Young Hearts Run Free Podcast

Would You Run If No One Was Watching?
​In this episode of Young Hearts Run Free, we sit down with ultra-runner, coach, and author Allie Bailey for a conversation that strips endurance running back to its raw, unvarnished truth.
​Allie isn't here to sell you the "running is a cure-all" dream. Instead, she challenges the modern obsession with metrics, exploring how watches, apps, and social media have transformed a simple joy into a performance to be measured and judged.
​In This Episode, We Discuss:
​The Comparison Trap: Why we’ve traded the joy of movement for the validation of the "upload."
​The Emotional Hangover: A candid look at the "crash" that follows legendary feats like the Dragon’s Back and the Spine Race. As experienced first hand by Allie.
​Sobriety & Mental Health: Allie shares her deeply personal journey through mental health struggles and the role of sobriety in finding her "purple patch."
​31 Days: Insights from Ali’s new book on the daily mindset shifts required to change how we think—not just how we run. A zero-bullsh*t mindset masterclass for the modern runner.
​Funny, fierce, and unflinchingly honest, this conversation moves far beyond the trails. It is an exploration of identity, the cost of resilience, and the vital importance of honesty and love when the finish line is long behind you.
​"Running isn't always the answer. Sometimes, it's just a place to hide. The real work happens when the shoes come off."
​Connect with Ali:
​Book: 31 Days (Available now here) https://www.adventurebooks.com/products/31-days-allie-bailey
​Socials: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ab_runs/
​Enjoyed the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more than you know.

​🎙️ SEASON 15 KICKS-OFF🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽️
​The wait is over, the squad is named, and we are officially kicking off Season 15! You know us for the tarmac and the trails, but this season, we’re bringing a different kind of energy to the podcast.
​🏆 The Season Theme: The Summer of ‘26
​With Scotland heading to their first World Cup since 1998, we are leaning into our obsession with the beautiful game. This season is a tribute to Football, Fans, and Finish Lines. Expect plenty of tactical nods, "injury time" drama, and World Cup fever—even if our feet are still firmly in our trainers.
​🏔️ The Opening Match: Britain’s Most Brutal
​To start the season, we’re going 268 miles deep into the Winter Spine Race on the Pennine Way. It’s the "Champions League" of endurance, and we’ve got two absolute star players in the booth: Llinos Proctor and Ross Beveridge.
​In the Season Premiere:
​The Warm-up: How to train for 268 miles of ice and grit.
​The Match Report: Full-blown hallucinations, star-filled skies, and the emotional "final whistle" at Kirk Yetholm.
​The "Twelth Man": A celebration of ordinary people doing the extraordinary.
​The Winter Spine - It’s not just a race; it’s a 268-mile cup final where the terrain and the weather present the toughest of opponents.
​🔗 SUPPORT
Click the link below to visit Llinos’s Fundraiser and show some love!
Lllinos Fundraiser Link

It’s time for the Season 14 finale episode featuring backyard ultra runner world champion Sarah Perry.
What a way to sign off season 14? We welcome back Sarah Perry for her third appearance on the podcast. Following Sarah’s previous milestones discussed on the show, running 41 yards at Rasselbock and then setting a UK women’s record with 59 yards at the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships, the boys dive into Sarah’s latest monumental achievement: completing 95 yards at the iconic Big's Backyard Ultra in Tennessee.
Sarah shares an inside look at the magic of running in Lazarus Lake’s backyard, her battle with unexpected back pain, the science of micro-napping, and her subsequent course record performance at The Hill just six weeks later.
Key Chaterations
The Progression to 95 Yards: A look back at Sarah’s journey from 41 to 59, and finally to 95 yards at Big's.
Preparing for Big's: Sarah discusses going "all in" for the opportunity to test her limits against the world's best backyard runners.
Pushing Through Pain: Dealing with debilitating back pain during the race and the mental struggle of stopping just shy of 100 yards.
The Atmosphere at Big's: What it’s like to run in Laz’s backyard and the uniqueness of the event.
Course Logistics: The difference between the technical day loop in the woods and the night loop on the road.
Backyard Admin & Scran: Sarah’s routine for fluids, nutrition (including American Applewood mash), and managing a shared camp space.
The Sleep Strategy: Lessons learned about gear (bringing a bed next time!) and mastering the "micro-nap" to avoid sleep deprivation.
Hallucinations and the 4th Night: Sarah describes the mental state of runners as they crack during the final stages of the race.
Transition to The Hill: Breaking down the logistics of her 55 and a bit lap performance at The Wrekin in Shropshire.
The Winter Spine: In January 2026 Sarah won the Winter Spine Challenger South MRT race. We hear all about what it takes to compete in such an arduous adventure.
Sarah on Instagram
⁠Megan Boxall Run Britain Tracker

In this episode, John and Steven sit down with one of the most accomplished ultra runners in the world, Beth Pascall. Known for her calm demeanour (earning her the school nickname "Millpond"), Beth shares her journey from medical school rowing to shattering course records at Western States and the Bob Graham Round. We dive into the mental and physical grit required to win iconic races in gruelling conditions and what it’s like to balance a career as a paediatrician with elite-level athletics.
Career highlights
2021 Western States 100 Champion: Finished first female in a time of 17:10:41.
Bob Graham Round Record Holder (2020): Set a then-record of 14:34:26, shaving 50 minutes off Jasmin Paris’s time.
Spine Race Winner: Winner of the notoriously difficult winter Spine Race.
Cape Wrath FKT: Completed the trail with Damien Hall in 4 days, 9 hours, and 43 minutes.
Key Topics and Highlights
The "Millpond" Mentality
Beth explains how her naturally calm personality has been an asset in ultra running. Despite the high stakes of world-class competition, she views herself as a "normal person" and remains largely unphased when racing against global superstars.
The 2021 Western States Victory
Beth recounts her legendary 2021 win during one of the hottest years in the race's history.
The "Wobble": She admits to having a major physical struggle at Mile 70 due to the heat, where she actually had to sit down for a few minutes to lower her core temperature.
The Finish: She didn’t feel certain of the win until Mile 94 when she learned she had a significant gap over second-place finisher Ruth Croft.
The Bob Graham Round:
Beth describes her record-breaking Bob Graham Round as her most enjoyable running experience. She talks about how the running community comes together to support a single runner, featuring pacers and volunteers who were, in many cases, total strangers.
Nutrition and the Evolution of the Sport
The conversation explores how much sports science has changed in just a few years. Beth discusses the trend of high-carbohydrate intake (90g+ per hour) and shares her sceptical but open-minded take on modern supplements like ketones and bicarb.
Technical Terrain Over Flat Roads
Despite winning flat races like the 24-hour Self-Transcendence, Beth admits she doesn't actually enjoy road running. She highlights the Glencoe Skyline as her favourite type of "gnarly" course.

Beth on Instagram
Megan Boxall Run Britain Tracker

In this "2 Of Us" episode, Steven Watt and John Cassidy catch up on recent winter running highlights, provide a comprehensive wrap-up of the brutal conditions at the Winter Spine Race, and reveal their own massive running and fundraising goals for the upcoming season.
Discussions include:
Looking back at "Running Rants," the "UN Awards," and the challenge to create creative Strava art.
Five Star Run Club: Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the running initiative in Auchterarder founded by Steven’s wife, Fiona.
The Nigel Barge Race: John recaps his 56-minute finish at the Maryhill event and his goal of finishing before a specific one-hour playlist ended.
Winter Spine Race Roundup: A detailed breakdown of results across all distances, including the 268-mile full spine won by Sebastian Raichon and Anna Troup.
Major Announcement: John reveals he has signed up for the Summer Spine Challenger South (108 miles) this June.
Fundraising for CALM: John discusses his motivation for supporting the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and his commitment to not cutting his hair until the end of the year to raise suicide awareness.
Road to Paris: Steven announces his return to racing at the Paris Marathon in April, fundraising for the Rooprai Spinal Trust (RST).
Megan Boxall’s UK Run: Highlighting Megan’s incredible journey running the circumference of the UK (200 marathons in 200 days) for the Samaritans.
Arc of Attrition: A look ahead to the upcoming winter ultra in Cornwall.

Megans tracker: YBTracking Viewer - 200 Marathons 200 Days
Megans Instagram
JC's Fundraiser
Enjoy