In this episode, Michelle speaks with Neil Thubron, founder of XNRG and an athlete who has spent decades pushing the limits of endurance. From his early days in the British Army Reserves to multi-day ultras across deserts, mountains and frozen wilderness, Neil has built a life around resilience, purpose and helping others do the same.

Neil shares the story behind his most extreme challenge yet, the Yukon Arctic Ultra, a 300-mile race through –50°C temperatures. He explains how he trained by pulling tyres for hours before dawn, what it was like to run alone through the frozen Canadian wilderness, and the moment he realised he was being followed by wolves.

But the Yukon was about more than the finish line. Neil dedicated the race to raising £3,000 for Grace, a young girl in Uganda who needed complex ear surgery through Humanity Direct — and her video message afterwards remains one of the most emotional moments of his life.

Michelle and Neil also talk about:

 * How the Army shaped his mindset and discipline
 * Why purpose is the key to getting through the darkest moments
 * XNRG’s multi-day events and their fundraising with Humanity Direct and local charities
 * The annual Santa Virtual Ultra and how listeners can get involved
 * His next big challenge — the Jungle Ultra in Peru
 * Advice for anyone preparing for their first multi-day race

Links mentioned:

 * XNRG events & Santa Virtual Ultra — xnrgevents.co.uk [http://xnrgevents.co.uk/]
 * Humanity Direct — humanitydirect.org [http://humanitydirect.org/]
 * Neil’s book YUCAN — neilthubron.com [http://neilthubron.com/]

Neil Thubron: Founder of XNRG • Endurance athlete

In this episode, we speak with former-Royal Marine and world-record–breaking adventurer Mitch Hutchcraft, who completed the longest climb of Everest in historyearlier this year. Now, just six months later, he’s taking on a new mission — and this time, it’s all for the dogs.

Starting 3rd December, Mitch will run 700km / 16 back-to-back marathons from the UK’s lowest point in his hometown of Ramsey in Cambridgeshire, to the summit of Ben Nevis. Along the way he’ll visit multiple dog rescue centres, meet hundreds of owners, and highlight the urgent need to adopt, not shop as shelters across the UK reach breaking point.

The challenge was inspired by Teddy, Mitch’s new rescue dog who spent four years in a concrete cage on a puppy farm before being saved. Mitch hopes to shine a light on overcrowded sanctuaries, illegal breeding, and the thousands of dogs still waiting for a home.

In this episode:

 * Mitch’s world-first 237-day Everest expedition
 * Teddy’s rescue story
 * Why UK dog shelters are overwhelmed
 * What 700km in December will look like
 * How people can join Mitch on the route
 * Plans for a documentary + special guests
 * How you can support the adopt-don't-shop message

Follow & support Mitch:
Instagram: @_mitchhutch [https://www.instagram.com/_mitchhutch/]
Live tracker + route: via link in his bio
Petition for improved dog breeding laws coming soon

Photo credit: Mitch Hutchcraft

Mitch Hutchcraft, The Great British Dog Walk. 700km for Rescue Dogs: “Adopt, Don’t Shop”

This week on the UKRunChat Podcast, we head across the Atlantic to Virginia to chat with ultra-runner John Calabrese.

John started running in 2017 during a difficult period in his life and has since thrown himself into everything from road marathons to some of the toughest trail races in the US, including the legendary Barkley.

We dive into:

 * How running became a lifeline during John's divorce
 * Moving from road marathon training into the shock of his first trail marathon
 * The community spirit of trail running vs road culture
 * How he met new lifelong friends on the trail, despite showing up alone
 * The quirks of US trail etiquette (including Philly cheesesteaks at aid stations!
 * Why failure is essential in ultra running
 * Why US races are often expensive
 * The logistics and cost behind bucket-list events like Badwater 135
 * Free US trail races
 * Running culture: USA vs UK

A raw, honest, funny, and insightful conversation about what running gives us, how the culture differs across countries, and why the trail community is changing lives one muddy hill at a time.

Follow John on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/breezytrailhead/] 

Running Culture USA vs UK with Virginia Ultra-Runner John Calabrese

A quick note that this episode includes open discussion of cancer, grief, and loss. Please take care while listening, and skip sections if you need to.

In this episode, UKRunChat host Michelle talks to Toby Freeman, founder of The Robin Cancer Trust and creator of the Big Ballsy Challenge, a 500km running campaign raising awareness of testicular cancer.

After losing his brother Robin to a late-stage diagnosis, Toby channelled his grief into purpose, building one of the UK’s leading young adult cancer charities and using running to start life-saving conversations.

Toby shares his experiences of turning pain into action, what running means to him, his upcoming world record attempt at the London Marathon, and how humour can break down stigma around men’s health.

Topics covered:

 * How The Robin Cancer Trust began
 * The Big Ballsy Challenge and reactions on the road
 * Using humour to tackle taboo topics
 * Running as therapy and motivation
 * The power of community and conversation
 * Toby’s Thrive Against Cancer podcast

Links:

 * The Big Ballsy Challenge: https://www.therobincancertrust.org/bigballsychallenge
 * The Robin Cancer Trust: therobincancertrust.org [https://www.therobincancertrust.org/]
 * Toby’s TEDx Talk: Three Steps to Surviving Grief [https://www.ted.com/talks/toby_freeman_three_steps_to_surviving_grief_toby_freeman_tedxcolchester?subtitle=en]
 * Thrive Against Cancer Podcast: thriveagainstcancer.co.uk [https://www.thriveagainstcancer.co.uk/]

Toby Freeman: The Big Ballsy Challenge – Running Through Grief, Stigma, and Hope

this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, we're joined by ultra runners, authors, and adventurers Jen & Sim Benson. They share stories of epic challenges, why ultras feel like “supported adventures,” and how the community makes the sport so special.

We also dive into their brand-new book, Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons — a beautifully curated guide to iconic and lesser-known races around the globe. Whether you’re dreaming of UTMB, curious about Mongolia’s remote ultra, or wondering if you really can walk a 100k, this episode has insights and inspiration for every trail runner.

Topics covered:

 * Jen & Sim’s journey from road marathons and climbing to ultras (00:23)
 * Why ultras are “adventures with support” (03:26)
 * Races that stood out, including Arc of Attrition 100 and TDS at UTMB (01:26, 06:57)
 * Inside their new book Ultra — and how they chose which races made the cut (09:01, 13:36)
 * Bucket-list ultras from Mongolia to the Trans-Alpine (15:02)
 * Advice for first-time ultra runners: why it might not be as scary as it sounds (17:01)
 * Walking an ultra — and why it might just be the best way to finish strong and avoid blisters (19:19)
 * Navigation skills and mountain craft (23:47)
 * Mental preparation, mindfulness, and dealing with “bad patches” (28:07)
 * Future races and writing projects (34:30)
 * The future of ultra running and community growth (40:02)

Links:

 * Jen & Sim Benson on Instagram: @jenandsim [https://instagram.com/jenandsim]
 * Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons [https://www.ukrunchat.co.uk/first-ever-atlas-of-ultra-marathons/]
 * Jen’s book The Path She Runs [https://www.ukrunchat.co.uk/book-review-the-path-she-runs-by-jen-benson/]

Exploring the World of Ultras with Jen & Sim Benson

In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, Michelle is joined by USA Triathlon coach and author Hilary Topper to talk about her new book, Unlocking the Triathlon: A Beginner’s Guide to Competing in a Triathlon.

Hilary shares her journey from failing gym class and not knowing how to swim, to taking up triathlon in her 50s, and even an 8.3-mile open water swim. She explains why triathlon is truly accessible for everyone, how runners can make the leap into multi-sport, and why cross-training can make you a stronger, more resilient runner.

We cover:

 * Hilary’s journey from treadmill newbie to triathlete and coach
 * Why she wrote Unlocking the Triathlon
 * Practical tips for beginners: training plans, essential gear, and transitions
 * How swimming and cycling can improve your running
 * Balancing training with work, family, and life
 * Why triathlon isn’t just about racing

If you’ve ever thought “Could I really do a triathlon?” this episode might just convince you the answer is yes.

Unlocking the Triathlon: A Beginner’s Guide to Competing in a Triathlon is out in January 2026 and is available for pre-order on Waterstones and Amazon.

Follow Hilary:

 * Instagram: @hilarytopper [https://instagram.com/hilarytopper]
 * Blog: atriathletesdiary.com [https://atriathletesdiary.com/]

Unlocking the Triathlon: A Beginner’s Guide to Competing in a Triathlon with Hilary Topper

Steve Till is back on the UKRunChat podcast for a third time, and this time, we’re going deep into ultrarunning. With decades of experience, over 120 marathons and ultras, GB representation at the 24-hour championships, and countless stories from the track to the mountains, Steve shares his wisdom on what it takes to train, fuel, pace, and mentally survive an ultra.

In this episode:

 * How Steve discovered ultras suited him better than shorter races (02:00)
 * Training strategies: long runs, back-to-backs, and speed work (20:00)
 * The differences between marathon and ultra training (16:30)
 * Fuelling and hydration lessons (33:00)
 * Pacing strategies for different types of ultras (30:00)
 * Coping with low points and the mental game (38:00)
 * Listener questions on myths, navigation, training mileage, and recovery (42:00)
 * Steve’s best advice for anyone lining up for their first (or next) ultra

Whether you’re planning your first 50k or looking for ways to go further, this episode is full of practical takeaways and motivation.

Steve Till on Ultrarunning: Training, Pacing, Fuelling & Mindset for the Long Run

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, we chat to Ioana Barbu, a runner who went from completing her first marathon, to aiming to taking on the entire Beyond the Ultimate Global Race Series across ice, jungle, desert, and mountains, all within a single year.

Having never run an ultra before, Ioana’s first attempt was the 230 km Jungle Ultra in Peru, a brutal, self-sufficient stage race through rainforest terrain. From there, she’s gone on to race in the Namib Desert, the Arctic Circle, the Highlands of Scotland, and the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, often winning or podiuming as she learns on the go.

In this conversation, we discuss:

 * How a friend convinced her to "just sign up"
 * The realities of racing self-sufficient in remote environments
 * Adapting to heat, altitude, and cold with Dr Freya Bayne and London South Bank University
 * Overcoming setbacks, from hyponatremia to a dog bite
 * What she’s learning about female physiology and endurance
 * And how she’s raising funds for Make Some Noise along the way.

🎧 Tune in for a deep dive into resilience, curiosity, and saying yes before you feel ready.

Links:

 * Ioana Barbu on Instagram → @ioanabarboux [https://www.instagram.com/ioanabarboux]
 * Ioana’s fundraising page → makesomenoise.enthuse.com/pf/ioana-barbu [https://makesomenoise.enthuse.com/pf/ioana-barbu]
 * Beyond the Ultimate → https://www.beyondtheultimate.co.uk/

Ioana Barbu on Completing the Beyond the Ultimate Race Series and Adapting to Extreme Environments

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle speaks with Francesca Baker-Brooker about her powerful journey with running and anorexia. Francesca first started running as a student, but what began as a way to fit in soon spiralled into two decades of illness, hospital stays, and setbacks.

Now 38, Francesca has rediscovered running in a healthy, joyful way. She shares how support from her husband and family helped her start again, why her first 10k was both awful and life-changing, and how running has shifted her relationship with her body.

We talk honestly about fuelling, relapse fears, and the importance of building a life worth being well for. Francesca is training for the London Marathon in support of Coach Core, a charity creating opportunities through sports apprenticeships.

Please note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, hospitalisation, and fuelling struggles. Listener discretion is advised.

Resources:

 * BEAT Eating Disorders: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk [https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/]
 * RED-S Project: https://red-s.com [https://red-s.com/]
 * Coach Core: https://coachcore.org.uk [https://coachcore.org.uk/]

Follow Francesca [https://www.instagram.com/andsoshethinks/]

Francesca Baker-Brooker: Training for London Marathon

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, we meet Ludwig Moreau, better known on Instagram as @ihaterunningbut [https://www.instagram.com/ihaterunningbut/]. Despite a lifelong dislike of running, Ludwig struck gold with a ballot entry for the 2026 London Marathon on his very first attempt.

He shares the rollercoaster of emotions from shock and doubt to determination, what he’s learned in his early weeks of training, and why he’s fundraising for Amnesty International UK. We also talk about:

 * How volunteering at the London Marathon changed his perspective.
 * Balancing training with other sports like CrossFit.
 * The lessons he’s already picked up from books, coaches, and parkrun.
 * How fundraising has added motivation (and pressure).
 * Why respecting the marathon distance is key.

Plus, we finish with a fun quickfire round, hills vs intervals, running in the cold vs heat, and the first thing Ludwig wants to do when he crosses the finish line.

“I Hate Running… But I’m Training for the London Marathon” with Ludwig Moreau

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