Are you enjoying the podcast? Help us cover some of the costs: buymeacoffee.com/runalive

Our Guest this week:

Steph Kessell (nee Davis) completed her first marathon in 2018 and only a few years later went on to run a 2:27 marathon when she won the UK Olympic marathon trials. Steph was Team GB's fastest marathon runner at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Steph is a one-on-one coach and a coach at Runna and loves helping athletes of all abilities from 5k to ultra marathons. She gave birth to her daughter 4 weeks ago so balances her coaching alongside being a Mum and her own training.

We chat to Steph about her incredible journey from a corporate career to elite athletics, and now to motherhood. Steph shares how running has shaped her perspective on resilience, self-awareness, and balance. We touch on her meteoric rise in marathon running, overcoming injuries, and managing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). She candidly discusses the physical and emotional shifts she experienced during pregnancy, how she adapted her training, and the surprising joys of slowing down.

As a coach, Steph also offers invaluable insights into tailoring training to individual needs, the importance of rest, and how to build sustainable habits. Her reflections emphasise the value of enjoying the process over fixating on results.

Follow Steph on Instagram: @steph_davis26

Thank You:

Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe, leave a review and share! Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Gill, Ro, and Ed, dive into their running origins, sharing stories about why they started running and how their relationship with the sport has evolved. Each brings a unique background—Gill started to fill time during shifts, Ro began for fitness, and Ed took up running after the death of his Dad.

They touch on topics from running culture changes, evolving gear preferences, and past experiences like Ro’s dramatic weight-loss journey, Gill’s early fashion layering for self-consciousness, and Ed’s one-size-fits-all pair of shoes for his first marathon.

Highlights:

• Changes in Running Gear: The hosts reflect on the evolution from basic apparel to today’s advanced options, mentioning the rise of multiple shoe rotations, hydration vests, and even vibrating foam rollers, which often end up unused. (LOL)
• Nutrition and Recovery: They discuss the overwhelming choices in modern running nutrition, with Ro advocating for the simple chocolate milkshake as a refuelling favourite.
• Perspective Shift: The conversation circles back to the realisation that running has grown into a consumer industry, but the group values moments of simplicity, like just putting on a basic pair of shoes and enjoying a run.

Challenge for Listeners: To end, the hosts challenge listeners to share pictures of their oldest running gear still in use, hinting at a nostalgic celebration of running’s basics in the next season.

This episode offers a mix of personal anecdotes and thoughtful reflections on the modern culture of running, concluding with a call to embrace both innovation and simplicity in the sport.

Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Are you enjoying the podcast? Help us cover some of the costs: buymeacoffee.com/runalive

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Help us cover some of the costs: buymeacoffee.com/runalive

This week

Gill hit over 50 miles for the first time in a long time, Ro racked up around 70 miles but felt sluggish. Ed is focusing on injury-free training and recovery.

in the news we discuss: Cross country events are back in action including Cardiff Cross and Nick Griggs set a new parkrun world best.

Win and Fail of the week:

Ed's target race sold out before he could register - he could do with some other suggestions!

Ro raced a bus down Parliament Street and won.

Our Guest this week:

This week we speak to long jumper Jacob Fincham-Dukes about his journey from being a young athlete with a dream to becoming an Olympian and finishing 5th in the long jump at Paris 2024. Jacob talks about his decision to train in the United States, the challenges he overcame to make it to the Olympics, and the life lessons he's learned from balancing a demanding career with his athletic ambitions. His story is a testament to resilience, goal-setting, and the power of belief in yourself.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Setting Clear, Achievable Goals Drives Success - Jacob emphasises the importance of setting goals that are within reach yet challenging enough to inspire growth. His determination to reach the Olympics and achieve personal bests kept him motivated, proving that having a clear vision can propel you forward, even in the face of setbacks.
2. Resilience in the Face of Adversity - From missing the Tokyo Olympics due to injury to managing the demands of full-time work, Jacob shows how resilience and adaptability can help overcome significant obstacles. We should view challenges as opportunities to strengthen our character and grow.
3. Structure and Discipline Are Cornerstones of Achievement - Jacob attributes much of his success to the discipline he's developed through his sport. Balancing work and athletics has taught him valuable time-management skills, which he applies both in and outside of competition. His story highlights the value of structure and discipline in achieving long-term goals.

Follow Jacob on Instagram: @notorious_jfd

Thank You:

Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe, leave a review and share! Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.