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Running Commentary

Running Commentary Episode One: Late Starters

This week Rob and Paul go over their reasons - alright, excuses - for not starting their London Marathon training (and Running Commentary) five weeks earlier. Plus: wind, ducks, Norwegians, mud, and a run in with the law.

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  • 493. Solstice Shenanigans

    58:49||Season 1, Ep. 493
    Rob and Paul's penultimate run of the year, and the whole world is ramping up - and/or winding down for the holidays. Featuring Christmas trees, festive viewing review, the storm before the calm and the joy before the sadness, gig report, Rob's ambitious plan for 2025 - and Paul's literary hopes, turning the clock back, making contact with people new to running, or marathons... and drinking their blood.SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; 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 download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ldThanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us this year. Happy running, and Merry Christmas.
  • 492. Still Going Forward

    54:38||Season 1, Ep. 492
    Against the backdrop of festive film season, Rob and Paul head out into the chilly aftermath of Storm Darragh. Featuring another ongoing aftermath in the Tonkinson house, pathetic fallacy, Rob running through an I-don't-want-to phase, the Christmas crescendo, giving up on parkrun, festive fun vs the sadness of the season, the return of the progeny, heckling Chris Rea, mindfulness and moderation, running and writing, plank philosophy, Paul breaking the green cross code, Rob starting to plan for the New Year, and some Flaming Lips-based inspiration.SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; 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 download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ldThanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
  • 494. Paul and George

    28:35||Season 1, Ep. 494
    After George and Paul both, in their different ways, had to abandon their Yorkshire Marathon plans, they catch up to put 2024 plans. But first: postmen.BUY OUR BOOKS; 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 download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ldThanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us this year. Happy running, and Merry Christmas.
  • 491. Into The Darkest Weeks Of The Year

    57:59||Season 1, Ep. 491
    Paul and Rob take to Hampstead Heath to see in December.CONTENT WARNING: topics of conversation include death and suicide, so if you think you'll find that upsetting, do stop after the first twenty minutes of this one.As Rob starts his fifty-third year, he surprises himself at parkrun - and not in a good way - and generally considers all the shenanigans of ageing. Paul, meanwhile, was facing down a tough week when we last heard from him, but he wasn't to know haw bad it would turn out to be.But a run in the countryside with a friend is always good for the soul, so thanks for listening, and giving us such a good excuse to get out there.SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; 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 download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ldThanks again for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
  • 490. Equally At Home In The Jungle Or The Woods

    56:34||Season 1, Ep. 490
    On a beautiful late November morning, Paul and Rob take the classic route North from Tonkinson Towers. Featuring the aftermath of Storm Bert, non-parkrun report, Rob's low scuttle, the Tarzan test, Paul's difficult diary, gig report, travel trouble, family WhatsApp, an influencer cafe, forest fears and Phantom Paths, Paul the woodsman, a bit of high culture, Rob's emotional relationship with festive pop, speeding down the Parkland Walk, and a healthy dose of Christmas anticipation, SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; 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 download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ldThanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
  • 489. Slipping Into Wintry Wanstead Woods

    59:12||Season 1, Ep. 489
    As the first snow of winter slushily falls, Paul and Rob brave slippery surfaces and stinging nettles to run deep into Wanstead's wonderful woods. Featuring Paul's bare knees, a birthday and some boxing, legendary comedy in Greenwich, a good weekend all round for Paul, an accursed journey for Rob, catching up with old friends and new on the road, plans for 2025 beginning to crystallise, and the fundamental power of putting one foot in front of the other.SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; 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 download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ldThanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
  • 488. New Shoes, Old Comedians, Fresh Starts

    01:02:35||Season 1, Ep. 488
    On a beautiful day, Paul and Rob lean into the bumpy thrills of change on a trot around Finsbury and Clissold Parks. Featuring damp bamboo, new shoes, a visit to the world of big money and proper work, running 'early', lucky leaves, canal clay and squat strength, getting back to fitness and finding out what runners we are going to be next, health and eastern mysticism with Alan in Hounslow, London Marathon thoughts, gig report, old clowns, the moment versus the infinite, and Autumn all around.SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; 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 download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ldThanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
  • 487. Letting It Go On The Heath

    52:31||Season 1, Ep. 487
    Hampstead Heath is as Autumnal as it could possibly be as Paul and Rob head out for a Bonfire Night - or rather Day - run. Featuring a wonderful display of leaves, and a very misty take on the London skyline, the wonder of wives, reading and not reading, full-sized children, Twitter vs X, Rob's many-but-not-quite enough trainers, Paul's visit to the gym, being on the cusp of taking the final opportunities of the year or winding things up and waiting for the next, a good moment in comedy, the art of letting go, and the loss of a couple of very different legends.SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; 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 download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ldThanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.
  • 486. Andi Osho

    56:25||Season 1, Ep. 486
    The comedy scene's loss was the wider world's gain when Andi Osho stepped away from stand-up and focussed on acting and writing books. Rob caught up with her for a chat-and-run round Walthamstow Marshes. Featuring the Royal Parks Half, the London Marathon, charity work in general, lockdown memories, running and writing, and whether you 'can't say anything these days'.Thanks so much to Andi - She's @theandioshow on Instagram, and you can buy her books - including the new one she can't tell us much about that isn't out yet - here: https://www.waterstones.com/author/andi-osho/4751278Plus, of course, you can buy OUR books - 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 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.