In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, Michelle speaks to Raja Aslam, a foster carer from Blackburn and passionate runner, about his bold challenge to run from Manchester to The Hague, covering a half marathon every day to raise money for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme for foster children. 

Raja shares his story of getting into running just before COVID, running marathons during Ramadan, the impact of fostering on his family, and how he hopes to inspire others through his journey.

Follow Raja on Instagram: Raja Aslam’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rajaaslamruns]

Fundraising link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rajaaslam-manchestertothehague [https://www.instagram.com/rajaaslamruns]

From Manchester to The Hague: Running for foster children with Raja Aslam

In this episode, we meet Steve Wolfe, a runner on an extraordinary mission to run the distance around the world — 40,075 kilometres — without taking a single day off. Steve opens up about the physical and mental challenges of his streak (now over 3,000 days), the motivation behind it, and how running has helped him through trauma, loss, and PTSD. From running laps of his garden with COVID to launching a local running group, Steve’s story is as inspiring as it is humbling.

We also discuss:

 * How he got started after a major health scare
 * His love-hate relationship with marathons
 * The role of community in his journey
 * Fundraising for Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance
 * The one rule he’s never broken (except once…)

Follow Steve

 * Instagram: @runtheworldchallenge [https://www.instagram.com/runtheworldchallenge]
 * Website: https://www.runtheworldchallenge.co.uk/

Run the World — Steve Wolfe’s Daily Mission to Circle the Globe

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, we chat to Bob Yates, who is nearing the end of a monumental challenge — running the length of Britain from Land's End to John O'Groats to celebrate his 60th birthday.

We hear how Bob went from a treadmill in the bedroom just over 10 years ago when he took up running, to training for ultras and signing up for a 1,000+ mile adventure. He talks about why he fuels his running on a vegan diet, what the journey has taught him, and how he’s raising money for a charity funding life-changing surgery for children in Uganda.

Bob’s fundraising page: www.humanitydirect.org/bob [http://www.humanitydirect.org/bob]

Follow Bob’s progress: Strava & Instagram feeds on his fundraising page

1,000 Miles at 60: Bob Yates on Running the Length of Britain

UK Eiden, Inspired by Japan’s world-famous Hakone Ekiden, brings long-distance team relay racing to UK roads, blending university athletics, corporate participation, and cultural exchange.

In this episode, host Michelle catches up with Anna Dingley (UK Ekiden founder) and Matt Seddon (Athletics Director & Oxford University Cross Country Head Coach) after this year’s event, which saw university and corporate teams racing along the Thames — with plenty of action, community spirit, and lessons learned!

You’ll hear about:

 * The roots of Ekiden and why it’s so popular in Japan 🇯🇵
 * How UK Ekiden is inspiring UK university and club runners
 * Standout moments (and challenges) from this year’s race
 * The importance of team spirit in endurance running
 * Why Oxford got disqualified this year!
 * Growing UK–Japan cultural links through running
 * The vision for making UK Ekiden a fixture in the UK calendar


Instagram: @ukekiden [https://www.instagram.com/ukekiden]
Website: ukekiden.com [https://ukekiden.com/]

Photo Credit: Phil Hill

Anna Dingley and Matt Seddon 

Everything You Need to Know About Treadmill Running – with Joe Justice from Wahoo Fitness

Links:In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, we’re joined by Joe Justice, Senior Product Manager for Running at Wahoo Fitness. Joe combines over 20 years of experience as a runner and coach with deep expertise in product strategy to create innovative tools for runners, including Wahoo’s latest smart treadmill technology.

We cover everything runners want to know about treadmill running, including:

What makes a treadmill smart
How to get the most out of your workouts on a treadmill
How far is too far on a treadmill?
How pacing differs indoors
Using treadmill data to improve performance
How treadmill training fits into marathon or ultra prep
What to look for when buying a treadmill
Tips to stay motivated and common mistakes to avoid, plus
Do we really need the treadmill on that 1% incline?


https://www.instagram.com/wahoofitnessofficial/

Joe Justice from Wahoo Fitness

In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, we welcome Steve Till, a true endurance sport veteran. From finishing last in his first school race to representing Great Britain in 24-hour running events, from completing more than 100 marathons to walking 100 miles in under 24 hours as a Centurion, Steve has dedicated his life to the pursuit of distance. We explore the origins of his running journey, the highs and lows of competition, what fuels his passion, and what he’s learned over four decades of movement.

Steve has competed in 100km and 24-hour running events for his country, has won medals in
national championships, has run more than 100 marathons, over 500 parkruns, and is a Centurion, having race walked 100 miles in less than 24 hours.

But it wasn’t always that way. His running passion was ignited in 1971, watching the European Championships on TV, but he spent the first few years of his running life coming last in school sports day races and then university cross country events.

Finally hard work triumphed over talent, and he moved up the rankings, finally securing that
much-sought-after Great Britain call-up in 1996. Steve believes that having exactly the right target in any walk of life can supply all the motivation you need to put yourself in with a chance of achieving it. In his case, that was a GB vest; in yours, perhaps promotion, that dream job, doing Couch-to-5K or your first marathon. If you hit upon a goal and a light bulb goes on in your head and you say, “If I could just achieve that, I could die happy,” then you’ve got the right one.

That sort of goal is so compelling, it delivers all the impetus you need to do the work necessary to get there.

Here are 26 career highlights – above and below 26.2 miles!
2021 500th parkrun
2011 Ran Chicago Marathon
(Completing set of current Marathon Majors – London, Berlin, New York City, Boston, Chicago)
2003 100th marathon
1996 Represented GB in European 24-hour Championships
1996 Represented England in Anglo-Celtic Plate 100km Run Championships
(England beat Scotland, Ireland and Wales)
1996 Ran in 100th Boston Marathon
1995 2nd in National 24 hours Run Championships
1995 3rd in Compton 40 miles trail race
1994 3rd in National 24 hours Run Championships
1994 1st in Humberside 24 hours Run Championships
1994 3rd in National 100km Run Championships
1989 Ran New York City Marathon
1987 2nd in Solihull 24 hours Run Championships
1986 1st in Totton Half Marathon
1985 3rd in Southampton Marathon
1985 3rd in Surrey 50 miles Walk (successor to London to Brighton)
1984 Ran Berlin Marathon
1984 5th in Foster’s Quadrathon
(2m swim, 50km walk, 100m bike, marathon)
1984 2nd in London to Brighton Walk
1983 3rd in London to Brighton Walk
1983 6th in Foster’s Quadrathon
(2m swim, 50km walk, 100m bike, marathon)
1983 Surrey 100 miles Walk – qualified as Centurion 768
(Have to walk 100 in under 24 hours in a judged race)
1982 2nd in London to Brighton Walk
1982 3rd in Bradford 50km Walk
1981 7th in London to Brighton Walk (most famous ultradistance walk in the world)
1981 Ran 1st London Marathon'

Check out Steves website [https://www.therunoflife.com/] 

Steve Till

Running Through It All: Pregnancy, Parenthood & Recovery from Injury with Olympian Stephanie Davis

In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, Michelle welcomes back Olympic marathoner, coach, and new mum Stephanie Davis. Since her last appearance, Steph has navigated the highs and challenges of pregnancy, birth via C-section, postpartum recovery, and a return to running — all while continuing her coaching work with Runna.

Steph shares openly about:

Managing a bone stress injury that disrupted her Olympic hopes

Staying active during pregnancy, adapting training, and tuning into her body

Recovering from a C-section and returning to running with patience and support

The emotional and physical realities of the postpartum period

Her evolving role as a coach with Runna, and the exciting next chapter with Strava

And lots more.......

Whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, coaching others, or managing your own return from injury — Steph’s honesty, and practical tips will resonate.

Steph is a Coach at our partners Runna. You can get an extended free trial of Runna using the code UKRUNCHAT1 [https://join.runna.com/lKmc/refer?deep_link_sub1=UKRUNCHAT1]

Follow Steph on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/steph_davis26/]

Steph Kessell (née Davis) | Marathon Runner | Olympian

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle speaks with Endurance Physio Mike James, who brings a wealth of experience from marathons, Ironmans, and ultra events, offering both scientific and lived perspectives on the rise of ultra running.

The conversation explores the surge in popularity of ultra marathons—why so many runners are skipping traditional distance progressions, the physical and psychological demands of ultras, training strategies, injury risk management, and the value of walk-run strategies and time-on-feet over mileage obsession.

Whether you’re considering your first ultra or looking to train smarter, this episode is packed with nuanced, practical advice from someone who’s seen (and run) it all.

Topics Covered:

Why more runners are skipping straight to ultras

The mental vs physical challenge of ultra distances

Why each ultra is different: terrain, elevation, distance, and format

Planning training based on lifestyle, not ideal circumstances

Importance of "time on feet" vs mileage

Walk/run strategies and their value for race day

Customizing training blocks and weekly frequency

Avoiding injury - risk reduction vs prevention

Why recovery is often more important than more training

Why evidence for injury prevention is weaker than most believe

And lots more! 

Follow Mike on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/the_endurance_physio/] or on X [https://x.com/theEndurancePT]



Mike James

Simon Blair turned to ultra running as a way to manage his mind, find focus, and push past limits he once thought defined him.  Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Simon shares how endurance sport, including the Marathon des Sables, became more than just a physical test for him.


Listen to Michelle and Simon discuss:


Living with ADHD and receiving a diagnosis as an adult.
Using ultra running to manage focus, emotions & resilience.
Behind the scenes of Beyond Limits, his new documentary.
Why we need more awareness, earlier diagnosis, and real conversation.

Follow Simon on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/simon_blair_shbre/]  

Simon Blair 

In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, we’re joined by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson, the authors of Ultra Women, a powerful book that shines a light on the untold stories of women in endurance sport..

We explore the inspiration behind the book, the process of gathering and curating such raw and personal narratives, and what these stories reveal about identity, resilience, and representation for women.

From elite athletes to everyday heroes, Ultra Women isn’t just about running, it’s about freedom, resilience, and mental strength. Lily and Emma reflect on what they learned through writing these untold stories, how the sport is changing, and what still needs to happen to create truly inclusive spaces in ultrarunning.

Find the Ultra Women book here [https://www.canburypress.com/products/presale-ultra-women-by-lily-canter-and-emma-wilkinson-isbn-9781914487101?srsltid=AfmBOooJPNd6zZ79au_BUlsxciOit1Sjz5-mzGl2r-Qi_owFnWthJhG8]:

Follow Lily [https://www.instagram.com/lilycanter/] on Instagram

Follow Emma [https://www.instagram.com/emmawjourno/] on Instagram





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