Young Hearts Run Free Podcast Steven Watt

Welcome to season 11 episode 1, welcome to the Danger Zone!

Let's talk iconic Scottish trail races, let's talk Scottish running icons, let's talks West Highland Way race, let's talk to Fiona Rennie.

Fiona started running in the early 1980's and has covered a fair few miles since! 103 ultra marathons...so far!

Fiona's first ultramarathon was the Speyside Way and her results from that race were posted to her with a wee note from race director Don Ritchie. How times have changed!



Proud to wear the Carnegie Harriers (Fiona was the first female member) vest, it's a familiar sight at many iconic race across the land, none more so than the West Highland Way Race, which Fiona has completed 17 (SEVENTEEN) times.

Also an ever present at both the Glenmore 24 and Loch Ness Marathon events, the miles have been racked up...and then some!

Fiona's first experience of the West Highland Way Race was supporting her twin sister Pauline, and somewhere along the way (in 2002 specifically) Fiona felt inspired to give it a go herself in 2003.

We hear openly from Fiona about health issues and treatments which she has suffered and recovered from, explains how messages and support the ultrarunning community meant so much to her and what inspired her to get back out running again.

They make 'em tough in Fife ye know!

Fiona wakes up with a smile every day, and shares her inspirational story of 'getting back to being me' after major surgery. Maybe grab a wee hanky for this bit!

Where would you keep 17 (SEVENTEEN) West Highland Way Race goblets? We find out about that, and a decanter too, and they aren't just for display, which we love!



And another decanter for running over a 1,000 miles around the course at Glenmore, jeezy peeps man.

Fiona posts a message each year on the Facebook West Highland Way Race Family page, we discuss this and so many other glorious memories and inspirational messages from a woman who lights up Scottish Ultra Running by simply being who she is without compromise. To quote Fiona, running is an 'enjoyable celebration of being alive'

There are tips aplenty for both runners and support crews in this episode, and who better to deliver them than our pal and yours Fiona Rennie.



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EPISODE 200! It's a whopper!!

We lay out the red carpet for the return to the podcast of the indomitable Jasmin Paris. It's the most fitting of season finales.

We've a single-minded agenda as Jasmin leads us through her historic Barkley Marathons finish.

Her achievement rightly became global news but how exactly did she manage her time out on the toughest of ultra-marathons? How did she prep for such a monumental endeavour? How did she build up the enormous self-belief that she could achieve the impossible dream?

Oh, we've a ton of questions for Jasmin and she enlightens us to them all plus spades more.

In relaxed and reflective mood Jasmin treats us to a glimpse inside her Barkley Marathons 2024 story. The highs, the lows, the aftermath and everything in between.

This is sensational, Jasmin's account of her final lap and finish is powerful, dramatic and emotional. It's guarenteed to have you entranced.

And how do you top being the first ever female finisher at Barkley? Jasmin hints at what's next....it may not be what you'd expect!

Season 10 has been quite the epic, it's flown by, now steel yourselves cos in Season 11 we're off into 'The Danger Zone'.....thank you for listening, back soon y'all.



Podcast Art Photo Credit: David Miller Photography


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This week we're joined by two-time Scottish Anglo Celtic Plate Team member Catherine Cowie. You'd think that would top the bill for our discussion, you thought wrong.

Catherine first leads us through her own running odyssey and of course we spend a good while chatting all things
ACP and the memorable events that took place on the North Inch in March 2024.

However, Catherine has been a busy lass, her recent undertaking of the gruelling Hardmoors 110 on the Cleveland Way National Trail dominates our chatter.

Catherine gives us an inspirational take on her last year that started with an ankle break in June 2023 and ended on a magnificent Hardmooors 110 finish line.

Bouncebackability at its finest. We are privileged to hear about her training, find out about her coach and Catherine is brim-full of sharing tips andlessons learned.

An extra special review of her fav kit and gear will give you some food for thought. Oh, talking about food we also give airtime for some discussion on one of our fav topics!

Be ready to get googling new races a plenty as Catherine
lets us know what's up next, there's no stopping this remarkable human-being. She's keeping it lit!


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Magical things happen on the West Highland Way. We know that. This week's guest Elsey Davis does too.

Hot off a phenomenal performance at the 2024 Highland Fling where she took the win and set a new course record Elsey joins us to chat about her career.

From an iffy first marathon wearing her Dad's ill-fitting socks to chipping her marathon time down to elite standard her running has been on upward trajectory from the off.

We hear how injury, and a global pandemic opened the door for Elsey to find a voracious appetite for trail running. And so that upward trajectory ski rocketed.

The North Face athlete talks us through her triumph at The Fling. How much did she enjoy that world-famous red-carpet experience?

With a treasured golden ticket for the iconic Western States 100 earned we get a glimpse of how Elsey's build up is going ahead of flying out to the States for the race of her life. We've offered tae carry her bags of course!

Elsey was an absolute star to catch up with, she's packed heaps in already to her relatively short time on the trails. But we can't wait to see where the future takes her.

Before Elsey arrives to brighten our week we have a fair old discussion on the clusterf*ck that was the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. Emotions were stirred!

Give Elsey a follow on her braw Insta account here https://www.instagram.com/elseydavis/?hl=en




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We're off berry picking this week, the good news? You're invited along!

We were thrilled to welcome Andy Berry back to the podcast for a catch-up with a focus on his recent outing at UTS by UTMB. A 2nd place well-earned on race weekend but we want to know more, much more, and Andy is open to tell us all.

The rugged Welsh mountains provided the backdrop for an epic weekend of racing, with the British summer deciding to arrive and under a dreamy celestial show from the Aurora Borealis how did our Andy fare?

Like his last appearance after his magical win at the Lakeland 100 last July Andy dishes out a race recap full of personal learning, golden nuggets and honesty. Did he go off way too fast like a dickhead? Of course he did!

We cover off all the important nooks and crannies of his training and race management. Touching on his competitors, his support crew and skirting some UTMB controversy along the way.

We find out what's up next for Andy as he gears up for a truly memorable 2024. Between coaching, training racing and living he has a busy agenda on the cards!

We found a love for Andy last year, it's difficult not to get on board with a lad who is as open and honest as they come. This episode is a breath of fresh air, just like the man himself. You'll lap this up!

We take a moment in the intro to laud our official songsmith's new album. Beluga Lagoon The Slug's Bunnet is oot now and a masterpiece LISTEN HERE


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It's here, you've asked in your bucket loads, we've listened, we've responded. It's John's Highland Fling recap for your listening pleasure.

We do love having guests, we also love the odd episode where we get a good blether with each other!

John has hot footed back from his hols just in time for this week’s recording, and boy is he full of beans.

When a normal deep dive isn't enough what dae ye dae? Ye take a stylish swallow dive into a race day that promised so much and didn't fail to deliver. In every department.

Making a triumphant return to the first half of the West Highland Way John fills us in on how his day played out.

As you'd expect with JC there are laughs a plenty, a few wee happy tears along with a fare smattering of golden nuggets.

What did he have in his drop bags? What did he scavenge from the leftover table? How did he adapt as the temperatures soared? Stevie Boy asks the questions people want to know, how many pre-race
jobbies were had??!!

And what of that sensational red-carpet finish, it's a blow-by-blow account of a day that
will be etched in John's memory forever.

With hunners of pals met along the way this episode is a quintessential YHRF offering, the story spun through John's unique and lovable lens.

Enjoy this walloper of an episode and gear yourself up to swallow dive into your own personal little
adventure soon!


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