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Running Commentary: Poetry, Running & Reinvention with P Burton-Morgan
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This week on the UKRunChat Podcast, we’re joined by award-winning writer, director and poet P Burton-Morgan, ahead of their UK tour of Running Commentary, a unique solo show blending stand-up, poetry, and real-life running experiences.
After over a decade without exercise, P returned to running in their 40s during a period of major life change. What began as a way to cope quickly became something much bigger, leading to running club friendships, unexpectedly fast race times, and over 150 poems inspired by running.
In this episode, we explore:
- How running became a lifeline during a difficult chapter of life
- Discovering speed and confidence later in life
- The power of running communities and connection
- Training for the London Marathon (and writing about it in real time)
- Turning lived experience into poetry and performance
- Why running brings out both the best - and the most honest - parts of ourselves
Plus—listen out for exclusive live poetry readings throughout the episode, including:
- A moving reflection on P’s first 5K race
- A raw and emotional piece about marathon training and self-doubt
- And a cheeky, humorous poem that might not be just about running
Whether you’re a runner, a creative, or simply someone navigating change, this episode is a powerful reminder of how movement and storytelling can transform your life.
🎭 Find tour dates for Running Commentary:
https://www.mettatheatre.co.uk/running-commentary
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to P Burton Morgan's Journey
00:00:00
UKRunChat
Welcome back to the UK Run Chat Podcast. I'm Michelle, your host, and today's episode, we have something a little bit different for you. My guest today is P. Burton Morgan, who is an award-winning writer, director, poet, and founder of Meta Theatre. who's about to head out on a UK tour with their brand new solo show, Running Commentary.
00:00:22
UKRunChat
Now, this isn't your typical running story. After a decade away from exercise, P found themselves rediscovering running in their 40s post-parenthood. But we're talking running clubs, competition, connection and some unexpectedly fast race times too. So excited to hear about that.
From Theatre to Performance and Poetry
00:00:41
UKRunChat
But P will also be telling us about their upcoming tour, Running Commentary, which blends stand-up, poetry and real-life running experiences. So I can't wait to hear the story behind that. Thanks so much for joining us today, P, on the podcast.
00:00:56
P burton morgan
Thank you so much for having me, Michelle.
00:00:58
UKRunChat
Really excited to hear all about, especially the the poetry and where that's kind of come from. Have you always been a performer?
00:01:05
P burton morgan
um No. Well, interestingly, so I spent 20 years as a writer and director in theatre, not really performing at all. And then um the theatre industry slightly collapsed in the pandemic. And so I went from kind of making really large shows to going, how can I still produce work um with sort of no budget? So I became, so I kind of returned to performing after really like 17 years of of having not done it. But then I discovered all these poems I wrote when I was a child. So actually the poetry, this is very similar to my running journey. The poetry has been with me. It was just kind of, ah it was just hibernating for like several decades.
00:01:40
UKRunChat
Yeah, so what's prompted kind of this outburst of poetry? enough Enough to fill a whole show, might I add. You know, there's obviously a lot in there.
00:01:45
P burton morgan
Enough to fill a whole show. Yeah, absolutely.
Discovering the Joy of Running
00:01:48
P burton morgan
Well, so I, so last year I made a my return to performing and did a poetry show about my sort of dating kind of I separated from my husband of a long time and so I was exploring that and then I got into running um and I thought why don't I combine my love my newfound love of running with my newfound love of poetry and put them together and uh it's proved it's proved very fruitful and I've written um so in the show I do about sort of 20 poems but I've actually now written over 150 poems about running which is a lot
00:02:16
UKRunChat
Wow. um and I must confess, I have had a go at writing some running poetry, but I'm i'm not willing to share any of mine because not sure mine's that great, but I'm excited to hear some of yours. And you you'll hopefully be sharing some of your running poems with us during this episode. Do stay tuned for that.
00:02:33
P burton morgan
Definitely. But Michelle, I think if I'm going share some, you should share some too. I'm just putting out there.
00:02:39
UKRunChat
Well, I don't have them written down in front of me, so i'm yeah, I'm going to...
00:02:41
P burton morgan
Great excuse. Great excuse.
00:02:44
UKRunChat
and So let's just start back at the beginning of your running journey then, please. So what what kind of brought you to running? So you had like a 10-year break from exercise
Community and Competition in Running
00:02:52
UKRunChat
while you were raised with your children.
00:02:52
P burton morgan
I mean, like ah to be honest, it was more than 10 years. Basically I did, I left school, you know, as you do when you do, you know, so I did, I was, I did do a bit of running in school.
00:02:55
UKRunChat
Okay.
00:03:01
P burton morgan
Like it wasn't a fancy, we didn't even have a running track. We just like ran around the field, but I was, you know, I would run 1500 and 800. And then I literally did no exercise for my entire adult life.
00:03:12
P burton morgan
I mean, maybe the odd yoga class, but nothing cardio. And then aged 40, actually age 41, like literally a year and a half ago, because the theater career was collapsing and I was a bit depressed about that.
00:03:24
P burton morgan
My marriage, I was separating from my husband and I was mega depressed about that. And I heard, running's good for your mental health and wellbeing. So I literally grabbed an old pair of trainers that were 20 years old and I look, well, I threw them away afterwards, but I just put them on and I ran out, I just ran out of the front door and just ran off.
00:03:39
P burton morgan
I live in rural Somerset and I just ran off into the fields. Didn't know what i was doing, but just thought this is probably good for me. And that was how it started.
00:03:46
UKRunChat
so So what was that first run like then? Talk us through it.
00:03:48
P burton morgan
Oh, well, it was awful because obviously I had no fitness and I didn't know anything about anything. So I sort of ran fast for about 10 minutes and then I was like, I can't keep this up. So then I walked for a bit and then I ran for a bit. So without realizing it, I had invented the run walk strategy.
00:04:04
P burton morgan
And then the next day, and then I just ran every day for two weeks and couldn't, and then afterwards couldn't walk. And people were like, maybe have like rest days and maybe like stretch. And I didn't know about any of this stuff at that point. So then i um I started doing yoga and I do yoga every day now, seven days a week. And I really am really assiduous about mobility work and strength and conditioning and all the good things we're meant to do outside of our running. I'm all over that.
00:04:28
UKRunChat
Yeah. So you say you run every day then for a few weeks. Clearly, was was your fitness kind of OK? Or were you kind of run run walking at this point?
00:04:37
P burton morgan
I think, well, it's interesting actually how quick it came back because that first day I ran walk and I think within like three or four days, I wasn't running very far and it was just sort of around, I mean, I've since sort of measured it. It's about 5K loop sort of through the woods and the fields. um But by the end of, I think a few days I was running, yeah, I was just running it. And then obviously over time,
00:04:59
P burton morgan
sort of beginning to get faster. But again, I didn't have a Garmin or on Strava or any of that stuff. So I didn't realise, you know, I had no idea, like, am I fast? Am I slow? I was literally just doing it to kind of clear my head
Marathon Preparation and Emotional Reflections
00:05:09
P burton morgan
and sort of try to outrun my mental breakdown.
00:05:12
UKRunChat
yeah But clearly that that had a positive impact on you then.
00:05:16
P burton morgan
Huge, and huge positive impact. I mean, ah you know, I think ah I'm such a massive believer in running. I mean, A, running is for everyone, but B, running is just so good for like your soul and your spirit and your heart.
00:05:28
UKRunChat
yeah and but rural Somerset, must be it must be beautiful. i've only I've only visited Somerset once or twice, and it's it's you know what are the trails like down there?
00:05:37
P burton morgan
It's really beautiful and there's lots of great trails, but it's also really hilly. And so again, i i live at the bottom of a, like the the village I live in is at the bottom of the valley. So whenever I run from my front door, I'm always running uphill is the first thing I do. So when I kind of eventually got, I mean, don't want to get ahead, but joined a run club, started doing races, really love trail races. Everyone was like, oh, you're really good on the hills. I'm like, yes, it's because in order for me to run, all I have to do, i like I have to do hills all the time.
00:06:05
UKRunChat
Yeah, practice makes perfect right with the hills. Yeah.
00:06:07
P burton morgan
Exactly.
00:06:08
UKRunChat
Did you find they ever get easier though? when moved to Bolton, I'm based in Bolton now, um and i'd I'd moved from very flat Lincolnshire and running just felt awful for ages. And I still feel like hills are hard, even though I've now got them every run.
00:06:22
UKRunChat
they ever get easier for you?
00:06:22
P burton morgan
Yeah, well, I think I'm lucky because I had the other way around. you're right. Lincolnshire is so flat. I mean, maybe if I stop doing hills, I'll lose my special hill skills. But ah that should be a poem. um But touch wood so far, hills are still my friend. But I have my secret trick for hills is when I see a hill, I go faster on the uphill, just in a kind of like the quicker we get up it, the sooner it'll be done. um And that's particularly good in a race, obviously, because everyone else is like, oh, no, I'm being hurt. And I'm like, oh, I'm overtaking everyone on the uphill. um
00:06:53
P burton morgan
But yeah, I don't know. That might not work for everyone.
00:06:57
UKRunChat
So you started running post pandemic. So at what point did did you realize that you're enjoying running and started to enter races?
00:07:04
P burton morgan
Well, so I mean, the i literally ran by myself ah for an entire year. And so after going every day, and that was not very sustainable, I i settled down into running three times a week. um kind of and at the time didn't know distance but it was either kind of between 5k or sometimes 10k and then a friend of mine knew I was getting into running and she said do you want to do join me for park run and I was like what is park run and she said it's this amazing thing it's a free 5k you run around a park with load of other people it's really good fun really inclusive so I was like sure and by that point I knew I was going to make this poetry show about running so I thought it'll give me content for the show So I joined her for the park run. And I just assumed she and everyone else would be way faster than me. And she was like... She looked at me she was like, Pops, if you actually turn out to be really fast, obviously don't go at my pace. Go at whatever pace you want. ah So I did that first park run and I realised I was...
00:07:57
P burton morgan
reasonably fast. um But also I saw all these people in red vests and I said to my friend, who are they? And she said, that's Froome Running Club. And I thought, well, I was keeping pace with a few of them. So and at that point I thought, oh, you have to be like a certain standard to be in a running club, which obviously is not true. Running clubs are for everyone. um But I thought, oh, well, if I'm fast enough to keep up with them, or then I could join the club and it will give me more content for the show. So I joined the running club and then and and i went to my first session and they were like, oh, you're quite fast. Did you not know? And I was like, no, I didn't know. So then so then of course they were like, will you enter these races? And I was like, sure, for content for the show.
00:08:33
UKRunChat
I love it. So all this running journey has been kind of just aimed at this show. i love it.
00:08:39
P burton morgan
Yeah, but then, but of course, ironically, actually, it's become my entire life, as running can do. ah And, you know, I've made so many friends from Run Club and it's, you know, it's so it's become my entire identity. um So in a good way, in a really positive way. So um that's why I've ended up with 150 poems, way more poems than you could fit in a show. ah Because there's, I just find the whole, the culture, the community, the physical act of it, there's so much to say about it.
00:09:06
UKRunChat
Yeah, that there is. There is. And as runners, we do like to talk about running a lot as well.
Touring with 'Running Commentary'
00:09:11
P burton morgan
Yes, we do. We're all so
00:09:13
UKRunChat
Yeah. I mean, there's there's a funny saying that is, do you know someone's a runner? Don't worry, they'll tell you.
00:09:20
UKRunChat
yeah um I mean, this seems like a nice moment to ask you to share one of your poems. Have you have you got one that you would share with the community for us?
00:09:28
P burton morgan
Yes, of course. I'm trying to think about like, which would be the best one to do um Maybe I'll do... i tell you what, I'll do one, my very first race.
00:09:39
P burton morgan
ah which was a 5k. Maybe I won't, maybe I'll say my time at the end of the poem. um So it's kind of prose poem. My First Race.
00:09:51
P burton morgan
The 45 minute woman sets off. We start in reverse to finish approximately together. She finishes her first lap while the rest of us still cluster at the start line. And we roar, stamp, clap and cheer for this solitary silver citizen determined in her stride.
00:10:09
P burton morgan
30 degrees, so I let go of any ambition to beat my park run time. I'm also suspicious of my latent competitive streak, and I haven't worked out how my Garmin works. The dead seagull in the road eyes me with disdain.
00:10:23
P burton morgan
The 45-minute woman runs like an apostrophe, bobbing between the vertical letters of the younger runners. Well done, I say as I pass. Thank you, she replies. I'm surprised to discover how inclusive running is.
00:10:37
P burton morgan
Everyone wants everyone to do their best, to be their best. Post-race, I'm vaguely nauseous, having stuffed myself with free sweets, though that might also be the caffeine. every Everyone else from club, some seconds, even minutes off their times, is somewhat dejected.
00:10:52
P burton morgan
Expectation is a dangerous thing. i want snuggles, says the youngest. But after you've showered, when you no longer smell, questionable. The eldest joins in, staring at my strangely dilated pupils. Mum, you should only really take that caffeine when you need to.
00:11:09
P burton morgan
He is right. I lie awake till 4am that night, thinking about the 45-minute woman. What it means to make peace with slowing. Her head a silvered curve.
00:11:21
P burton morgan
What it means to keep going.
00:11:25
UKRunChat
Oh, that's lovely. Thank you so much for sharing that.
00:11:27
P burton morgan
My pleasure.
00:11:30
UKRunChat
So that was your very first race?
00:11:31
P burton morgan
That was my very first race, which was a 5K. And um to do do the listeners want to know my time?
00:11:37
UKRunChat
Yeah, let us know. Yeah, why not?
00:11:39
P burton morgan
So that was my first 5K race. That was 23.26. So... twenty three twenty six
00:11:43
UKRunChat
one now Wow. Wow. That's amazing.
00:11:45
P burton morgan
so
00:11:45
UKRunChat
And that was your first one.
00:11:47
P burton morgan
That was my first one. So that was in August, last August. And then I just did one a couple of weeks ago. umless so ill-advisedly, slightly too close to the marathon. But ah my friends sort of encouraged me and I'm very people pleaser.
00:12:00
P burton morgan
So if someone says, will you do this race? I go, okay sure. um So my current time, should we share the current time?
00:12:06
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:12:07
P burton morgan
1847. eighteen forty seven
00:12:09
UKRunChat
Wow, that's that's huge progress, isn't it? Yeah.
00:12:12
P burton morgan
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been a big, it's been amazing. I mean, this has been the amazing thing for me that running has been, you know, while
The Transformative Power of Running
00:12:19
P burton morgan
my theatre career, not just my theatre career, while the whole theatre industry is slightly disintegrated and my marriage similarly, running has been this kind of upward trajectory, which is, it doesn't often happen in your 40s that you kind of start something and then get really good at it. So it's been quite encouraging for me in my life.
00:12:35
UKRunChat
Yeah. so So how did that feel running that running that time at your first 5k then? Were you expecting that at all? Were you surprised by that?
00:12:42
P burton morgan
Well, so it was, so at that point I'd done, ah ah the only other the five k I'd sort of officially kind of run was the park run. And the park run was like 24 minutes something. So ah in my head, I was like, well, if park run was 24-ish, can I go sub 24? But it was such an interesting experience because everyone else from club had run not just other 5Ks, but even that that particular um race series before. And it really made me realise, and this is what's so nice, you know, everything I do is still, is it you know, I'm still kind of, every race is a PB and every course I'm doing it for the first time. So it's really, um I'm in the really nice phase. But, you know, obviously a lot of my run club friends and colleagues are kind of, maybe a bit more in the plateau stage or in the sort of things are getting slower stage. So, you know, and that's that will obviously is partly what the poem's about. And, you know, that is the the trajectory of running. But hopefully I've got a few more years of the upward curve.
00:13:39
UKRunChat
No, you have. I mean, you are lucky because you because you're new to it and you will see improvement, particularly with with joining a running club. I mean, what kind of training do you do now with your club?
00:13:47
P burton morgan
Oh, well, that's the other thing. I mean, the you know, the reason I've got faster is because my training and everything has just got better. So um the club is amazing. I mean, it's a small club. We're not huge. but um But every week we meet on a Wednesday and there's a social run. And then there's also a kind of structured session. So it might be kind of so of various forms of kind of interval training or
The Intersection of Poetry and Running
00:14:06
P burton morgan
speed work. But the great thing is, um you know, there's a lot of encouragement to do races. So obviously that keeps us kind of. match fit. But also some of us will be like anyone around want to go for a long run on a Sunday or other runs on a Friday lunchtime. So the the kind of the community like extends and expands way beyond just the Wednesday nights.
00:14:25
UKRunChat
Yeah. And I mean, how important has being part of the club been socially for you as well?
00:14:31
P burton morgan
Well, I mean, huge in that they, you know, lots of them have become like my absolute best friends. And as you know, because runners are all just obsessed with running and all we want to talk about is running. ah said i' just I've still got friends outside of running, but they're probably a bit more like, yeah, pops, can you shut up about running? Whereas of course my running friends, like let's talk about our splits. Let's talk about this, whatever function on the watch. And also it's really good because they will really help. Like they're of course way more experienced than me. So when I have like, a minor twinge or a niggle, they give me advice about that. When I don't know what I'm doing with my watch, which is all the time, they help me, you know, show me where stuff is and program stuff in. um So no, the community, I think that's one of the best things about the run clubs is that sense of community. And you know, when people and I see it now, we're in kind of marathon season, like people are injured or people are worried, you know, there's a lot of them emotional support and, you know, care in that community as well.
00:15:26
UKRunChat
Yeah, there is. and Yeah, it's nice that we always have someone to talk to about running splits. Like other people would find that boring, wouldn't they? but run Yeah, I just love it.
00:15:32
P burton morgan
Right, exactly. But you know, it's so interesting.
00:15:39
UKRunChat
So you mentioned marathon training there. So you are, we we are recording this show in in marathon week, aren't we?
00:15:46
P burton morgan
Yes.
00:15:46
UKRunChat
and So how how are you feeling? it's your first marathon, isn't it
00:15:49
P burton morgan
It's my first marathon. um I'm feeling ah it's a roller coaster.
00:15:51
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:15:54
P burton morgan
I mean, every not even every day, every hour I'm feeling different.
00:15:57
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:15:58
P burton morgan
um So I've definitely had some phantom pain in the kind of taper period, but I've also got something that's a bit more like a genuine minor twinge. it It is minor, but so I'm kind of constantly assessing, is this real?
00:16:12
P burton morgan
Is this in my head going a little bit insane, feeling like one moment really confident. And then the next moment I will get round. I think whatever happens, I will get round and I'm running it for NSPCC.
00:16:23
P burton morgan
And like, that's a really important charity to me. And I have to get around because the finale of the show, by this point, the show opens really soon. And the finale of the show is my poem about the marathon, which obviously I haven't written yet.
00:16:33
P burton morgan
And I can't write until I do the marathon. um But so I can't, you know, at this stage, I'm not pulling out because then I'd have no end to my show and I've already written and learned the rest of the show. So as as established, all of this stuff, I mean, I literally only entered the marathon. Again, I went, that'd be good content for the show.
00:16:51
P burton morgan
and um And as it turned out, it's only going to be a single poem. And I'm like, 16 weeks, really more than 16 weeks of training and all the other work around it for a single poem is quite a lot of effort.
Themes and Future Projects
00:17:02
P burton morgan
Yeah.
00:17:02
UKRunChat
I should clarify this point that when we say the marathon, we're talking about the London marathon.
00:17:05
P burton morgan
London. Yes, sorry. There were so many.
00:17:07
UKRunChat
Obviously, ah there are other marathons are available and and there are lots of other marathons happening at the moment. But yes, it's London that you're doing. So why why London marathon?
00:17:16
P burton morgan
Well, to be honest, if I'd known, again, I didn't know there were all these other marathons. I'm so, um I'm such a like novice to all of this. ah I just went, oh, London Marathon, that's like a big iconic one, isn't it? Let's try and get a place for that. And um yeah, got this charity place, which obviously is brilliant because I can, I can and am and will be raising lots of money for NSPCC. But um I haven't even run this first one yet, but I'm already planning my second.
00:17:41
UKRunChat
Are you? Well, i' I'm thinking with with ah your unexpectedly fast race times that hopefully you can kind of qualify to apply for good race, can't you, for next year?
00:17:51
P burton morgan
ah should i should I should get a good for age. I mean, again, touch wood, let's not count our chickens or anything like that.
00:17:57
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:17:57
P burton morgan
But but hopefully, um but yeah, hopefully like I should or could or might get a good for age. But I'm also interested, you know, I don't necessarily know that I want want to do London again. I just think there are some amazing ones all over the country and, you know, internationally too.
00:18:10
P burton morgan
And so it's exciting.
00:18:12
UKRunChat
Yeah, because you mentioned you you love trail running.
00:18:15
P burton morgan
I love trail running.
00:18:17
UKRunChat
yeah London's obviously on the road, so that's going to feel quite different. How much road running have you been doing me in preparation?
00:18:20
P burton morgan
Yes. Well, I mean, most of my, once I got serious about training, it's a bit sad actually. Once I got serious about training, I sort of stopped doing the, all the like sweet little runs I've been doing from my front door. And I started doing a lot more, you know, obviously running on the road, but also finding places that were flatter to do my speed work. So I wasn't simultaneously trying to do like 400 meter sprinting things like up a hill, unless it
Managing Marathon Challenges
00:18:45
P burton morgan
was hill sprints. Um, so, so yeah, now I kind of mix it up, but I did, um,
00:18:50
P burton morgan
In the midst of my training block this spring, it was the um Wiltshire Offroad League. And I did compete and in a lot of trail races every Sunday. And afterwards I said, guys, why did no one tell me that was probably like a slightly risky strategy in the training block?
00:19:04
P burton morgan
And I was like, oh, it's because I'm scoring loads of points for the club again. But I had a lovely time. I had a lovely time, won a few medals. um And I just love racing trail. It just feels like it's my natural habitat.
00:19:15
UKRunChat
Yeah, no, it's fun. I'm a trail runner at heart as well. I've done a few road races recently, but just, I haven't really enjoyed them as much. Trail running's the best, isn't it really?
00:19:24
P burton morgan
Trail running is the best. Don't tell the road.
00:19:25
UKRunChat
Yeah, I know. I don't tell London Marathon. You'll let you love London Marathon though. It's amazing. It's incredible. yeah
00:19:34
P burton morgan
Yes. I'm slightly, I'm also slightly nervous about the the loud crowds. um But there's, I mean, they are what they are. So just have to enjoy that energy and not be overwhelmed by it.
00:19:46
UKRunChat
Yes, I think I found it it's been it's been a while since I
A Poetic Exploration of Running Sensuality
00:19:49
UKRunChat
ran it. I think it was about eight years ago when I last ran it. But I found that if you kind of move into the middle, if you especially you've got you're having your name on your top, if you move to the middle, the the crowd can't kind of annoy you as much.
00:20:00
UKRunChat
But if you if you need anything, you can move outside and then they'll start shouting you and then you get a boost.
00:20:01
P burton morgan
that a good ah That's a good strategy though.
00:20:06
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:20:06
P burton morgan
Like sort of cushion yourself in the middle. with The other runners can be like, yeah, like human ear protectors.
00:20:09
UKRunChat
Yeah. Thank you.
00:20:13
UKRunChat
Yeah, but if you if you need that energy and you've got your name on your top, you just move to one of the edges and everybody will be shouting. you It feels like your own personal cheer squad. So that's it for you.
00:20:21
P burton morgan
i mean, that's fun. Maybe.
00:20:23
UKRunChat
Thank
00:20:23
P burton morgan
Yeah. I mean, I've i've only had one, I've done one other kind of like, ah big race in that sense where there are crowds and noise and that was bath half marathon as a tune-up race for london and um i got a great time i got a fast time and everyone was very impressed with the time but i did not have the most enjoyable experience because i was really overwhelmed by the noise and the people so i'm just trying to that's what i'm training myself for now in this final bit it's just the mental game of that
00:20:32
UKRunChat
you.
00:20:46
UKRunChat
Yeah, it it can feel quite overwhelming when you're in the middle of it. It's it's very loud, but I think yeah i hope you'll love it.
00:20:52
P burton morgan
yeah
00:20:53
UKRunChat
Yeah, what's your...
00:20:54
P burton morgan
I will love it. And if nothing else, it will give me good content for the poem.
00:20:58
UKRunChat
well, so you're saying you're working up this kind of final marathon poem. You must have had some other content over 60 weeks of training, surely. Yeah.
00:21:07
P burton morgan
Yes, no, I've got tons. I mean, I could make an entire show just about this marathon training block. But the thing is, because so much has happened over my running journey, you know, like the the and and also like the show explores.
00:21:15
UKRunChat
yeah
00:21:20
P burton morgan
Yes, there's stuff in it about racing, but there's also stuff, you know, about comedy dating experiences and, ah you know, what I like to listen to when I when I go running.
00:21:31
P burton morgan
I mean, spoilers. I don't listen to music. It's silence. it's That's poems all about silence.
00:21:35
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:21:36
P burton morgan
um So there's just so many different sort of aspects and kind of facets to my running journey. I was like, I can't make it all about the marathon also because ah I have to like write and learn the show.
00:21:47
P burton morgan
So so that's so you know so it's it's really covering the whole of this 18-month journey. But I do keep thinking, oh, maybe I'll write a whole novel or a play or a musical because I write across so many different forms.
00:21:59
P burton morgan
um There's so much material. i think the world needs a musical. Why, there hasn't been, I should stop talking about it. Someone else will listen to this podcast and go, I'm gonna write the first musical about running.
00:22:10
UKRunChat
You should totally write that. I'll go and watch that.
00:22:12
P burton morgan
Yeah, I think that's the thing, you know, runners, like the running community is huge.
00:22:13
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:22:16
P burton morgan
And also the running community, i find, you know, the runners are like good people, immorally good people. And if they say they're gonna do a thing, like come and see my show, then they will come and see my show.
00:22:27
UKRunChat
yeah Well, I said to before we started recording, going to try and get you up to Just tell us where the show is because you are you're mainly in the South West, aren't you?
00:22:35
P burton morgan
I'm all over. I'm all over. It's a whole 21 day UK tour.
00:22:37
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:22:39
P burton morgan
But ah a lot of it is focused around the Southwest because I'm a single mum and it's that's kind of easier with my touring.
00:22:42
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:22:45
P burton morgan
So I open in Froome on the 5th of May. Then I've got a week in London from the 6th of May onwards. And then I'm all over. I'm up in Oldham the 13th of May. I won't talk through every venue. But yeah, and it's a lot Southwest venues.
00:22:55
P burton morgan
And I've got another, um some more sporadic dates in London. But ah basically, if you go to my, the easiest place to look at all the dates is my website, which is www.metatheatre.co.uk.
00:23:08
P burton morgan
Meta is spelled M-E-T-T-A. I don't know why I put on a strange like advert voice there.
00:23:12
UKRunChat
No, that was beautifully done.
00:23:13
P burton morgan
That's just my selling voice.
00:23:14
UKRunChat
Yes, that was lovely. We'll put that in the show notes for you as well.
00:23:17
P burton morgan
Amazing.
00:23:17
UKRunChat
So you can just click through to it and have a look at where P's touring. and have Have you got a poem that you could share with us about kind of training or about your running club?
00:23:29
P burton morgan
Oh, I mean, I've got so many about my running club. um ah Yeah, what is a nice one to do? um i mean, I've got, I have got one about training, which is in fact, ah the about the half marathon ah that is slightly less positive.
00:23:49
P burton morgan
But if that's okay, we've got to have the full picture. um
00:23:51
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:23:52
P burton morgan
It does contain a single swear word. Is that allowed? Are we allowed to swear?
00:23:56
UKRunChat
That's allowed, yes, that's okay, yes.
00:23:57
P burton morgan
Okay, great. Great. I mean, I've also said the show is 14 plus, which is and I suddenly was like, Oh, I do use the F bomb. I wonder if that's gonna be okay with the form obviously most 14 year olds are like, very.
00:24:06
UKRunChat
Those 14-year-olds know what that is yeah.
00:24:08
P burton morgan
I know. Yeah, but it's the parents, isn't it? It's not the actual teenagers. Okay, so this is, um, so this is, this is the penultimate. Is it the penultimate poem in the show? Um, it's called, is it too late to pull out of London marathon?
00:24:23
P burton morgan
I want to quit, not running, just this race. I don't want the noise, the crowds, the unbearable loud, don't want to become who I was on Sunday, my first big race, raging at runners, getting in my way, slowing me down, dragging my pace, cacophonous clamor of roadside bands, unbearable shouting, banging of pans. In theory, they're cheering for you, but it feels like mobs with pitchforks. And fuck their dad bringing the kids minutes too late to see me run but in time to see me sad. To have them after. Whining in the rain as my oxygen starved brain shuts down and shivering I shout at them to shut up.
00:24:55
P burton morgan
Stifled by the smothering quilt of mum-run guilt, I briefly hide inside my coat for a quiet cry. And maybe it's overstimulation talking, overwhelm taking the helm, but I hate how I can't not go fast. How my competitive streak overtakes all thoughts of kindness, care, of running as a vehicle for love, and in its place my source of peace becomes a fuel for wrath.
00:25:17
P burton morgan
Making space for my stupid trophies on the shelf, I dislodge an old photo of me and my love at 21 and am instantly undone. I hide the pic but my young as quick as anything blurts, better to keep it out on show, can't run from feelings, you know. So annoying when they're wise, while I'm a mess.
00:25:36
P burton morgan
One more divorce email landing from my ex, immediately post-race, could he not grant me a few days grace? And me too weak to even read the thing. Is this simply overtraining burnout?
00:25:47
P burton morgan
Self-doubt masquerading as self-hate or have I realised too little too late that racing brings out the dickhead thoughtless worst of me? Of course I will still run when the time comes. Pops won't stop, won't quit and what privilege to have this place you whining little shit. Besides it's all for charity.
00:26:05
P burton morgan
My legs, my lungs, my heart. I can train through this sport to withstand the increasing load but how to keep open my soul? Instead of anger flooding my system, let some kindness flow.
00:26:20
P burton morgan
Another sort of training must be done. So I reframe, give myself some grace and hope by race day demons can be tamed. It's
00:26:32
UKRunChat
Oh, there were a lot of emotions in there, weren't there?
00:26:35
P burton morgan
a rollercoaster. It's a rollercoaster.
00:26:37
UKRunChat
Yes.
00:26:37
P burton morgan
Yes.
00:26:38
UKRunChat
Yeah, I love that. I could feel all those different emotions there.
00:26:42
P burton morgan
Yeah, well, this is the funny thing about running, isn't it? Like, it it brings a lot of stuff up, but it also is such a great way to process, you know, everyone has so much, you know, grief, loss, rage, you know, all of those things come up. We're like, we're all human. But um but I do find running is such a great way to kind of work through it, metabolise the feelings.
00:27:04
UKRunChat
Yeah, you said you don't run with music, so it it is a good time just to let your brain do thinking for you, isn't it, running?
00:27:09
P burton morgan
Yeah. Yeah.
00:27:11
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:27:12
P burton morgan
Absolutely, absolutely.
00:27:13
UKRunChat
Yeah. I mean, you you said in that you you sent us when you sent us at kind of an email kind of telling us about the show, you said that running transformed your life entirely for the better. what just Just talk us through that a little bit. What do you mean by that? Yeah.
00:27:28
P burton morgan
oh, well, this is a heavy chat for for the for the podcast. I mean, i i well, I think that the truth was i was in a really um I was in a really low place when I kind of discovered running. And ah and it so it was really a kind of lifeline for me. And particularly when, because so much else in my life felt like it was falling apart. Running was like the one thing It turns out I'm really good at consistency um and running and can you know you're really rewarded if you kind of can maintain consistency, but just the act of kind of lacing up and getting out the door and doing that and then the endorphins afterwards felt like this small thing that was achievable in a time where... you know i mean there's another There are a few poems in the show that are that that delve into slightly like ah more emotional and darker territory, but...
00:28:22
P burton morgan
darker territory um but you know when I get very low, I tend to, um, ah but I just don't, don't, I have no sensation of my hunger cues. So it's very easy for me to just sort of forget to eat and just stop eating. And the funny thing about running is because I'm so competitive, I take, I took my training and take my training all that stuff so seriously that I would kind of force myself to eat even when I wasn't kind of feeling it. And actually it feels like it, I mean, it has been the eight, the last 18 months running has been the kind of, the thing that has kept me afloat through those sort of difficult times. and And then the friends that I've made through Run Club, similarly, have become, you know, some of the most important people in my life and, you know, really looked after me and cared for me and kind of in the in the low times. So, um so yeah, I mean, i have to say, there's lots in the show that's also funny and silly and sexy, ah but, you know, I don't shy. I'm very honest. I'm too honest. And I don't shy away from kind of, yeah, the dark bits as well.
00:29:21
UKRunChat
I think that's important though, isn't it? Like, it's like social media nowadays. There's a lot of people who just share the positive and it can feel like everybody's having a great time, always getting PBs, and you know, never injured.
00:29:34
UKRunChat
And life isn't like that, is it?
00:29:35
P burton morgan
Absolutely.
00:29:37
UKRunChat
So it's great that you're exploring all these other emotions as well.
00:29:41
P burton morgan
Yeah, I think that's so true. In fact, you know, sometimes people are like, gosh, you overshare a lot on social media. And i'm like, I think it's really important that people see the struggle as well as the success. Because actually, very often people, sometimes people message me and they're like, thank you so much for sharing that you were struggling about this, that and the other. Because it made me feel less alone in my own struggles. Or or it made me realise like I could reach out for help or whatever the thing is. But I think we have to, i mean, that's that's being human, isn't it? Like we have, it's great to share these things. and it helps people make connections through them.
00:30:14
UKRunChat
Yeah, it does. i think it's so important. I mean, you' you've ah you're obviously very honest and and vulnerable, really, in the poetry that you're sharing. is Is it difficult to stand on stage and say all these things?
00:30:26
P burton morgan
Do you know, it's so funny. I don't, that's the easy part for me. People are often are like, oh, is it hard to be so vulnerable? i'm like, no, the hard part is just making sure I've memorized it and it's really technical.
00:30:37
P burton morgan
But the actual, but the sharing of it, I'm like, oh no, it's fine. Because the truth is, the point by the point at which I'm sharing that poem, the the kind of the grief or the trauma or the feelings like that work has been done. So actually very often if I put a poem out on social media, I get a flurry of, and it's, you know, negative, I get a flurry of messages of like, are you okay? And I'm generally like, yes, by the time I share it, I'm fine. Sort of the act of writing it and the act of editing it is where I was doing the feelings and doing the work. And now that it's out in the world, it's just, it's it's more that I share them in the world to to help other people go, ah, that resonates for me, or ah, i felt like that and now I feel less alone.
00:31:16
UKRunChat
yeah Yeah, that's brilliant. So do these poems come to you while you're running or is it something that you're you're thinking about and crafting afterwards?
00:31:25
P burton morgan
That's a great question and it really varies. So quite often, um particularly when I'm, if I'm racing, um if I'm racing and it's like a long race, like these trail races at the the beginning of the year, you know, nine miles or one of them was 12 miles, you've got quite a long time in your head. And if something eventful happens as you're going, then quite often that can become for me, this kind of the seed of a poem. So I remember one of the nine mile races, um It was incredibly, it had been really wet. It was February and it was so wet and the fields were really boggy and the terrain was quite tricky and quite technical, which I love, but it was sort of challenging. And I got into my head this idea of like calling on Demeter, because I was going through a field of like calling on Demeter. And then calling on like all the Greek gods to sort of support me in my run. And as I was, and it was partly a kind of effort, as we all do, like positive self-talk mantra during the run. But as I was going, i was like, this is definitely going to become a poem. And it did.
00:32:25
UKRunChat
Oh, fabulous. And is that one in the show?
00:32:28
P burton morgan
That one is not in the show. I mean, I could probably find it. um And this is the thing that there's so many brilliant and poems I love that didn't make it into the show. So I guess I just need to get a publishing deal and publish a massive book of all of them.
00:32:40
UKRunChat
Yeah, that would be amazing. yeah well Yeah, we'll wait to hear about your book then as well. But for now, if you're interested in hearing more of Pease Poetry, then you can um have a look at their upcoming UK tour dates for running commentary. We'll put the link in the show notes. Do you have one more poem you can share with us to leave our our listeners with, perhaps maybe a ah funnier one?
00:33:05
P burton morgan
a funny one yeah absolutely I know I'm still doing the dark ones um well uh yes what's gonna be a nice a nice like light-hearted one uh I mean it's funny because ah the light-hearted ones often I mean are we up for a slightly sexy one
00:33:26
UKRunChat
Yeah, why not?
00:33:27
P burton morgan
Why not? Okay, this is quite short. So last year, um I was briefly dating. um So I'm 42 now. But the fun funny thing about um getting single in your 40s, I did not expect this, but I have inadvertently become a cougar. Because on the dating apps, you just a lot of the people there are like 29-year-old guys. Anyway, and they're sort of very up for it. But it means that... um It just, yeah, last year I was dating this very lovely, super hot 29-year-old guy. But just 29-year-olds, you know, they're just up for it all time. So this is a poem that is definitely about running.
00:34:08
P burton morgan
Sometimes you want it slow and gentle. Sunday morning, long and sweet. Sometimes short and quick.
00:34:20
P burton morgan
Pacing matters, plus the right gear for maximum comfort. Fun with a partner or solo to really tune in to your own body's needs.
00:34:32
P burton morgan
It can be murder on the hips, but generally discomfort only comes from pushing too hard. Post-exertion hunger is a real thing. Bagels work, muffins too, butter dripping down your chin.
00:34:46
P burton morgan
It takes a lot out of you, but the joy, the sweaty, salty, slick limb joy is never not worth it. So that was definitely about running.
00:34:57
P burton morgan
That's all it was about. It was about running.
00:34:59
UKRunChat
Of course. Very cheeky.
00:35:03
UKRunChat
Thank you. Thank you so much for that. It's been a joy chatting to you this afternoon.
00:35:07
P burton morgan
It's been my pleasure.
00:35:08
UKRunChat
yeah but best of luck with London Marathon, which you will have run by the time we put this podcast out. So do please let us know how you get on
00:35:16
P burton morgan
Of course. And hopefully see you at the show in Oldham.
00:35:19
UKRunChat
Yes, i yeah I'm going to check dates now and hopefully I can make it there. that would be wonderful. and Last question just before we finish. What would you say to somebody who's in their forty s thinking about starting running for the first time.
00:35:34
P burton morgan
I would just say do it. I would say ah it it will make you happier. It will make you a better person. If you're a parent, I think it will make you a better parent, even if that means you spend less time with your children. My children say this all the time. You are a happier, better person. So we don't mind if we lose you for an hour every day to a run ah because you're like, you know, a better mum because of it. And also join your run club.
00:35:58
P burton morgan
Find your run club. Join it.
00:36:00
UKRunChat
Yeah, perfect. Brilliant. Where can people find you on social media, pe
00:36:05
P burton morgan
I'm on Instagram, P Burton Morgan. um Very easy to find. Hopefully there's no one else with that name on Instagram.
00:36:14
UKRunChat
We'll also pop a link in the show notes for you. and Thank you so much. Such a powerful reminder that running isn't just about times and training. It's also about and rediscovery and creativity and connection, of course.
00:36:27
UKRunChat
So best of luck with your show.
00:36:29
P burton morgan
Thanks so much, Michelle.
00:36:30
UKRunChat
And if you've enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, share it with a running friend and let us know what we think on our Instagram. Until next time, happy running.