Published by Steven W / Karl H
Make Progress, Not Excuses. From ultra lazy to ultra marathon. After 25 years of friendship and 10 years of running; Ste & Teds talk all things physical, mental and emotional endurance. Strava - Karl Hodgson / Steven Willetts Instagram @the_brigboyspodcast email thebrigboys@outlook.com
Listen on Apple Podcasts1 hr 44 min
We all know what it means when we say "Lakeland Family", but Thea and Jess take it one step further as the mother & daughter duo successfully finished the Lakeland 100 2026 together. After an epic weekend we discuss the strong family history in endurance sports as well as Thea's competitive nature as she currently holds the record for the youngest ever Lakeland 100 completion after starting with the Lakeland 1 she is also a proud "Triple Crown" holder. As always we are inspired by the guests we host and their stories - if you love Lakeland, you'll love this!
1 hr 12 min
As we are dangerously close to the Lakeland 50/100 2026, we draw our focus into the people that make the event - the amateur runners. Phil and Em join us to discuss their own journey towards Lakeland, starting with the 50 and then straight onto the 100... Although they fell short of the distance in 2025, they have not stopped believing and will once again take to the start line in Coniston in 2026.
1 hr 17 min
This week we welcome back an incredible athlete and a man whose journey in life has been tumultuous to say the least; we've never met someone with such resilience and had the pleasure to share the airwaves with Luke Grenfell-Shaw who currently sits in the top 1% in the world in UTMB rankings. His story is unique from a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis at a young age to donning the coveted Team GB vest with the small feat. of cycling the distance of Bristol to Beijing on a tandem bike. Luke is an awesome athlete and an inspirational man, who continues to strive to be the very best he can be. Next stop - CCC! Photo: @rising.story
1 hr 23 min
If you're anything like us, you've had your fair share of blisters and chafe in places you didn't think you could... Foot care is the bane of many a trail / road runner and is something we are constantly on the hunt for advice and guidance on. Up steps Dave Johnson, a man who has now dedicated a business to support runners of all capabilities to have one less thing to worry about come race day... We learn all about Dave's impressive background in running including several BIG distances and pick his brains for all things foot care, bllister prevention and advice for anyone thinking about an ultra. Consider this a warning - take care of those trotters!
1 hr 23 min
The Brig Boys return to discuss all things ultra distance. One week after Ste's completion of a solo 86 mile run from Wallsend to Bowness On Solway on the Hadrian's Wall Path, we discuss what goes on both physically and mentally during and after these extreme distances. How do people prepare for ultra distances, and most importantly how do people recover?! What kind of planning does it take to go from one side of the country to another on foot and what kind of support really helps in those dark moments. Massive thank you to anyone who donated to the cause - enjoy the recap!
1 hr 32 min
Fresh out of Snowdonia after another podium finish, Keith discusses his 3rd place finish at the UTS 100K and unpacks the challenges and tribulations that comes with being at the top end of the field. Keith talks us through his history from getting into the ultra scene relatively late and the changes he's seen since joining the Elite Trail Team with coach and friend of the podcast - Doug Stewart. Every race is an opportunity to learn and we get the lowdown on Keith's reflections just days after UTS. With a current UTMB index of 867, what's next for Keith and just how do you maintain a strong body and mind when it comes to elite performances?
1 hr 22 min
Ground control to Major Karl - The Brig Boys get back together to discuss Karl's epic trip to the USA to complete the most prestigious of Marathons. With Major Marathon season in full flow we get the immediate reaction of Sebastian Sawe's record breaking London win alongside the incredible standard set for sub-2 marathon runs. If you've any interest in marathons, be them major or minor - we've got you covered.
1 hr 12 min
Spring has well and truly sprung as we head into marathon season; discussing our upcoming events including the epic Boston Marathon journey for call and the hot dog Manchester Marathon for Ste. We head into April full of hope and carbohydrates and discuss fuelling strategies, pacing plans and of course how we continue to learn with every run. Here we go!
1 hr 32 min
The Brig Boys spread their wings once again and speak to Dave Ross of the world famous "Ross Running News" - coming live via Zoom from the USA. Dave has forgotten more than we'll ever know about running (and celebrity birthdays) and we caught up with him in Karl's lead up to Boston Marathon. As a chap who has rubbed shoulders with some of the greats including Mr Kipchoge - we wanted to know Dave's story and his journey to Major Marathon completions...
1 hr 18 min
The Brig Boys are BACK and catch up with Elite Trail Team star and all round fantastic person - Poppy Collingwood. One of the runners made during Covid times, she has continued to develop into a magnificent runner as well as a mentally tough athlete. Poppy has some epic performances to her name including an Arc of Attrition win as well as podium finishes in some of the most difficult races in the world. We discuss the lows of injuries and how to deal with that in an emotionally mature manner, as well as the importance of safety on the mountains. Love Poppy's energy and as she prepares to crew at the Speed Project - we are excited for her road to recovery... All roads lead to Chamonix!
1 hr 16 min
At Brig Boys HQ we pride ourselves on giving a platform to both established and upcoming talent in the world of sport. Matt is Blackburn Harriers latest export with some incredible performances at a young age, including his recent 10K win at Ribble Valley (29.05 - ludicrous!). Matt is on his way to a great running career, with a positive attitude and love of the sport - it was great to hear another local lad smashing it! Instagram: @matt_ramsden
1 hr 25 min
Most people don't see an advertisement for joining a team to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic with no prior rowing experience and think "Yes Please!" - but Ellie is not most people, she's an ordinary woman doing extraordinary things. We want to know all about her adventures after the recent release of her book "There She Rows", heading back to her days completing at Iron Man before taking to the oars to spend 39 days at sea alongside the There She Rows team. Amazing story and another awesome guest! Instagram: @ellies.row.journal
1 hr 29 min
The Elite Trail Team are a force to be reckoned with and continue their huge results and performances since founder Doug Stewart took charge. The team are data and insights driven with focuses on sleep, nutrition and psychology living up to the old adage "If it can be measured, it can be managed". The team features some of the finest trail runners across the globe and their results continue to speak for themselves. With a few former guests being in the team, it would be daft not to speak to the founder and their 2026 plans wouldn't it... Elite Trail Team Instagram: @elitetrailteam Disclaimer: All audio clips and copyrighted material used in this episode are owned by their respective rights holders. Used under Fair Use guidelines for commentary and analysis.
1 hr 5 min
After a short hiatus from the studio, the Brig Boys are BACK with a bang. Discussing Ste's journey down to Cornwall to experience his first UTMB race at the Arc of Attrition 100K. With 50 miles of mud, sweat and (nearly) tears, there's a lot to unpack as he continues to chase running stones. What's the verdict, is it recommended and what actually happened on the 100 mile route too!? Karl kindly provides some therapy and helps Ste process his emotions on this January ultra... What's next for the Brig Boys!?
1 hr 39 min
With the upcoming Arc of Attrition weekend, we spoke with one of Cornwall's finest imports - Loyd Purvis of Run4Adventure. We discuss Loyd's entry into running, the Cornish fresh air that miraculously cleared his asthma, and of course his awesome adventuring through his running history. Loyd & Liga have been around the globe and have encouraged countless runners to get out on adventures - we talk all things Arc, UTMB, fuelling, kit of choice and running strategy. A big 2026 is on the horizon for this fantastic team! Instagram: Run4Adventure YouTube: Run4Adventure
1 hr 29 min
2025 has come and gone and The Brig Boys discuss their personal running highlights as well as some fantastic race performances from previous guests or local legends. After the Ribble Valley 10K we discuss positioning and some (since resolved) issues around chip and gun time. Do people take park run too seriously? and what's next for the boys in 2026, more progress and a lack of excuses... we hope.
1 hr 8 min
Another member of Elite Trail Team is back in the St-Hugh-dio! Hugh is an incredible athlete and a gentleman and it was our pleasure to host him over the Christmas period.
1 hr 16 min
Midlands based athlete Joe Farrelly has burst onto the running scene after a string of epic performances on both road and trail. We wanted to know more about the person who cruised into a fantastic 3rd place finish at Kullamannen 100K and booked himself a spot in UTMB history. Joe talks us through what made him the man (and athlete) he is today, from his journey into some dark places to the ultra disciplined athlete we see today. This open and frank conversation was an absolute belter and with his attitude and dedication we are fully expecting Joe to achieve great things. Joe's Instagram: @jfarrelly95
1 hr 26 min
Also known across the socials as @runfreerehab - Sophie joins the Brig Boys to discuss her recent injury and the impact that has had both physically and mentally, as well as unpacking the myths and facts about REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). This episode was another fantastic education for us, as we learn some of the key ingredients for a successful home workout, the importance of calorie intake and most importantly: Recovery Runs - are they all they're hyped up to be or should you avoid them entirely? There's something here for everyone to learn, and we had a fantastic time chatting to Sophie... Next stop - Cornwall! Instagram: @runfreerehab
1 hr 42 min
This week the Brig Boys are joined by Lake District legend - Tom Smith, who continues to get bigger, better, faster and stronger at every distance and race! Tom has recently set a blisteringly fast new course record at one of our favourite events (The Lap) as well as annihilating the course at the 7 Valleys ultra. Tom's mental strength and resilience accounts for a lot of his success, he truly embodies the grind and seems to thrive on hard work and dedication. It was great to chat to this fantastic character who is getting some much deserved recognition from the likes of Janji, Trail Skin UK & Voom. Tom's Instagram: @tomsmithrunning