This week, we chat about Rob's recent Lakeland 100 finish.

From pacing and nutrition to the mental battles that every ultra runner faces.

We chat about Sarah's recent UTMB recce, sharing her first impressions of the course, key sections to look out for, and what runners can expect if they're heading to the Alps this summer.

Whether you're training for your first ultra, taking on Lakeland 2027, or dreaming of UTMB, there's plenty of chat, race stories and the usual laughs along the way.

Don't forget to follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share the episode with a friend—it really helps us reach more runners

If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.

We’re proud to be supported by:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20

Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.

👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

What happens when you've reached the pinnacle of your sport and it's all over?

In this episode we sit down with Mark Wilson—former England international, 2019 Rugby World Cup finalist and Newcastle Falcons legend—to talk about life after professional rugby and why he's found a new challenge in ultra running.

Since retiring from rugby, Mark has thrown himself into some of the UK's toughest endurance events, including the Arc of Attrition 100 and the iconic Paddy Buckley Round. We discuss the similarities and differences between elite rugby and ultra running, the mindset required to succeed, coping with retirement from professional sport, and why pushing yourself never really stops.

Whether you're an ultra runner, rugby fan, or simply fascinated by high performance and resilience, this conversation is packed with honest insights, inspiring stories and plenty of laughs.

In this episode we cover: Why he fell in love with ultra running after retirement The mindset of elite athletes Identity and purpose after professional sport Tackling the Arc of Attrition 100 and the Paddy Buckley Round Advice for anyone starting their own endurance journey

This episode is proudly sponsored by Harrier Trail Running.

To celebrate, we're giving away Harrier's Ultra Trail Bundle—including a race vest, Z-poles, hydration bottles, safety essentials and more.

To enter:
✅ Like the giveaway post✅ Follow the podcast and Harrier Trail Running✅ Tag your friends⭐ Bonus entry: Share the post to your Instagram Story

Full giveaway details can be found on our Instagram page.

🎁 WIN a Harrier Ultra Trail Bundle worth over £260!

If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.

We’re proud to be supported by:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20

Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.

👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

What does it really take to run the legendary Western States 100?

This week on Trails, Tales & Fails, we're joined by Lee Dunstall, who began his ultra running journey in 2019 before earning his place on the start line of the world's most famous 100-mile race. Alongside him is his partner Rebecca Parker, an ultra runner who crewed and supported Lee throughout his Western States adventure.

Together we dive into everything you need to know about the Western States Endurance Run—from qualifying and navigating the lottery system to race-day strategy, crewing, pacing, the atmosphere on the trails, and what makes this race so special.

We also chat about how both Lee and Rebecca got into ultra running, the highs and lows of the sport, and, as always, finish with our fan-favourite segments: Steady Pacer, Guilty Pleasures, and the Quickfire Round.

Whether you're dreaming of running Western States 100, love ultra marathons, or simply enjoy hearing incredible trail running stories, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and inspiration.

Topics covered:

• Western States 100
• Western States lottery and qualification
• Crewing and race-day support
• Ultra running training and racing
• Trail running adventures
• Celeb Pacer
• Guilty Pleasures
• Quickfire Round

If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating, follow the show, and share the episode with your friends. Every share helps us reach more runners, inspire new adventures, and grow the trail and ultra running community.

⁠⁠⁠Coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.

We’re proud to be supported by:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailskin⁠⁠⁠⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20

Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.

👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.