Share

cover art for Ep 197. Running controversies

The Women's Running Podcast

Ep 197. Running controversies

Season 1, Ep. 197

Welcome to episode 197 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running.

 

Emotional load

There’s a lot of chat that doesn’t touch on running to begin with, as Holly has had another exciting weekend, and I’ve been having some stressed parenting moments, which leads into some general emotional load chat. Please relate to one of us!


Running questions 

Then we finally get on to some running, and we have questions for you as a result – what do you do if you bump into a runner you know when you’re running? Do you stop and chat? Do you offer to run with them? And, do you also feel horribly visible if you’re spotted turning back on an out-and-back route?


Running controversies 

Then we have some running controversies – we would LOVE to know your thoughts on two pieces that I read in the Guardian that seemed to be very anti-running, which we explore in detail. Links in the show notes if you’d like to read them.

 

Join us!

Now, do please come and join us on Patreon – you can get a ton of extra Pod Squad benefits from just £2 a month, including newsletters, Live chats, and you can join our exclusive and very lovely Discord community filled with wonderful runners just like you. All of that and you’ll always be the first to know about trips like New York! Go to patreon.com/womensrunning to find out more.

 

Lovely extra bits
  • This episode is sponsored by the Coopah run coaching app. For a FREE two-week trial of Coopah, just use the code WOMENSRUNNING2 and fill your running boots.
  • From the Guardian: Sam Pyrah’s piece on fitness being a ball and chain
  • From the Guardian: Rod Gilchrist’s piece on running addiction
  •  Subscribe to Women’s Running – join us today to save loads, it's only £3.50 an issue!
  • Setting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE IT
  • Download a FREE mini mag to help you run 5K! Go to womensrunning.co.uk/run
  • Buy a Pod Squad t-shirt!
  • Do join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunning
  • Email us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 200. Ep 200. Celebrations, drinks, highlights

    01:43:59
    Welcome to episode 200 of the Women’s Running podcast. This episode is sponsored by Runna. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running. 200 celebrationsWhoop whoop! It’s our 200th episode and we are celebrating in style with a drink and a bowl of peanuts and a little look back at some of our favourite moments over the last year or so. I start on a slightly cross note because of a convo I’d had at the weekend, where I was asked a question that I think sets the tone for our entire podcast. Favourite momentsBut once I’ve shed that baggage we’re on to the fun bit. What have been our most favourite pods over the past year or so? We start with a margarita, and end with an Aperol Spritz and in the middle of all of that we chat about our favourite bits, which includes the hang-glider face-off, Canal Boat Amy, the Paris Half with the Pod Squad massive, our trips to New York, and lots of toilet talk. Join us!Now, do please come and join us on Patreon – you can get a ton of extra Pod Squad benefits from just £2 a month, including newsletters Live podcasts and you can join our exclusive Discord forum filled with wonderful runners just like you. Go to patreon.com/womensrunning to find out more. Now, if you’re not already a subscriber to Women’s Running magazine, you need to stop what you’re doing right now and sign up, cos I think this is one of our best ever offers. Right now – and only until the end of August - you can get your first six issues of Women’s Running for just £6 – that’s a pound an issue! Go to womensrunning.co.uk, click on SHOP, and use the code SS24 WRPOD at the checkout. Or just go here. Six quid! That’s how much ONE issue costs if you buy it in Sainos. And I know I’m biased, but it’s BRILLIANT. Lovely extra bits• This episode is sponsored by RunnaFor a FREE two-week trial of Runna, just use the code WOMENSRUNNING and fill your running boots. Subscribe to Women’s Running – join us today to save loads, it's only £6 for 6 issuesSetting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE IT·      Download a FREE mini mag to help you run 5K! Go to womensrunning.co.uk/runBuy a Pod Squad t-shirt!Do join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories
  • 199. Ep 199. Heat training and feedback

    01:23:13
    Welcome to episode 199 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running. Heat trainingThis episode, we explore the idea that running is something we can do to give us energy, as much as deplete our energy. We also talk about running in the heat, with some actual science that we read on the internet to back up the way that we feel after running when it’s unexpectedly hot.Your emails We’ve got some lovely emails from you here to discuss, with all sorts of continuing chat about annoying Guardian columnists and yoga class etiquette. There’s been lots of chat on Discord about the things we’ve been talking about. Do join us on Patreon at patreon.com/womensrunning so you can chat with everyone in our chat room, as it is a LOT of fun there at the mo. Saucony London 10K competitionThe one thing we needed to talk about in this episode, we forgot to mention until the very end, which is the extremely exciting news that we’re going to be running the Saucony London 10K on Sunday July 14th, and to make it even more exciting, we’re launching a competition in partnership with SportsShoes.com to offer ten lucky winners a free race place AND a bunch of kit to wear on the day. Go to womensrunning.co.uk/saucony10K or enter here. If you’re not already a subscriber to Women’s Running magazine, right now you can get your first six issues of Women’s Running for just £6! Go to womensrunning.co.uk, click on SHOP, and use the code SS24WRPOD at the checkout. Or just go here.  Lovely extra bitsThis episode is sponsored by Revive Active. You can get 20% off the whole Revive Active range at ReviveActive.com using the code Run20, which you can use right up until 31st July.Subscribe to Women’s Running and you’ll get your first six issues for £6! Offer code: SS24WRPODEnter our competition to win lovely kit and a race place to run alongside us at the London 10K. Setting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE ITBuy a Pod Squad t-shirt!Do join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories
  • 198. Ep 198. Unexpected Bake Off, maintenance fitness

    01:19:30
    Welcome to episode 198 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running. Bake Off returnsWe have a lot to talk about - mostly because we’ve been out to see Janusz from The Great British Bake Off talk about his new cook book, and had a very fun time indeed. 2025 marathon?We’re then talking about maintenance running and fitness. Plans are beginning to emerge for a possible marathon in February 2025. Question is: should we both do it?Controversies Then we talk about a few more controversies; namely Joe Wicks’ menopause workout and a bit of a internet talk there. Before we move on to An Incident in my yoga class. It’s all fun and games. Join us!Now, do please come and join us on Patreon – you can get a ton of extra Pod Squad benefits from just £2 a month, including newsletters, Live chats, and you can join our exclusive and very lovely Discord community filled with wonderful runners just like you. All of that and you’ll always be the first to know about trips like New York! Go to patreon.com/womensrunning to find out more. Lovely extra bitsThis episode is sponsored by Revive Active. You can get 20% off the whole Revive Active range at ReviveActive.com using the code Run20, which you can use right up until 31st July.Subscribe to Women’s Running – join us today to save loads, it's only £3.50 an issue!Setting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE ITDownload a FREE mini mag to help you run 5K! Go to womensrunning.co.uk/runBuy a Pod Squad t-shirt!Do join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories
  • 196. Ep 196. Eurovision, your suggestions, marathons

    01:14:24
    Welcome to episode 196 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running.This episode is sponsored by the Coopah run coaching app. For a FREE two-week trial of Coopah, just use the code WOMENSRUNNING2 and fill your running boots. Weekend runningThe sun has finally been out and Holly has been having a joyous weekend, so we talk about all the drunkenness and the singing and the wild swimming that ensued. Speaking of drunkenness, we talk about my Eurovision antics, and the hangover I was obliged to run off the following day. A run which included an encounter with one of the dreaded swans. Booze fumes possibly made me brave at this point. Your suggestionsWe then move on to YOUR suggestions – covering physio, race ideas, cheap anti-chafe solutions, and mapping apps. This was genuinely amazing – more of these please! Email us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any running-related suggestions! Join us!Now, do please come and join us on Patreon – you can get a ton of extra Pod Squad benefits from just £2 a month, including newsletters, Live chats, and you can join our exclusive and very lovely Discord community filled with wonderful runners just like you. All of that and you’ll always be the first to know about trips like New York! Go to patreon.com/womensrunning to find out more. Lovely extra bitsThis episode is sponsored by the Coopah run coaching app.For a FREE two-week trial of Coopah, just use the code WOMENSRUNNING2 and fill your running boots. Subscribe to Women’s Running – join us today to save loads, it's only £3.50 an issue!Setting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE ITDownload a FREE mini mag to help you run 5K! Go to womensrunning.co.uk/runBuy a Pod Squad t-shirt!Do join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories
  • 195. Ep 195. Feet, massages, recovering with Coopah

    01:27:09
    Welcome to episode 195 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running. Running recoveryThis includes our second chat with Jordan from Coopah, who talks to us at around the 25 minute mark about recovery - we’re talking about sleeping, eating and drinking water, and doing all those things in the right amounts at the right time. We also chat about how to cope when you’ve got races that are close together – listen to her advice here: you can’t race every single one. BlistersBefore and after that, me and Hol are chatting about how we’re getting back into running post-New York, which leads on to some gruesome blister and foot chat. We also talk about sports massages and our varying experiences of. It’s a VERY silly episode – let us know if you think we should always record at 3pm on a Tuesday, or in fact should never do that again, because it descends into madness. Join us!Now, do please come and join us on Patreon – you can get a ton of extra Pod Squad benefits from just £2 a month, including newsletters, Live chats, and you can join our exclusive and very lovely Discord community filled with wonderful runners just like you. All of that and you’ll always be the first to know about trips like New York! Go to patreon.com/womensrunning to find out more. Lovely extra bits• Jordan was giving us the sort of advice you can get your mitts on when you sign up to the Coopah run coaching app Subscribe to Women’s Running – join us today to save loads, it's only £3.50 an issue!Get your hands on How to Run 5K with Esther and Holly, available at shop.womensrunning.co.uk / Extras·      Download a FREE mini mag to help you run 5K! Go to womensrunning.co.uk/runBuy a Pod Squad t-shirt!Do join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories 
  • 194. Ep 194. New York women's half marathon

    56:23
    Welcome to episode 194 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running. This episode is sponsored by the brilliant Coopah running app - listen in for an exclusive discount. New York Live!This podcast is brought to you LIVE from New York! We went out there last week with the very wonderful Sports Tours International and a fabulous bunch of Pod Squadders to run the Real Simple Women’s Half Marathon through Central Park. This pod takes place in the breakfast room of the hotel, a couple of hours after running the race. So here we chat about our experiences in New York including some sightseeing fun and games. The half marathonWe also share our thoughts about the course itself, which was stunning but *undulating* the funny signs we saw, and the not-so-funny signs, as well as the supporters en route.Pod Squadders We hear from  Pod Squadders Marte, who was running her first half marathon, and Marion (who has now run a HUNDRED half marathons!), and many more besides. Enjoy the giggles right here. Join us next time!Now, do please come and join us on Patreon – you can get a ton of extra Pod Squad benefits from just £2 a month, including newsletters, Live chats, and you can join our exclusive and very lovely Discord community filled with wonderful runners just like you. All of that and you’ll always be the first to know about trips like this! Go to patreon.com/womensrunning to find out more. Lovely extra bitsThis issue is sponsored by the Coopah run coaching appWe ran New York with Sports Tours International – go and find out about all the running adventures they offer, including all six marathon majors!Subscribe to Women’s Running – join us today to save loads, it's only £3.50 an issue!Get your hands on How to Run 5K with Esther and Holly, available at shop.womensrunning.co.uk / ExtrasDownload a FREE mini mag to help you run 5K! Go to womensrunning.co.uk/runBuy a Pod Squad t-shirt!Do join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories
  • 193. Ep 193. Cautious running, MS Awareness

    01:52:56
    Welcome to episode 193 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running.Running and MS We have a special guest this episode in the shape of brilliant Lianne the co-founder of Monkey Sox, who is talking to us this this week specifically, because it’s MS Awareness Week, and MS, and raising awareness and funds for MS research is  at the heart of everything they do (along with making socks). Lianne talks to us here about the origins of the brand, as well as MS symptoms. And she also speaks about how movement can help the management of some of those MS symptoms. New York half and London Marathon Once Hol and I are back in the room, we’re getting ready for New York this weekend, but also getting very excited about the London Marathon which took place LAST weekend – the tears, the costumes, the drama. Congratulations to everyone who has just taken on a big event and good luck to all those looking forward to some miles this weekend.Join us Now, do please come and join us on Patreon – you can get a ton of extra Pod Squad benefits from just £2 a month, including membership to our very lovely Discord community filled with wonderful runners just like you. Go to patreon.com/womensrunning to find out more.Lovely extra bitsThis issue is sponsored by Coopah run coaching appThis issue, we spoke to Lianne from Monkey Sox – check out their running socksFind out more about the charities they raise money for:MS SocietyMS-UKMultiple Sclerosis TrustSubscribe to Women’s Running – join us today for only £3.50 an issue!Get your hands on How to Run 5K with Esther and Holly, available at shop.womensrunning.co.uk / ExtrasDo join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories
  • 192. Ep 192. Half and marathon tips from Coopah

    01:41:20
    Welcome to episode 192 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running. Coopah tipsIn this special episode we’re joined by Jordan Foster from the Coopah running app. Jordan is the OG of instagram running, who I first new as Project Marathon Girl. Now she’s part of the establishment and part of Coopah. She chats to us about her start in running and her recent successes, and then tells us what we need to do during a taper before a half marathon. As well as general marathon strategies ahead of the London Marathon to get your head sorted as much as your legs. She’ll be back with us in a couple of weeks to talk about recovery strategies – it’s almost as if we planned it, right?Last long run Before and after that proper running bit, Holly talks about her last long runs, which have mostly been going well, aside from a small altercation with a dog and a chicken. It’s all going on here. We also have a chat after our convo with Jordan about whether we should now think of ourselves as “naturally sporty” after all.Pick up Women's Running for pennies! Now, if you don’t already subscribe to Women’s Running magazine, we’ve got a Pod Squad offer for you lovely people – hop along to womensrunning.co.uk/podsquad and you’ll be able to get your mitts on Women’s Running for just £3.50 an issue, saving 42% off the cover price. The subscription is totally risk-free and flexible, you don’t need to sign up for years and years, so it’s the perfect way to get loads more Women’s Running fun times for pennies. Lovely extra bits• Check out the Coopah run coaching app, and follow Jordan on InstagramSubscribe to Women’s Running – join us today to save loads, it's only £3.50 an issue!Get your hands on How to Run 5K with Esther and Holly, available at shop.womensrunning.co.uk / Extras·      Download a FREE mini mag to help you run 5K! Go to womensrunning.co.uk/runBuy a Pod Squad t-shirt!Do join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories