March 5, 2021
Stephen Buck never intended to write a book about his experiences in the world of running.
Then again, he didn't really plan to start running either.
Once he did though he found a love for the sport that took him away from fears he would never amount to anything.
The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other changed Stephen's life and gave him a new confidence.
When a little boy offered him an orange at a race it not only encouraged him to complete it, but also gave him the inspiration to write a book about his experiences.
This is Stephen's Running Tales story...
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Stephen's book, 'Inspired By An Orange,' is written under the name S.I. Rolland
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The music in this podcast is:
"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
February 26, 2021
Dannii Levi has Raynaud's disease, a condition which results in reduced blood flow to people's fingers and toes.
For Dannii, Raynaud's can result in extreme pain, in her becoming a prisoner inside her own home when it's really cold and can make running an impossible task.
With the help of medication and the Scleroderma and Raynaud's UK charity. Dannii has learned vital methods to allow her to live - and run - more freely.
This is Dannii's Running Tales story...
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The music in this podcast is:
"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
![Shaun Lightman: ‘When they sent us to the Mexico Olympics the papers were saying we could die’]()
February 19, 2021
Race walker Shaun Lightman's incredible international career peaked when he represented Great Britain at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
Competing in the 50kms walk, it was as challenging a race as it is possible to imagine.
Press reports before the team left for Mexico suggested athletes might die due to the heat and altitude, once there Shaun found himself out of breath climbing the stairs and, when race day came, he battled extreme temperatures, raced along streets lined by armed soldiers and found himself passing competitors slumped exhausted at the side of the road.
I spoke to Shaun about how he manged to keep going, his race walking career, how he got into the sport and what he makes of its popularity now...
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Photography provided by Shaun Lightman and taken by Mark Easton
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The music in this podcast is:
"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
February 12, 2021
Shack Baker wasn't traditionally a runner.
In 2019, someone challenged him to take on a half marathon for charity.
As with so many first time runners, it was a challenge that stretched him physically and mentally - and one which has changed the way he looks at the world.
Shack's story is one everyone who has turned from relative couch potato to regular runner will immediately recognise.
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The music in this podcast is:
"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
February 5, 2021
When Kathy Saunders had to have major lung surgery, she had a choice.
After having part of her lung removed, she said she could have thrown in the towel when it came to running.
Instead, she decided to re-evaluate what she could do - and running has remained a part of her life ever since.
This is a story about never giving in, even when all the odds seem against you. This is Kathy's running tale...
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The music in this podcast is:
"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
January 29, 2021
Andy Cottrell only started running when rugby, as he says, became too much for his body.
It has now become an obsession.
Inspired to take part in 12 marathons across a year, he quickly came across other runners who made even that incredible achievement look minuscule.
The Northampton Road Runner, better known as Sharky, soon had his sights set on 50 marathons and then on becoming a member of the exclusive 100 Marathon Club.
These days his mind has turned to the 300 mark - this is Sharky's running tale...
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The music in this podcast is:
"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
January 22, 2021
Gerald Billis is automatically recognisable at Northampton parkrun.
He's one of a group of octogenarian runners who, pre-Covid at least, took part in the five kilometre event week-in, week-out.
What people might not know is Gerald spent 60 years, between school cross-country success and parkrun, without running.
Once he found parkrun, there was no stopping him though.
From joining a running club, to becoming a Masters athlete to winning an international silver medal in his age group, this is Gerald Billis' running tale...
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The music in this podcast is:
"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
January 15, 2021
Doug Richards was only in his 30s when he found himself out of breath having run up the stairs to see his son.
It was then he decided to get fit - and start running.
It's a habit he's found hard to shift since with Doug having run across all seven continents, including in Antarctica and across the Sahara and Gobi Deserts.
He's also become an author, penning 'Running Hot & Cold' which tells the story of his varied running career.
I spoke to Doug about everything from how running helped his mental health to scaling the Great Wall of China...
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The music in this podcast is:
"Fearless First" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
![Lorraine Lewis: Running to help adult cancer patients]()
November 13, 2020
This week's guest is Lorraine Lewis, the driving force behind a charity which provides support and companionship for adult cancer patients.
The Lewis Foundation sources, packages and - in normal, non-Covid times at least - hand delivers free gifts and support packs to people enduring the often lonely, frightening trial of cancer treatment.
One way Lorraine funds the charity is through running, tackling events such as Tough Mudder and even a 26 mile obstacle challenge.
I asked her why and how she started the charity, and whether she fancied taking on that extra 0.2 miles to go full marathon...
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This is, incredibly, the 40th episode of Running Tales.
The podcast, originally meant to capture people's running experiences - where possible - at running events or parkrun or at least on a face to face basis, has lived most of its life during the coronavirus pandemic.
With a second lockdown upon us and Christmas round the corner, we've decided to take a break.
There are hundreds - if not thousands - of inspirational running tales still out there, so we'll be back in 2021.
In the meantime, please check out all our previous episodes on Apple, Spotify, Podbean and all good podcast providers.
Thanks for your support.
November 6, 2020
Kevin Orchard loves running - but it's not always enough.
The Redway Runners co-founder decided to add cycling into the fray.
Before too long he was excelling as a multisport athlete, competing for Great Britain in his age group.
I caught up with Kevin at Redway Runners' Daytona 5,000 event earlier this year...
