West Coast Ultra Podcast

David Taylor
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

The West Coast Ultra Podcast is a weekly trail and ultra-running podcast filled with tales of ordinary people doing some extraordinary things. Host David talks about his latest adventures, training, coaching, and races, as well as conversations with a variety of runners who share their running stories, tips and tricks. If you are looking for coaching then reach out to David for an initial conversation here: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 6d ago

    Emily Jackson (Emily in the outdoors)

    This week I’m joined by Emily Jackson, better know as Emily in the outdoors (@emily_intheoutdoors) — a Paisley‑based runner, yoga teacher, community organiser (and influencer) whose 20‑year running journey has taken her from early 5Ks to marathons, ultras and building two of the most welcoming running communities in the west of Scotland. We talk about her progression into endurance, the importance of safe spaces for women, and the lessons she’s taken from races like the Highland Fling, Devil o’ the Highlands and Málaga Marathon. Emily also shares how she balances training with real‑life demands and why sustainable, confidence‑building running matters more than chasing perfection. Before the conversation, I give a quick review of my day at the River Ayr Way Ultra — including pacing across the 5‑mile blocks, managing accumulated fatigue, and staying composed through the technical middle section. A huge congratulations to former guest Steve Daye for taking the win. RAW once again proved why it’s one of Scotland’s most deceptively tough point‑to‑point ultras. If you’re in Paisley, check out Barshaw Runbirds @barshawrunbirds (women‑only, 7:30pm Wednesdays) and Seventy Seven Run Club @77runclub.paisley on Sunday mornings at 8am. And if you’re looking for structured, sustainable coaching for ultras, marathons or building consistency around a busy life, you can get in touch via DM Instagram or through my page on the Team RunRun website: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach/. #ultrarunning #scottishrunning #trailrunning #westcoastultra #emilyintheoutdoors #barshawrunbirds #seventysevenrunclub #wildheartrunners #runningcommunity #womenwhorun #scottishultras #riverayrway #highlandfling #devilofthehighlands #malagamarathon #yogaforrunners #endurancecoaching Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Emily Jackson (Emily in the outdoors)

  2. Sep 11

    Lee Fawkes: Ultra Scotland, Kinloss and the making of a backyard winner

    As I taper into the River Ayr Way Ultra, I sat down with Scottish ultra‑runner Lee Fawkes, @leefawkesfitnessandlife whose rise from winging the Glasgow Half Marathon to winning the Kinross Backyard Ultra in a single season is one of the wildest progression arcs I’ve seen. In this episode. I talk with Lee about his podium finish at the Ultra Scotland 100, the cracked‑ankle drama that nearly stopped him getting to the start line, and the mental collapse at loop 22 that turned into a breakthrough moment. We dig into pacing discipline, mindset resets, nutrition choices, and the role of community — especially the support he gets from Scott Brown Fitness. As an ultrarunning coach, I found myself nodding along to so much of what he said, and a lot of it is feeding directly into my own RAW taper. If you enjoy the episode, connect with me on Instagram @davidultrarunner, and if you’re looking for coaching support for your next ultra, you can find me on Team RunRun, link in bio and all that. Season 5 starts here — with resilience, redemption, and a runner who’s only just getting started. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Lee Fawkes: Ultra Scotland, Kinloss and the making of a backyard winner

  3. Sep 4

    The Taper: Fresh Legs, Sharp Mind, Strong Finish

    This episode is a little different. With the three races in three months, I am going through a cycle of race, recover, train, taper and right now I am tapering for the River Ayr Way Challenge Race (my personal nemesis). So, I am going to take you through how I am preparing myself. Even if the training hasn't been perfect and I am not where I want to be I want to make sure that I do what I can in the taper to make sure I turn up at the start line as best I can, and for you I will be breaking down the art and science of 'the taper'. With a final long‑run recce in the bag, I share a full training update before diving into what tapering is, why it matters, how to fuel during it, and how to handle the mental chaos that comes with reduced training. Whether you’re preparing for your first ultra or your fastest one, this episode gives you the strategy, structure, and confidence to arrive on the start line fresh, sharp, and ready to perform. Might even be just in time to help you out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Taper: Fresh Legs, Sharp Mind, Strong Finish

  4. Aug 28

    Running through the hard stuff

    In this episode, I share a real update on life, training, and racing after a tough few months. I talk about supporting my mum in long‑term dementia care, a demanding spell at work, and how both forced me to step back and rethink how I balance ultra‑running with real‑life responsibilities. I break down my return from an Achilles injury, the confidence I gained from the Kaim Hill race, and a deeper look at the Ochils Ultra — my first proper test back. I also talk through my build‑up to the River Ayr Way Ultra and my plans for Ultra England at the end of October. If you’re navigating injury recovery, busy life seasons, or trying to stay consistent with ultra‑running when things get heavy, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Running through the hard stuff

  5. May 15

    Kayleigh Webster's hat-trick and the Beecraigs Backyard Ultra

    Kayleigh Webster is back on the podcast for her third appearance — this time diving into what Backyard Ultras reveal about people, why Beecraigs has become such a special community event, and how injury has reshaped her approach to running and race directing. We get into: • Why Backyards feel more communal than competitive • The atmosphere at Beecraigs and the role of spectators • Family influence, Barkley dreams, and “unreasonable” goals • Watching runners change hour by hour • How a busy race calendar can strengthen the running ecosystem • Injury, identity, and learning to train differently • Zwift, patience, and redefining what it means to be a runner • Leadership, judgement, and caring for athletes • What’s next for Beecraigs — and for Kayleigh Quick training update from me: the Achilles is settling, mileage is building again, and I’m finally stringing together some consistent weeks. A brilliant conversation with someone who’s shaping the Scottish ultra scene in a really thoughtful way. If you are looking for coaching then hit me up on insta @davidultrarunner or search on the Team Runrun website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Kayleigh Webster's hat-trick and the Beecraigs Backyard Ultra

  6. May 1

    The Kaim Kickstart

    In this week’s episode, I’m talking through a proper turning point in my training — the first week where things finally felt like they were moving in the right direction again. After months of managing the Achilles and rebuilding slowly, I hit around 45 miles, and for the first time in ages, I felt like a runner rather than someone stuck in rehab mode. I also dive into my experience at the Kaim Hill Race — a short, savage blast where I pushed hard from the start, got overtaken by half the field on the climb, and then clawed back places on the descent thanks to good shoes and a bit of confidence. My watch showed Zone 5 for 98% of the race, which tells you everything about the effort. It was exactly the benchmark I needed. I’m also celebrating some brilliant athlete performances this week: Bert & Maggie — both smashing 30‑second 5k PBsFiona & Paul — completing the Devil O’ The Highlands in under 9 hours on a rocky, rugged Scottish mountain courseSheila — finishing the London Marathon in a rapid 3:33 All of these performances tie back to a core part of my training philosophy: speed and efficiency matter at every distance. Whether you’re racing 5k or grinding through a mountain ultra, building that top‑end ability makes everything else more achievable. If you enjoy the episode, it would mean a lot if you could rate the show, share it with a friend, or connect with me on Instagram @davidultrarunner. And if you’re looking for coaching, you can find me over on Team RunRun — I’d love to support your next big goal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Kaim Kickstart

  7. Apr 17

    Minimum Effective Dose, Goal Setting & Not Letting January Man Take Over

    In this solo episode, I’m sharing a quick but honest update on where my training is at — from the Achilles hanging in there, to getting back into the Fairlie hills (and the five‑day DOMS that followed), to reintroducing proper structured sessions again. I also break down how I’m structuring my year with River Ayr Way Ultra still months away, why I’m focusing on a 6‑week power block, and why I decided to take on the Kaim Hill Race even though it’s absolutely not my strength. Then I dive into two concepts that are shaping my approach this season: minimum effective dose — doing just enough to create adaptation without burning out — and goal setting that actually sticks, not the chaotic January Man version we all know too well. If you’re building towards something big this year, this episode will help you think about your training with more clarity, more intention, and a lot less noise. If you enjoy the show, please rate it — it genuinely helps. Connect with me on Instagram: @davidultrarunner And if you’re looking for coaching, you can find me on Team RunRun: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Minimum Effective Dose, Goal Setting & Not Letting January Man Take Over

  8. Mar 27

    The Callum Laird Episode

    In this episode, I sit down with Callum Laird @callumlaird_ to walk through his journey from growing up in Ayrshire to standing on the start line at Transgrancanaria — with all the breakthroughs, setbacks, and perspective shifts in between. We talk about how he fell into endurance, the confidence that came from races like the Skye Trail Ultra, and why variety — from ultras to HYROX — keeps him curious. The turning point is the Goat Fell accident just weeks before Transgrancanaria. Callum opens up about what happened, how serious it became, and how it changed his relationship with risk, resilience, and gratitude. We finish with what the race meant to him, what he’s learned about himself, and how he balances ambition with self‑preservation. A powerful conversation about rebuilding, identity, and why we keep showing up. If you are looking for coaching then get in touch, ether through instagram @davidultrarunner or search for me on Team RunRun Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Callum Laird Episode
See All (83)

Trailer

About

The West Coast Ultra Podcast is a weekly trail and ultra-running podcast filled with tales of ordinary people doing some extraordinary things. Host David talks about his latest adventures, training, coaching, and races, as well as conversations with a variety of runners who share their running stories, tips and tricks. If you are looking for coaching then reach out to David for an initial conversation here: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-irvine-scotland-running-coach/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    David Taylor
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © David Taylor
  • Show Website
    West Coast Ultra Podcast

You Might Also Like