Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Run the World — Steve Wolfe’s Daily Mission to Circle the Globe
129 Plays5 days ago
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
- Website: https://www.runtheworldchallenge.co.uk/
Recommended
Transcript
Steve Wolfe's Ambitious Goal
00:00:00
UKRunChat
Hello, welcome to this episode of the UK Run Chat Podcast. I'm Michelle and today I'm joined by Steve Wolfe who is aiming to run the distance around the world without a single day off.
00:00:12
UKRunChat
So every single day come rain, shine, storms, um illness, Steve is out there clocking in the miles. Welcome Steve, how are you?
00:00:20
Steve Wolfe
Good morning, yeah I'm really good, um yeah fit as a fiddle maybe, a few niggles but that's pretty normal.
00:00:25
UKRunChat
no, no, no. Yeah, I mean, you must be. let's Let's start with just that big headline then. So you're attempting to run the distance around the world, which is, I've got this written down here, 40,075 kilometres. That's an incredible amount of kilometres.
00:00:41
UKRunChat
And you're doing that without taking a single day off. Where did that idea come from?
Inspirations Behind the Challenge
00:00:45
Steve Wolfe
So it started back in 2015, the concept really. I'd been running with them couple of iconic runners, Ben Smith, who did the 401 challenge, which was 401 marathons in 401 days, and another guy, Ben Rogers, who did 365 in 365.
00:01:07
Steve Wolfe
And off the back of that, I just thought, maybe, but maybe I can run 5K a day for a year. I thought, how hard can that be? And so, yeah, the mission was set um to start on the 31st of December 2016 and to see how far I could do with that.
00:01:25
Steve Wolfe
and But it became quite apparent that 5k a day was pretty straightforward, if I'm honest. um And yeah, I soon pushed the goalposts out, went out to 500 days, then a thousand days.
00:01:39
Steve Wolfe
And then a chance conversation with my daughter who said, how far is it around the world? quick Google and lo and behold 40,075 kilometres and I thought well why not you know if I can carry on running day by day why not
00:01:56
UKRunChat
Yeah, I mean, it's great to have a goal, isn't it, to keep you motivated. So you've you've been going every single day since then. that That's amazing. have Have you ever kind of felt like you needed a day off in that time?
00:02:09
Steve Wolfe
oh crikey there's been days where I've really struggled um there's days where I've questioned my sanity You know we've obviously gone through COVID, through all of that.
00:02:19
Steve Wolfe
I've had COVID three times. I've had flu. I've got hernias. I've had four steroid injections in my feet.
00:02:26
UKRunChat
um
00:02:29
Steve Wolfe
My mental health has suffered. um There's been all manner of reasons why I should have given up, but there's also been all manner reasons why to carry on.
00:02:39
Steve Wolfe
and I think sometimes it's, there's always a reason to give up, but there's always a reason to carry on. And I'm a firm believer that being resilient, you know, and stubborn maybe um has kept me going.
00:02:54
Steve Wolfe
and But yeah, I just think sometimes you've just got to keep putting one foot in front of the other and it's not rocket science. It's just focus on that. It's just running.
00:03:05
UKRunChat
Yeah. So, I mean, what where did when did you first become a runner, would you say? Let's let's kind of go back to the beginning.
00:03:10
Steve Wolfe
So, Yeah, I am but dial back to
Turning Life Around through Running
00:03:16
Steve Wolfe
2014. I was completely inactive. um was sixteen stone um I basically had a very poor lifestyle. I'd smoked earlier on in life.
00:03:26
Steve Wolfe
I drank, lived off takeaways. And I was sat eating my dinner one evening with chest pains um called 111. And they said, stay sat where we are. and We've got an ambulance coming. We think you having a heart attack.
00:03:42
Steve Wolfe
And that kind of woke me up to thinking, do you know what, I need to change my lifestyle. Sat in the back of the ambulance, heading off to hospital, being told say goodbye to your daughter because you might not see her again.
00:03:54
Steve Wolfe
Thankfully, my issue was a very, very minor issue. and When I got released from hospital, I walked home, so refused to be picked up. And I vowed to turn my life around and do something different.
00:04:06
Steve Wolfe
um I was ashamed of how I looked. So when I started running, I started running at night, at about 11 o'clock at night. And I couldn't even run to a lamppost, the next lamppost, when started.
00:04:19
Steve Wolfe
And it took me sort of, yeah, the rest of 2014 to sort of kind of get a little bit more active. And then it was um a chance conversation with a guy, Tony Giles, who was a great advocate for parkrun.
00:04:33
Steve Wolfe
And he said, come along to parkrun, you know, You'll love it. There's loads of great people, you know, great community. So in February 2015, went to my first ever park run.
00:04:44
Steve Wolfe
ah remember the day well. Crikey, five kilometres felt a long way. um And I struggled, but I got round. And by that point, I'd already signed up to Brighton Marathon in the April.
00:04:56
Steve Wolfe
Now, crazy as it seemed, I'd seen loads of people running marathons, dressed as, you know, I don't know, Mr. Blobby and things and I thought well crikey if they can do that I can run a marathon.
00:05:09
Steve Wolfe
so I went in at the deep end and my longest training run into the marathon was eight miles so 2015 was a massive sort of steep learning curve for me about running um but it's what got me into it and know thank myself for those investment in that early years of getting out, getting active, meeting people, becoming part of the running community and Yeah, I've never looked back since.
00:05:35
UKRunChat
Yeah, Parkrun's a great way to get into that, of course, isn't it? Like the the community at Parkrun so welcoming. are you Do you tend to stick to your local one or do you travel about quite a bit now?
00:05:44
Steve Wolfe
um So, yeah I tend to sort of go to my local one, which is Sittingbourne here in Kent, and although I have touristed quite a bit. I think got about 35 different locations now. So if I'm anywhere in the country, every single aspect of being away has to revolve around finding a park run and Even around the world, I still look and despair if some countries don't have a park run. So, um yeah, my life is completely revolving around it. I think I did my 440th now just at the weekend. So, yeah, park run is my life. i'm um I'm addicted, if I'm honest.
00:06:23
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's but I mean, it's there's there's worse things to be addicted to, isn't there? Yeah, there's something which improves our health and like mental well-being and being around people. So that's great. and So talk us through that marathon then, that first Brighton marathon.
00:06:38
UKRunChat
and
00:06:38
Steve Wolfe
Oh,
00:06:38
UKRunChat
how How was having done just eight miles as a long run? That must have been really tough.
First Marathon Experience
00:06:44
Steve Wolfe
it was horrendous. Absolutely horrendous. I went in so undercooked. I'm so underprepared both physically and mentally of the challenge that lay ahead.
00:06:56
Steve Wolfe
and had all the wrong gear on. I wore brand new trainers for the day because they were nice and bright and blue and hadn't been told that that's probably not the best way to break in new trainers.
00:07:08
Steve Wolfe
Um, yeah, had chafing issues. hate say it, but I had the wrong pants on. The chafing was horrendous. Um, and yeah, crikey, hitting the wall, you know, people say about sort of mile 20, 22. I think I hit it about mile nine and I absolutely hated every step for a while.
00:07:30
Steve Wolfe
I was questioning my life choices. I made phone calls to friends and family. Um, who kept saying, just keep going, keep going. I was doing it memory of friend of mine, Paul. He sadly lost his son, Ben.
00:07:44
Steve Wolfe
So I was doing it for cardiac risk in the young. And that's what kept me going on the day. I thought, do you know what? It doesn't matter how hard this is for me, there's people out there worse off and you've just got to keep putting one foot in front the other again.
00:07:58
Steve Wolfe
And somehow I miraculously got around and To this day, I can't believe i literally landed it bang on five hours to the second. If have been one second quicker, I'd have had a sub five. But hey, I didn't care. I'd got round.
00:08:14
Steve Wolfe
cried my eyes out when I crossed the finish line and because I'd achieved something I thought I'd never do in my life. i I still at that point didn't consider myself to be a runner. So to complete a marathon.
00:08:26
Steve Wolfe
Yeah. Wow. I thought that was going to be the only one. And if I knew then you know, what was to lie ahead of me, ah well, I wouldn't have believed it.
00:08:36
UKRunChat
Gosh, yeah, what would you have said if your future self said you're going to run the distance around the world and yeah.
00:08:41
Steve Wolfe
I just said, you're insane. and That's never going to happen. You're not a runner. You know, you're you're still overweight. You're still unhealthy. You know, running is just something that you're doing for getting you a bit more active.
00:08:56
Steve Wolfe
You'd never be able to do That's for other people. And that's what I sincerely believed. I believe that wasn't for me. And and i i'd like I say, I'd probably only run four or five park runs by that point.
00:09:10
Steve Wolfe
I had done a few training runs on a Sunday and yeah id somehow miraculously covered 26.2 miles. But I thought that was probably my one and only marathon. And yeah, I'd maybe get along to a few park runs here and there and that that would be my lot.
00:09:24
UKRunChat
yeah So was that was that the point finishing the marathon where you thought, yes, I'm a runner now? Or was that another moment where you kind of felt comfortable as a in calling yourself a runner?
00:09:38
Steve Wolfe
you know what? I still don't even class myself as a runner. I know it sounds weird even now. and ah look at other people. I look at elite runners, they're runners. And ah suppose I felt a bit of imposter syndrome um because what I'm doing is just going out for a little, you jaunt run, whatever you call it, around my local area most of the time.
00:10:03
Steve Wolfe
and Yeah, I suppose I don't really sort of kind of give myself credit for what I do um And yeah, I've struggled with my mental health over the years and it's probably something I sort of, you know, I'm trying to address and running, running he really has become my therapy.
00:10:23
Steve Wolfe
um And I'd like to think, you know, when all this is said and done and challenge is finished, I look back and go, you know what you are actually a runner? Um, But yeah, i'm i'm I'm probably not giving myself the credit ah you know I deserve, I guess.
00:10:39
UKRunChat
Yeah, it's hard, isn't it? I mean, I'm i'm talking to you now and i'm I'm thinking, yes, you're a runner. You're out there every day. You're out there more than me. You know, that's, I've classed myself as a runner for many years, but that's, yeah, I think it's incredible.
00:10:50
UKRunChat
So, yeah, I think you do need to give yourself a bit more credit, Steve. but and You talked um earlier about Ben Smith and Ben Rogers as key inspirations, of course, running marathons every day.
00:10:54
Steve Wolfe
Thank you.
00:11:00
Steve Wolfe
Yeah.
00:11:01
UKRunChat
what What was it about their stories and that sparked something in you? And, you know, did you kind of go and run a full a full marathon with them?
00:11:10
Steve Wolfe
Yeah, so um it was actually when I met Ben Smith that I met Ben Rogers. I think it was day 58 of Ben Smith's challenge. and He was coming to our local area in Maidstone.
00:11:22
Steve Wolfe
I'd seen a press release about it. um And i I fully went with the intention of running just two miles with him. um And Ben Rogers turned up as well with a handful of other people.
00:11:34
Steve Wolfe
And we got running, got chatting. And before you knew it, the days sort of just carried on rolling on That was later on in 2015. And they inspired me to keep going, keep going.
00:11:47
Steve Wolfe
And I was like, that I've only run one marathon. That was at Brighton. And I'm in a whole world of pain now.
00:11:51
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:11:52
Steve Wolfe
And I, you know, I'm not prepared for this. And they just kept me going. And, you know, the day was nicely broke up. I remember we stopped at the pub for lunch, which, you know, what runner, you know, hates that.
00:12:05
Steve Wolfe
um And it was just, listening to their stories about, you know, what running has done for them and, you know, especially their mental health. And um i just thought, you know what, again, why not?
00:12:17
Steve Wolfe
If I can just keep putting one foot in front of the other and get to the end, that would be, you incredible achievement, my second ever marathon. And I did. And again, i really struggled towards the end, really, probably even more so than Brighton because I wasn't prepared for it at all.
00:12:34
Steve Wolfe
And ah got round But I came away completely inspired because these guys have you know done something that most other people in the world would never do, never dream of.
00:12:46
Steve Wolfe
And I just thought, look, if they can do that, I can i can be active
Running as Therapy
00:12:51
Steve Wolfe
and I can hopefully you know become that inspiration to someone else.
00:12:56
UKRunChat
Yeah, no, yeah, you're right. I remember actually running with, because I ran with Ben a few times. i only did one marathon with him. and But I remember him talking about just how much every single day hurt him.
00:13:08
UKRunChat
And he, yeah, he was still going and he was encouraging a whole group of people around him. and Yeah, it's, it's, I don't know what it is about people who put themselves through that, but they are very inspiring. Do you feel you've inspired anybody else to start running with your journey?
00:13:26
Steve Wolfe
um I'd like to think so. um you I've got a very great community of runners around us. We um launched a local running group and Not a proper running club, but just a group of people locally in in our village called Roman Roadrunners.
00:13:42
Steve Wolfe
and We did that just over four years ago, which was sort of slap bang in the middle of COVID. So it was 2021. We were kind of just starting to unlock. and and be able to get out and meet and socialise. And I just thought there was a need for sort of connecting myself with local people, but hopefully getting other people out.
00:14:04
Steve Wolfe
And we just created a platform for people to come along. We met at the local rec. um We practised social distancing. But we basically took, you know, non-runners and supported them to become runners. um So ah kind of almost a couch to 5K programme.
00:14:22
Steve Wolfe
And it's so heartening to see that people from all sort of backgrounds of life, um all ages and abilities came along from, I think the youngest was seven to people in their 70s.
00:14:34
Steve Wolfe
And what we tried to do is just create a platform where people can come along when they liked, no cost, and just be able to run and to support them and encourage them. And that's probably the been the biggest achievement I've seen them so far to date.
00:14:51
Steve Wolfe
because now I feel like I've got a running family. You know, I've got 50 to 100 people that I know locally now, and I know them, their kids, their life story.
00:15:03
Steve Wolfe
You know, there's been weddings and all sorts of things that have happened over these last sort of four years. And that that's been the biggest achievement for me is seeing how it's connected so many people. And now,
00:15:16
Steve Wolfe
I don't need to be involved so much. They will connect with each other and they've made friendships and, you know, they'll go out running together. They'll socialize together. You know, that's that's community for you.
00:15:28
UKRunChat
Yeah, it is. um And the power of running, it's, yeah, I don't know what it is about running that kind of helps people connect. i don't I don't know what it is. know if you've got any thoughts on that, but it is, it it does seem to help people talk and open up a bit, doesn't it?
00:15:41
UKRunChat
mean, you mentioned there you've had kind of mental health, I don't know what to call, I don't know what you would say. um Do you want to talk a bit more about that and and how running's helped you?
00:15:51
Steve Wolfe
yeah i Yeah, you know, my life's been a little bit up and down over the years and probably like everyone, everyone has their struggles.
00:15:53
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:16:01
Steve Wolfe
um When the running sort of challenge started back in sort of end of 2016, I was in the process of getting divorced. and And the whole separation sort of side of things, starting afresh, ah not seeing my daughter every day, you know, that was a massive challenge for me.
00:16:21
Steve Wolfe
and So I had to readjust my life. you know I had to so look at what was more important for me. and i was getting on an even keel. I met my new partner in 2018 and now my wife. um and Everything was going great until COVID came along.
00:16:41
Steve Wolfe
and basically I lost my my world in terms of work stopped. and had to sort of wrap up everything I was doing with work because everything we were involved in stopped overnight.
00:16:54
Steve Wolfe
So I lost my sense of purpose. And at November 2020, unfortunately, i was just doing a usual school run, going to pick my daughter up. And I came across a guy, unfortunately, being knocked off a motorbike in the road.
00:17:08
Steve Wolfe
um And despite my best efforts and those of us around him um and even our local area ambulance, unfortunately, he couldn't be saved. and And within, i think, three weeks of that, I then contracted COVID for the first time at the end of 2020.
00:17:26
Steve Wolfe
And I got into sort of the new year of 2021 and my world imploded and I had no idea why. and only through talking to so the doctors and that they said, look, unfortunately, you probably had a the perfect storm. You're suffering from a severe case of PTSD, anxiety, depression and and COVID. You're probably suffering the effects of sort of long COVID as well.
00:17:53
Steve Wolfe
so you know, my world just changed. My mindset changed. ah You know, I started looking life very differently. I was very down. and you know, I've probably not spoken about this to even friends or family. And I i was struggling. I was questioning whether I should still be here.
00:18:12
Steve Wolfe
um And it it was a real, real challenge. Those early months of 2021, I just, you know, running literally saved my life. Because if I didn't get out in the door and go for a run, i Don't know whether I would have carried on.
00:18:27
UKRunChat
Yeah, wow, that that's powerful stuff. So you were still, i mean, you were still motivated to get out and run, literally, so that you could go and just do
Running Through COVID
00:18:36
UKRunChat
something. so was the motivation then still to run around the world, or was it just to get outside and and do something?
00:18:44
Steve Wolfe
At that point, the run the well challenge wasn't actually a thing. it was still just going out and it was just a run streak. and And I was just using running as a form of therapy for me.
00:18:52
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:18:57
Steve Wolfe
and The doctors just wanted to load me up with antidepressants, um which I refused. I wanted to do it my way. um i saw that I got that sort of endorphin release from going out for a run.
00:19:12
Steve Wolfe
And ah knew it was good for me. I knew by that point it was the one thing that was you know kind of keeping me going. um I had great support network of friends, family, and like I say, my partner, everyone, my daughter, you know they were there for me, but I needed to do something for myself.
00:19:33
Steve Wolfe
And just stepping out the door made me feel good. I loved running as a kid. um you know, that sense of freedom and just being outside with nature and, you know, traversing the countryside.
00:19:48
Steve Wolfe
i knew it was good for me and I just, I just knew I had to keep going and I had so much to live for, even though I'd questioned that, I had to just keep going. I had to keep running and yeah, I'm glad I did.
00:20:00
UKRunChat
Yeah, wow. I mean, you mentioned that you got COVID running in, you know, around, were you running around your garden with COVID at the time?
00:20:06
Steve Wolfe
Yeah. So yeah, it was,
00:20:08
UKRunChat
That must have been so tough. Yeah.
00:20:10
Steve Wolfe
Oh, Christmas 2020, restrictions were you had to self-isolate for 10 days. And and so i was trying to do, obviously, my bare minimum, minimum which is minimum five kilometres.
00:20:23
Steve Wolfe
I've not got the biggest garden. I'm trying to get GPS to plot five kilometres across a patio and up a path and back down. and In truth, so I was probably running lot more, but it was taking me a lot longer to get five kilometres worth of credit.
00:20:40
Steve Wolfe
So was taking me about an hour to get 5Ks worth of data. Now, when you're feeling rough with COVID and all the science at that point was saying, don't run, it's really bad for you, it can kill you. And I was being told by so many people, just don't run it, just stop the streak, you know it's not worth it.
00:21:00
Steve Wolfe
um But I was out there every day for 10 days, for about an hour, up and down the path and the patio just... just to keep it going because for some strange reason I knew I had to keep you know the street going um I'm glad I did um I'm glad I don't have to do that patio path run anymore because it was so mind-numbingly dull but yeah again it's resilience isn't it you know you find a way um and that was my way
00:21:29
UKRunChat
Yeah, wow, that's, yeah, that is, that's some, you made up some stern stuff there, Steve. So were you having to run that, like, is is a valid kind of five k run, is it, do you have kind of rules for not breaking your streak, move your rails?
00:21:43
Steve Wolfe
Yeah, so my only golden rules was when I went into this from day one was a minimum five kilometres per day outside, not on a treadmill, um in one go.
00:21:55
Steve Wolfe
So um i had to run at least five kilometres per day. and Had to be on Strava because, again, if it's not on Strava, it didn't happen. I had one day, I do remember very early on, i accidentally deleted it off Strava when I got back. So I had to go straight back out and do it again.
00:22:13
Steve Wolfe
and But yeah, they were my rules. They were just my rules of 5K was the benchmark minimum and anything above that was a bonus. So, yeah.
00:22:22
UKRunChat
Yeah. so So is that the closest you've come to breaking your street then, the the time you accidentally deleted it or have there been other times?
00:22:26
Steve Wolfe
oh Oh, there's been a few really, really hairy moments. Like I say, getting COVID three times, flu. I say, I've had four steroid injections, so I've got to run around those.
00:22:41
Steve Wolfe
I've been run over twice. um so gone up the bonnet of one car um and landed in the road paused my garmin of course dusting myself off and ran home um and then about two years ago i got yeah knocked down in the lanes uh thrown into a bush um and again just had to carry on and get it finished so yeah they've they've been tough days um but again you just got to find a way if you're hell-bent on getting this thing done then you you will keep finding a way so yeah they've not been pretty at times but but i've got them done so
00:23:13
UKRunChat
Emma?
00:23:17
UKRunChat
No?
00:23:21
UKRunChat
So, I mean, how do you keep your body going? Is is your body just, did you keep yourself strong in other ways or is it just running?
00:23:27
Steve Wolfe
you know what i'm the worst person for a physio i do no warm-up i very rarely do much of a warm-down I very rarely try and see the physio because I know full well they're generally going to tell me shouldn't be doing this, shouldn't be doing that.
00:23:44
Steve Wolfe
I still don't eat very well. I eat a lot of chocolate, I eat a lot of biscuits. and Yeah, i I don't do any strength and conditioning at all. um My daughter keeps telling me to go to the gym and lift weights and look after myself a bit better.
00:24:00
Steve Wolfe
mainly drink tea. Very rarely drink anything other than tea, which is crazy. so I'm doing everything the wrong way for, you know, what I'm trying to achieve, but it works for me.
00:24:13
Steve Wolfe
And that's the thing. I think if you find something that works for you, you know, stick with it. um Yeah, I could live off a lettuce leaf and a glass of water and, you know, probably I'd be a a little bit more healthy, but it's got me this far. You know, I've got to within striking distance of 30,000 kilometres and, you know, over 3,000 days of running. So, you know, it has worked for me and I'm not going to change anything now, that's for sure.
00:24:42
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's brilliant. So when are you likely to hit the 30,000 mark then?
00:24:46
Steve Wolfe
So 30,000, I know the date. I've already picked it. um So it will be the 5th of July this year. um There's a reason for that. It's going to be my 51st birthday.
00:24:58
Steve Wolfe
um I'll also land on my 444th park run, which will be at Sittingbourne. and So, yeah, it's just purely by chance. I knew the number was coming up close to my birthday.
00:25:10
Steve Wolfe
um i knew it was going to land on my first ever park run on my birthday. And so yeah, it's just a but ah case now I need to slow down a little bit because I'm in danger of overshooting it in the next few weeks if I don't slow down, because I've been running pretty much a half marathon every day this year um to get my distance up.
00:25:32
UKRunChat
Okay.
00:25:32
Steve Wolfe
So i think they've done 135 half marathons in 2025 alone and because I've I've set myself an end date for the challenge as well.
00:25:35
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:25:42
UKRunChat
Okay.
00:25:43
Steve Wolfe
So, yeah, breaking news. um The challenge will end on the 31st of December 2026. So it will be landing literally 10 years to the day that I started. So it gives me about 18 months to run the final 10,000 kilometres.
00:25:59
Steve Wolfe
So, um yeah, on average, that works out sort of best part of a half marathon every day between now and then.
00:26:06
UKRunChat
Yeah, and yeah you're feeling up to that now. you've You've obviously had a lot of practice at Running Daily, yeah. yeah
00:26:12
Steve Wolfe
Yeah, now I'm so conditioned to half marathons, I can literally step out the door and do one without thinking now. um Weird, if you'd have said that to even me know to me a year ago, I wouldn't have believed that. um you know Even some days, 5k a day was a challenge, but I'm completely conditioned now. i'm probably in the fitness and form of my life. My times have been coming down everywhere.
00:26:37
Steve Wolfe
I smashed a half marathon PB, um, earlier in the year. um I did 50 half marathons in 50 days at the end of last year as a bit of a challenge and it just became the benchmark. So I, yeah, I just think, well, okay, it's a two hour investment in my life every day.
00:26:57
Steve Wolfe
got to find two hour window roughly to do that. Um, but I enjoy it now. And, um, Yeah, i I feel sad if I miss a half from marathon. So, you know, this past week or, yeah, the last run I did was only 12 kilometres and it didn't feel far enough, but I've got to slow down.
00:27:16
UKRunChat
Oh wow.
00:27:16
Steve Wolfe
So...
00:27:17
UKRunChat
Yeah. Okay. Oh, well, yeah. So what what are you planning for your birthday run then for your 30,000 mark?
00:27:23
Steve Wolfe
So it's literally going to be just a 5k. um Nice and simple. I'm just going to drive to Parkrun, which I never do. I normally run to Parkrun. I'm just going to get to Parkrun, do a lovely leisurely 5k with friends and family there and enjoy it and just have ah you know that final 5k to get me from 29.995 30,000 kilometres.
00:27:47
Steve Wolfe
and sort of celebrate, enjoy those small you know landmarks or big landmarks, enjoy my birthday for a change, give myself a little bit of a break. and But also I'm mindful of the fact that previous weekend I've got the North Downs run, which is the 30km race.
00:28:05
Steve Wolfe
And then the day after my birthday is our wedding anniversary and we've got the Burewater 15 mile run as well. so and nothing says I love you more than taking your wife on a 15 mile race.
00:28:18
Steve Wolfe
So
00:28:18
UKRunChat
ah
00:28:18
UKRunChat
As long as she's willing, that's that's that's great. i love it.
00:28:22
Steve Wolfe
yeah, she's um vaguely willing, but I'm sure there's probably more romantic ways to spend your first wedding anniversary.
00:28:25
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:29
UKRunChat
Oh, bless. I'm sure you'll have fun. It'll be a memorable one anyway, won't it? It'll be one you talk about for years to come. Yeah.
00:28:37
UKRunChat
So you've you said that you've already set an end date. Are you kind of, are you wanting to stop running every day then? Or what will happen afterwards?
00:28:45
Steve Wolfe
Well, now that's the big question. um My wife keeps saying the next day, take the day off, break the streak, have a rest, you know, take it easy.
00:28:52
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:57
Steve Wolfe
My daughter said, which way have you run around the world in your head? And I'm kind of like, well, kind of clockwise almost. She said, well, why don't you turn around and come back the other way?
00:29:08
Steve Wolfe
And my wife was just, no, please don't. So I don't honestly know. um ah haven't got to that point yet. I've got to get there first.
00:29:18
UKRunChat
yeah
00:29:18
Steve Wolfe
and If I get there, ah think I'll probably keep on running. think the streak will carry on. Obviously, the challenge in itself will be over. um Someone mentioned, you know, how far is it to the moon?
00:29:32
Steve Wolfe
um that's way out of my league. That's 330,000 kilometres or something like that. I don't think I'll live long enough to run that far.
00:29:40
UKRunChat
yeah And
00:29:43
Steve Wolfe
yeah, I think I'll keep running. Running is part of my life now. You know, i I'm inspired. We've got a great guy at our local park run, John, who's 84. You know, he runs still. He ran the first ever London Marathon.
00:29:56
Steve Wolfe
He's still fit as a fiddle. And I want to be John. I want to be at park run when I'm in my eighty s and you know, still running. And if I can run every day between now and then, that'd be fantastic. If I'm even here in my 80s, that's the win for me. So yeah, I'm probably just going to keep running now, I'm afraid.
00:30:16
UKRunChat
yeah no no yeah don't don't be sorry about it i think it's great what kind of ah weather conditions do you prefer steve
00:30:22
Steve Wolfe
Oh, cold. Give me as cold as possibly can be.
00:30:25
UKRunChat
let's see
00:30:26
Steve Wolfe
I'm one of those really weird runners you see. I'm almost like a postman every day in shorts. and And that's been the thing with the ah streak. um I've either been in a running vest or T-shirt.
00:30:39
Steve Wolfe
I don't wear long sleeves. I always wear shorts. um My mum says I've got a 40 thermostat because I don't feel the cold. I literally can be out in minus five, minus 10.
00:30:51
Steve Wolfe
And I have been on the streak we've had. knee-deep snow. I've been yeah wading through snow drifts. um And I love the cold weather. Absolutely love it. hate the heat.
00:31:02
Steve Wolfe
I'm not a warm weather runner. and This time of year is a real struggle for me. and and know i ah overheat way too much. So you know i get to this point of the year and I'm actually starting to strategically think, when do I run?
00:31:20
Steve Wolfe
So I like to normally run sort of nine to 10 o'clock in the morning. um by that point when I get back it's getting on for lunchtime and that's way warm enough for me so sometimes I get to this point in the year and I remember a few years back I think we got to 38 degrees and I switched to night time running so I would go out at sort of half 11 at night to do 5k I do a 5k out wait till the clock ticked over to midnight and then ran back so I effectively got two runs in one go
00:31:52
Steve Wolfe
but that was the cooler conditions, but that was still probably, i think it was about 28 degrees at night. So yeah and and I've run abroad and obviously that's been really hot at times. So yeah, I don't do heat.
00:32:05
UKRunChat
No.
00:32:06
Steve Wolfe
Give me minus five any day. You soon warm up. and It's fine.
00:32:11
UKRunChat
And are you always outside or do you ever do any treadmill running?
00:32:14
Steve Wolfe
I cannot run on a treadmill.
00:32:15
UKRunChat
and No.
00:32:17
Steve Wolfe
I've tried it and it's a bit like Bambi on ice. um all over the place. Absolutely hysterical to watch it. I just cannot get my rhythm, um but I'd much rather be outside. um a great believer in you know the great outdoors.
00:32:33
Steve Wolfe
You know, nature gives us a free gym. You know, it's a free gym pass. It costs you nothing to be out there. ah love running in the countryside where we are. So lucky I've got Coast couple of miles away and literally step out my front door and there's countryside in front of me. So, yeah.
00:32:51
Steve Wolfe
i I couldn't do this on a treadmill if I tried, but and even if I could, or it was an option, I'd still be outside somewhere.
00:32:59
UKRunChat
Yeah. Yeah. And are you generally a solo runner or, cause I know you mentioned you've, you've got the the community of runners who can join you. Do you prefer running alone most of the time or are you often out with others?
00:33:09
Steve Wolfe
um Yeah, it's more necessity sometimes. I do love running with company. I can talk for England, and but i also love listening to people and I love having that community around me. But ah appreciate i my timings don't always fit in with everyone else.
00:33:25
Steve Wolfe
Not everyone wants to step out the door and run a half marathon every day. and i'm I'm incredibly fortunate that I've got so many people that want to come and run with me, um but probably...
00:33:38
Steve Wolfe
60% of my runs are on my own. um And then i do try and make sure i go to a running group on a Tuesday and Thursday evening. Even if I've run earlier in the day on my own, and I'll still get along to run with people because it's important. You know, it's great for my mental health, running with people.
00:33:55
Steve Wolfe
And it's nice to be able to give something back and support new runners.
00:33:56
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:33:58
Steve Wolfe
So, um yeah, I take running with people any day, you but um'm I'm comfortable in my own skin now. um I can lose myself in my thoughts I process things it is my therapy now you know save me a fortune in therapists by just getting out and going for a run and it's nice just to see where the world takes you you know half marathon's a long way you can end up a long way from home and you know you can see so many incredible things and
00:34:30
Steve Wolfe
You can meet incredible people along the way. And, you know, I'm still staggered even now that just little old me, I get recognised in places now because of my running locally.
00:34:40
UKRunChat
Wow.
00:34:41
Steve Wolfe
And um people stop me and go, oh, wow, you know, I've seen you keep going. You know, you've inspired me to go for a run. And I'm like, wow, thank you. know, it's very kind. But I don't see myself as anything other than just doing my own thing, really.
00:34:55
UKRunChat
Yeah, kind know that's that's great that's great, isn't it? that It's good to be so comfortable in your own skin. Do you do you often do the same routes then or are you constantly switching them around?
00:35:05
Steve Wolfe
So i i can almost tell you to within a metre all the different distances of all the different plot points from where I am.
00:35:12
UKRunChat
you.
00:35:12
Steve Wolfe
So I have defined sort of half marathon routes from my front door. They're either loops or there's a few out and backs. and I've got a about 10 that I can sort of recount.
00:35:25
Steve Wolfe
Like say, could tell you to almost within a metre without looking at my watch, how far I am from home and it's a sad sort of state of affairs almost, but, um, sometimes I try and mix it up, but it, it is a little bit difficult after 3000 days. It's quite a hard to get somewhere new locally.
00:35:43
Steve Wolfe
Sometimes I'll get in the car and I'll drive to somewhere new, um to try and run somewhere completely different. And that's important as well.
00:35:50
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:35:50
Steve Wolfe
Um, and I've been very lucky that I've had a lot of local running clubs actually invite me to come and join them. and Clubs like Thanet Roadrunners, Wardhurst Runners, they've they've been great to invite me along to their team runs just so I can run somewhere different to meet them.
00:36:08
Steve Wolfe
And that's been great. So, yeah, any opportunity to get out, meet new people, go somewhere different, you know, that's fantastic because it is pretty dull sometimes doing the same loop over and over again.
00:36:19
Steve Wolfe
It's like Groundhog Day, and but, you know, sometimes it's necessary.
00:36:21
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:36:25
UKRunChat
Yeah, but sometimes I guess it doesn't matter if you're just kind of in your own thoughts and you're processing things, then it it doesn't really matter where you are, I suppose, does it?
00:36:33
Steve Wolfe
No, no. And, you know, like I say, for me, two hours can go really quickly in my head.
00:36:34
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:36:40
Steve Wolfe
You know, um ah can sometimes do a kilometre and don't even I've zoned out completely and don't even remember getting from a to B. And that's good sometimes because it just chalks off another kilometre, really.
00:36:53
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah. and We were chatting before we started recording about your charity fundraising. Do you want to tell us a little bit more about that?
00:37:00
Steve Wolfe
Yeah, so it's always been important for me from day one to give something back. You know, I've seen the power that, you know, both Ben Smith and Ben Rogers, what they did with their running, you know, raising money for Kidscapes and Stonewall with Ben Smith, Macmillan for Ben Rogers. And like I say, that first marathon was for Cardiac Risk in the Young.
00:37:24
Steve Wolfe
ah did London Marathon the following year for our local children's hospice, Demelza Hospice Care for Children. um And then I've supported various other charities throughout the years. So I've supported Mind, St John's Ambulance. So and i think my fundraising, you know, exceeds tens of thousands of pounds over the years now.
00:37:47
Steve Wolfe
and But it was that event in 2020 when unfortunately I suddenly came across young guy in the road and unfortunately lost his life. I i became more aware of the work the Air Ambulance did.
00:37:59
Steve Wolfe
And I'd done some fundraising for them. And then and March 23 at our local parkrun, Sittingbourne, I would just finish my parkrun, chatting around, you know, away with people.
00:38:15
Steve Wolfe
I heard a scream and I looked up and I realised there was a problem couple of hundred yards away, not far from the finish funnel. ran across as fast as I can and realized one of our fellow park runners was having a cardiac arrest.
00:38:29
Steve Wolfe
Um, being first aid trained, I started performing CPR on him and due to the great work of, know, fellow park runners and our event director of OM, who quickly dashed over with our defib, we managed to defib him twice, kept him alive until paramedics arrived and ultimately the air ambulance.
00:38:49
Steve Wolfe
And thankfully, he's here to tell the tale. He's back marshalling and park running himself. And I thought, do you know what, that's that's it. I found my purpose now. This is why.
Running for a Cause
00:39:02
Steve Wolfe
And it's kind of given the whole emphasis, the Run the World Challenge and my run streak, you know, full purpose now is that I can fundraise for Kent Sussex Surrey Air Ambulance.
00:39:15
Steve Wolfe
You know, they need about 19 million pounds a year to survive. They don't get government funding. You know, it's all down to contributions from the public. And I thought, if I can raise awareness of what they're doing, but raise some funds as well, put them on the map a wee bit more and, and you know, just do my bit, then that's what it's all about. So, yeah, that's what I'm going to be focused on now for the next 18 months.
00:39:40
Steve Wolfe
really doing my bit for them, stepping up and, you know, volunteering for them and in any way I can, you know, possibly.
00:39:46
UKRunChat
Yeah, what is what a superb cause. That's brilliant. and Where can people support the challenge then and and help with your fundraising?
00:39:53
Steve Wolfe
Yeah, so I'm on all the socials. um You can find me on Facebook and Instagram as Run The World Challenge. On X as it is now as Run The World 180. um and all the links there. i have a JustGiving page if people want to support. But ultimately, if they want to support, obviously, our air ambulance, but the local air ambulance, wherever they are, you know, every pound literally makes a difference. You know, it's through people's money. You are the people, the lifesavers, because you're getting those helicopters off the ground. You're getting them to the people as quickly as they possibly can when people need it most. And none of us know
00:40:31
Steve Wolfe
you know, what the next day is going to bring. um And I've seen firsthand, like I say myself, the great work they do, the lives that they've saved. I've even sat and chatted with some people they've saved that I'd never met before. and And I just think, wow, crikey, one life saved is worth all the effort that we can all put in to raise money for them.
00:40:53
UKRunChat
Yeah, definitely. And you often don't realise that you need it, you, until, you know, how important it is until you actually need it yourself. Touch wood.
00:41:02
Steve Wolfe
Yeah,
00:41:03
UKRunChat
Yeah. ah well Yeah, thank you for that. We'll put those links in the show notes then to your socials and people can follow you and cheer you on to your 30,000 kilometres soon and then on to your youre completing Round the World Challenge.
00:41:18
UKRunChat
and I'm going to finish with some quickfire questions, if that's okay with you, Steve.
00:41:21
Steve Wolfe
of course.
00:41:23
UKRunChat
Okay, so favourite post-run snack?
00:41:26
Steve Wolfe
Oh, crikey. I'm um renowned for either custard creams or chocolate digestives. So it is, it is.
00:41:32
UKRunChat
That's with your cup of tea, right? Yeah, I like a cup of tea after a run as well, must say. There's nothing else quite as this part.
00:41:39
Steve Wolfe
I'm never far from a cup of tea.
00:41:43
UKRunChat
and Music or no music on your runs?
00:41:47
Steve Wolfe
ah Definitely no music. I tried. i tried Little Ear Pods. I kept popping out my ears, and but i also like to be able to, hear the cars before they run me over um mostly road but a lot of trail as well do don't get on with trail shoes but i love being out in the countryside so um yeah give me a nice big hill to run up that's fantastic
00:41:57
UKRunChat
Yeah, so my next question is road or trail. is it Is it road you prefer to run on?
00:42:13
UKRunChat
Yeah, at most scenic run you've ever done.
00:42:16
Steve Wolfe
oh crikey um wow um I loved running in Cyprus. That was fantastic. um But also was staying near Harrogate once and just coming across a viaduct.
00:42:31
Steve Wolfe
And I love the fact that you when you're somewhere new, you can just turn a corner and wow, the landscape suddenly erupts in front of you. So yeah, that was ah was probably one of the most memorable ones, I think.
00:42:43
UKRunChat
Yeah, it's it's lovely up there, isn't it? ah Worst weather you've ever run in.
00:42:49
Steve Wolfe
Wow. Yeah. So yeah. yeah knee-deep snow, 70, 80 mile an hour winds, but yeah, it's got to be the 38 degree heat. Wow, just, yeah I was sweating before I even left the front door by the time I came back.
00:43:03
Steve Wolfe
And I think on those kind of runs, I was losing over a kilo just on a 5K run. So yeah, that's great great if you're on a diet, but not if you want to stop cramping in the night because I was always dehydrated.
00:43:19
UKRunChat
Yeah. Oh, and a last one, not not such a quick question, but for anyone out there listening who's struggling to get out of the door for a run, what would you say to them?
00:43:29
Steve Wolfe
It is the hardest step of any run. um It's the one that most people don't take, but it's the biggest and most powerful step you'll ever make for your life and your wellbeing.
00:43:41
Steve Wolfe
No one else will do it for you. You know, you've got to be the one that steps out that front door, you know, do it. Even if you step out that front door, like I did for the first time and just run to the next lamppost, that's a win.
00:43:55
Steve Wolfe
If you're a non-runner, running from one lamppost to the next is great. And the next time, maybe challenge yourself just to go get out that door again and run one more lamppost.
00:44:07
Steve Wolfe
But best of all, find someone to run with because you become accountable. You make friends, go to your local park run. You can park walk, don't even have to run it. You can just trot a couple of steps and walk the rest, but it makes you get out that front door.
00:44:23
Steve Wolfe
So maybe find someone else who's in that boat with you. Go for a walk together to start with them. Yeah, find your local group, find your community because they're all out there. They're all great people.
00:44:35
Steve Wolfe
You know, they all started somewhere as well. You know, none of us were born runners. So, yeah, get out there and, you know, make it happen.
00:44:44
UKRunChat
Steve, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It's been fascinating hearing all about it. So if you want to follow us Steve's journey or support his fundraising or contribute to your own air ambulance, you can find the links in the show notes. And we hope that today's episode reminds you of the strength that just comes from showing up one day at a time.
00:45:03
UKRunChat
and Thank you for listening to the UK Run Chat podcast. Don't forget to subscribe, share and leave us a review. And we'll see you on the next episode.