Previous guest of the show, Levi Charlton returns this week to share his EPIC adventure on the Southern Upland Way.

After failing to finish the event last year due to a knee injury he regrouped and finished the 220-mile race in 96 hours and 50 minutes.

As we talk about his journey we discuss:

• What his training was like for the event and in the month leading up to the race itself
• What the atmosphere was like and how he was able to get his head round such a distance
• What his plans were for nutrition, hydration and sleep, given he started on the Saturday and finished on the Wednesday morning
• How he planned with his crew and prepared for the unexpected
• As always - we need to talk about kit, what worked for him and what didn't
• How his recovery is going and what plans he has for the future

More information on the Race Across Scotland can be found here: https://www.gbultras.com/ultra-great-britain/

And if you are already connected to Levi on Facebook, you can find loads of pictures of the race on his page, including the map reading in the dark video.

If you want to up your running game and take the guesswork out of your training then why not hire a coach (like me)? I have arranged a special discount for podcast listeners. All you need to do is put WCUpodcast in at the payment stage. Don't worry, we'll set up a call before you have to pay to go over what you specifically need. Here's the link to the coaching page: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/

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In this episode, we talk to David Clarke about his short but very full running journey

• Starting Couch to 5K in August 2021
• Working his way up the races to complete his first ultra within a year
• Some crazy challenges, like a marathon a month Benjamin Buton Challenge that included the 57 miles Glasgow to Edinburgh ultramarathon
• His first DNF (Did Not Finish) and how he recovered from failure and put it into perspective
• The power of community, like-minded people and groups that can help such as the Fit Ayrshire Masses (FAMs)
• A plea about your trailside pee (ing) behaviour and for more Strava honesty

Here is the link to the Fit Ayrshire Masses (FAMs) group that David discusses: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199533331932977

If you want to up your running game, why not hire a coach like me? I have arranged a special discount for podcast listeners. All you need to do is put WCUpodcast in at the payment stage. Don't worry, we'll set up a call before you have to pay to go over what you specifically need. Here's the link to the coaching page: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/

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

This week we have the only guest who is actually younger than me - Josh Raeburn.

Josh talks about how he has found his way into the world of ultrarunning, although he has just arrived.

We discuss:

• How he used running as a way to get a handle on his fitness with less free time and also following a knee injury
• Getting serious about running and putting himself in the right environment with running clubs
• Using challenges to test your limits and see what happens when you get there
• Using ultrarunning as a way of testing your limits and how you react when you get there
• Going all in with training and diet and looking at how the small improvements add up
• The importance of getting the right people around you to motivate, inspire and support
• Balancing a young family and training
• How he uses tech to manage himself during very long efforts (I love the geekery involved in this)

The excellent video of Josh running the Ultra Scotland 100 is on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8t6XZ3se3w/

If you are looking to up your running game, why not hire a coach like me? I have arranged a special discount for podcast listeners. All you need to do is put WCUpodcast in at the payment stage. Don't worry, we'll set up a call before you have to pay to go over what you specifically need. Here's the link to the coaching page: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/

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

This week we have another one of the Stewarton Ultrarunners - the wonderful Kirsten Cowling

In this fab conversation, the self-proclaimed Ayrshire Horseback Fancy Dress Champion, Kirsten shares with us:

• The ups and downs and stops and starts of her running journey
• The Highland Fling is the 'heart' race for her
• Getting her money's worth out of the races
• The only female ever-present Hillbilly
• Her stunning West Highland Way Race finish in 2019 (link to the video below)
• Pizza for the win - and shocking some Pizza Hut staff
• A simple yet effective tactic for checkpoints

AAAAAND so much more.

Here is the Stewarton Ultrarunners West Highland Way Race video link - skip to 13 minutes to see Kirsten finish the race. It's a moment that can't help but make you smile and feel your heart full: https://youtu.be/AipHIZ5T4NU?si=imqmO0D0Y8vo6hiC

Here's the link to the video/song that won her the Highland Fling prizes (listen to the words): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9f_4Q0A6lE

As always, if you are looking for run coaching, especially if you are looking at or have just started in the ultra distances then get in touch here: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/ and we can see what I might be able to do to help

I'm also hoping that I have some exciting coaching news next week so stay 'tuned' for that

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

Well well well, we have something a little bit different this week.

I will be on the other side of the mic where Scott Williamson, a previous guest talks with me about my running of the Lakeland 100.

Some of the things that we cover are:

• The build-up to the race and atmosphere around the 'camp'
• The start - how I went about trying to pace myself
• Course conditions
• My made-up drama about nearly being timed out
• Shoes, kit and food
• Race tactics and the use of checkpoints (which were ace by the way)
• How I'm recovering

I'd like to thank Scott for hosting this week and back to normal business next week for episode 12

As always, if you are looking for run coaching, particularly if it is for your first ultra then get in touch at: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/

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Just me this week, wittering on about what I have been doing for the past eight months to get ready for my 'A' race of the year:

The Lakeland 100 on the 26th July 2024

I cover:

• My initial thinking when selecting the race (and being a lucky so and so with the ballot)
• How I executed the training plan and how it was structured
• Strength and conditioning
• How I have built my race plan and some predictions (although dont hold me to it)
• My turn to choose the Instagram music

I'm away to do a fly by and see you all on the other side of Consiton

Fancy dot watching and seeing how I am going over the weekend? Yes? Then here’s the tracking link: https://live.opentracking.co.uk/24lakeland100/

If you are looking for a coach then why don't you check out Team RunRun? I have heard this coach is pretty decent: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/

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Another double accent whammy, this time with another of the world-famous Stewarton Ultrarunners (I know I know - I do get other folk on here).

Billy and I were catching up and it was so much fun that I almost forgot to press record but when we did we talked about the following:

• His journey from rugby and being 'fit for sport' to finding ultra
• Recovering from a motorbike accident and how he manages the injury
• The 'I met someone and they talked about ultras' hook into the sport
• The Scott Vs Billy rivalry - it doesn't take a lot to stir that one up
• What his 'go to' races are each year
• How you shouldn't copy Billy's advice on kit and in race nutrition (including his West Highland Way Race diet)
• Using normal routines to fit training in
• Using others to avoid boredom on the long runs (or listening to this podcast :))

If you want to see Billy taking on the West Highland Way Race you can see it here (with the aftermath from 11:45 - 12:15)

If you are looking for a coach then you could do worse than checking out Team RunRun - yours truly is on there at https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/ (other brands are available)

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This week we double up on accents as I talk all things ultra with Levi Charlton

We wander through the conversation and cover topics such as:

• Dabbling in the odd run and seeing what else he could do
• Discovering that ultras don't stop at 30 miles
• How running longer turned into big adventures and days out
• Meeting his match on Ben Nevis
• The craziness of this year's plans where the 96-mile West Highland Way Race was just a warm-up (whaaaaaaaat!)
• Leki love and bean burritos for the win
• Using early mornings to create enough space later in the day for family time

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did having the conversation. Feel free to drop me a follow on Instagram @davidultrarunner and to make sure that you don't miss an episode then hit make sure to subscribe. Reviews would be ace as well (unless you think its rubbish).

I have also just joined Team RunRun as a coach, so if you are looking for coaching then why don't you check it out: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/

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