
Running Won't Save You
byAllie Bailey
HealthFitnessSportsRunning
A podcast for people that hate running podcasts.Hosted by author, coach and ultrarunner Allie Bailey, Running Won't Save You aims to be the most fun it can be whilst also offering a bit of insight, some proper advice and (sorry about this) some coaching tips in a way that won't make you want to throw your phone in the sea.With a weekly rotation of incredible co-hosts including former GB athlete Holly Stables, and WMRA expert and decorated ultrarunner Kirsty Reade, Running Won't Save You is the antidote to the influencer fronted bullshit you might be used to. Gosh...
Episodes(40 episodes)
Season 4 - Episode 7
When the Gym Is The Hard Thing
Praise be Holly is back! This week it's a bit of a strength special because so many of you tell us you find the gym to be the hard thing - so we have got some ace info for you to get you started or keep you going - let us know if its helpful - PLUS there is an update on last weeks prick from the running club situation and Allies 5Km horror challenge. Keep your questions coming!The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - you get 10% off all your orders...
Published: Nov 22, 2025Duration: 1h 17m 45s
Season 4 - Episode 6
You're Doing Winter Wrong
In this week episode, there's something for everyone from fell racing to butt plugs to pants. Allie and Kirsty discuss why we're all getting winter wrong, we answer some of your questions and launch an investigation into a man being an absolute bellend (I know - hard to believe). Let us know what you think in the comments!The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - you get 10% off all your orders using the code RWSY10.
Published: Nov 15, 2025Duration: 1h 21m 39s
Season 4 - Episode 5
Backyard Ultra World Champion Sarah Perry on doing The Hard Thing
Holly's on erm...Hollyday, so we are absolutely thrilled to be joined by extra special friend of the show and backyard ultra world champion Sarah Perry! Sarah is not only one of the most wonderful humans ever to grace the earth but also one of the greatest ultrarunners this country has ever produced. From her first 30 miler to smashing the world record for the BYU, we talk about what it took to break that record - and it's not what you think. The word brutal is not mentioned ONCE. Huge thanks to Sarah for taking time out to discuss...
Published: Nov 8, 2025Duration: 1h 12m 53s
Season 4 - Episode 4
Blind Tolerance and the Misery Muscle
In this week's highly professional and well-presented podcast, Allie and Kirsty cover pretty much everything from David Goggins to why they don't go to parties. Fresh off a lovely trip running up and down all the Northern Wainwrights, there is some hopefully inspiring chat about how to cope in harsh conditions on the hill, dealing with body image, the difficulties of changing your mind and how to set goals as you grow older and so slower.Thanks so much for your amazing questions and keep them coming!The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly...
Published: Nov 1, 2025Duration: 1h 10m 17s
Season 4 - Episode 3
Ear Bleeding Hardness vs Long Term Suffering
This week Allie and Holly talk injuries and setbacks, where suffering actually comes from and the problem with entwining yourself worth with your hobby. Be warned - this one gets deep.Theres also some chat about the awesome Sarah Perry as she continues to smash the women's BYU record and we answer a listener question about the difficulties of time management - keep your questions coming via email or DM.The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - you get 10% off all your orders using the code RWSY10.
Published: Oct 24, 2025Duration: 1h 13m 13s
Season 4 - Episode 2
The Hardest Reader
Podcast favourite Kirsty Reade is back, and she knows what she's talking about which is a massive relief for everyone. This episode we talk a LOT about Tour Des Geantes and Tot Dret, discuss books, chat disaster planning, play a bit of hardness top trumps thanks to ChatGPT, and talk about why the word 'resilience' is totally misunderstood.Let us know what you think and send us your questions on toughness and resilience via instagram or email.The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - you get 10% off all your orders...
Published: Oct 17, 2025Duration: 1h 19m 5s
Season 4 - Episode 1
The LIDL Hammock
We're back! Our fourth season theme is Doing Hard Things and in this episode Holly and Allie talk about what we actually mean by that - and the results may surprise you. There's a lot of chat about mental health that some people may find triggering, some might find helpful and we try and answer the question why do we do these things when they have the ability to make us feel so shit?We would love your questions on the topic Doing Hard Things - please send them to us via the email link in the...
Published: Oct 10, 2025Duration: 1h 19m 45s
Season 3 - Episode 10
Finding Your Purpose with Dr Josie Perry
Our end of season interview is here and we are thrilled to be joined by top sport psychologist Dr Josie Perry. In this episode we discuss the problem with Strava, how not to attach your identity to an outcome and how to define what success means to you to make your running more fun and fulfilling. There are also some really helpful tips on how to define your purpose and why it's important to do so, plus we answer some of your listener questions. Huge thanks to Josei for her time. You can get hold of her books and...
Published: Aug 8, 2025Duration: 1h 2m 49s
Season 3 - Episode 9
Lakeland 100 recap with Damian Hall
Damo and Allie are back for the final co-host episode of the series to discuss Damians successful win at the Lakeland 100. Damo talks us through the highs and lows of the race, his focus, plan and how he exectued it but the big question is how many times wil he mention UTMB? Spoiler alert - it's a LOT. There are also some really bad jokes plus answers to your questions about his race.The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off all web orders using the code RWSY10. www.xmiles.co...
Published: Aug 1, 2025Duration: 1h 16m 11s
Season 3 - Episode 8
Performance over Results
Welcome to your diverse sports episode! This week Allie and Kirsty talk about football, golf and of course Via Ferratta (never forget) and are joined by a special guest in the form of Allie's sister Janey who at 55 has just completed her first 100 miler. There's also come chat about getting the race you deserve, the arrival fallacy and some book recommendations you may not be expecting - links below!And So I Run: https://www.adventurebooks.com/products/and-so-i-run?srsltid=AfmBOopYSJHSlOpMPyqyAMwqwnUP6tFQui7Ryn4Y7ZEJg4zmQYbu-eoRNo Lost Causes Club: https://www.amazon.co.uk...
Published: Jul 25, 2025Duration: 1h 12m 1s
Season 3 - Episode 7
The Heat and Light of Dan Lawson
This week Allie and Holly talk about Dan Lawson's incredible success on the SWCP, setting a new FKT and doing it in the quietest, simplest, and most pure way possible - we could all be a bit more like him? There's also some chat about Hollys most recent race at Ham and Lyme and as always, we answer some of your questions - keep them coming! The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off all web orders using the code RWSY10. www.xmiles.co.uk.We are also proud...
Published: Jul 18, 2025Duration: 1h 5m 7s
Season 3 - Episode 6
Damian's Never Won a Buckle
It's a packed show this week as Allie and Damo talk about Lakeland 100 prep, John Kellys' AT attempt and Dan Lawsons jog along the Southwest Coast path as well as answering some of your listener questions and discussing your successes. There are some discussions around HRT and menopause - links to what we discussed below. Keep your question's coming in because we love them!Renee's Webinar on menopause: https://reneemcgregor.com/product/help-ive-hit-menopause-webinar-replay/ https://blog.freshfitnessfood.com/blog/navigating-the-perimenopause-with-renee-mcgregor/The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off...
Published: Jul 11, 2025Duration: 1h 23m 47s
Season 3 - Episode 5
The Successful DNF
Strap in everyone - this one goes deeeeeeep. This week Kirsty and Allie talk everything from AI induced sexism to being manhandled off a course. The bulk of the podcast focuses on defining success and the ways in which we can refocus ourselves to see the best and not worst in our efforts, how all circumstances are neutral and how to get the most out of our efforts. There are also some top tips stolen from Killian (train with intention and be curious!) and some ace stories from you listeners - keep them coming please! The Running Won't Save...
Published: Jul 5, 2025Duration: 1h 16m 51s
Season 3 - Episode 4
Poo Residue
Allie and Holly finally catch-up post Summer Spine and of course end up talking about foot flakes, chaffing, poo residue and how Jon Shield went, in their eyes, from zero to hero by failing to meet his own standards. Success takes many forms and sometimes not getting the result you want can be a huge win. There are a few shout outs for our own successful pod listeners, producers and mates and we share what David Roche would sound like if he really had been made by Elon Musk.We would love to hear some of your...
Published: Jun 27, 2025Duration: 1h 17m 4s
Season 3 - Episode 3
18 Minutes Sleep and 160 Miles Later…
In this episode, Damian catches up with Allie just hours after her incredible win at the 160-mile Montane Summer Spine Challenger North. With one of them running on just 18 minutes of sleep, they attempt to piece together what happened — while trying (and mostly failing) to keep the conversation from descending into delirious nonsense. Allie shares how she framed and reframed her mindset before and during the race to keep things working in her favour. Expect plenty of laughs, sleep-deprived ramblings, and a fascinating insight into ultra-endurance racing.The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XM...
Published: Jun 20, 2025Duration: 1h 25m 40s
Season 3 - Episode 2
The Ultrarunning Gilead?
She's back! This week Allie is rejoined by her friend, mentor, and hero Kirsty Reade - fresh of the back of an ego smashing race in Italy. In this episode we talk books (as always), ego, FUCKING INFLUENCERS, Italian mountains, Kevin Munt, tennis, skill, effort, and talent. PLUS, we try to answer the question do our definitions of success change with age? The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off all web orders using the code RWSY10. www.xmiles.co.uk.We are also proud to support The Green...
Published: Jun 13, 2025Duration: 1h 16m 23s
Season 3 - Episode 1
Be More Hippo
Our season three opener covers everything from depression to tiny hippos as Allie and Holly dig into what success means to them. There's some interesting chat around societal vs personal success plus the usual catch up and rants - and who on earth actually thinks they can pace Killian at Western States?The Running Won't Save You podcast is proudly sponsored by XMiles - get 10% off all web orders using the code RWSY10. www.xmiles.co.uk.We are also proud to support The Green Runners, Pre-Loved Sport and the Re-Action Collective. Give them a...
Published: Jun 6, 2025Duration: 1h 17m 34s
Season 2 - Episode 10
The Ultimate Comparison: Life as a Transgender Athlete with Siân Longthorpe
Our season finale features the incredible Siân Longthorpe.Running has been an integral part of Siân’s life for the past 35 years. For many years, as a decent club runner, the focus was on training hard to race everything from 5Ks through to ultra marathons – both on the road and the trails – with a marathon PB of 2:35. However, since 2016, racing has largely taken a back seat, with running instead helping to navigate the particularly challenging process of transitioning from male to female. For the past four years, Siân has been a proud member of the ASICS...
Published: May 2, 2025Duration: 1h 12m 49s
Season 2 - Episode 9
The Horror of Danby Wiske with Damian Hall
This week we have the Northern Traverse course recording holding, tea drinking, Danby Wiske hating Damian Hall co-hosting a podcast that we had to record twice because Allie deleted the first set of files.Find out what Damos best bits, worst bits and most babyish bits of the NT were, how he became both an unlikely fashion icon and a groundbreaking chef on the course plus when does and ultra just become a big walk? Allie has to issue YET ANOTHER public apology, there's some extremely exciting tea chat and we give out some last minute London...
Published: Apr 25, 2025Duration: 1h 3m 52s
Season 2 - Episode 8
Comparing hallucinations on the Northern Traverse with Kirsty Reade
What have poodles, umbrellas, VIP boxes and the sky falling in got in common? They are all things that Kirsty saw on her incredible run from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay on this year's Northern Traverse.In this episode Kirsty talks about comparing events when you've done them more than once, and how to know when you're ready to take on these huge distances.She also shares with us her newest endurance challenge - reading the Hardest Geezers book. There are some of your questions anwsered as well as the usual waffle - let...
Published: Apr 18, 2025Duration: 1h 11m 30s