The Runna Podcast

**Please note, this episode contains discussion of drug addiction, substance misuse, and suicide, which some listeners may find upsetting. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional support.**

"Discipline is the only thing that will set you free"

He beat opioid addiction. Then ran a 2:29 marathon at 50.

Ken Rideout is the fastest masters marathon runner in the world - and this week, he brings his story of addiction recovery, discipline, and complete reinvention to The Runna Podcast.

This isn't just a running tips episode. It's a story about what it takes to rebuild your life from scratch - and how running became the framework that made it possible.

Ken didn't just get clean - he replaced chaos with consistency, turned pain into purpose, and became living proof that it's never too late.

In this episode:
🧠 The mindset behind taking risks vs playing it safe
🏃‍♂️ What really happened in his NYC Half debut
📊 His pacing strategy - and where it went wrong
⚖️ The biggest mistakes runners make stepping up to the half
🚀 Why just starting is the hardest - and most important - step

Whether you're a runner chasing a big goal, struggling with consistency, or need some proof that reinvention is possible - this one's for you.

🎧 Follow along for new episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices form the running community.

🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26
And if you’re just getting started, our New to Running and Return to Running plans are totally free 💛

📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast

And you can find Ken’s new book here: Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard: Amazon.co.uk: Rideout, Ken: 9781529956030: Books
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"It's a home Olympics. The goal is to WIN."

So why did a 2x Olympic medalist choose a race where success wasn't guaranteed?

Grant Fisher joins us the day after his half marathon debut at the United Airlines NYC Half - where he ran 1:00:53, one of the fastest American-born debuts ever. But this wasn't a perfect race. He went out hard, took risks, and learned more because of it.

This is a real-time look at how an Olympian approaches a new distance - the pacing decisions, the mindset under pressure, and what it all means for his long-term pursuit of Olympic gold.

In this episode:
🧠 The mindset behind taking risks vs playing it safe
🏃‍♂️ What really happened in his NYC Half debut
📊 His pacing strategy - and where it went wrong
⚖️ The biggest mistakes runners make stepping up to the half
🚀 Why just starting is the hardest - and most important - step

Whether you’re running your first half marathon or chasing a PB, this is a rare insight into how elites train, race, and avoid the mistakes most runners make.

🎧 Follow along for new episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices form the running community.

🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26
And if you’re just getting started, our New to Running and Return to Running plans are totally free 💛

📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zouhair Talbi just ran 59:41, placing 1st American at the United Airlines NYC Half - and we got the inside scoop.

Fresh off a 2nd place finish last weekend, elite runner and Olympian Zouhair Talbi joins us to break down the mindset, decisions, and race instincts behind elite performance - and what it means heading into Boston in five weeks.

Zouhair takes us inside the race - sharing how he reads his body within the first mile, how he decides when to surge, and why sometimes the smartest move is not to follow the pack.

Highlights include:
🎯 How Zouhair ran a 59:41 PB
🏃‍♀️ Behind his 2:05 marathon breakthrough
🏅 His Olympic career and handling setbacks
🚀 His Boston strategy and goals

This episode is for runners who want to understand what elite performance actually looks like - and the mindset required when the margins are small and the stakes are high.

🎧 Follow along for new episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices form the running community.

🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26
And if you’re just getting started, our New to Running and Return to Running plans are totally free 💛

📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is running really for? Can everyone be “a runner”?

This week, beginner runner and performance artist Scottee joins us on The Runna Podcast the day after his first half marathon to talk running confidence, mental health, and why he almost never started.

This is a raw, funny and honest conversation about starting running when the sport hasn’t always felt welcoming.

Highlights include:
🏃 Why running in public feels so exposing, and how Scottee pushed through it
🧠 The mental health shift that running quietly created
🏅 What he wishes someone had told him as a complete beginner
💡 His honest advice to anyone who doesn't feel like a "real runner" yet

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong in the running world, this episode might just change your mind.

🎧 Follow along for new episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices form the running community.

🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26
And if you’re just getting started, our New to Running and Return to Running plans are totally free 💛

📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you run while pregnant? And how do you safely return to running after having a baby?

In this International Women’s Day special of The Runna Podcast, we’re joined by two incredible women redefining what strength looks like in women’s running. Anya speaks to Hannah and Em from Twice The Health about running during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and balancing motherhood with performance.

Hannah shares her experience returning to competitive running postpartum, while Em shares her experience running whilst pregnant, both offering lived experience and professional insight as qualified nutritionists.
Together they explore the realities of running while pregnant, adapting training across trimesters, fuelling properly, and navigating the pressure to “bounce back” after birth. It’s an honest and empowering conversation about female physiology, motherhood, and staying connected to running through every stage of life.

Highlights include:
🏃‍♀️ Running while pregnant – how to adapt training, mileage and intensity safely
👶 Postpartum running – returning to running and balancing motherhood with training
🥑 Nutrition for runners – fuelling, hydration and supporting healthy performance

Whether you’re a runner, a partner, or simply interested in training hard and living healthily, this episode is packed with insight on nutrition, performance, and supporting runners through every stage.

We also want to acknowledge that pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and returning to running look different for everyone. Every experience is valid.

🎧 Follow along for new episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices form the running community.

🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26
And if you’re just getting started, our New to Running and Return to Running plans are totally free 💛

📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.