The Runna Podcast

Runna

Join Coach Ben Parker and Anya Culling every Friday as they deep-dive into running with Olympians, world-class coaches, and inspiring runners - from Romesh Ranganathan to Alex Yee and Lucy Charles-Barclay. Expect captivating stories, hilarious mishaps, and actionable coaching tips (incl. weekly tips from Olympian Steph Davis) on training, injury prevention, mindset, recovery, and performance. Whether it’s your first 5K or a marathon PB, we’ll fuel your next run. New episodes every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    The Broadway Star Who Ran A Marathon, Then Performed Two Shows That Night! | Jordan Litz

    Jordan Litz went from the US Olympic Trials in swimming to becoming the longest-running Fiyero in Wicked's history, first on Broadway and now in the West End's 20th anniversary production. Anya sits down with Jordan to talk about the wildest crossover of endurance and performance: running the New York City Marathon last year and then walking straight onto the Wicked stage for two full shows, forty minutes after crossing the finish line. Jordan talks about the discipline that carried him from a black line in a swimming pool to eight shows a week on stage, training for a marathon around fatherhood and a demanding schedule with Runna, and why he's changing everything for a redemption run at the 2026 New York City Marathon. In this episode: 🏊 Pool to Stage: US Olympic Trials swimmer to Broadway's longest-running Fiyero 🏙️ Marathon Meets Matinee: NYC Marathon followed by two Wicked performances, same day 💪 High-Performance Repetitiveness: 1,800 shows, 20 years of swimming, and what consistency really takes 👨‍👧‍👧 Time Management: Training with Runna around eight shows a week and being a dad 🎯 The Redemption Arc: Chasing a faster marathon (and Harry Styles) in 2026 New episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices from the running community. 🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26 📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Broadway Star Who Ran A Marathon, Then Performed Two Shows That Night! | Jordan Litz
  2. Aug 14

    Joe Wicks: "You Never Regret a Workout" | How to Start Running, Marathon Training & Getting the Nation Moving

    Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, joins Ben and Anya on The Runna Podcast to discuss his journey with running, how movement serves as medicine for mental health, and why he’s on a mission to get 50,000 people moving in 2026. From launching the viral "PE with Joe" sessions to mastering the "Jeffing" run/walk method and smashing a sub-20 minute 5K with Mo Farah, Joe shares honest, actionable advice for runners of all levels. Whether you are new to marathon training, looking for running motivation to improve your daily routine, this conversation covers it all! In this episode, we explore: 🏃‍♂️ Running as Medicine:How exercise shaped Joe’s life from childhood and why he believes it can transform anyone's wellbeing. 🚶‍♂️ What is Jeffing?:  Discover the run/walk method that makes marathon running and long-distance goals accessible to everyone. 💪 PE with Joe: A behind-the-scenes look at the first lockdown morning that reached over a million live viewers. 🧠 Consistency & Motivation: Joe’s philosophy on why the "zero to one" person matters most and why you should set goals publicly. 🎯Beyond the Finish Line: Why Joe’s current goal to get 50,000 people moving matters more than any PB. 🎧 New episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices from the running community. 🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26 📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Joe Wicks: "You Never Regret a Workout" | How to Start Running, Marathon Training & Getting the Nation Moving
  3. Aug 7

    Anna Archer on Marathon Training, Body Image & Self-Belief | "Beating Yourself Up Brings Nothing Good to You"

    Four years ago, Anna Archer ran her first marathon with Runna. She finished in 5:27, cried at 30K, and swore she'd never do it again. She's now done five. Her most recent was 3:59. Anya and Ben sit down with runner and content creator Anna Archer for one of the most honest conversations we've had about marathon running, body image and how life-changing running can be. Anna talks about flipping her platform from diet content to mental health in her early twenties, learning the difference between running for freedom and running for control, and why no pressure was the thing that finally unlocked her best race. In this episode: 🏃‍♀️ Marathon Training: 5:27 to 3:59 - four years of progression and what actually changed in her running performance. 🧠 Running & Mental Health - using running to regulate your emotions, not punish or control your body. 💪 Body Image & Sport Performance = "What can my body do rather than what does my body look like?" 📱 From Diet Content to Running Inspiration - how Anna flipped her platform and found an audience that needed something different. 🎯 Marathon Strategy & Mindset - why her best marathon came when she stopped focusing on the result. ⭐ Consistency Over Motivation - "You'll Accidentally Be Amazing" - why showing up is the only strategy you need. 🎧 New episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices from the running community. 🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26 📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast *Please note, this episode contains references to disordered eating and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a healthcare professional for support.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Anna Archer on Marathon Training, Body Image & Self-Belief | "Beating Yourself Up Brings Nothing Good to You"
  4. Jul 31

    Running in Hot Weather: How to Adapt & Still Hit Your PBs

    Does heat training actually make you faster? Running in hot weather isn't about pushing harder - it's about adjusting smarter. This week, Ben and Anya break down the science behind heat acclimatisation: what's happening to your body when temperatures rise, why adaptation kicks in faster than most runners expect, and the five practical adjustments that actually make the difference - when and where to run, how to reset your pace, what to wear, how to hydrate, and when to dial it back. What You’ll Learn:  ☀️ Why running in the heat feels so hard - and why that's actually a good sign 🧠 The science behind heat adaptation and VO2 max gains 👟 What to wear to stay cool, comfortable, and chafe-free 💧 How to hydrate and fuel properly in hot weather 🥵 How Runna's Adapt for Heat feature automatically adjusts your paces 🚨 Safety tips and knowing when to stop Want to give Runna a go? 🆓 Try it FREE for 2 weeks with code: PODCAST26 👉 https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26 📱 Follow for more running content: Instagram → @runna TikTok → @runna 📺 Watch more episodes → @therunnapodcast  Data sources: Runna Customer Product Survey (2026), Lorenzo (2010) via GOREWEAR & Runners Connect - runnersconnect.net/heatacclimatization, The Weather Channel (2025) - weather.com, iRunFar (2021) - irunfar.com/handle-the-heat-heat-acclimation-for-endurance-running Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Running in Hot Weather: How to Adapt & Still Hit Your PBs
  5. Jul 3

    From Rock Bottom to Sub-3 Marathons: How Running Rebuilt Austyn Farrell's Life

    "Last year, I was learning about myself. Now, I am myself." This week on The Runna Podcast, Ben and Anya speak to dancer, content creator, and marathoner Austyn Farrell. Austyn Farrell's online feed is full of joy, from hilarious skits to viral dance videos. But this conversation goes deeper. Austyn shares his history of mental health struggles, substance misuse and a loneliness that performing couldn't fix - and how everything changed two years ago when he started running. He joined us in the studio having just run a sub-3 marathon in London! This episode is a perfect mixture of inspiring honesty and comedic gold. Listen for more on: 🎭 From Rock Bottom to Sub-3: Two years from substance misuse to 2:58 🧠 "You Can't Fake a Run": The one thing that was entirely his 💜 Running for Mind: In memory of Nathan Williams and Cherry Valentine 🌈 Running as Identity: Big Games Run Club, Rainbow Road, HYROX in a Pride vest 🏃‍♂️ "It's All Mental": Mindset, marathon PB, sobriety - all connected 🎯 "You Cannot Fail Unless You Try": For anyone who feels where he was *Please note, this episode contains discussion of substance misuse and suicide, which some listeners may find upsetting. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional support.* 🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=PODCAST26 📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    From Rock Bottom to Sub-3 Marathons: How Running Rebuilt Austyn Farrell's Life
4.7
out of 5
57 Ratings

About

Join Coach Ben Parker and Anya Culling every Friday as they deep-dive into running with Olympians, world-class coaches, and inspiring runners - from Romesh Ranganathan to Alex Yee and Lucy Charles-Barclay. Expect captivating stories, hilarious mishaps, and actionable coaching tips (incl. weekly tips from Olympian Steph Davis) on training, injury prevention, mindset, recovery, and performance. Whether it’s your first 5K or a marathon PB, we’ll fuel your next run. New episodes every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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