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In this episode I speak to a veteran of the events industry, who also happens to be an ultra runner himself.

Doug Emslie has been in the events game for over 30 years and now has a major financial investment in Racoon Media, who organise events like the National Running Show, the Outdoor Show and more recently, the US Running Show in Boston earlier this year.

Doug talks about his route into trail running, the events business and his new partnership with Broken Arrow SkyRace, Freetrail’s Dylan Bowman and Western States, to bring us TRAILCON.

This June 26th in Tahoe, the week between the two iconic races, the ensemble are launching “A taste of TrailCon” - a 4 hour introduction to the main event of TrailCon being held in June 2025.

The conference aims to bring together all the movers and shakers from the trail running industry, to discuss the direction that global trail running is taking.
The conference aims to eventually be a week long festival of running with panel discussions, brands, race directors and average joe runners all coming together to discuss topics close to the heart of all trail runners in 2024 and beyond.

Although this years event will be just a taste of what’s to come, the 2025 event will be a hot ticket in the lead up to WSER 2025. So have a listen to what’s in store for those fortunate enough to be there.

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In this weeks episode I speak to Daniel Weller.

Dan grew up in Ohio in the USA before moving to the UK and taking up trail running. Dan has been in the sport for many years, but has started to put down some epic performances at some of the UK’s biggest ultramarathons.
Having consistently finished on the podium at many races over the last year, he started this year by winning the winter Spine Challenger South in January. Most recently he won the GB Ultras Pennine Barrier 50 mile.

We talk about his approach to training and racing and why he won’t be jumping into the full Spine anytime soon!

Dan is a very down to earth guy and a pleasure to interview. I’m sure we will be seeing him back on a podium very soon!


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In this episode of the podcast I speak to returning guest Jon Shield.

Jon is possibly the busiest man in UK ultra running right now. When he’s not racing and winning ultras all over the world, he’s coaching, putting on trail running camps, organising the new FENIX running team and he is currently in the process of setting up his own trail running brand!

It’s no wonder he only gets 4 hours sleep a night!

We talk about his wins since we last spoke. His up and down training with injuries and how he’s got his eyes set on some big races this season.

Jon was a pleasure to speak to as always.

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On this episode of the podcast, I speak to Emma Stuart about her amazing results over the last year.
After wins in the 2023 editions of the 100-mile Arc of Attrition, 100-mile Ultra-Trail Snowdonia, and third place in the 120km Lavaredo Ultra Trail, Emma moved up the distance further by entering Italy’s notoriously punishing 205-mile Tor des Géants, which she won 🥇
After a great start to 2024 with a 3rd place at the highly competitive Trans Gran Canaria. She now has UTMB on her radar for the end of her summer race season.

We talk about running in her homeland of Ireland and her new home in The Lake District.

Emma is a very humble and funny person and it was a pleasure to speak to her.

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In this episode I speak to Christina Smith.

Christina is an Olympic bobsledding athlete residing in Canada, who now works for The Enhanced Games.

If you’re not familiar with the concept of the EG…….it’s set to be the Olympic Games for the next generation.

Imagine the Olympics, but without drug testing. Imagine having a team of scientists and doctors overseeing everything in the name of science and research.
Well you don’t have to imagine, because it’s coming!

This isn’t just an idea thought up in a bedroom, it’s backed by a number of wealthy investors and is set to be the ‘formula one’ of sport.

Rather than have strict regulations on athletes supplementing with performance enhancing substances. The EG has a science based approach.
They’re allowing athletes to use anything they want to aid them in recovery and performance. Whilst at the same time providing them with medical supervision and conducting research on them.

It sounds wild……and it is, but this conversation wasn’t so much about the prevalence of drug use in professional sport (which is around 44% apparently) but rather it highlights that in a world of testing, the enhanced games can be at the forefront of scientific research and help push athletes to new levels.

I know this will divide opinions on what is morally right, but hear them out. You might be surprised by some of the logic in what they are trying to do.

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On this episode of the podcast I speak to Sophie Power.

Sophie shot to infamy in the 2018 UTMB race, when she was photographed breastfeeding at a checkpoint.
Due to the races then policy of not allowing race deferrals due to pregnancy, she found herself racing with a 3 month old baby.

When the image went viral around the world, Sophie realised that she now had an obligation to raise awareness of the failings of some race organisations with regard to female runners.

The deferral issue was just the tip of the iceberg and Sophie through her organisation SheRaces, has begun to make a real change in the sport of running for all women.
From providing female specific bathroom facilities, to changing wording and images on race websites to provide a more inclusive environment for women in racing.

Many races around the world are now coming to SheRaces to find out how they can encourage female participation in all types of running.

SheRaces now sets the standard for women in running. Go check out the website and socials!

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In this episode we speak to Scott Jenkins.

Scott is the first Brit to complete the gruelling Triple Crown of 200’s in the USA.
Scott ran the Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200 and finally the Moab 240 to take 5th place overall. This all happened within 10 weeks!

We chat about all of the 200’s he’s ran over the last few years. His adventures around the world and his plans for a certain UK race that shall remain nameless.

We talk about his preparation, execution and his favourite hallucination featuring his wife! (not a witch)

Scott is a great guy and pleasure to interview.

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In this episode of the podcast I speak to Julian Ayres, Senior Lecturer at Wrexham University.

Jules takes his research seriously!
In an effort to improve his student’s resilience, he embarked on a mission into ultramarathon to find out how grit and resilience in physical activity can be applied to his students to help them improve outcomes in the workplace.

We talk about that race beginning with S, and lots about the Dragons back and other big ultras and how his experiences helped shape his program for his students.

Jules is a clever guy and it’s great to hear about his experiences helping others to improve their own resilience.

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