Running Commentary

SO much to catch up on on this jaunt to and through the woods! Paul's illness, recovery and adventures, the comedians' cost of living crisis, professional break-ups, when it all goes wrong and you feel alright, a review of all our great guests, Rob's happy hols and faulty feet, drinking and parkrun reports, training, event and other life plans for the rest of the year - including our 400th episode celebrations! - and a little bit of appointment television.Fantastic to have Tonks back, but thanks once again to all our recent guests - and thank you, as ever, to you dear listeners, for your continued support through the Acast Supporter button, and for sharing all your adventures on line. Run on!You can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and Paul’s award-winning 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270.NO REFUNDS...

Hopefully Paul will be all better and back next week, but in the mean time Rob's in beautiful Hyde Park with brilliant Ivo Graham, talking about anything and everything. Featuring 'if in doubt, go out', Machynlleth memories, Egyptian Goslings, top-end trainers, Rob's runs in retrospect - and his Albert Hall gigs - scary dogs, Ivo not-quite running the London Marathon with his brother - and channelling Paul - licking frogs, being poetically disorganised, Gig Pigs and other music talk, the Graham family run, and, time-permitting, Taskmaster.Thanks so much to Ivo; PAUL TONKINSON WILL RETURN.Thanks to you all, for everything, as always. Happy running and take care out there.You can hear Ivo and Alex Kealy's podcast Gig Pigs here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/gig-pigs/id1674045788You can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and Paul’s award-winning 26.2 Miles to Happiness - as enjoyed and utilised by Ivo Graham - here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270.

With Paul still benched, Rob runs instead with lovely Ben Willbond - through the usual parts of North London, but on some new routes. Featuring Ben's knee, the Captain's challenge, the decision making skills of pregnant women, closed toilet drama, marathon memories, the deleterious effects of falling over as a career, Ben's mountain-related hopes, good and bad parenting, Horrible Histories and Ghosts, writing insights, complicity in comedy - whether it's sitcoms or stand-up - 'who's attached?', Rob's bulging backpack, whether the Mountain Rescue cover Highgate Woods, and running listening to music.Many thanks to Ben; there'll be another exciting guest for you next week, but then...PAUL TONKINSON WILL RETURN.Thanks as always for your generosity, whether it's buying us a coffee through the Acast Supporter button, sharing your running life with us on the socials, or just listening to our ramblings - we love you; namaste.You can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and Paul’s award-winning 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270.

With Paul on the bench, our old friend Eleanor steps in. Featuring convenient conveniences, when and when not to run fast, how even good shoes have limitations, Tom Cruise on a cruise, Eleanor's Brighton Half Marathon story - featuring a shocking admission - countryside comedy and parkrun plans, big fish, the whys and wherefores of different distances, more details from Rob's Bannau Brycheiniog adventure, the long walk after a finish line, fuelling fun, and an interesting opportunity for east-London-based cyclists.Thanks so much to Eleanor; PAUL TONKINSON WILL RETURN.And thank you all, as ever, for helping us out through the Acast Supporter button, and for sharing your running lives with us on line. You really are a wonderful, high-achieving bunch.You can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and Paul’s award-winning 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270.

On the weekend Rob ran over 50k in Bannau Brycheiniog, Paul's final column for Runner's World hit the nation's magazine racks and doormats, so there's plenty for them to catch up is this sunny episode. Featuring Rob's riddle, Paul's regret, getting granular on the Pen y Fan massif, mud, mountains, potatoes and parkruns - but not quite Alanis Morisette.Thank you to anyone and everyone who sponsored Rob for Velindre Cancer Care, all of you who've bought us a coffee through the Acast supporter button, and every post-and-tweeter who's shared their running adventures on line. You're legends, and we love you all.You can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and Paul’s award-winning 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270.

This was Paul and Rob's second run this week; at this rate Rob's pre-event taper might have to wait til he's done all his events. Featuring green leaves, bluebells, good gigs, trail training, mud, motivation, fuel, fear and walking the hills of life.Thank you once again to all of you who have ‘bought us a coffee’ - or more - through the Acast Supporter button. And thank you, always, for sharing all your running adventures, major, minor, glorious or ignominious, with us on line; what a wonderful community you are. We love you - namaste.You can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270Sponsor Rob here: https://tinyurl.com/bdz4hshm

Before, during and after Rob's 2023 London Marathon - plus Paul's big plan and your amazing PBs. Featuring when third place in an Ultra is not third place in an Ultra, how Denise Richards was going to help Rob run London, how the other half live on the start line, Rob's shonky feet and exemplary support team, the carrot that's going to inspire Paul's Race To The Stones, how Rob felt once the dust had settled, and a huge raft of incredible results from you guys.Thanks to all of you who sponsored Rob for Velindre Cancer Care in South Wales; you can still sponsor his Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog!) Ultra here: https://tinyurl.com/bdz4hshm. Bless you all for sharing your incredible - and beautiful - running adventures on the socials. And thank you once again to everyone who's ‘bought us a coffee’ - or more - through the Acast Supporter button; you’re all wonderful. We love you - namaste.You can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270

The comfort of a classic Tonkinson turn - up the Walk and around the Woods - is welcome to a somewhat strung-out Rob in this episode. Featuring surprise chill, family drama, failing friendships, a poorly mother, a Tough Mudder, being famous and posh, Woodland Blooms, comedy slackers, toxic TV, and of course another looming marathon.Congratulations on all your marathon and other-event successes - we'll round up the PBs next week - and thanks for sharing all your running adventures with us on line. Last but not least, thank you once again to all of you who have ‘bought us a coffee’ - or more - through the Acast Supporter button; you’re all wonderful. We love you - namaste.You can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270You can sponsor Rob's TEC Bannau Brycheiniog Ultra (and London Marathon) for Velindre Cancer Centre here: https://tinyurl.com/bdz4hshm

It's been a long time since Paul and Rob ran together, so their new-month catch-up on Hampstead Heath is overdue, meaning there's plenty to talk about. For example... running and not running on holidays, shonky superannuated feet, the treado, Rob wearing big shoes, Paul playing big rooms, incredible Ultra achievements, an exciting commitment for Tonkinson, musical marathon memories from Deering, segueing from Brighton to London, parkrunning on mara's eve, and a gauntlet laid down for 200 Minute Man.This episode is dedicated to the memory of our friend Gareth Richards, a great comedian and a lovely man. RIP.Thank you once again to all of you who have ‘bought us a coffee’ - or more - through the Acast Supporter button; you’re so generous. And thank you for sharing your running lives with us on line. RUN ON!You get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and Paul’s award-winning 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270.