Podcast · Sport

Running Tales

by Michelle and Craig Lewis · English · Sport

Running Tales, presented and produced by husband and wife couple Michelle and Craig Lewis, aims to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners. There are so many wonderful and inspiring stories in the world of running - this podcast aims to give as many of them as possible the publicity they

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 47 min
Latest: 5 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

James McLeod: One man's extraordinary running challenge to honour his dad

James McLeod is better known as Jiggsy, a name given to him back in 2003 by his father, Jimmy McLeod. Sadly, in November last year, Jimmy took his own life at the age of just 52, the kind of loss which no family could ever be prepared for. But Jiggsy was determined that grief wouldn't become the end of the story. Instead, he wanted to use the loss of his father to create something that might help others. Already a keen runner, he set out on an extreme challenge to honour Jimmy's memory and raise vital funds for the If U Care Share Foundation . Throughout 2026, he will be running an average…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E221 · 28 Sep 2026 · 55 min
Les and Jules Telford: Meet the 'Shit Runners' championing inclusivity
Les and Jules Telford are members of one of the most inclusive clubs and brilliantly named running club around: The Shit Runners Club. Formed by Shaun Fagen, with the first group operating in Kendal, Cumbria, Shit Runners shuns pace, podiums and perfectly curated Strava posts in favour of showing up and getting out of the door. Les and Jules take the club's trail running group, helping new runners to learn about the sport and get fitter, healthier and happier. The couple, who are keen trail runners themselves, are also pushing back the boundaries on running as seniors, taking on races…
E220 · 21 Sep 2026 · 44 min
Ally O'Rourke: Head Boomeranger on founding the 10 Boomerangs parkrun project
Ally O'Rourke is the founder of 10 Boomerangs, a project which has created community and brought enjoyment at parkrun events across the world. It was back in June 2024, when South Beach Recreation Reserve Run Director Ally decided to send those ten boomerangs out into the world. Starting at her Fremantle home in Australia, they have travelled the globe, meeting new temporary owners and taking in the sights and sounds of some of the world's largest cities and smallest towns. As each boomerang heads around the world their stories are shared on social media, building a new community while…
E219 · 14 Sep 2026 · 51 min
Khandie Rees: Conquering The Amazing Northampton Run to raise thousands for charity
Khandie Rees needs some persuading when people tell her she's a runner. With a dodgy hip and suffering from serious pulmonary problems that mean she probably shouldn't be running at all, Khandie is often found towards the back of the pack at any race she takes part in. But at Running Tales, we know that your VO2 Max and split times mean nothing compared to the effort it takes to simply get to the start line and what you do with the privilege of running when you get there. Northampton resident Khandie has completed the town's half-marathon seven times, finishing the latest edition yesterday.…
E218 · 7 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Chris Luna: How one ultra runner is helping 'Native Men Run'
Chris Luna has been running for about four years, using the sport to achieve physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional balance. Running has also seen him embrace ultra distances, including competing at the Saddles 100 in Prescott, Arizona - described as an act of endurance that passes through dust, pine, and shifting stone. Despite not reaching his 100 mile goal, he still managed to rack up 100km at the challenging event. But for Native American Chris, who has Coahuilteco and Lakota heritage, running is about far more than his own health. As the founder of Native Men Run, he is aiming to…
E217 · 31 Aug 2026 · 36 min
Daniel Moores: Why 'Back My Run' app creator wants to help runners find inspiration
When Daniel Moores was mid-way through a difficult long run, his thoughts turned to his grandparents. Daniel was training to run the Abu Dhabi Marathon in their memory, and imagining speaking to them gave him the boost to get through that tough 30km training run. An idea started to form in the head of the Birmingham-born runner, who is now based in the Middle East: what if athletes could hear the voices of their loved ones cheering them on as they hit the wall. He went on to complete the marathon in four hours and 12 minutes, and what began as a very personal moment turned into an idea that…
E216 · 24 Aug 2026 · 40 min
Will Anderson: The man behind £10 parkrun - 'Ten pound gear and a good idea'
Will Anderson is no slouch when it comes to running. His parkrun PB of 15 minutes and 17 seconds would have most purveyors of the 5k phenomenon reaching for the smelling salts. But despite his rapid times, Will isn't afraid to scoot round parkruns riding a hobby horse. Or a beanie hat. Or, indeed, a thick jumper and woollen trousers at the height of one of the hottest summers the UK has ever seen. That's because Will is the man behind the new Instagram channel, 10poundparkrun , a project which combines the Saturday morning 5k with dubious running gear. Will's plan is to raise money for…
E215 · 27 Jul 2026 · 44 min
Joshua Schofield: PGC1-Coaching founder on racing Jacob Kiplimo and the basics every runner should master
Joshua Schofield is a former sub-elite road, track and cross-country runner, who represented England as a Junior Male and for the North of England as a Senior Male. Josh originally competed in triathlon before finding success as a runner, but it is working as a coach which has defined his place in the running world. Josh's achievements include coaching at the Loughborough Talent Hub, working with athletes who were training for England and at The Commonwealth Games, and becoming an England Athletics Talented Coach Mentor. But his biggest success came in 2019 when he formed PGC1-Coaching,…
E214 · 13 Jul 2026 · 42 min
Bob Bell-Johnson: How running helped one man come to terms with the pain of grief
For Bob Bell-Johnson, running is not simply about fitness. It is thinking time. The 39-year-old, from Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire, is training to become a personal trainer, a major career change after a long and complicated journey with his physical and mental health. Bob was born with a club foot, which required surgery when he was young and left his lower left leg permanently weaker. Later, he faced serious back problems, including major spinal surgery in 2013 for cauda equina syndrome. After that operation, he used walking sticks for two years. So running was never the obvious path. As…
E213 · 29 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Chris Marritt: The ultra runner who found the real meaning of failure
When Chris Marritt DNF’d at the Ring O’ Fire, a 135-mile coastal ultra in Anglesey, he started to doubt his whole identity as a runner. As someone who had been running for nearly 25 years and had racked up 2,000 miles in preparation for the race, dropping out hurt Chris more than he had expected. He spent the following year trying to repair the damage, while working out what needed to change second time around. Spoiler alert: redemption was round the corner… and now his full story is set to be chronicled in a forthcoming memoir entitled Did Not Fail, which he will be self-publishing on…
E212 · 1 Jun 2026 · 46 min
Ian Williams: The marathoner born with Spina Bifida
Ian Williams was born with spina bifida myelomeningocele, a severe form of the condition. At the time, outcomes were very uncertain, with a survival rate of about 70% and only around 15% of those born with the condition going on to walk unaided - let alone run. Thanks to an operation in the early weeks of his life, and despite a risky school time pursuit of rugby, Ian bucked that trend and over the last 22 years has completed four marathons and two ultramarathons - including the London Marathon twice. His journey is demonstrated not only by the races he has completed, but by a scar on the…
E211 · 25 May 2026 · 46 min
Megan Boxall: How one woman's record-breaking run round Britain was inspired by the Samaritans
Megan Boxall's running journey has a variety of starting points. In many ways, it started when she took up the sport as a youngster, going on to complete several marathons and triathlons. Others may argue that it really began in October last year when she set out on a trip that was to take in the entire coastline of Britain, covering 5,240 miles. Or perhaps its origin was the moment when a desperate and depressed Megan rang the Samaritans. Wherever you draw your line in the sand, Megan's is an almost unbelievable story of triumph over adversity as she embraced positivity to conquer bad…
E210 · 18 May 2026 · 59 min
Abby Heffern: The reality of running a 100-miler
Abby Heffern is an ultra runner and coach, who achieved her dream of completing a 100-mile race at the start of this year. Couple that with her desire to run not only more 100s, but also 200-mile events, and you might be forgiven for assuming Abby is one of those people who take to extreme endurance running like a duck to water. The truth is very different, and Abby's Forgotten Florida 100 finish was actually the accumulation of seven years of hard work. Her journey to 100 took in 13 'warm-up' ultras across a host of distances, and saw her struggle with gastrointestinal issues that…
E209 · 12 May 2026 · 20 min
Bristol Half Marathon: What makes a great race?
From the nerves of taking on your first big race to embracing crowd support - and the dangers of service station Chinese, what makes or breaks a great half-marathon? For everyday runners there is far more in play than achieving the perfect splits or knowing which miles to pop your gels at. Whether navigating the pressure of simply getting to the start line, trying to employ a nutrition strategy that won't end in stomach disaster, finding the bag drop area, or trying to remember why you're doing this in the first place, there is plenty to think about. On Sunday, Michelle and Craig ran the…
E208 · 4 May 2026 · 39 min
Adam Rodriguez: Running 55 marathons in 55 cities in one year
Adam Rodriguez is doing something incredible. The 29-year-old is currently ticking off the final weeks of an epic challenge which will see him run 55 marathons in 55 different cities in a single year - that's a marathon in every city in the UK. Along the way, he is raising money for the MOVE Against Cancer charity, the organisation behind the popular and vitally important 5k Your Way initiative. Adam's story started a few years ago when his mum, Sharon, was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma. Sharon has thankfully recovered fully, but Adam has not forgotten the relentless strength she…
E207 · 27 Apr 2026 · 43 min
Adam Ross: The man taking on a challenge a month to combat homelessness
Adam Ross only recently started running seriously. Now, he's taking on a year long challenge to raise money for and awareness of homelessness charity, Shelter. Each month in 2026, Adam will be completing a unique endurance challenge, from 10k races to half- and full marathons, with the promise of some even tougher events to come towards the end of the year. As the co-founder and director of Track Global, a marketing, sales, and distribution advisory partner for property developers, Adam hopes to use his business to raise awareness of homelessness. As such, his project falls under the title…
E206 · 20 Apr 2026 · 50 min
Ashley Riley: Running, mental health and fighting depression
Ashley Riley has seen first-hand how running can help people with both their physical and mental health. As an outgoing, comfortable, loud, business owning and confident middle-aged man, Ashley had few obvious worries in life. But that was before he experienced his first ever panic attack. It was followed by another one. And another. Within a month, Ashley's panic attacks had turned into bone crushing anxiety and deep, dark depression. Despite four courses of medication, the NHS couldn’t help and a psychotic Ashley was taken into psychiatric care. Two weeks later he suffered two strokes.…
E205 · 13 Apr 2026 · 47 min
Rodney Lowe: Come with us for a 'Run With Rodders'
When Rodney Lowe was at school, he was the kid who teachers told to do one less lap of the sports field than everyone else... just so the class would finish on time. These days, he runs his own running YouTube channel - 'Runs With Rodders' , tackles races and parkruns up and down the country, and is on the verge of taking on the Manchester Marathon. Rodders uses running to keep his own mental wellbeing on track as he balances a challenging job and home life, to stay fit, and to meet some incredible fellow runners in events up and down the country. After leaving school, he had been determined…
E204 · 7 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Lisa Jackson: One woman's power to be 'still running after all these tears'
Lisa Jackson has seen every side of running, from completing the gruelling Comrades Marathon to finishing last in a host of marathons. By embrace her 'flamingo runner' persona alongside a simple enjoyment of the sport, she has discovered the true power of running - becoming a published author along the way. And when she needed it most, despite a brief departure, running was there for her, helping Lisa find some solace after the loss of her husband, Graham. Her latest book is the brilliant, Still Running After All These Tears; a simultaneously heart-breaking and inspiring account of coping…
E203 · 30 Mar 2026 · 45 min
Raziq Rauf: Running culture, Substack and Harry Styles... 'This Is Running'
Coach, journalist and now author, Raziq Rauf, is well-known in the running/writers world on Substack. His popular Running Sucks newsletter , where he writes about running culture, run clubs and stories from across the sport, has more than 5,000 subscribers. He’s currently taking part in the Salomon Off Track Gravel Tour , which involves him talking all things running and going on a gravel run in the uber-cool Salomon Aero Glide 4s. Raz will also be reading a passage from his debut book, This is Running, a celebration of running that explores the culture, history, brands, races, and people…
E202 · 23 Mar 2026 · 54 min
George Puckett: From Fatman to Ironman
George Puckett wasn't happy - and he couldn't put his finger on why. The 31-year-old was living in a beautiful home in Abergavenny, south Wales on the edge of the stunning Brecon Beacons, with his fiancee and one-year-old boy. But in the midst of making that life, he had forgotten to care for himself. Eating whatever he wanted and not exercising, George had ballooned to 130kgs (20 stone) and was struggling with his confidence as a result. Hating every picture taken of him and over-thinking all the time, George was not only starting to lose sleep but was suffering panic attacks and…
E201 · 16 Mar 2026 · 47 min
Mark Doris: Running for baby loss charity, SANDS, in memory of Marco
Mark Doris, has been using running as a vehicle to raise vital funds for SANDS , the UK's leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, for more than ten years. The charity is close to Mark's heart as he runs in memory of his stillborn son, Marco, who would have been 11 later this year. His fundraising efforts have seen Mark raise more than £27,000 for SANDS. And along the way, he has tackled a wide variety of runs including obstacle course races and the 95-mile West Highland Way ultra marathon. The latter event was an epic adventure three years, two attempts and one knee operation in the making.…
E200 · 9 Mar 2026 · 45 min
The Stomp Bro's: The running brothers who beat serious illness
This week's guests, Tom Doherty and Lewis Thompson, have taken overcoming adversity to another level, and are now reaping the rewards through a succession of crazy running challenges. Tom's story began in 2023 when he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent six hours of surgery. A full year of gruelling treatment followed, but Tom emerged with renewed vigour and a desire to take his second chance at life. Running has been his challenge of choice, with every mile a reminder of what he's overcome and how far he can go. His partner in running crime, Lewis, was told he had a blood clot in 2024,…
E199 · 2 Mar 2026 · 1 hr
Dan Braddock: Other adventures await serial marathoner and triathlete
Dan Braddock started to get serious about his fitness back in 2010 after years of, in his own words, being on the chunky side. Initially, he started cycling to and from work, something he enjoyed so much that he rapidly graduated to taking part in cyclosportive events all around the UK. His running journey started in 2016, when - as with so many people - he began parkrunning. With both cycling and running now part of his life, it was a logical step into the world of triathlon. Over the eight years that followed, Dan took part in 20 triathlons - despite encountering health problems along the…
E198 · 23 Feb 2026 · 53 min
Becs Gentry: How running supercharged the life of Hoka's newest ambassador
Becs Gentry has made a life out of running. Hoka's newest Global Brand Ambassador has worked as a coach for some of the biggest names in the sport in cities like London and New York. Along the way, she has excelled at a range of distances, including trialling for Great Britain's Olympic team. However, her journey was sparked not by a desire to be an elite athlete and coach, but a need to escape from the pressure of work that will relate to everyday runners across the world. A keen runner at school, Becs drifted away from running during her time at university but returned to the sport with a…
E197 · 16 Feb 2026 · 43 min
Terrell Johnson: The Substack sensation synonymous with half-marathons
Terrell Johnson is Substack 'Running Royalty'. With more than 39,000 subscribers, his The Half Marathoner newsletter is hugely popular, combining personal stories with those of runners from around the world, training plans, lists of often exotic-sounding races, and intimate community conversations about everything running related. His own running story started when he was in his mid-20s. At that time, he took on a variety of distances including several marathons. But it was when, in his early 30s, he discovered a love for half-marathons that Terrell really became immersed in the sport. It…
E196 · 9 Feb 2026 · 54 min
Ross Thompson: The inspiring story of The Orange Running Guy
Struggling with his mental health and looking to lose weight, Ross Thompson made the decision to start running around a year ago. At first it was a struggle, and Ross was left wondering if running was for him. But he slowly grew to like it, and his efforts were supercharged when he took the decision to create his alter ego: The Orange Running Guy. Suddenly, his running was more than just a battle with himself. Ross was growing a network of running friends across social media, inspiring him just as he provided them with inspiration. Now, he has gone from 5k parkruns to planning his first 10k…
E195 · 26 Jan 2026 · 47 min
Sam Kirchin: The bereaved dad who found support in the running community
Like so many other people, Sam Kirchin started running during the Covid pandemic. The rugby lover said he had been putting on weight even before lockdown started, so turned to running. He initially hated it, but continued to increase his distance and even started to take part in races. One person who was always spurring him on was his wife, Lyndsey, who took the decision to enter Sam into the London Marathon - an event he has now completed three times. The couple even completed the London Landmarks Half-Marathon together, despite Lyndsey not having been a runner. But, tragically, in January…
E194 · 19 Jan 2026 · 48 min
Jack Syder-Mills: The epic New Year's Day run that raised thousands for Brain Tumour Research
While most people were heralding the start of the new year with something fizzy or sleeping as fireworks went off outside, Jack Syder-Mills was welcoming 2026 in an entirely different way. The Norwich-based runner was heading out to the trails surrounding his home to tackle six half-marathons on New Year's Day. Jack was taking on the extreme challenge to raise money for the Brain Tumour Research charity. It came after his sister, Ella, was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was just 22 - incredibly something the then-neuroscience student had self-diagnosed. While the run would prove…
E193 · 12 Jan 2026 · 49 min
Steve Cushing: The 75-year-old with a pacemaker who runs ultra marathons
Steve Cushing describes himself as a 75-year-old, retired GP and back of the pack runner with two artificial hips and a pacemaker. But that only tells half of his story. He's previously run extreme events including The Ice Marathon, becoming only the ninth person to complete a marathon in the Antarctic, and - at the other end of the heat spectrum - the infamous Marathon des Sables. Having recently overcome a spate of injuries, Steve is now training to take on the high altitude, multi-day Mustang Trail Race in Nepal. Running Tales spoke to Steve about why he continues to take on extreme…

About Running Tales

Running Tales is a English sport podcast from Michelle and Craig Lewis. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Michelle and Craig Lewis
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 47 min
Latest episode: 5 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1777040444
Rights: Michelle and Craig Lewis

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