Two Men On The Run

This week the Two Men on the Run are joined by their good friend Hughie Killbane. After an exciting morning which nearly saw Made to Run flooded due to someone leaving a water tap running in the flats above, luckily guest Hughie Kilbane was on hand to do a bit of plumbing work and save the shop. There followed a great sit down and an interesting discussion with Hughie all about his running and how it fits into his life from a mental destresser to a training tool for his boxing and MMA fights and more.

This week only a couple hours after racing the Helena Tipping Wrexham 10km the Two Men on the Run are joined by Welsh International and the compare of the race Bernie Jones and Irish International, 1996 British Cross Country Champion and Athletics Activist John Downes.

Bernie and John highlight some of their illustrious athletic careers before diving deep into a discussion on the current shape of Athletics in the UK and the World and what, if anything can be done to try to save the sport they love.

This week the Two Men on the Run are joined by a host of Tour of Merseyside participants and Tour Organiser and BTR leader Alan Rotherwell.

After a round-up of this year's Tour from Matt, and a chance to hear from a number of the participants on their experience of the Tour was like.

The boxing gloves were then allowed off and Jon-Jo and Alan were set on each other.

An excellent discussion on running, business, prizes, and why we run followed, hope everyone enjoys it.

It's been a month since the last show and The Two Men on the Run are now well into their race seasons. We catch up with Matt's Copenhagen Marathon, and Jon-Jo discusses taking on the mountains and jumping down onto the flat and fast of the track.

This week the Two Men on the Run are joined by fell running maestro John Hunt. John tells the Men about his hopes and plans the take the Merseyside County Team, 'The Flat Landers', to conquer the fells. His journey from football to the mountains, listen to the end for a gruesome injury tale, not for the faint of heart. And how as a researcher John has helped professional footballers to athletes identify blood markers to show just how fit they are!

Yes, the Two Men on the Run are back with another episode in the same week, don't get used to it listeners. Still, hot off the press, the Two Men on the Run speak with Rachel Hodgkinson, just days after her fantastic run at the 2023 TCS London Marathon running 2:34.46, finishing second British Woman.

Rachel discusses being self-coached and training from a book, running all six Marathon Majors, doing the Tokyo and London Marathons just over a month apart with Personal Bests at both, and what's next.

The Two Men on the Run, dive into Rachel's running history, here fitness instructing which see's her lead and partake in over 20 fitness classes a week while also fitting in 75-85 mile training weeks and how she ended up with Phil Sesemann's British Championships Silver Medal and what that might mean for Mo Farah's Bronze.

If you're interested on any fitness coaching from Rachel then give her Facebook Page and Instagram a follow:

https://www.facebook.com/racheljoyfitness/?locale=en_GB

https://www.instagram.com/racheljoyfitness/?hl=en

Since the Two Men on the Run last caught up properly back in the start of January a lot has changed, Jon-Jo is, fingers crossed health scare-free, and doing less running but is back to his PB'ing ways.

While Matt has changed coaches, changed training regime and targeting a new international marathon, plus expecting a new family member later this year.

Plus the Men chat about league athletics in the UK, is it still relevant today? And take a look at Boston (post) and London (pre) Marathon.

The Two Men on the Run are joined by the on-form In Lawton as he returns to tell all.

How at 41 he is having the season of his life taking a 2-minute PB over the Half Marathon in 67:28, a 10km in 30:11 a definitive Cross Country Season and beating lots of younger athletes in the Duathlon and on the roads showing age is only a number.

It's 2023 and the Two Men on the Run are back for another show and are aiming to get back to some routine with posting in 2023, so watch this space.

This week the Two Men on the Run catch up on Matt's possibly mad attempt at the Liverbird Double Marathon over the New Year weekend, Jon-Jo has some strong words for Matt about this, and whether Matt will actually make it to the start line of this weekend's Merseyside County Cross Country Champs, plus Jon-Jo updates us on his medical findings.

The Two Men on the Run, catch up on their final races of the year, from Matt's Marathon out in California to Jon-Jo's last race in Ireland and his current injury and medical concerns. Hopefully all positive news for Jon-Jo this week before Christmas, and a hopeful return to his running in the new year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our listeners and we shall see you all in 2023 for more Two Men on the Run!

This week the Two Men on the Run catch up on how training and racing have been going. Jon-Jo tells us about his racing over in Ireland where he's gained selection for an Irish Master Vest over the Cross Country. While Matt talks us through his London Marathon experience, from being in the pace pack for 2:14/15 to having to make the tough decision to drop out.

The Two Men on the Run are back and joined by a couple with International Vests to both their names!

The Salford Harriers pairing of Welsh International and winner of the 2018 Snowdonia Marathon and 2021 Manchester Marathon, Anna Bracegirdle, and England Mountain Running International and 2:23.04 Marathon Man Gary Priestley join the Two Men on the Run.

The couple discuss how they got into running, how they met and became a Salford Harriers power couple, training solo between busy work and life schedules, plus their views on Athletics in the media, mountain running to road racing and the Salford Harriers road relay success!

This week 50 episodes into Two Men on the Run, Matt's mum finally joins the men on the run, as she talks through how she got started in athletics, her struggles being a Northern Runner, against the Southern favouritism, her qualifying for the Women's first ever 10,000m at a World Championships in Rome (1987) and her selection for the 1988 Olympic Marathon after she finished 3rd British Woman and 5th Woman overall in the London Marathon in 2:35.10.

The Men also ask her about her thoughts on track and field today, and Susan discusses running while pregnant.

This week the Two Men on the Run are joined by an old school friend of Jon-Jo's who just joined the illustrious Bob Graham Round Club, Michael Lucas.

The Men discuss how Michael went from someone who hated running to taking on the classic Lake District 24-Hour Challenge and what might be his next challenge. Mindfulness is explored from that of meditation to Michael's place of freedom high up in the mountains living life on the edge. Plus as a Vascular Scientist, Michael offers Jon-Jo some advice to help with his problem discussed way back in episode 3.

The Two Men on the Run preview the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and discuss the first athletics event of the Games, the Mena and Women's Marathon, plus we catch up on their training and racing over the last couple of weeks.

Last week saw the end days of 10 days of athletics as Eugene Oregon hosted the World Athletics Championships and this week the Two Men on the Run catch up on some of the action, days before athletics hits the TV screens again as Birmingham hosts the Commonwealth Games.

This week the Two Men on the run catch up on their running, give us the lowdown on their race against each other from a couple of weeks back, and discuss the balance of running for fun and running to achieve a fast time or win a race, and can you actually run for both hmm?

Are time trials better than races?

Plus Matt breaks down this year's Tour of Merseyside results which saw an exciting battle at the front end. Plus Matt tries to convince Jon-Jo to enter next year's Tour alongside him.

The Two Men on the Run are back and this week they actually spend the majority of the podcast, actually talking about running, from their own training and racing, or lack of in Matt's case, to the structure of athletics and how it might bring in more viewers and competitive athletics if it could stop getting in its own way.

This week on the Two Men on the Run podcast the men are joined by Louis Leung the man who's been putting Jon-Jo through his paces, from lactate testing to VO2 Max test and rigid nutrition guides, but has Jon-Jo been sticking to them?

Louis is a current MSc Sport Nutrition Student at Liverpool John Moores University. After conducting a study, which you'll learn more about on the show, he joins the Two Men on the Run to discuss all their nutrition questions, tell Matt he's wrong about most of his nutritional planning, which Jon-Jo enjoys considerably and if you stay tuned all the way to the very end he'll also reveal how you get milk from a nut?!!

In this episode, the Two Men on the Run discuss the upcoming first Northern League fixture of the season, as well as talk about the use of non-recyclable materials within the running industry from race t-shirts and medals to running shoes.

The Two Men on the Run catch up following Matt's exploits at the Manchester Marathon last Sunday, and Jon-Jo doesn't hold back on how he feels about Matt's performance.

Plus Jon-Jo discusses the upcoming National 12 Stage and his thoughts on his team, Liverpool Harriers chances.

And the Men discuss what's next for them both with the chance to take their friendship and rivalry to the track this summer as they'll meet up at the Northern Track and Field League matches.

Well as Season 2 of the podcast is underway the Two Men on the Run have a catch-up on all the training and racing that they've been up to since the last time they properly sat down all the way back in October 2021.

Jon-Jo discusses his trips to race in Ireland, and Matt catches us up on his England Vest and Manchester Marathon preparation.

Plus the guys discuss a host of running and not so running-related topics, from championship kit rules and logo placement to the war in Ukraine.

The Two Men on the Run are back for Season 2 and they're kicking off the second season joined by two amazing Merseyside Athletes.

GB international Jenny Clague, whose honours include 4th place at the 1992 World Cross Country Championships in Boston, and a 32:41.29 10,000m PB and a slew of Merseyside, Northern and National Cross Country medals.

Alex O'Brien fellow Merseyside and Liverpool Harrier also joins the conversation discussing her many wins and Personal Bests as she has now moved up to the V40 category and it's only looking as if those PB's will continue to fall.

Ian Lawton is back but this week he becomes an honourary man on the run as he steps into the interviewer seat along with Jon-Jo as the two put some tough questions to the now 2021 Manchester and Liverpool Marathon Champion - Matt Crehan.

The guys get Matt to talk them through his Manchester and Liverpool victories, which took place only two weeks apart, they dive into his training schedule, his race day fuelling and Ian even brings with him a series of listener questions, so tie up your running shoes and get out on that long run and enjoy this interview with Matt Crehan! 

Two Men on the Run are back again, this week joined by GB Duathlete and Triathlete, Mersey Tri's Ian Lawton.

Ian talks to the men about his early day's as a Liverpool Harrier and his time out of the sport after being told by a doctor he'd never compete again, before returning to take on not only running but adding swimming and cycling to the mix as well.

The Men talk about the art of training and competing over three disciplines and managing time between all three, work and family.

Plus as always the men ask Ian the tough questions on a couple controversial topics such as shoe and bike technology and possible 'short courses' in the Tri world!

Interested in getting coaching from Ian then check out Prime Tri Coaching here or on Instagram

After a bit of a hiatus, the Two Men on the Run are back with a fantastic interview with the ever-present and supremely talented Tony O'Brien.

Now the podcast doesn't get to delve too much into Tony's actual accomplishments on the road, XC and track as the guys discuss a range of topics, from 'Super Shoes' and coaching philosophies to the City of Liverpool and Tony's life.

So here are just a couple of stats on Tony's running career:

5000m - PB of 14:01, 10km - PB of 29:21, Half Marathon PB of 64:41 and a 2:20.20 Marathon PB at London 1999.

Tony has finished 15th at the National Cross Country Championships, and 14th at the 1999 World Cross Country Trials. Won the National Road Relay Championships in 2000 with Morpeth.

And has represented England Internationally on the road three times and on the cross country twice.

Hope you enjoy the show, please share and subscribe if you do and the Two Men on the Run will be back with more episodes soon.

The Two Men on the Run are joined by the GB and Welsh International Athlete Nathan Jones.

Following on from a great morning run around Croxteth Park, Nathan joins the Two Men on the Run to discuss how he got into the sport, his scholarship and time at McNeese University, under coach Brendon Gilroy, and his transition to being coached by legendary British Marathon Runner Steve Jones as part of Boulder Harriers training group, and his return to the UK due to ill health. The men also discuss Nathan's recent success at the Mid-Summer Night 10,000m Classic, taking the win and running 28:54, as he targets the Commonwealth Games to represent Wales.

And the Two Men on the Run round out the show by pushing Nathan on his thoughts on this Summers Olympic Games, Selection Policies and the effect of doping in athletics.

This week the Two Men on the Run celebrate the start of the 2020/21 Olympic Games and are joined by 1992 Barcelona Olympian Ann (Williams) Griffiths.

Ann tells the men about her highs and lows from winning Silver at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 to her Olympic story in 1992 at Barcelona. Her evolution of coaches from her local club in St. Helens where she grew up to the expert guidance she received at Sale Harriers, by the legandary Norman Poole.

And the trio discusses current topics in athletics from the shoe debate, doping and the smoke and mirrors of money in athletics.

This week the Two Men on the Run discuss, the Olympic Games, the comparison between the UK and US Olympic Trials, and Jon-Jo finally retells the full story of his mid-race fight at the Sale Sizzler. Plus the guys discuss how athletics has a way to go to compete as a sport on the media stage.

The Two Men on the Run are back with another episode and this week they're joined by another of Jon-Jo's training partners the youngster of the group Tom Rogerson.

Tom discusses his journey through athletics starting at the very beginning as a 9-year-old in the development group at Liverpool Harriers to his 12th place at the English School Cross Country and his tenure at Manchester Met University and his experience of coming through the various ranks of the track and field world.

The men also discuss some of the recent doping violations, the quickly upon us Olympic Games, the poor representation of athletics to the wider world and the shoe debate continues.

Plus Tom utilises his degree in ancient history to tell us more about the Origins of the Ancient Olympic Games.

This week the Two Men on the Run are joined by another special guest and this one has some might titles.

2x Boston Marathon Winner as well as a 3rd and 7th place finish.

2nd Place New York City Marathon in 2:09.08.

Competed at the 1980 Moscow and 1984 LA Olympics Games.

Winner of the Emsley Carr Mile - in 3:55.8

One of only 25 men who has run sub 4 in the mile and sub 2:10 in the marathon.

The legendary Geoff Smith!!!!

This is another really long show but totally worth listening to so subscribe, get your headphone in and get in that long run for the week feeling inspired by Merseyside's best runner of all time, and one of the world's greatest athletes.

This week the Two Men on the Run with another special guest, Liverpool Harrier and Jon-Jo's training partner Alistair Rutherford. The Men jump into Alistair's early years as a talented musician that led him to play for the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and how the dedication he has for his music has made him a better runner.

They discuss his Two World Records and his learning from a host of different coaches from his early days at Moslly Hil, to being at the University of Birmingham and coached by Dave Lawrence to now being under the guidance of one of our previous guests Tony Clarke.

If you've enjoyed the show please subscribe and if possible leave us a review on your favourite podcasting platform as it helps us be discovered by more like-minded runners.

The Cheshire Elite Marathon is finally here and Matt's ready to put his 12 weeks of solid training for it to the test, he tells Jon-Jo his plans for the race and going all-in on the day.

The Two Men on the Run also discuss running watches, the fantastic return of junior parkrun and what it might mean for the regular Saturday parkrun and darts what as a sport can running and athletics learn from it? Jon-Jo gives his thoughts along with one of his life lessons of putting down your phone and living in the moment!

If you enjoy the show please subscribe!

This week the Two Men on the Run are flying solo and are catching up on a lot of changes from lifting of some lockdown measures, meaning group training and racing are back. Matt talks us through his 14:18 PB at the Podium 5k and the men discuss Beth Potters World Best and Unofficial World Record of 14:41 at the same event.

Matt finally got a chance to talk Jon-Jo through the British Olympic Marathon trials which saw an amazing run from Chris Thompson and Steph Davies, while also sadly prevents a previous podcast guest from making the Olympic Marathon team.

And Matt has a rant about the British 'glass half empty' mentality to wrap up the show.

The Two Men on the Run are joined by the guest that Jon-Jo has been promising all you listeners since about Episode 2, as Dr Claire Blennerhassett, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Health at Edge Hill University joins them to talk all things Nutrition, Diet and Running.

She tells the men all about her study into the best fuelling for Ultra Runners, is it a High Fat/Low Carb, or High Carb/Low Fat? Just what is the 'Ultimate Diet' for the average person and the budding athlete? Is Matt's McDonald's and beer the best pre-race food? The answers yes Jon-Jo, and where she met her Viking Husband.

Eat Disorders and Restricted Eating are also discussed in the episode and if anyone listening is concerned about whether their eating patterns have become too restrictive you may wish to seek support from your GP or online https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ which is a fantastic resource.

Follow Claire on Twitter @CL_ultra and her full Bio and Research can be found here: https://research.edgehill.ac.uk/en/persons/claire-blennerhassett

The Two Men on the Run are joined by GB Athlete and one of the fastest men to ever come out of Merseyside, Liverpool Pembroke and Sefton Harrier, Marty McLoughlin as he discusses his running career from running the 2nd fastest 10 mile of 1987 which still ranks him as one of the 4th fastest Brits of all time only one second behind Mo Farah, with 46:26. To his fantastic Great North Run performance, his World Team Silver Medal at the 1987 World Cross Country Championships and his disappointment in finishing 4th at the 1988 Olympic 10,000m trials.

Marty also discusses his thoughts on the sport of athletics both in the UK and abroad and how he feels about the 'Super Shoe' debate.

This week the Two Men on the Run celebrate International Women's Day, joined by the Mother of all Mothers and Runner of all Runners, St. Helens Strider, Rachael Fairclough.

Discussions get deep, from shoe debates to the after-effects of pregnancy and lockdown athletic training to sponsorship equality and the XC distance debate continues.

Also, Happy Birthday to one of the Two Men on the Run Jon-Jo Doherty who now finds himself in the Vets category as of today so he had best get training.

The Two Men on the Run are joined by St. Helens Strider, Kelly Hamilton this week as they catch-up on training and how Kelly has dealt with the last year of lockdown, homeschooling and her new house move.

The trio discusses the lack of races for amateur and sub-elite athletes following a bold statement from international athlete Jessica Judd earlier in the week, and how they're hoping to finally have an idea of when races might just return to the calendar.

Kelly tells us what she thinks of school sport, as a mother, and how it played an important part in her development growing up.

And the Two Men on the Run hear finally a women's view on the big XC Equality debate that's been raging on in the sport recently.

This week on Two Men on the Run, Matt teases Jon-Jo about his up and coming 35th Birthday when he'll move up into the Veteran Athletics category, Jon-Jo gives a shout out to his work colleagues and tells why they suggested he check out Twitch? And the guys discuss some of the mistakes that they themselves and other 'sub-elite' athletes make.

This week on Two Men on the Run, the men discuss their training over that past week with some tough sessions in some brutal weather conditions. The XC Equality debate rages on and are running clubs in the UK a failure now in this modern world and should the UK be looking to have a more American Running 'Group/Team' Design?

Plus Matt discuss is recent running-related reading with Matt Fitzgeralds' 'Running the Dream' and Jon-Jo catches us up on where he is with Running with the Kenyans.

The Two Men on the Run discuss the latest in the XC Equality Debate, Matt gives us some recipe ideas for the famous Kenyan Athlete dish of Ugali and Jon-Jo discusses everything he's learning from reading Running with the Kenyans.

Plus the guys discuss would it be interesting to have 'Exhibition Fights' in athletics seeing the biggest names at different distances go up against each other in something on the middle ground such as would it have been fun to watch Usain Bolt vs Mo Farah over something like a 600m race when they were both in the prime of their careers, what are your thoughts?

Happy New Year or is it? The Two Men on the Run discuss the new Lockdown 3.0, the madness of Donald Trump and his supporters and running-related the guys discuss 'Running with the Kenyans' and the greats of Halie Gabrelsallise, Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge as well as comment on a couple running films that might help you stay sane till February the 15th.

This week the Two Men on the Run joined by two healthy glasses of Bailey's to celebrate Christmas discuss some tough topics from the call for equality in Cross Country races distances for men and women to the unravelling chaos of lockdown and tier system in the UK. Matt tells us about an exciting and interesting race that went on over in the states 'The Marathon Project' which sure a surge of 2:09 clockings by American marathon runners and a second on the all-time USA list from Sara Hall with a 2:20 performance only a couple of months after her fantastic run in London. Jon-Jo tells us why he doesn't listen to his own philosophical whims as he describes how to live without ego while Matt comments on how he's been doing the opposite all season in regards to races, and when the question is put to Matt he dodges it well. And the guys finish with the age-old running question, Split Shorts or Half Tights?

Well the Two Men on the Run got the chance to catch-up with Team New Balance Manchester and 2020 British Marathon Champion Jonny Mellor.

Jonny has an impressive range with a sub 4 minute mile clocking of 3:58.76, a 5k best 13:31.21 and a 10k best that saw him win the Night of 10,000m and become British 10,000m champion of 28:42. He's also this clocked two extremely impressive 2:10 clockings first in Seville back in February with 2:10.03 and then when he won the British Marathon Championships at this years London Marathon with 2:10.38. He is the fastest British Marathoner of 2020 and 18th All Time.

The guys dive into all things with Jonny from the craziness of this year which started with Jonny smashing the Olympic Qualifying Standard for Tokyo only for the Olympics to be cancelled, his strange bubble and tagging experience at this years London Marathon and then back to his early days growing up on the Wirral and Training at Liverpool Harriers under Dave Evans, before joining Steve Vernon and the Team New Balance Manchester.

Jon-Jo does his best to get a load of free coaching advice off Jonny who offers coaching plans and one to one coaching over at JM Coaching .

We wish Jonny the best of luck as he heads into the Olympic Trials that have now been arranged for March 26th 2021 and his surely concrete selection to represent Great Britain at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.

This week the guys spirits are lifted slightly as lockdown 2.0 is coming to an end and they can get back running in groups again. Matt hopes to make the cut off for the Olympic Marathon Trials in March, so the guys discuss the race potentials, course and if it's really needed. Plus Sir Mo Farah has been airing on our screens every day for the last couple weeks, neither Two Men on Run are fans of 'I'm a Celebrity' but Matt's been watching this year because of Mo and has found some similarities with himself in the Double Olympic Champion.

We've had a couple weeks break as Lockdown 2.0 made us rethink how we do the podcast with Jon-Jo not having internet, but the Two Men on the Run are back via Skype to discuss a touch of running, the effects of Lockdown 2.0, the US Election and as always the philosophy of life according to Jon-Jo.

The Two Men on the Run discuss the philosophies and psychological principles of Eckhart Toole, Freud and Professor Steve Peters from finding the balance of the Ego, Id (Chimp) and Super-Ego and how this affects them and us all in everyday life and our running.

New runners what do clubs and coaches have to offer? How do you find the right club and coach for your wants and needs? Is a paid coach better than a club volunteer coach? The guys discuss their thoughts on all of this from their good and bad experiences of both sides.

Jon-Jo gives us another song from the archive of Kris Kristofferson with "Me and Bobby McGee" to round out the show.

Thanks for listening!

With tighter restriction due to Tier 3 lockdown across Merseyside Jon-Jo discusses why he doesn't think there's any point in considering races this year, while Matt argues that races are needed for motivation. The guys discuss Para Athletics and the process that Matt's fiancee Jade faces as she targets a GB vest next summer.

Jon-Jo teaches us about the 5/25 philosophy of Warren Buffett to help us focus on what's important, before he plays the show out with a cover of 'Oh Carol' by Neil Sedaka.

2020 has been a very weird year for us all but it was great to see the London Marathon take place in some capacity from the 45,000+ runners who took part virtually across the world and the Elite who ran 19 laps around St. James' Park in London. There were shocks and upsets, divides over running shoes and breakthrough performances. So after watching this year's London Marathon the Two Men on the Run discussed their thoughts from Jon-Jo's very controversial thoughts on the commentators, to some of their highlights and Matt's annoyance at the continued shoe debate.

This week after a season that included one 5km race, Jon-Jo is taking his end of season break and Matt is more than happy to get his own back after the stick he's taken the last couples with regards to his racing and training from Jon-Jo, the saying goes "who needs enemies, when you've got friends like these".

But jokes aside the guys discuss just what makes up a season in their minds and the different phases of the training cycle.

And to wrap up the last half of the show Jon-Jo asks Matt about the man he hails as possible the greatest distance runner of all time, and the only athlete to win Olympic Gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m and Marathon all in the same Games, Emil Zátopek.

In this episode the Two Men on the Run discuss a range of topics from Matt's race at the Antrim Half Marathon running alongside Sir Mo Farah, the continued effect of COVID and lockdown on the return to racing front with Cross Country season looking like it's going to be delayed to possibly the new year, while parkrun is planning to return in October (since announced it won't be) and Jon-Jo updates us on how he is doing going back to basics and training without the restraints of a watch.

The Two Men on the Run are joined in the studio by English Teacher and St. Helens Strider Kane Green A.K.A. The Professor.

Kane talks us through his running carer before delving into the world of journalism and discussing how the great sport and activity of running is portrayed both positively and negatively in the media from the old newspaper to television and online stratosphere.

The Two Men on the Run reflect on their first race since lockdown which really didn't go to plan for either of them.

Jon-Jo talks about Bill Rodgers 'Marathon Man' and his successes and failures, and the pair discuss the mindsets, genetics and training physiology of some of the greatest runners of all time.

It's with great pleasure that we bring you a wonderful discussion with the amazing Charlie Spedding.

Charlie is winner of the 1984 London Marathon, Bronze Medallist in the 1984 Olympic Marathon and remains the 4th fastest British Marathon runner of all time with 2:08:33 which he ran at the London Marathon in 1985.

This interview is a long one, with just over 2 hours recording time in total, but it can be split into two very different discussion using the timing points below:

0:00:00 - 1:26:30 - Charlie, Matt and Jon-Jo discuss Charlie's running career from his very first experiencing of racing in school, through to some of his greatest success and failures.

1:26:31 - 2:12:10 - Charlie introduces the guys to his research and study since retiring from competitive athletics, that are compiled and published in his latest book Stop Feeding Us Lies, where Charlie asks why our authorities keep promising to spend more and more money on healthcare, instead of simply determining why so many people are ill. Covering topics such as diet, Type-2 diabetes, rest and recovery and the importance of exercise.

In Episode 8 Jon-Jo has a bee in his bonnet about races, prizes and charity, on the eve of the return to the British racing calendar.

And the guys discuss finding the balance between training and life, is it possible? Are the sacrifices we have to make for running worth it? Love to hear our listeners thoughts on this topic as well.

An often discussed topic by Jon-Jo and Matt during their daily training sessions - legal running aids both natural and artificial.

With Jon-Jo taking an approach of trying to find balance in his diet and sleep patterns, while Matt searches and tests the latest technology from sports watches and Strava to Altitude Tents, Massage Guns and the new found 'Super Racing Shoes' the two discuss their thoughts on them all here.

Jon-Jo's coach and Liverpool Harrier Tony Clarke joins the Two Men on the Run for the first 'Guest Spot' episode. Discussing growing up in Liverpool in the 70's and how he was drawn to running and athletics, which has allowed him a career filled with training and coaching alongside World Record holders, Olympic medalists and stars of the future.

The guys then quiz Tony on his training philosophy, how lockdown has affected him and his athletes, his thoughts on virtual racing, parkrun and his love of the sport.

Thanks again to Tony Clarke

In this week's show Matt and Jon-Jo discuss the tough topic of mental health, something that both have struggled with at various times in their lives, from deep depression, mental breakdowns and even thoughts of suicide, and just how running has helped them both. This was a tough episode to record but the guys hope discussing these topics might help raise the discussion further of mental health.

Show Breakdown:

• The last weeks training.
• Mental health
• Philosophy of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius
• Using the darker times and pain as a motivation to train and race.

On this week's show Matt and Jon-Jo discuss the possible failings and successes of local athletics clubs, parkrun and England Athletics, with Matt having a bit of a passionate rant, try and keep up with him if you can!

Matt then gives a bit of a history lesson on the marathon running boom and the 1972 Munich Olympic attack, before discussing the issues faced by other Olympic Games.

And the guys round out the discussion jumping back to a topic from last week, doping in athletics and take a deeper dive into the drug scandals, the mix of propaganda between East and West media and possibly how things could be put right.

In episode 3 Jon-Jo talks us through a rather sensitive issue that has plagued him over the last year, as he provides his testicle testimony, an issue that we're sure many other men suffer but feel uneasy to talk about,, so hopefully his candid tale helps.

Matt and Jon-Jo then completely change topic and discuss drugs in sport, the financial fraud the moral issues and the failings of the testing system and governing bodies.

In this week's episode Jon-Jo questions Matt about his recent run-in with an internet troll in regards to his lockdown virtual racing, and the two discuss a darker topic in the running world, body image and body shaming. And they wrap up the show with the telling of Eamonn Coghlan's leg shaving incident the day before the 1976 Olympic final.

Join the Two Men On The Run in their first podcast, starting during the Covid-19 lockdown, discussing all things running.

In this episode Matt and Jon-Jo discuss what their training has been like during lockdown, how they've stayed motivated with no races on the cards, and what surface is actually best to run on. They then go on to discuss the potential failings and successes of schools, athletic clubs and parkrun within their community and the greater athletic landscape, and what impact it's having on the sport, they love, running!