!! Something he's not bad at, not bad at all. John & Steven are joined by Mallorca based Scottish trail running super-hero Casey Morgan.  Casey has quite some story to share with us as we chart his journey from Parks runs in Glasgow to Ultra runs in Patagonia and everything in between.  A real talent in the sport we love Casey has used that to fuel some amazing adventures around the world.  Listen in as we go globetrotting and get the inside track on sensational runs in the some of the world's most iconic races. Casey also speaks passionately about his love for the Isle of Arran, from using it as his training playground as he made his ultra running breakthrough to establishing the renowned Ultra Trail Scotland event which he is now the race director of. Sharing his love for what he classes as a trail and hill runners paradise! As is the norm, it's fun filled and relaxed,  we venture to some topics way off tangent but that makes it all the more entertaining.  Casey's story is an inspirational one and will make you want to go have your own adventure tomorrow. And what's stopping you? This episode wraps up season 2, but fear not, season 3 is just around the corner, we'll see you there very soon. Now quick go share the episode with your pals, we'd love it if you done that. ENJOY!! Namaste..... Casey has an Instagram feed, but you might get a bit jealous of his sunny mountain piccies, find out for yourself here https://www.instagram.com/caseypaulmorgan/?hl=en-gb or catch Casey on Twitter here https://twitter.com/caseymor?s=20 We speak about Casey's Training for Trail virtual series, you can find out all the details for that plus Casey's coaching offerings here https://www.caseymorgan.co.uk/ Follow and interact with John & Steven on our own social channels YHRF Instagram and YHRF Twitter