Month 6. Episode 6. Six lessons that the Founders of Run Riot have learnt along the way.

There is a distinct lack of running in this Run | Talk episode, as we step back and think about how far we’ve come and how far we need to go to build our running brand.

We talk community, apparel design and obsessing about the detail. As well as – of course – what running means to us.

In this episode, we explore relationships, resilience, and what our mantra “running is release” truly means when life throws the unexpected your way.

Our guest, Anna Gray, talks about how running has been more than just movement for her. It’s been a mirror reflecting her relationship with herself, a bridge to new friendships, and a steady rhythm through life’s toughest chapters. From the recently discovered camaraderie of run-club meet-ups to the quiet solitude of solo miles, Anna shares how running has deepened her connection to others, and to herself.

Anna also speaks candidly about her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and how her relationship with running shifted as her health and priorities have changed.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever laced up their shoes searching for clarity, healing, or just a moment to breathe.

Why do we run? It’s such a simple question, but the answer isn’t always so easy to articulate. And the answer can differ depending on the particular life and/or environmental context we find ourselves in.

Our latest Run | Talk episode features David Thomas, a man who wears many hats (and we mean that in the professional sense, not the literal sense of the Run Riot beanie he’s wearing in this episode) – he is not only a performance coach and Associate Lecturer in Sports and Exercise Psychology, but also a gym founder and part-time farmer. David is passionate about regenerative farming at Nethergill Farm and how the environment intersects with the individual.

In short, he’s brilliantly qualified to give his interpretation of our mantra ‘Running is Release’ and what that means to him personally, as well as touch on what the research says on the mental benefits of running.