The Running Channel Podcast

Andy, Rick and Sarah pay tribute to Irish middle-distance runner Ciara Mageean, who sadly passed away on Sunday morning, aged 34, following a battle with bowel cancer.

In this episode, we revisit an incredibly fun and heartwarming conversation with Ciara at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, following her fourth-place finish in the women’s 1500m final. A chance to remember Ciara’s warmth, humour and infectious spirit and to celebrate the athlete and person she was.

Our thoughts are with Ciara’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. Her passing is a reminder of the strength of the running community, which comes together to support one another in times of grief and tragedy.

This week, we discuss whether the race experience is worth the price tag, and what rising costs mean for runners who want to take part in races. Is running becoming more of a luxury, or are the costs justified? How much would you be willing to pay to enter a race? Let us know in the comments 👇

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

With marathon participation on the rise and more runners taking on ultra-marathon distances, backyard ultras and multi-day events, we ask the question - has the marathon distance become normalised? Andy, Rick and Sarah dive into a hot topic currently sparking debate in the running world and share their thoughts.

The team also discuss Producer Owen’s challenge to run from North to South Wales in memory of his dad, Andy and Sarah finally crack a riddle, and the team answer a great listener question.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

In this week's episode Andy, Sarah and Rick dive into how to improve your speed and running economy with strides. They talk all about how to add them into your training, why they're important and who should be doing them.

They also catch up on their training weeks, where Andy debriefs on his longest run as part of his sub-75-minute half marathon training. Sarah gives us an update on how she's using strides to start adding pace into her runs. And Rick pays too much for a bacon sandwich at a parkrun.

Make sure to stick around for all the podcast banter and Rick's riddle of the week.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

In this week’s episode, Andy, Rick and Sarah dive into the seemingly growing problem of cheating in marathons. Is it becoming more common, or has it always been going on and social media is simply making it harder for cheats to get away with it?

Bib swapping, cutting corners, even hopping on a bike for part of the course… it’s all happening right under our noses. But how much does it really matter, and should we care?

Plus, Rick’s Riddle is revealed, and Andy’s Argument is argued!

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

In this week's episode, Rick recaps his trip to Los Angeles for the On Squad Race; we hear all about Sarah's hen do antics and Andy's expedition on the trails.

And we dive into Tigst Assefa's performance at the Berlin Marathon, how running culture is different around the world and uncover what is really slowing marathon runners down.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Andy shares a full debrief after his first-ever trail race, the 2 Valleys Trail Race, over the weekend.

22km with over 400m of elevation meant Andy stepped completely out of his comfort zone, aiming to finish on the podium.

Completely humbled, Andy battled through the rain and mud alongside professional trail runners. He learnt a lot along the way, which he tells Rick and Sarah all about in his full and honest debrief of one of the hardest races he’s ever done.

Both Sarah and Rick ran their respective half marathon and one-mile races in Copenhagen, spending most of their races in Zone 4. They take a look at what they could work on to improve their running economy, with the goal of running faster, using less effort, and becoming more efficient in their next training block and race.

Andy feels a little left out with Sarah and Rick introducing new features over the last few weeks, so he decides to bring one of his own to the table… Andy’s Argument. It sparks a lively debate and uncovers one of Rick’s dark truths: he doesn’t log his warm-ups or cool-downs. Much to Sarah’s disgust!

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

Sarah wraps up this three-part mini-series with a deep dive into her experience of running the Copenhagen Half Marathon, as part of the World Athletics Road Running Championships.

After a challenging training block, Sarah wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Her goal was simply to get out there, see what she could do, and enjoy the experience of racing through such an amazing city. But would all of that change as she stood on the start line?

And with Olympian Andy Baddeley pacing her, what could possibly go wrong?

Rick shares his experience of supporting Sarah from the sidelines - although he only managed to see her half as many times as he was supposed to!

The team also dive into how to effectively recover after a race, both physically and mentally, and why giving yourself time to reset is just as important as the training itself.

Supported by ASICS.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

It’s Day 1 in Copenhagen, and Rick has a newfound respect for a very different type of race, as he recaps his experience of taking on the Mile - where he had one goal in mind: to beat Sarah’s best effort of 6 minutes and 10 seconds…

Sarah, Andy and Rick build the perfect race strategy, designed to help Sarah clock a new half marathon personal best, with Andy pacing her. Check out tomorrow's episode to hear how it all went in Sarah’s full debrief.

Between them, Andy, Rick and Sarah have taken part in countless races, giving them plenty of experience to draw on when it comes to building a race strategy that works. From pacing and fuelling to mindset, they’ll break down how to approach each element and help you plan your own race-day strategy.

Supported by ASICS.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

This is Day 1 of our three-part mini-series in Copenhagen for the World Athletics Road Running Championships. In this episode, we’re getting into everything you need to know ahead of race week.

From carb loading for shorter races to tapering, race-day nerves and getting your goals right, we’re breaking down how to prepare for the big day.

We’ll chat about how much you really need to change your nutrition as race day approaches, and whether you actually need to be loading up on carbs for races shorter than a marathon.

We’re also joined by ASICS frontrunner Will Boyle, who shares his approach to returning to racing after injury, and why patience and trusting the training you’ve already done are so important.

Plus, stick around for Rick's Riddle of the week!

Supported by ASICS.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Is the 10% rule for increasing your running mileage actually a myth? And are runners really honest with their physios about how much they’re training?

This week, Andy, Sarah and Rick take a closer look at running load, injury risk, and what the research actually tells us about how much training is too much. They discuss how a key study measured running load, why your single biggest run may matter more than you think, the role of deload weeks and how to reduce your risk of injury while still making progress.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

HIIT or heavy weight lifting - which one is better for runners? That’s the question we’re answering in this week’s episode of The Running Channel Podcast.

Both types of training have their benefits, but which one can actually help you become a stronger, faster and more efficient runner?

This week, Andy, Rick and Sarah break down HIIT and heavy weight lifting, exploring what each type of exercise does to your body, how it can impact your running, and whether one comes out on top.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

Andy, Rick and Sarah explore what happens to your body as you get older, how this can impact your running and what you can do to continue progressing and improving your performance even as you age.

Andy and Rick also reflect on their own running journeys and what it means to keep chasing personal bests as the years go by.

Last week's ‘Rick's Riddle of the Week’ caused uproar. Can you guess this week's?

Studies Referenced: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4795964/ & https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41243424/

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

This week, Andy and Rick are joined by Jonah Rosner, who became one of the youngest sport scientists in NFL history at just 25.

They explore how sports fuelling and supplementation are constantly evolving and tearing up the rule book.

So, are we overcomplicating fuelling? Jonah breaks down the most proven strategies for supporting performance and recovery, and they may be much simpler AND much cheaper.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

Following Josh Kerr’s comments that the prize money for breaking the One Mile World Record was “ridiculous” and “appalling”, we take a closer look at the state of athletics and ask a bigger question: why does one of the world’s most popular participation sports struggle to attract the audience and attention it deserves?

With low attendances at major events, including this week’s European Championships in Birmingham, and athletes increasingly questioning whether their performances are properly valued, we explore the disconnect between the millions of people who run and the relatively small number who watch athletics.

Andy shares his own journey to the world stage, the sacrifices it took to get there, and what success really meant to him. Was it the financial reward, the achievement itself, or the pride of representing your country?

We also look at what World Athletics is doing to modernise the sport, attract new audiences and make athletics a more attractive prospect - and ask whether these initiatives can actually secure the future of the sport.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

In episode 182, Sarah and Rick are joined by Jess Best, a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Westminster who explores the psychological transformation that takes place in trail and ultra-marathon runners.

Jess shares her research and findings from an ongoing 13-month study involving 36 ultrarunners from across the UK, exploring how the sport shapes mindset, identity, and wellbeing.

AND Rick speaks to Jack Pitcher, who recently completed an epic running challenge across Iceland, about his mental resilience, physical endurance and what exactly helped him through it.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

In this week's episode, we debrief on Josh Kerr's mile world record and talk all about how cross-training can improve your running.

Whether you're coming back from an injury or are injured and want to keep your fitness up, this podcast is perfect for you to learn how to maintain and even improve your fitness.

Sarah is currently building her running back whilst undergoing some shockwave treatment for her plantar fasciitis. She is incorporating cross-training in her running to make sure she doesn't lose any fitness. Meanwhile, Andy talks about how he prepared for the World Championships off of only cross-training and no weight-bearing.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

In episode 180, join Andy, Sarah and Tom as they answer the question: Are Runners Addicted To Racing? They cover why racing is important and how to make sure you're not overdoing it.

PLUS stay tuned to find out more about the On Squad Race London edition and hear our answers to listener questions.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .

Mentioned in this episode:

Use code POD for 20% off The Running Channel Club

Josh Kerr wants to run a marathon?! We got the chance to sit down with the new mile WORLD RECORD holder Josh Kerr and quiz him about all things running. Andy has never been so excited for an interview! What does it take to attempt a world record? How does Josh stay calm under pressure? And did he really have a pet duck? We ask all the important questions in this extra episode of the Running Channel podcast.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club

For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com .

If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it really helps us get discovered.

We're on YouTube too, so check us out there: www.youtube.com/runningchannel .