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EP54 - We Handed Out Trail Running’s Biggest Awards of 2025 👀
Season 2025, Ep. 54
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It’s the final episode of the year and we’re wrapping things up with our completely unofficial RUNcensored Awards, looking back at the biggest moments in trail running and ultra running in 2025.
We start with a discussion around trail shoes and trainers, talking through brands regularly seen on UK and European trails including Salomon, HOKA, Nike, adidas, La Sportiva and Altra, before moving on to the events, performances and people that defined the year. The conversation covers major races and formats such as UTMB, Ultra-Trail Snowdonia Eryri, Trans Gran Canaria, the London Marathon, the SHE Ultra, and the ever-growing popularity of the Backyard Ultra.
Throughout the episode we hand out the RUNcensored Awards, including trail shoe of the year, best trail event, best running influencer, best performance, and trail runner of the year. Along the way we reference and discuss standout athletes from across the UK and international trail scene, including Sarah Perry, Anna Llewellyn, Jack Scott, Henrietta Alban, Holly Stables, Hugh Chatfield, Abby Hall, and Hannah Cox, as well as broader comparisons to endurance mindsets through figures like Alex Honnold.
There’s a deeper discussion around what it really takes to be an ultra endurance athlete, with particular credit given to Sarah Perry following an incredible Backyard Ultra performance and record-setting time. Gary also shares honest advice on social media and content creation, talks about the impact of the Hardest Geezer, and outlines his own plans for 2026, including chasing a sub-2:30 London Marathon.
Chris brings ChatGPT into the mix to name the best trail runner, best UK trail runner, and a breakthrough athlete for 2025, before we wrap things up by naming our podcast of the year and reflecting on another big year for the RUNcensored Podcast and the wider trail running community.
#trailrunning #ultrarunning #runningpodcast #trailrunners #ultrarunner #trailshoes #utmb #ultratrailsnowdonia #transgrancanaria #sheultra #backyardultra #fkts #londonmarathon #hardestgeezer #uktrailrunning #endurancerunning #runcensored
RUNcensored Podcast 🎙
The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.
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Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media
www.eastwood-media.co.uk
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54:00||Season 2025, Ep. 50Episode 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 #adventurerunning49. EP49 - The Fell Runner Who Turned Grief Into Grit | Jacob Tonkin & “George”
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