Running is BS

It's time to review the greatest and most important race of the year. No, not the London marathon, the Beijing Robot Half Marathon! Even Amy gets caught up in the excitement of race season and nearly does a 5k race, whilst Stu's got Lidl to thank for another PB. We also decide which injuries are the best to run through, discuss some of the worst chafing we've ever seen, and finish with a story that isn't about running in the slightest but somehow the most relevant subject to us.

Stu has finally succumbed to carbon running shoes, although he still does not give a shit about them. Amy has successfully #builtuphermileage but now thinks that may be her downfall. We also talk runfluencers yet again, race companies collapsing again, the worst time to wear a running vest again, and creepy post-parkrun comments (again?). Bondarenko Track session Lidl has dropped a £39.99 carbon plate ‘supershoe’ ahead of marathon season. Here’s what we know so far Dragon’s Back Race 2026 cancelled as Ourea Events collapses | County Times French sailor gave away location of nuclear-powered warship in Middle East by logging run on Strava | The Independent Fact-checked: What actually happened at Mandley Park - Manchester Evening News Run for your bonus: the Chinese paper company rewarding staff to run 100km a month | Men's Fitness The 2027 London Marathon could become a two-day event

Stu and Amy give their top date advice in this episode, encourage listeners to glory in their mediocrity, and, above all, treat physios as the quacks and charlatans that they are. We also issue a stark warning to volunteer race marshals everywhere. Also features one of the most niche Ramadan conversations you'll ever hear, but one Stu is absolutely obsessed with. Cover photo of very good very brave boy Mitch. Climber survives 1,500ft fall before running four miles for help Trouble in paradise? Seven surprising signs you’re heading for divorce | Relationships | The Guardian

Stu adds to his impressive tally of losing a race and legitimately winning a medal for it. Amy went for a run. We chat shit about Taylor Swift, ponder future plans for immersive running experiences, badly transition between news stories, and ask how far is ok to race with a baby strapped to your chest?

Another year, another year-end podcast detailing why that year was bullshit. We share our high-, but mainly, low-lights, as well as some top content from our listeners who are generally as miserable as we are. We also reveal alarmingly different race stats for the year, and inevitably not talk about running as much as we can. Episode dedicated to Rain 🐾

This might have been the Halloween episode, but it isn't. Amy gets judged by local shopkeepers, didn't lose her dog, and her mum runs a bit. Stu goes for a walk, watches some runners, and reflects on post-industrial decline across the UK’s marginalised communities, citing how political choices have dismantled local economies and hollowed out the sense of civic pride and cultural belonging.

Amy had a close encounter of the rural kind, while Stu had a shit race and then a nice race. There is talk of rare pheasants, mysteriously intentioned portaloos, race mayonnaise, the Lincoln Showground (IYKYK), a TV show we've never heard of, and Amy loses her mind because someone jumped.

Amy moved house, so the delayed episode was all her fault. She uses it as an excuse to not run, which is actually pretty reasonable compared to some of the others we've heard... Stu is very much back at it, racing silly races, getting wet and miserable and competing with children at parkrun. Our listeners chime in with stories of epic failure, being heckled (maybe), making other runners cry and one of them gets just the tip.

Men being creepy is obviously bad, but it really does make good entertainment as Amy gets all riled up. She also encounters a closed trail, runs down it, and realises it was closed for a reason. Stu claims vengeance, ponders racelessness, swears at a hill, but wants to go to an even bigger hill in Colorado.

Some big questions in this episode: How do you let pedestrians know you want to get past? Can men be mega-babes? And, is trail running gay? We answer some of these and more, as well as details of Stewart having the shits and Amy's fond memories of norovirus, our listeners cry, get stung, and listen to this podcast in the wrong order. We also talk about some actual running news, but focus on the nonsense in the comments.

Only we could have an episode title like this, surely? Stu is coming in hot with a rant that will definitely backfire, and Amy has forgotten what she's ranted about. There's talk of coughing, being unprepared for the elements, eggs, a parkrun nun, the cursed Edinburgh marathon, and a story that could only have come from Lisa Gibbon.

Amy starts spooooky season early this year risking the most heinous curse imaginable, while Stu has become the greatest runner in history and is playing it super cool. We also possibly quite badly insult 0.004% of our audience, Amy doesn't understand dimensions, we talk about the worst way to power through a night shift, when a marathon isn't a marathon, and have the annual worst London Marathon costume record discussion.

Amy grabbed a little lamb, it's fleece was white as snow, and when she lobbed it over the fence, on her merry way she did go. There are tales of personal growth, colonialism, getting lost in a field, public rights of way and when they should be destroyed, and we accidentally convince ourselves that £140 shorts are a fair deal.