Motional Intelligence

I sat down with George Rickwood to break down the Last Soul Ultra, the backyard ultra that took over the internet. We cover Mark Dowdle's last-minute private jet dash across Europe to complete 94 laps, Ello's heartbreaking collapse in the final stretch, and the biggest moments, controversies, and characters from one of the most-watched ultrarunning events ever. We also dive into George's own Backyard Ultra disqualification drama, the debate around live coverage in ultrarunning, sleep deprivation and race-day mind games, and George's next big challenge: a 24-hour track ultra.

George's first appearance: https://open.spotify.com/episode/380ch5ewRbfsCP8tXo7lJ3?si=e57d9544cf9b483b
Follow George: https://www.instagram.com/georgerickwood_/?hl=en
Follow on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@motionalintelligencepod⁠⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/motionalintelligencepod⁠⁠⁠
Calum's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/⁠⁠⁠
Calum's TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@calumgoddard ⁠⁠⁠
YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A ⁠⁠⁠
Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com
00:00 Intro & Last Soul Ultra Overview
02:17 Meet the Founder & the Team Behind the Race
03:52 Backyard Ultra Format & Why It's So Popular
07:46 The Elite Field & How the Race Got Global Coverage
10:11 Mark Dowdle's Private Jet Sprint to the Start Line
13:20 How Mark Dowdle Went Viral During the Race
15:17 Backyard Ultra Coverage vs. Badwater 135 Debate
17:54 Max Jaluf's Badwater Controversy & Course Record
19:07 Mark Dowdle's Wild 94-Lap Finish
20:50 The Infamous Loop 87 Mind Games
21:04 Elo's Emotional Second-Place Collapse
23:19 Mark Dowdle vs. Harvey Lewis: Contrasting Mindsets
28:19 Sleep Deprivation, Hallucinations & Caffeine Strategy
30:35 Phil Gore's Project 168 Solo Backyard Ultra
32:38 Personal Relationships & Pacing in Ultra Running
36:00 Live Call With International Commentator Bryony
46:04 George's Suffolk Backyard Ultra Disqualification Story
50:31 The Russia Backyard Ultra Disqualification Scandal
54:31 George's Next Challenge: 24-Hour Track Ultra
58:46 Room 101: Ultra Running Pet Peeves
1:06:34 Goggins vs. Dowdle: Comparing Ultra Running Mindsets
1:09:01 George's Career Change & Move Into YouTube
1:13:28 Could Cal Qualify for the Olympics?
1:17:12 Injury Prevention: Sleep, Strength & Nutrition
1:20:00 Marathon du Médoc & Closing Thoughts
1:21:00 Outro & Next Week's Elo Interview

TommyRunPT is one of most best speakers in the running space & a man who have been central to so many people's running journey's over the past few years. I've found his videos to be such a source of inspiration and as a bloke he's been a big inspiration. Great to chat again with Tommy! We discuss why trail and ultra running feel so different from the road scene, the "ego core" side of fitness culture, and why some things are better left niche. Tommy discusses chasing 100-milers, optimisation culture and the big secret to success in running... it's something that might surprise some people.

Tommy: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/tommyrunpt/?hl=en⁠
His podcast: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thatsrunnable/?hl=en⁠
Follow on TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@motionalintelligencepod⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/motionalintelligencepod⁠⁠
Calum's Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/⁠⁠
Calum's TikTok:⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@calumgoddard ⁠⁠
YouTube channel: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A ⁠⁠
Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com

0:00 - Intro: Toenails, Toughness & Podcast Origins0:55 - Welcome Tommy Rumptie: His Coaching & Content Journey6:03 - Why Talking-Head Running Videos Went Viral9:16 - Falling in Love With Running: Ego, Identity & Purpose12:27 - The "Ego Core" of Fitness Culture & Aesthetic Running24:00 - Life Update & Trail Running Origin Story24:28 - Why Tommy Chose Trail & Ultra Running Over the Roads31:17 - Finding Meaning Beyond Metrics & Performance39:58 - The Optimisation Debate: Are We Over-Optimising Our Training?42:54 - Talking Openly About Alcohol & Balance45:59 - Race Highlights: Transgrancanaria to a Brutal 100-Mile Suffer Fest54:28 - Emotional Intelligence, Empathy & Giving Fitness Advice Responsibly1:05:10 - Online Hate, Gossip in the Running Community & Ironman Plans1:07:10 - Wrap-Up: Future Races & Where to Find More

DOUBLE OLYMPIC CHAMPION🤯🥇Not only one of the most decorated triathletes of all time, he’s a hero for many and was part of the iconic Team GB in 2008, 2012 & 2016 👏🏼. Alistair gave us one of the most iconic, heartwarming & controversial moments on endurance sport when he dragged his brother Jonny at the world championships over the line. If you were to have told that young lad watching the 2012 Olympics that he’d be one day chatting with a man who won gold I would have laughed at you. Incredible chat, absolutely loved that 🙌🏼

Alistair's IG: https://www.instagram.com/alistair.brownlee/?hl=en
Truefuels IG: https://www.instagram.com/truefuels/?hl=enThe Brownlee
Foundation IG: https://www.instagram.com/brownleefoundation/?hl=en
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@motionalintelligencepod
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motionalintelligencepod
Calum's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/
Calum's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@calumgoddard
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A
Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com

0:00 - Introduction
0:55 - Welcome Alistair Brownlee
1:12 - Growing Up in Yorkshire
3:10 - First Triathlon Experience
5:00 - Finding Triathlon
5:41 - World Junior Championships
6:34 - Evolution of Triathlon
10:23 - Barriers to Entry
13:02 - Simplicity in Sport
14:57 - Rivalry With Brother Jonny
19:49 - Beijing 2008 Olympics
30:35 - Training for London 2012
33:49 - London 2012 Olympics
38:09 - Winning Olympic Gold
41:49 - Rio 2016 Back to Back Gold
46:30 - The Iconic Mexico Moment
51:14 - What Happened to Jonny
53:17 - Retirement & Business Ventures
54:48 - TrueFuels & Nutrition
56:03 - Norseman Triathlon
1:02:15 - Future Events
1:04:12 - Alex Yee & Future of Triathlon
1:06:14 - Room 101
1:07:10 - Outro & Brownlee Foundation

Lucy Georgia joins me this week to chat running, content creation, and launching her own sunglasses brand, Sonny. We go back to how we first met, why she kept her social media private for years, her Ironman 70.3 and marathon majors, the real story behind building Sonny from scratch, and a Room 101 where she tells me exactly what she can't stand...

Lucy: https://www.instagram.com/lucyge0rgia/?hl=en
Calum: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/?hl=en⁠
Watch on Spotify:
⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3WGIXQz6Pa0V9WIa4gIxOV?si=e19d4acb7b964eeb⁠
Follow on TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@motionalintelligencepod⁠
Follow on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/motionalintelligencepod⁠
Calum's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/⁠
Calum's TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@calumgoddard ⁠
YouTube channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A ⁠
Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com

Chapters below.

00:00 - Kicking things off
0:45 - Welcoming Lucy Georgia
1:30 - How they met on the Tour de France
3:37 - The truth about her surname
5:18 - Keeping life private before going public
8:02 - Her first ever social media post
11:20 - Classics degree and life after uni
12:40 - Becoming a runfluencer
15:00 - Women, sport, and confidence
16:56 - Imposter syndrome in running
19:51 - Her first race: Hackney Half
22:25 - Investing in Runna
24:32 - Turning content into a business
28:42 - Losing the joy and burning out
29:06 - Keeping her relationship offline
31:44 - Dealing with online hate
33:19 - Taking on an Ironman 70.3
37:14 - Why she'll never do a full Ironman
42:16 - The idea behind Sonny sunglasses
45:48 - Designing and manufacturing the glasses
49:46 - Branding and choosing the name
53:27 - Unboxing Sonny sunglasses
56:10 - What's next for the brand
1:00:58 - Creator led brands and the future
1:04:49 - Why YouTube is her anchor
1:07:57 - Her favourite YouTube channels
1:14:39 - Room 101: things Lucy hates
1:24:11 - Wrapping up and where to buy Sonny

Running coach Gabriel Smith joins for round three, breaking down how he a marathon DNF into a 3-minute PB (2:26:46 at London), what actually changed in his training, and why he thinks a carefree summer; why beers, holidays and late nights don't have to kill your progress. We also get into marathon psychology, Josh Kerr's 1500m world record, and living with Hugo Fry.
Gabriel: https://www.instagram.com/gabriel__smithh/?hl=en
Calum: https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/?hl=en
Watch on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3WGIXQz6Pa0V9WIa4gIxOV?si=e19d4acb7b964eeb
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@motionalintelligencepod
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motionalintelligencepod
Calum's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/
Calum's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@calumgoddard
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A
Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com

0:00:00 - Intro0:00:32 - Welcome Back Gabriel Smith0:01:11 - Life as a Running Coach0:04:36 - Balancing Fun and Training in Summer0:13:29 - London Marathon Recap: 2:26 PB0:21:18 - What Changed This Marathon Block0:27:32 - Planning the Next Marathon0:33:10 - Building Towards Winter Training0:44:28 - Advice for First-Time Marathoners0:48:21 - Josh Kerr's World Record & Race Psychology0:55:13 - Triathlon Prep0:59:20 - Commonwealth Games1:02:52 - Random Tangents & Viral Clips1:09:25 - Living with Hugo Fry1:14:40 - Outro & Predictions