RUNcensored

Episode 50 marks a huge milestone for RUNcensored — and to celebrate, we handed the mic to ChatGPT. Yes, really. The world’s most talkative AI became our producer for the day, coming up with all the questions for Ben and Gary… and the results were equal parts insightful and ridiculous.Over the last 49 episodes, RUNcensored has featured some of the biggest names in trail running, ultra running, and fell running — from elite athletes like Holly Wootten and Tom Evans, to experts in nutrition, psychology, and navigation. In this special AI-powered chat, Ben and Gary reflect on everything they’ve learned (and a few things they probably should have learned by now).💬 Expect big questions and bigger laughs:What’s the hardest mental barrier you’ve had to push through in a race?Which nutrition myth did you finally ditch after speaking with experts like Paul?What can today’s trail runners learn from traditional club running culture?Which guest would you want to coach you for a season — and why?Who’s more likely to get lost mid-race: Gary with his GPX or Ben with his map?And the RUNcensored Awards — who wins Best Rant, Funniest Story, and Most Unexpected Guest Moment?It’s a hilarious and heartfelt look back on the journey so far — from mountain marathons to muddy mishaps — all through the lens of AI-generated chaos.If you love trail running, ultra marathons, mountain running, or just the kind of unfiltered running chat you can’t get anywhere else, this one’s for you.🎙 RUNcensored — the podcast where trail running meets real talk.Available now on Acast, Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.#trailrunning #ultrarunning #fellrunning #runcensored #runningpodcast #chatgpt #ai #runningbanter #runnersofinstagram #ukrunchat #trailrunner #mountainrunning #ultrarunner #runchat #adventurerunning

Fell runner, orienteer and canicross athlete Jacob “Tonk” Tonkin joins Ben and Gary for an unforgettable conversation about running, resilience, and the power of the bond between a runner and his dog.Jacob opens up about life on the fells of Keswick, the mental games of fell racing, and taking on epic challenges like the anti-clockwise Bob Graham Round and the Frog Graham — running and swimming across the Lake District.But his story goes much deeper. Jacob speaks candidly about living with Crohn’s disease, the loss of his beloved dog George, and how the short film “George” (created by James Appleton) captured both their friendship and his fight to keep going.With honesty, humour and heart, Jacob shares how running, dogs, and the mountains helped him rebuild his life — and why he now runs purely for himself.🎬 Watch George on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_bVHR1sRyYIn this episode:The mindset and psychology of fell racingThe Bob Graham and Frog Graham challengesThe making of “George” and its emotional impactLiving with Crohn’s diseaseRunning with dogs and the power of canicrossFinding purpose after loss and adversity#TrailRunning #FellRunning #UltraRunning #Canicross #GeorgeFilm #CrohnsAwareness #MentalHealth #RUNcensored #RunningPodcast #LakeDistrict

She’s back!In this episode of the RUNcensored Podcast, Ben and Gary catch up with Kay Hawke from British Orienteering — one of our most popular past guests — to find out why orienteering is exploding in popularity and how it can seriously level up your trail and ultra running.Kay explains how combining navigation with endurance creates the perfect mental and physical challenge for runners, and why “getting lost” might actually be the best training you can do.We talk about everything from Street-O showdowns and European city races that start in police stations, to the mindset of staying competitive, motivated and just a little bit obsessed with maps.Here’s what’s inside this episode 👇🧭 Why orienteering is the secret training tool for trail and ultra runners📍 How navigation sharpens focus, confidence and decision-making🏃‍♀️ Red Courses explained — and why they’re perfect for trail runners💡 How to pick the right event (and avoid getting discouraged)🏅 Competition vs enjoyment — does winning really matter?🌍 European orienteering: from Belgium’s beer races to Gdansk city adventures🎒 Using SI Entries to find local, affordable events every week🏫 How schools and communities could use orienteering to get more kids outdoors⚡ The reality of UK funding and why media coverage could change everything🍺 Ben and Gary’s Street-O stories, geocache fails, and questionable map reading🔥 A preview of the ‘Quid Games’ Orienteering Event at Kendal Mountain FestivalWhether you’re training for your next mountain ultra or just love the idea of running with a purpose, this one will make you see trail running — and getting lost — in a whole new light.🎧 Listen now to EP48: “Getting Lost Made Me Faster: How Orienteering Can Transform Your Trail Running”#trailrunning #ultrarunning #orienteering #britishorienteering #streeto #fellrunning #trailrunner #runningpodcast #navigation #mapreading #kendalmountainfestival #offroadrunning #trailrunninguk #runningmotivation #RUNcensored

Ben and Gary are back together for a proper catch-up after a busy few weeks of racing, training and, in Ben’s case, accidentally taking his dogs to a no-dogs event.Ben dives into his experiences at the British Fell Relay Championships and Trofeo Vanoni in Italy — talking about the atmosphere, navigation challenges, and why he keeps going back year after year. He also shares what’s next for the UK trail scene with new teams and more women joining the sport.Gary’s been getting ready for Quid Games, mixing up his training with Zwift racing and strength work to stay motivated through winter.The lads also break down some of the latest headlines in trail and ultra running, including:Sarah Webster’s gold medal and world-class performance at the 24-hour World ChampionshipsSarah Perry’s record-breaking Backyard UltraRemi Bonnet’s insane new VK world recordThe ongoing Strava vs Garmin legal dramaIt’s an episode packed with results, records and plenty of laughs — the unfiltered runner’s podcast you didn’t know you needed.#trailrunning #ultrarunning #runningpodcast #fellrunning #RUNcensored

Tom Evans & Ruth Crofts secret UTMB nutrition strategyThis week on RUNcensored, Gary and Ben sit down with Paul Booth — Lead Nutritionist for Salomon and Sports Nutrition Researcher at the Leeds Beckett University — to explore how elite fuelling strategies can transform the way we all train and race.Paul has worked directly with Tom Evans and Ruth Croft, the male and female winners of this year’s UTMB in Chamonix, helping them perfect their race-day nutrition through gut training, carbohydrate loading, and precision hydration.In this conversation, Paul breaks down how he guided Tom to consume 120g of carbs per hour, how Ruth adapted her fuelling to increase performance, and the science behind glucose–fructose ratios, hydration,heat tolerance, and altitude testing.He also explains what everyday runners can take from the elite level — from how to avoid stomach issues in long events to simple strategies for improving recovery, energy management, and consistency.It’s a deep dive into the science of endurance nutrition and the fascinating intersection of research and real-world racing.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday. Watch and listen on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and everywhere else you get your podcasts.#RUNcensored #UTMB #trailrunning #ultrarunning #TomEvans #RuthCroft #nutrition #runningpodcast #endurance #marathontraining #sportsnutrition #guttraining #Salomon #fuelling

In this episode, Gary and Ben are joined by Holly Wootten, who made history at the 2025 Dragon’s Back Race®, finishing first woman and second overall, setting a new women’s record in the process.The Dragon’s Back is one of the toughest mountain races in the world — six relentless days running the length of Wales, from Conwy Castle to Cardiff Castle, across wild ridgelines, brutal climbs and unpredictable weather. Holly talks us through the highs, lows and everything in between.She shares how she approached the race with a plan to compete with the men, how she handled the pressure of leading, and the mental and physical battles that come with stage racing. From camp life and gear setup to racing injured on the final day, this is a story of sheer determination and belief.Holly’s performance was extraordinary — 50:46:16, over three hours faster than the previous women’s record set by Lisa Watson in 2022. She dominated from the start, finishing just behind men’s winner David Parrish, and ahead of a strong field including Jodie Gauld and Lianne Van Dijk.Expect honest chat about:What it takes to race the DragonThe reality of multi-day ultrasWomen competing at the sharp endHow mindset and navigation can make or break your weekAnd why Holly still finished strong after injury on day fiveThis is a deep dive into one of the most inspiring performances in UK ultra running.🎙 Hosted by Gary House and Ben Mounsey🎧 Watch and listen on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT&si=jjt-sW_XAm-5nz4y#TrailRunning #Ultrarunning #DragonsBackRace #HollyWootten #RUNcensored #MountainRunning #EnduranceRunning #Podcast

Gary’s viral Tor des Géants video of a runner cutting corners blew up online — and in this episode, he and Ben dive deep into the messy world of cheating in trail running.From infamous cases like Rob Young’s faked Race Across America to the two brothers caught at South Africa’s Comrades Ultra, this one’s full of jaw-dropping stories and a few personal confessions. Gary also talks about his experience catching a JOGLE runner falsifying Strava data, while Ben reveals his role as the Strava Police.They also explore the psychology behind cheating — from catfishing and Tinder swindlers to how sponsorships can be affected by fake data.💬 Got your own story? The lads want to hear your best examples of running “cheats” for a future episode.🎙️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.📺 Watch the full video version on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT&si=jjt-sW_XAm-5nz4y#trailrunning #ultrarunning #runcensoredpodcast #garyhouse #benmounsey #runningcommunity #tordesgeants #ultrarunner #strava #cheatinginrunning

The RUNcensored crew are back from their break with a brand new episode — and it’s a big one.Gary, Ben and Chris pick up right where they left off with the usual mix of banter, stories and raw honesty about the world of trail, fell and ultra running.☕ General chat – The lads ease back in with holiday catch-ups and even a heated debate about coffee machines.🧭 Ben on orienteering – After Kay from British Orienteering joined the pod earlier this year, listeners have been inspired to try it for themselves. Ben shares his recent experiences at orienteering events and why the sport is such a good crossover for trail runners.🎬 Events on the horizon – Updates on Quid Games 2 and the Kendal Mountain Festival.🏔 Gary’s Tor des Géants – Gary takes us through his week in Italy, from supporting friends who were hit by a virus to his own meticulous preparation. He then opens up about how that same virus caught up with him during the 330km race, forcing him to withdraw. The conversation dives into the physical toll, the emotional impact of a DNF, and what comes next.🌍 World Championships chat – The lads break down the wide range of races on offer this year, from the uphill to the short and long ultras. They ask whether too many options are diluting the fields, talk about prize money, and compare it all to the UTMB.👟 Athletes and results – Spotlight on Rémi Bonnet, predictions on who might win, Ben reeling off results and finish times, and a frank chat on funding, sponsorship and media coverage.This one’s got everything: big race talk, personal stories, and the kind of unfiltered banter that makes RUNcensored different.#ultrarunning #trailrunning #tordesgeants #fellrunning #orienteering #worldchampionships #utmb #mountainrunning #runningpodcast #runcensored