Complex, divisive and subject to misinformation, sports nutrition is an area desperately in need of clarity. On this week's episode Renee McGregor, leading sports dietitian and RW columnist, cuts through the noise to offer your practical, science-backed advice on how to fuel your training and racing.

McGregor has distilled her two decades of knowledge as both a sports dietitian and ultrarunner into a new book, Fuel for Thought (£14.95, Vertebrate Publishing), which is available at the below links:

adventurebooks.com

amazon.co.uk

For more information on McGregor's work, visit her website:

reneemcgregor.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we speak with Damian Hall at mile 160 of the Spine Race. Damian talks about the likely winners, the appeal of the race and how on earth you do about training for 268 miles along the Pennine Way in midwinter.

thespinerace.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unless you spent 2024 hiding out in some remote Tennessee woods, you're probably aware that Jasmin Paris became the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons. But what kind of mentality does it take to achieve the seemingly impossible? In this week's episode, Paris talks about her formative childhood experiences, never taking other people's opinions as fact and why she hopes her achievements will inspire others.

Jasmin Paris is a co-founder of The Green Runners: thegreenrunners.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She started running at 41 and has gone on to run over 1000 marathons (and countless other races too).

Meet the cover star of our first issue of 2025, Collette O'Hagan.

We chat about her love of running, the joy she gets from it, the stories she has from so many races, how she stays motivated, her life as a foster parent, what training looks like, her ultimate nutrition plan (chips and wine) and much more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Paris Olympics, The Hardest Geezer, Jasmin Paris: 2024 has not been short of its miraculous running moments. This episode, we round up what we believe to be the top eight achievements in 2024. Do you agree or disagree? Give it a listen and let us know at [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people run one marathon in their lifetime. Some run one a year. Some energetic types might even run a marathon a month. But rare is the runner who runs a marathon every day for a year. Yet that is exactly what James Cooper has done. It helps that he’s fuelled by the motivation to raise money for Samaritans, following the death by suicide of his uncle. Listen to him speak about training, recovery, nutrition and how anyone can achieve incredible things with the right mindset.

James is raising money for Samaritans: justgiving.com/page/smilinggg366

Follow him on Instagram: @smilingggman

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues discussed on the podcast, Samaritans’ trained volunteers are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Calls are free and completely confidential. Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know strength and conditioning (S&C) is important. Various studies have shown it can improve running economy and there's also some evidence it can reduce the chances of injury. But what should it look like for runners and how should you fit it into a busy running week? S&C leading expert Dr Richard Blagrove, senior lecturer in physiology at Loughborough University, offer his advice to runners of all abilities.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back pain affects millions of people across the UK. But a new study suggests running may be able to help chronic lower back back pain. It comes off the back of some previous research showing that running doesn’t seem to harm the back and may actually be good for spine health.

Running physio Tom Goom discusses these studies and offers some general advice for any runners currently suffering from back pain.

The NHS has lots of advice on back pain and its possible causes: nhs.uk/conditions/back-pain/

This podcast and its content is not intended to replace medical assessment and advice. If you have an injury, we recommend seeing a qualified health professional.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Founder of Soar Running, Tim Soar, join us to talk about launching a premium running brand and how running (and the kit) has changed since then. We talk expensive vests, the design process, how discount culture has ruined consumers shopping habits, the environmental impact of producing kit, why he'll always pursue that perfect garment and how material science is only getting more fascinating.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's rare that someone combines both elite-level marathon running with elite-level humour – but Phily Bowden is the glorious exception to the rule. Having run 2:25 at the Berlin Marathon, her sights are now on the LA Olympics, all while creating amazing content for her ever-growing online following.

Check out Phily on YouTube: youtube.com/c/PhilyBowden

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In certain running circles, "walking" can be a dirty word. But it needn't be that way. The run-walk method can, in fact, be an effective and enjoyable racing strategy for runners of all speeds. On this episode, the chief training officer at Galloway Training Programs in Florida, offers his expert insight on the art of run-walking. To find out more, visit jeffgalloway.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices