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Running Tales

Running Tales

By: Michelle and Craig Lewis
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Running Tales, presented and produced by husband and wife couple Michelle and Craig Lewis, aims to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners. There are so many wonderful and inspiring stories in the world of running - this podcast aims to give as many of them as possible the publicity they deserve.Michelle and Craig Lewis Running & Jogging
Episodes
  • Chris Marritt: The ultra runner who found the real meaning of failure

    Chris Marritt: The ultra runner who found the real meaning of failure
    Jun 29 2026

    When Chris Marritt DNF’d at the Ring O’ Fire, a 135-mile coastal ultra in Anglesey, he started to doubt his whole identity as a runner.


    As someone who had been running for nearly 25 years and had racked up 2,000 miles in preparation for the race, dropping out hurt Chris more than he had expected.


    He spent the following year trying to repair the damage, while working out what needed to change second time around.


    Spoiler alert: redemption was round the corner… and now his full story is set to be chronicled in a forthcoming memoir entitled Did Not Fail, which he will be self-publishing on August 19.

    In this episode, we speak to Chris about the real meaning of failure and how that has changed for him, why he'd been nowhere near as well prepared for his first Ring O' Fire attempt as he'd thought he was, and how runners can confront the little voice in their head that tells them to stop...


    Find out more about Chris' memoir, Did Not Fail, and register for updates on its publication at didnotfail.wordpress.com


    Visit Running Tales on:


    Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.


    Buy Me A Coffee:


    Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Our affiliates:


    ◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

    I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

    If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    ◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

    Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    ◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

    Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

    If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Ian Williams: The marathoner born with Spina Bifida

    Ian Williams: The marathoner born with Spina Bifida
    Jun 1 2026

    Ian Williams was born with spina bifida myelomeningocele, a severe form of the condition.


    At the time, outcomes were very uncertain, with a survival rate of about 70% and only around 15% of those born with the condition going on to walk unaided - let alone run.


    Thanks to an operation in the early weeks of his life, and despite a risky school time pursuit of rugby, Ian bucked that trend and over the last 22 years has completed four marathons and two ultramarathons - including the London Marathon twice.


    His journey is demonstrated not only by the races he has completed, but by a scar on the base of his spine that tells the story of the challenges he has overcome.


    But Ian's story isn't confined to just his own achievements. In 2004, he founded Fetcheveryone, an independent UK running community which has more than 100,000 users today. In a world of Strava and Instagram influencers, it is a reminder that running is ultimately about community.


    In this episode, we speak to Ian about the joys of running the 100m at school, taking part in events as varied as the London Marathon and Race to Meriden, and why the authentic nature of Fetcheveryone works...


    Join the Fetcheveryone community.


    Visit Running Tales on:


    Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.


    Buy Me A Coffee:


    Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Our affiliates:


    ◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

    I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

    If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    ◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

    Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    ◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

    Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

    If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Megan Boxall: How one woman's record-breaking run round Britain was inspired by the Samaritans

    Megan Boxall: How one woman's record-breaking run round Britain was inspired by the Samaritans
    May 25 2026
    Megan Boxall's running journey has a variety of starting points.In many ways, it started when she took up the sport as a youngster, going on to complete several marathons and triathlons.Others may argue that it really began in October last year when she set out on a trip that was to take in the entire coastline of Britain, covering 5,240 miles.Or perhaps its origin was the moment when a desperate and depressed Megan rang the Samaritans.Wherever you draw your line in the sand, Megan's is an almost unbelievable story of triumph over adversity as she embraced positivity to conquer bad weather, nutritional challenges, and day after day of running to complete 200 marathons in 204 days around the edge of the country.Megan, who has multiple sclerosis, already had a sub-three hour, 30 minute marathon to her name when she decided to take on Elise Downing's coast-running record.The challenge was provoked partly by the achievements of her uncle, Tom, who had walked round the coastline in 2003, and by a desire to give back to the Samaritans, who she had called several times while at her lowest point.Along the way, Megan not only broke Elise's record and raised £67,000 (and rising) for the Samaritans, but met a host of people who proved that Britain has plenty to offer as a country.In this episode, we speak to Megan about why she decided to tackle such a huge project, the importance of the Samaritans, and what she discovered along the way... Megan's website: https://meganboxall.comEvery 90 minutes, someone in the UK dies by suicide. Donate to Megan's fundraiser: https://www.justgiving.com/page/megan-boxall-run-britainVisit Running Tales on:Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.Buy Me A Coffee:Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our affiliates:◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace. Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
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