187: Are Your Long Runs the Biggest Risk Factor for Injury?

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 [email protected] . 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 [email protected] . 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, 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 [email protected] . 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 [email protected] . 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.