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Young Hearts Run Free Podcast

The thoughts and chat of John Cassidy and Steven Watt (and a range of guests) as they give their take on the world of running, marathoning and ultra marathoning.

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Will Howard - Lakeland 100 Podium and the Joy of the Climb - Season 16 Eps 4

Will Howard joins us to share the remarkable story behind his debut at the Lakeland 100, where he stunned the field by finishing 3rd place in a phenomenal 20:44. From a childhood spent trying every sport imaginable, through modern pentathlon, marathon running, and a breakthrough ultra victory in Minnesota, Will's running journey has taken him to the sharp end of one of the UK's toughest ultra…

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Did Not Fail: Chris Marritt on DNFs, Redemption and the Ring of Fire - Season 16 Eps 3

What happens when your greatest strength becomes your biggest vulnerability?In this episode we sit down with ultra runner, journalist and first-time author Chris Marritt to discuss his forthcoming book Did Not Fail, a deeply personal exploration of what happens when a runner encounters their first ever DNF after 24 years of always finding a way to the finish line.Chris takes us through the highs…

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Brian Robertson - By Way of the Glen - Season 16 Eps 2

What do you get when you combine the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way, 170 miles of relentless Scottish trail, a coach with a winning pedigree, a couple of loyal crew members, and a runner who refuses to quit? You get Brian Robertson, better known on Instagram as @brido_runs_daft_ultras In this episode, we sit down with Brian fresh from an incredible performance at the By Way of the Glen,…

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Everest Season 16 Launch & Lakeland 2026 Debrief - Season 16 Episode 1

Season 16 is LIVE! 🎙️🏃‍♂️ ​Everyone has an Everest, what's yours? For some, it’s a high-altitude ultra. For others, it’s a first parkrun, a Couch-to-5K, or just getting out the front door. ​Whatever your Everest is this year—we want to hear about it. Drop us a comment and join the chat for another season of epic stories, big adventures, and classic questionable life choices! ​In Episode 1: The…

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Season 15 Finale: Time for Another Lakeland Adventure. Season 15 Eps 20

The Season 15 curtain comes down with special guest Steven Willetts, better known as one half of the Brig Boys Podcast. A three-time Lakeland 50 finisher, Steven joins us to talk training, mindset, race strategy, nutrition, coaching, and what keeps drawing him back to one of the UK's most iconic ultra marathons. With Lakeland weekend just around the corner, it's the perfect conversation to send us…

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3rd, 2nd, 1st: The Roberta Fletcher WHW Story - Season 15 Eps 19

In this episode we sit down with Roberta Fletcher, the 2026 West Highland Way Race women's winner. From running 10Ks with a buggy after having children to standing atop the podium at one of the world's most iconic ultra races, Roberta's story is one of patience, persistence, smart training, and believing in what is possible. Roberta shares her remarkable journey from a performing arts background…

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The Way in a Day with Stevie McKenna - Season 15 Eps 18

Stevie McKenna joins us to share the story behind his incredible five-hour improvement at the West Highland Way Race, reducing his time from 28:18 to 23:23 and achieving a coveted sub-24-hour finish.From recovering from an ACL injury that first introduced him to running, to becoming a dedicated ultra-runner, Stevie reflects on the lessons, sacrifices and mindset shifts that fueled his breakthrough…

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Redemption on the West Highland Way with Melissa McLarnon - Season 15 Eps 17

In this powerful and emotional episode, we welcome Melissa McLarnon to the podcast. After being timed out at Beinglas in the 2025 West HighlandWay Race and a subsequent battle with anxiety and mental health challenges, Melissa returned this year with a completely different mindset. What follows is a story of resilience, recovery, friendship, and ultimately crossing the finish line of Scotland's…

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Summer Spine Challenger North with Serena Broadway, Season 15, Eps 16

Trail runner and endurance athlete Serena Broadway joins the podcast to share her journey into ultra running and her experience taking on the Summer Spine Challenger North, a brutal 160 mile race along the Pennine Way.From Couch to 5K beginnings to navigating bogs, sleep deprivation, and blisters, Serena reflects on resilience, community, and what it really takes to keep moving when everything…

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Montane Summer Spine Challenger South Debrief - Season 15 Eps 15

Something a little different this week as John Cassidy and Rachel Macpherson sit down for a raw and honest debrief just hours after completing the Montane Summer Spine Challenger South. From months of preparation and recce weekends, to bogs, blisters, hallucinations, cow encounters and unforgettable sunrises, they relive every high and low of their 108-mile journey along the Pennine Way. Rachel…

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Running the Length of Scotland with Gregor Yates - Season 15 Eps 14

What does it take to run the entire length of Scotland ? In this powerful episode of the Young Hearts Run FreePodcast , we sit down with Gregor Yates , who completed anextraordinary challenge: running roughly 415 miles from Kirk Yetholm to CapeWrath , covering a marathon a day for 17 consecutive days. But this wasn’t just about endurance. Gregor took on this journey in memory of his mum and…

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