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This is a global player

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Original Podcast. Hello!

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There and welcome to Run Poets. I'm

0:11

Jenny Falconer and well, we're recording this

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episode exactly forty hours after starting the

0:16

London Marathon on Sunday. What a day!

0:18

And it doesn't matter at all whether

0:20

you took part in the race, whether

0:22

you've run a marathon before or any

0:24

race after five and a bit years

0:26

of from put I just that it

0:28

was time that we had an official

0:30

Maris and D brief and some joined

0:32

by someone else who was out there

0:34

on the course To he is a

0:36

musician, is a model, is a London

0:39

Marathon or. Is George Cuthbert? hello there.

0:41

Are low value to. Fight! We

0:43

last saw each other on Sunday morning

0:45

before the race. About ten minutes I was gearing

0:47

up for the to realize there was no no I was. I

0:49

was poop angel all over my legs. I was coming

0:52

back from my fourth time to the

0:54

toilet. Classic Classic. As as terrifying as in

0:56

the morning is just like oh my god,

0:58

it's actually here. I. Know I didn't even

1:00

I don't even the kind actually even needed

1:02

to go. I just wanted to take myself

1:04

there just in case. Just. To have a

1:06

little like kind of a ten seconds to yourself

1:08

out. Yeah, it's a war. A war a day

1:10

Or a day The rye. It was. Do

1:13

you know that was my ninth London Marathon

1:15

on I don't get me wrong I I

1:17

knew the I'm very very lucky to be

1:19

in that position of rum for charities. My

1:21

place was Am actually for through the London

1:24

Marathon this year but it was different from

1:26

last year girls injured so for me it

1:28

was quite a long journey to get here

1:30

except sustain so many injuries I've been happy

1:32

about in this marathon or year like smiling

1:35

even through the hard training runs and death.

1:37

So finally to get there are use the

1:39

Jews Joyous day is is just the. Build.

1:41

Up isn't it? Because when you've got your place

1:44

confirmed people don't realize that's like nine months in

1:46

advance is near. So it's like you are living

1:48

eating breathing. This marathon for months and months. months

1:50

and people don't see the training that goes on

1:52

behind the scenes and then when the day comes

1:55

out actually think for me I don't about you've

1:57

when you get your marathon running number from the

1:59

Excel Centre. that's when I'm like, oh my

2:01

god, it's here. That's when the nerves kick in.

2:03

I mean, that's like, oh my god, how, how,

2:05

how, where's the last six months gone, right? Because

2:07

it suddenly gets real. In fact, no, no, we're

2:10

talking about it. I'm getting goosebumps. Completely. Because

2:12

when you go to that expo, and by the way,

2:14

if you ran the marathon and you were listening, when

2:16

you got your number, I bet it became real

2:18

for you too. And you're a legend, by

2:21

the way, if you've done it. Yes, you

2:23

are. God, that was tough. Yeah. But yeah,

2:25

that day of getting your thing, getting home,

2:27

just thinking, oh my god, in 48 hours,

2:29

I'm going to be running it. And it's

2:31

just, it's overwhelming. But it's the most incredible

2:33

feeling in the world when you just are

2:35

there, and you're in your gear, and you've

2:37

got your top on, and you see everyone

2:39

else. It's just like, I'm getting a mo,

2:41

I get, I've been such an emotional wreck

2:43

since Sunday. It's been crazy how much I've

2:45

just felt so empowered since it's brilliant. I

2:48

don't think you really know what you're going to

2:50

be like as well when you run, because I

2:52

mean, I know that I smiled. I felt like

2:54

I was smiling all the way, but I've seen

2:56

photos, I clearly wasn't. But I felt like I

2:58

was smiling the whole way, until I saw my

3:00

husband, my daughter, my friends, and I just burst

3:03

into tears. And I just thought I would hug

3:05

them and kiss them and be so happy. But

3:07

no, I cried. What mile was that? That was 25.

3:10

20? Okay, so is that the only time you saw them? Yeah.

3:12

On 25? Okay. We miss each other. And

3:14

in fact, Emily, who produces, who's out there

3:17

at the moment with for Rumford, she came

3:19

in, she even had a Rumford sign, and

3:21

she changed location, she didn't see me, and

3:23

I didn't see her at all. And I

3:25

think that happens a lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it does.

3:28

It does. I mean, I have my sister calling me

3:30

and saying, right, we're going to be on the left,

3:32

but we may move to the right. I'm like, no,

3:34

no, you can't do this to me. You're either on

3:36

the left, or you're on the right at mile 12.

3:39

But I need to know because I'm just looking left,

3:41

right, left, right. And I'm concentrating more on trying to

3:43

see my family than where I'm running. And there's bottles

3:45

on the floor, there's gels, like you can trip, can't

3:47

you quite easily if you're not concentrating. And I was

3:50

more stressed about making sure I saw my family than

3:52

actually running. And did you see them? I did. I

3:54

was really lucky. I miss one of my sisters, which

3:56

was really, I was really gutted about, but I saw

3:58

my family in total about. three times. Oh

4:00

wow. So they were running around London like absolute

4:02

mad people trying to get to different spots but

4:05

for me that is like one of the biggest

4:07

bits of advice I would ever give someone running

4:09

a marathon is if you can have support there

4:11

it really helps right? Like you know it you've

4:13

done nine. Yeah. It's so important just knowing in

4:15

your head it's like right mile seven I've got

4:17

my dad or mile ten I've got this person

4:19

it gives you something to look forward to if

4:21

you know what I mean? Yeah it really

4:23

I mean it really does and my family were like

4:25

will be at nine eleven fifteen twenty

4:28

I mean I didn't see them at any

4:30

of it but the funny thing is as

4:32

well and this is a really good bit

4:34

of advice if you are going to support

4:36

someone in a race take something that they

4:38

can see so my husband and daughter got

4:40

a big pink flag with the yellow smiley

4:42

face off Amazon they went you'll see us

4:44

and I saw it and I ran to

4:46

it someone else had it now that flag

4:48

ended up being the most popular flag out

4:50

there on the course I ended up giving

4:52

in by

4:55

that said you hated the flag

4:57

I had about seen about ten thousand of those

4:59

flags out there and it definitely wasn't with them

5:01

at any occasion but it does help actually if

5:03

you have something to look out for it really does

5:05

did you have your name on your call? And I did

5:07

and the entire way people call your name and

5:10

sometimes you'll have Jenny Rumpod which is lovely but

5:12

most of the time you just have people going

5:14

go Jenny go on do you know it does

5:16

help it really does because it just makes you

5:18

go okay I'm still doing it yeah it gets

5:20

you to keep your main focus do you agree? Yeah

5:22

it's funny because for the first half I had a

5:24

lot of go Josh go Josh because obviously I've got

5:26

it written on my top and half way that's when

5:28

I started to be in real pain about 12 miles

5:31

in I was like God this I feel like I've already

5:33

ran a marathon so I thought how am I gonna do

5:35

another 14 miles at this point

5:37

and I was getting a bit annoyed

5:39

just stop shouting our names but then

5:43

it got to about three miles later and no one was

5:45

shouting my name I was like why is no one shouting

5:47

my name I was like you can't like you can't I

5:49

mean talk about like being fussy but so

5:52

then what I would do is I'd egg on my

5:54

face so I would really Act

5:56

as if I was really struggling even more than I

5:58

was just to encourage people to shout. My name

6:00

be say that or were you Satellite was

6:02

a struggle and item from issue of that

6:04

it was am I hadn't by south had

6:07

a at i told you did not know

6:09

to nurse. Plan We saw each other. The

6:11

star Josh is actually really worrying about whether

6:13

we can mail to run you at the

6:16

internet's symptoms yell on your lap. Decline is

6:18

a painful as happens. So was meant to

6:20

do or along a twenty mile. The last

6:22

training wrong about was three weeks before the

6:24

Martin and two weeks prior to that said

6:26

five weeks before the Martin. I woke up

6:29

on Monday morning after my eighty mile turn

6:31

around and I could barely walk of that

6:33

war is going on here This isn't good.

6:35

I then saw of less than a few

6:37

days that I to recover and it didn't

6:39

I then got some physio and but when

6:41

my best mates his brilliance his own he

6:44

said you've got tendinitis old on your a

6:46

killer diseases and it's so unpleasant and based

6:48

the i didn't. Run for five weeks before the

6:50

marathon. Service terrible preparation and I sent actually going

6:52

insert the marathon as I don't know how my

6:54

such going to hold up. had no idea and

6:56

that's actually quite scary because if you go into

6:58

and you've got plan and you know what works

7:00

it's still intimidate him but it's a lot more

7:02

you can kinda get through it. so am I

7:04

know one during was I just have no idea

7:06

Supermarkets who? Onwards I called my my Good May

7:08

and said my on my So is already killing

7:10

me. What do I do head to I carry

7:12

on. Am I going to get myself a long

7:14

term injury? What's the plan He just said look

7:16

as a good chance you are going to give.

7:19

Yourself an injury, but how much you wanna

7:21

do? Amazon More than anything he said just

7:23

goes for it. and that's why there isn't

7:25

It makes it feel so much more special

7:27

when you know you trust yourself to the

7:29

absolute limit you didn't think was possible. And

7:31

that's what the days all about. it's about.

7:34

Just everyone is that. so they're

7:36

I'm reason and that is so

7:39

special and people that's the haven't

7:41

done it before probably to never

7:43

really understand the full extent of

7:45

it. but it is just soloists

7:47

inspiring incredible beautiful people. Everywhere you

7:49

look at it is just phenomenal.

7:51

Ah honestly wells I'm sitting and

7:53

ninety seven Zero tendinitis nice to

7:55

the as a loss Micah some

7:57

my size, my bags, Clarice

8:00

Chloe my wife is selling i look like

8:02

the Walking Dead at the moment I'm she

8:04

said if those a zombie apocalypse you to sit

8:06

right in size That's very kind of us

8:08

thought I'm in pieces as an hour you're

8:10

feeling get an know how you can I'd

8:12

and you. Wow, I have to know

8:15

it just adds. Yesterday we all have a

8:17

kind of cleaning story don't link and Juri

8:19

my training plan and glitch was by the

8:21

way going tacitly and others he thinks the

8:23

tip are running app which was. Brilliant.

8:27

Effect. Heard great things. Oh brilliant. I

8:29

mean I know, absolutely is Africa Races.

8:31

And I got to my twenty one mile

8:33

run which was one of to the twenty

8:36

one or twenty two mouth animals one of

8:38

two and was really excited to beta and

8:40

halfway through my ankle locked and heart and

8:42

this is some things that cause me to

8:45

polite last year scientist a former husband. In

8:47

tears Good head on. A lot of adage of

8:49

a almost it did. Size A I'm to keep

8:51

on some walks, the holy homes or my

8:53

ankle with enormous. I mean it was like

8:55

this like a tennis ball was in my

8:57

ankle so he'd so went to says you

8:59

sure know who is good like honestly the

9:02

best physios and he's ice. yeah you can't

9:04

run on that on site. Yep thanks He

9:06

said ten days nothing's which. Only if you're

9:08

a marathon training. Ten days of nothing feels

9:10

like a year. Yep and. Sysadmins did

9:12

nothing and he gave me lots of

9:14

exercise is no. went back and he

9:16

said to miracle to absolutely fine while

9:18

bucket start running again that any went

9:20

maybe to and run in those trainers

9:22

maybe So I switched my trainers yeah

9:24

having missed oh my long ones like

9:26

and or randomness and they were. To

9:28

small may. Know I'm

9:30

a size eight around and size eight for

9:33

the train as a happy are bigots. All

9:35

that happened was my toes ogle cut to

9:37

smoke and and and five miles three at

9:39

has seals among and by the end I'll

9:41

it died of my trainers are saturated them

9:43

blood myself fire on when I take my

9:45

shoes of. Yeah. Unfortunately

9:48

that impacted my so and I actually thought

9:50

it was my ankle that was bad some

9:52

away or my to his but I had

9:54

to add did have to walk run a

9:56

loss last eight miles. which which is a

9:58

noise dismissed it i still I don't

10:00

care, I go around. And that's the thing, isn't

10:02

it? People are like, oh, what time you hoping

10:04

for? And I just said, honestly, I just wanna

10:06

complete it. I just wanna be a part of

10:08

this day because it is just so empowering and

10:11

just so emotional that the time actually doesn't really

10:13

mean much. I know. Do you

10:15

know, I think there's a bit in the race

10:17

as well where I think everyone starts off with

10:19

this great intention of doing well. And everyone does

10:21

well by crossing the line. And

10:23

I kept going and I was slowing

10:25

down, but I was two hours 15

10:27

and I had 12 kilometers to go.

10:29

So not that much. But I

10:32

knew that I was slowing down so much that it

10:34

would only be if I was running fast. I could

10:36

do that and make under four. So

10:38

at that point I went right, relax. If

10:40

you walk, you have to just get to the

10:42

end and enjoy every minute and I- And soak

10:44

it in. And smile? Yeah, and smile,

10:47

yeah. It's so true, it's like I needed

10:49

that because I ran it completely on my own. So last

10:51

year I ran with my dad. I was gonna ask that.

10:54

Yeah, last year I ran with my dad. We ran the

10:56

first 13 miles together and that was lovely. And it was

10:58

both our first marathon. So we had each other's company there.

11:00

I then left him for the second half because we were-

11:02

Do you chat when you're running together? He

11:05

wasn't in the mood for chatting. I thought he would be.

11:08

I thought it'd be an amazing company, but bless him. He

11:10

was, I think it's just a

11:12

very overwhelming day, isn't it? So we had a few

11:14

chats and then this other guy joined us. He could

11:16

see we were going quite slow at the start because

11:18

our plan last year was to go out really slow

11:21

and hope that in the second half we could do

11:23

it a bit faster and actually enjoy it. But this

11:25

year I was completely on my own and I was

11:27

panicking about that. But actually like there's 50,000 other people

11:29

with you. You're not

11:31

on your own. You couldn't be less on your own if

11:33

you tried. And I just remember it was

11:35

funny though because some people are really up for a

11:37

chat. You'll probably know this. Some people that are running

11:39

it are really up for a chat. Some people you

11:41

just get their cold shoulder like don't talk to me.

11:43

Who the hell are you? Don't talk to me. So I

11:45

just try and talk to as many people as I

11:47

can because I need to keep myself sane. My headphones

11:49

I think died after about an hour when I was

11:51

like, what is going on here? My phone was on

11:53

about 25%. I was completely

11:55

on my own, but you're not on your own. You're

11:57

chatting to thousands of other people. like

12:00

I said is doing it for their own

12:02

reason and when you see different pictures of

12:04

people that obviously people have lost on the

12:06

back of their t-shirts it's just heartbreaking but

12:09

that gives you the motivation that you can

12:11

push through with them you know. Yeah I

12:13

find it amazing isn't it I mean the the

12:15

amount of people that are running for charity is

12:18

so incredible the amount of money raised for

12:20

charity let alone isn't brilliant I think it's

12:22

the the biggest fundraising single-day event in the

12:24

world and quite right I mean everyone there

12:27

is out to do well and this is

12:29

if you have applied in the ballot I've

12:31

applied in the ballot never got through in

12:33

the ballot really in the recent years and

12:35

if you've applied in the ballot and not

12:37

got through don't give up because there are

12:39

so many great charities that need help and

12:41

quite a lot of them have places and

12:44

some of them yes do expect a certain

12:46

amount of money raised but if

12:48

you are doing your first marathon you might

12:50

find that your friends will you know offer

12:52

to sponsor you or dig a little deeper

12:54

or you can have a little fundraising party

12:56

you do something but if you do get

12:58

the opportunity to take part in the marathon

13:00

and raise money for charity then I do

13:02

recommend it. 100% it's just that

13:04

extra that extra reason as to why you're

13:06

doing it yeah it's yeah it's it's a

13:09

beautiful thing when you raise money for charity

13:11

because they need it. And you were you

13:13

were running for Samaritan. I was yeah that's

13:15

a very special

13:18

I'm already getting

13:20

emotional very special feeling for

13:23

me to do it for them. I've

13:25

called them when I've when I've not wanted to be

13:27

here anymore I went through my

13:30

mental health journey to say the least is

13:32

an understatement I know

13:34

and many times in my in

13:37

the last three four years but I haven't wanted to

13:39

be here anymore and Samaritans are one

13:41

of the outlets that I

13:43

use to help me and support me.

13:45

Heartbreaking hearing this. Yeah I mean it's

13:47

just it was really

13:49

tough it was really really tough and

13:53

I just remember thinking the least I can

13:55

do. I've set myself a challenge actually

13:57

is to run the marathon for them every year in my

13:59

third year. So I turned 30 last

14:01

year and I did it for them last year and

14:03

I would love to do it every year for them

14:05

in my 30s to raise and just to give something

14:07

back, like they gave something back to me and like

14:09

they give so much to so many

14:12

people out there, you know, there are so many

14:14

people out there struggling with their mental health and

14:17

particularly men actually, that's what I'm

14:19

really passionate about. Obviously mental health

14:21

affects everyone, I'm not saying it

14:23

doesn't but I feel this

14:25

real responsibility to try

14:27

and encourage men to open

14:30

up and encourage men to feel that

14:32

it's okay to not be okay and

14:34

it's okay to be emotionally vulnerable because

14:38

when I was struggling I didn't know who to reach out

14:40

to, I didn't really know what to do and that's when

14:42

I, you know, when I reached out

14:44

to Samaritans that time. Just because it shows

14:46

all you don't know what's going on in

14:49

anyone's head, do you? Because I would never,

14:51

ever consider you would be in

14:53

that situation. It's really, I

14:55

mean it's really hard for people

14:58

around you to realise that as well because they

15:00

wish they could have done something but there's no

15:02

explanation, there's not even sometimes a why, why are

15:04

you going through this? No, I mean Chloe,

15:07

I was obviously running on Sunday

15:10

and Chloe posted an Instagram

15:12

story, my wife, she posted a story

15:14

that spoke about Samaritans because they

15:17

had a segment on BBC that day about

15:20

they were the main charity of the

15:22

marathon and she posted a thing that

15:24

said Samaritans do such amazing things, I

15:27

used to be terrified leaving the house and

15:29

coming back to Josh doing something that he

15:31

couldn't take back and that, when

15:34

I read that, that was just, sorry,

15:36

that was a lot so yeah. Oh

15:40

Josh. Sorry, when you get,

15:43

when you can do something

15:46

for another charity

15:48

or organisation that do some amazing

15:50

things, it's just, it's just sorry.

15:52

Oh look. Sorry. Don't

15:55

worry. sometimes

16:00

I was talking about it, isn't there? I know,

16:02

I know it is, but you do such a

16:04

great job. You're very kind, thank you. Um,

16:07

are you okay? Yeah, yeah, no, sorry.

16:09

I just, oh. I think, I think

16:11

when I saw that post from Chloe, I didn't, I didn't

16:13

expect to see it. So that

16:15

really made me, that hit me hard

16:18

actually, because, yeah,

16:20

it makes it, when you see it in writing,

16:23

she's told me that numerous times, but when

16:26

you see something like that in writing, and that's

16:28

my best friend in the world, God, the idea

16:30

of her struggling, and that's just another thing as

16:32

well. I want to raise

16:35

awareness as much as I can around the

16:37

partners of people, the friends, the moms, the dads

16:39

of people that struggle, because it's so hard for

16:41

them too. Like this is a, this

16:43

is a huge 360 thing that

16:46

so many people suffer for. So that's why

16:48

the least I can do is

16:50

run 26.2 miles every year for them. Yeah. You

16:52

know? I suppose, yeah, it's hard because they

16:54

don't know what the right thing to do is or to

16:57

say. No, and actually,

16:59

this is why

17:01

running is so amazing, because

17:05

my mental health has got so much better

17:07

since I've taken up running. What do you

17:09

think it does for you? It just,

17:12

it's that you time, and

17:14

it's like, I say it's the only two times I feel this

17:17

are when I'm skiing and when I'm running. You're

17:19

so, you're just, it's just

17:21

you, you're in your own head, but

17:23

actually that, for some people that can be quite

17:25

scary, just being in your own head and being

17:27

vulnerable, but actually, if you can deal

17:30

with that, it makes you so much stronger. And

17:32

it just gives you this sense of just, ah,

17:35

I've done it, I've done that. Like the training for

17:37

the marathon, I think is harder than the actual day.

17:40

I do, because the day they say it's just

17:42

the lap of honor, I mean, for goodness

17:44

sake. I mean, it's possibly hard, but yeah. Everything's laid

17:46

out, the toilet's there, the drinks are there.

17:48

Really, it should be the most straightforward

17:50

run. It's the furthest. It's the

17:52

furthest, but the, yeah. Training is

17:54

hard. The training is impossibly tough,

17:56

I think, because often it's

17:58

peeing it down with rain. It's

18:00

cold, it's dark, it's miserable, you're

18:02

completely on your own, but my God does that make

18:04

you strong? If you can get that done, it makes

18:06

you so, so strong. And

18:09

that's what it's done for me actually, because I started when

18:11

I last came on this podcast in 2018 or 19. I

18:14

think it just started. I had

18:16

just started to get into running a little bit and then

18:18

COVID hit, so I couldn't do the marathon and I was

18:20

gutted. And then I stopped running for a couple of years

18:22

and then I picked it back up two

18:25

years ago. And mental health because of

18:27

it has just been so

18:29

different. And I think a lot of it is down to that.

18:32

I really do. Well, I would 100% agree. And

18:35

I have mood swings and get

18:37

angry and get stressed and get worried

18:39

and get tired. But for me, I

18:41

know that if I go for a run, it re-energizes

18:45

me and it makes me put

18:47

things in perspective. And

18:49

I think that's the most important thing because

18:51

sometimes you can be bogged down with something

18:54

that really is not an important detail. But

18:56

by going out for a run, it's almost like you can

18:58

see the light again and you can... It's

19:02

time out on your own. I don't really run with

19:04

other people and it's because of my schedule

19:06

and everything. But going out for

19:08

a run on your own is like meditation. And

19:11

it's lovely to go out running with other people and

19:13

to be sociable. Yeah, there is something about running on

19:15

your own, which is just lovely because you do get

19:18

lost in your own thoughts. Even

19:20

if right now you're listening to this podcast, we

19:23

might say something that might make you think about

19:25

something else. And it's just a lovely place to

19:27

be. You're out for a run. It really is.

19:30

No phones, no emails. When we were in COVID,

19:32

that thinking time was quite scary for a lot of people.

19:34

And that's what brought up a lot of, I

19:36

think, a lot of emotions that people didn't really

19:38

realize they had. And

19:41

maybe they hadn't dealt with properly

19:43

before. But actually, you can do

19:45

that on your hands. But you can do it on

19:47

your hands. And when you get home, you just feel

19:49

amazing. You're like, oh my God. I've just done that.

19:51

And I might take it slow. Like before, you know,

19:53

two years ago when I ran last year when I ran

19:55

the marathon, before that, I think the first I ran is

19:57

like 10K, eight. and

20:01

now I'm running like I don't even know

20:03

what K is in for 26 miles you

20:05

can really achieve whatever you put your mind

20:07

to and it is mind over matter with

20:09

these things and it just trains

20:11

your mind and your body to be

20:13

stronger and honestly the the outcome is

20:16

is so positive I find. I

20:25

am always find it amazing when people

20:28

tune in and see the marathon and they go I

20:30

just don't get it I don't get why you would

20:32

run well it's for all those reasons that you've just

20:35

said. Yeah it is it's it's it's

20:37

it's so much more than running for me

20:39

the running is almost just side

20:42

on the day itself it's it's

20:44

London is together London is

20:46

happy London feels safe like

20:48

when did when I haven't felt like that in

20:51

London for years like it's such

20:53

an amazing day like and

20:55

everyone is united that's what I think is

20:57

so special. It's the happiest place I

21:00

always say to people and I said

21:02

it at the finish lines quite a

21:04

lot it's like for me it's like

21:06

Christmas Day because it's just I'm just

21:08

be happiest and Christmas Day

21:10

is great but this is more special

21:12

because everyone comes together and people

21:15

you don't know you're hugging people you

21:17

don't know and you're celebrating

21:19

with people in the crowd you've never

21:21

met in your life but everyone wishes

21:23

each other well and I think it's

21:25

lovely. Yeah and and what was really lovely

21:28

actually is I said earlier

21:30

I burst into tears when I crossed the

21:32

cross the finish line I absolutely pulled my

21:34

eyes out and I don't know if

21:36

you remember but on the left there's kind of those little sections

21:38

you can go and have a bit of you time but

21:41

it was so full I couldn't have any you

21:43

time because everyone was just having their own you

21:45

time there are me time sorry and it was

21:47

lovely that everyone was in tears men women like

21:49

not that I like seeing

21:51

people in tears but I know that feeling it's

21:53

that oh I've done that how have

21:55

I just done that like that was incredible and

21:58

it's just so emotional And

22:00

when you cross the finish line, there's a

22:02

few things that happen to me. I want to know what

22:04

happens to you. I cross the finish line. First of all,

22:07

for the first time ever, quite often I'll cross the finish

22:09

line in dry heave. I didn't do that to share no

22:11

vomiting. I go, it's good. This time I

22:13

cross the finish line. And I do

22:15

kind of find it hard to catch my breath

22:17

when I'm chatting to people. It's like I'm like

22:20

that. And and then also

22:22

I felt tears coming on. And instantly

22:24

I crossed. I started doing interviews. I

22:27

think it was ITN that started. I was

22:29

like trying to breathe. But

22:31

also my bottom lip was trembling and I

22:33

could feel tears coming on. I was like,

22:36

this is... And I didn't know

22:38

where that was coming from. So I was

22:40

ecstatic to cross the line. I'd got my

22:42

medal and I'm crying without you. And I

22:44

wasn't upset in any way, shape or form.

22:47

I was delighted and thrilled and relieved and

22:49

very crying. Kind of like very weepy and

22:51

emotional. But you just don't

22:53

know. You're just your complete authentic self at that

22:55

point, aren't you? Literally like there is no... Because

22:58

obviously, you know, we've been very lucky that we've done

23:00

interviews and things like that for a lot of our

23:02

life. But that for me is

23:04

the most genuine and authentic interview slash photos you'll

23:06

ever get. So talk to us. We're asking me

23:08

to stand still and like have a photo. And

23:10

I was just a... I was just balling my

23:12

eyes. I was like, I mean, I haven't even

23:14

seen the photos. I don't want to. But who

23:16

cares? At that point, I just don't care. I've

23:18

just ran 26.2 marks. Yeah.

23:21

Amen. You know, it's

23:24

bloody brilliant. And I saw I saw

23:26

quite a lot of people crying actually. And

23:28

it's yeah, it's lovely. Everyone's just so proud.

23:30

I've worked on quite a few marathons. I've

23:32

hosted the coverage for Brighton Marathon in the

23:34

past. And I've cried when I've seen other

23:36

people cry. I think that's something as well.

23:39

It's kind of contagious. Yes. Like whenever I

23:41

saw my family in the crowd, like my mum

23:43

was crying. She was hugging me crying. I thought,

23:45

why are you crying? Don't you're going to make

23:47

me cry? It's just like because

23:49

I feel like your love ones, they run

23:51

it with you, but they're not running. They

23:53

run it with you because they're there. And

23:55

like Everyone is just an emotional

23:57

wreck. And I Think that's one thing that we've

24:00

all. uncommon. Okay, so we have

24:02

to get some tips for anyone just who is

24:04

on the sense of at whether or not they

24:06

should do them hours. And I mean I think

24:08

I think you'll get where we're going on. I

24:10

don't think it has to be necessarily London Martha,

24:13

it's just doing an event, but London is particularly

24:15

special. To employ your tips, you should

24:17

one hundred percent do it. It. Will

24:19

be the best. Hellish. Day.

24:22

Of your life. But I promise you when

24:24

your home and not Boston that evening he

24:26

wanted to again. Because. I did that.

24:29

As. I saw me straight back up. I remember

24:31

coding Chloe halfway through guy on never doing this

24:33

again. I was this time to to oh my

24:35

God I was never done this again. Sauce for

24:37

three hours as a mouse narcisse and you have

24:39

to get me another place next year. You have

24:41

to do it. If you're on the fence, Do

24:43

it. It's the most inspiring. Incredible day

24:45

you will ever have. See this is

24:48

my the ballot is open exactly around knives

24:50

to gets to get anyone is run it

24:52

to go back in and get any one

24:54

that's inspired. enter and I would say is

24:56

if you are even on the fence do

24:58

So my producer. And smooth his like

25:01

know a runner Here he's. Just

25:03

applied in the butler as a get he says done

25:05

and I might and I have I will have been

25:07

like go on you just eat to sets I can

25:09

see how much joy it brings see I'm going at

25:11

it and if he gets a place he said I'll

25:13

deal with it opposite. He's easily even started lucky to

25:15

part ronnie side wear hats I saw. I'll take him

25:18

to get a long as he can to get to

25:20

file a case of he is no on a mission.

25:22

Let's hope he gets a place that yeah I was

25:24

I die it's. It's a thing for

25:26

me. Running as a personal challenge and

25:28

even if you have never run before doing

25:30

apart from which is five K as a

25:33

challenge to war is it like to forty

25:35

two kilometers which is false and eight and

25:37

a half park runs back to backs But

25:39

you can do it. I think it's it's

25:42

there's a lot of it's mind over matter

25:44

is a lot of his get them getting

25:46

the miles in the legs but it's and

25:48

it's not all to Madison. It's not like

25:51

us the most etti challenge that some of

25:53

these other incredible athletes days. It's it's twenty

25:55

six month that his head. Now. And then you

25:57

can Do it. And you can Do this. you to walk a

25:59

mile So you would be able to run

26:01

a mile and it's just then adding another mile. I

26:04

do that the minute we start off I'm

26:06

counting down. So by the time I remembered that

26:08

was counting down. I was already at 24 miles

26:12

Happy day miles down 24 miles to go and

26:14

actually for the first time ever when we got

26:16

to halfway I wasn't I wasn't going

26:18

off to got PB in my first half

26:20

which is quite often what happens I die in the

26:22

second half and but this time in the second half

26:25

I spent the second half going I'm

26:27

having the best day. I want to do it again. I

26:29

knew then I didn't even cross the finish

26:31

line and say never again Yeah, I crossed the finish

26:33

line and went. Oh, I need to be back So

26:36

good though. How amazing is that right? Yeah,

26:38

I just thought it's all about it. I

26:41

love it I'm so passionate about it. And

26:43

honestly if you are on the fence just Apply

26:46

and like your your producer said if I get

26:48

in I'll cross that bridge when I get to

26:50

it That's the best way of doing it don't

26:52

put too much pressure on yourself. But why not

26:54

apply? What have you got to lose? Yeah, what

26:56

have you got to lose and you've only got to

26:58

win and you've only got to gain Exactly. I mean

27:00

you will your fitness your mental

27:03

health Oh, I mean all these things

27:05

the fact in January we all talk about it

27:07

being miserable and glum But in January, that's when

27:09

you start your training and it gets you up

27:11

and gets you out and you start ignoring rain

27:13

You start ignoring the weather because you want to

27:15

be outside and you you get rosy

27:17

cheeks In at the time of year when usually

27:20

you'd be inside. Yeah, just eating. Yeah feeling

27:22

crap Yeah, but like it gives you it's so

27:24

true. It's like When you

27:26

go out on those runs you just it

27:29

doesn't matter what the weather is because you've you've got

27:31

to stick to your schedule Because everyone's busy everyone lives

27:33

busy lives if you've got to do a long run

27:35

You've got to do a long run No matter what

27:37

the rain is saying no matter what temperature saying you

27:39

have to do it and that even I think that

27:41

makes it More of a an incredible achievement by getting

27:44

through those things where normally you would stay on the

27:46

couch But actually you've just gone out and

27:48

run 10 miles 8 miles. Whatever is I

27:50

think also for anyone that's doing any race

27:52

weather It's a half marathon or a marathon

27:54

or even 10k you get nerves because you're

27:56

doing something out of your comfort zone I

27:59

just I was you're on Union

28:01

G, you performed in front of thousands of people,

28:04

do you still get nervous when you go to a

28:06

start line of a race? Oh, that's more terrifying.

28:08

Really? Oh my god, we've been really lucky

28:10

over the years to have done some amazing

28:12

shows and we did Wembley a few times,

28:14

Wembley Football Stadium and that was terrifying, mainly

28:16

because I'm such a huge football fan so

28:18

for me that was just the most amazing

28:20

feeling. I thought, oh my god, if this

28:23

is the last and best thing I ever

28:25

do, I'm happy. I'm happy with that, I'll

28:27

retire right now. The marathon

28:29

is another level. It's because

28:31

it's just such a daunting task but

28:34

then you also have that real feeling

28:36

in your bones going, I'm going to do it. It's

28:39

just so scary but just

28:42

sensational at the same time. I'm

28:44

just an emotional wreck at the moment, whenever I think about it,

28:46

I just want to start training for the next one but I

28:48

can barely walk down the stairs so that's going to be put

28:50

on hold for a while. Honestly, you should see me walking down

28:52

the stairs. Takes me four minutes. Oh my god, it's so funny.

28:54

There's only 12 steps in my house. How does

28:57

it take us like three minutes to start? About two minutes

28:59

a step, it's a joke. It's also, having been

29:01

like this is the second day after, I'm

29:03

like, oh god, I really want to be

29:05

doing some exercise but yeah, I can't because

29:07

my tools are enormous. But it's just, you

29:09

feel like you're cheating. Oh yeah, you

29:11

feel completely lazy but we've earned it. That's

29:14

another thing I'd say, the feeling of just

29:16

being able to eat what you want after.

29:18

How good is that? Yeah, nice. Just

29:20

have, I like burger, chips, milkshake, halloumi cheese,

29:23

biscuits, custard creams, everything of my favourite that

29:25

day I had. I mean, also this is

29:27

another thing we don't talk about. My gut

29:29

from all those gels on the run. Oh,

29:31

do you know after the run though,

29:33

I was so excited about eating a nice meal and I didn't

29:37

want anything to eat. I was like a fool. Yeah, it's

29:39

almost horrible gels. I had six gels. Oh.

29:42

I was like, oh, but I did manage

29:44

a really good margarita though so that was

29:46

fine. Oh, what, alcohol or pizza? Alcohol. Okay,

29:48

I was thinking which one are you going for? No, cocktail. I

29:51

had, what I did was, I crossed the

29:53

finish line, wasn't hungry, had loads and loads

29:55

of water, went to a bar, ordered a

29:57

margarita, followed by a glass of Prosecco. And

30:00

I was like, followed by another glass of Prosecco,

30:02

then had some chicken. I was like, I know.

30:04

Then some chicken, that's so wrong. That

30:06

was my meal, it just took so long to

30:08

arrive that I'd downed all these drinks and I

30:10

didn't really want the chicken, and that was it,

30:12

that was me done. But I don't think any

30:14

of it even touched the site. That's really

30:16

made me laugh, chicken and margarita, alcohol. It

30:20

was a complete random mix, but I was just like,

30:22

I'm having all my favorite things right now in a

30:24

row. Absolutely, and chicken is, is that one of your

30:26

favorites? I would have loved some pizza, but they didn't have

30:28

pizza where we were. Where were you? We went

30:30

to the only place we could find. We wanted to

30:32

go to a pub, but we had kids with us.

30:34

We were trying to find somewhere that we could sit

30:36

down, have a seat, and so we went

30:38

to somewhere in, kind of not far from

30:41

the finish line. Chicken shop. I

30:43

had a piece of chicken,

30:45

margarita, Prosecco, not altogether.

30:48

There we go. What did you have? I

30:50

had, I went to a, I had a chicken

30:53

burger, double, double chicken burger, loads of fries, halloumi

30:55

cheese, Oreo milkshake. Oh my God, I know that.

30:57

But I felt sick after that. That

30:59

is what would have worked for me, but we

31:02

couldn't, we didn't pass anywhere like that. Yeah, and

31:04

actually not had the best moment. It

31:06

was really special actually, and sorry to interrupt

31:08

and go off a little bit, but I

31:11

was getting the tube to this burger place with

31:13

my family, and I was going down

31:15

the tube, an escalator, and loads of people coming up

31:17

that had obviously just been at the marathon. And I

31:20

had my, I had my med around my neck, and

31:22

they all just started applauding. And

31:24

it was so breathtaking. It

31:26

was just amazing, like, because I didn't expect it. When

31:29

you're running the marathon, you obviously, everyone's cheering to

31:31

you expected, but I didn't expect that. And that

31:34

was just, it took my breath away actually. I

31:36

was like, oh my God, like wow. But

31:38

that's what it's all about, everyone being together and

31:41

supporting people for doing it. And that was

31:43

brilliant. I have to say that has not happened to

31:45

me. When I've entered a room, nobody has clapped. I would

31:47

like that though. Next year, you're gonna

31:49

be going up and down the escalator in

31:51

Green Park Station going, where's the applause? It's

31:55

so, it is so lovely. It's such a special

31:57

day. And listen, I know there are many

31:59

other. races there's half marathons marathons I haven't

32:02

got a whole load of other marathons under

32:04

my belt to talk about so this is

32:06

why I'm so passionate about this one absolutely

32:08

I feel bad if I have a cheat on London you

32:11

know I mean if I went to Chicago or Paris I'd feel

32:13

bad but like it's like cheating on a hairdresser you can't do

32:15

it I don't think I don't think there can

32:18

be one better now forgive me

32:20

if I'm wrong if there is let me

32:22

know yeah let me know which ones are

32:24

worth doing yeah I do ask this all

32:26

the time at Brighton marathon couple of weeks

32:28

before London is meant to be brilliant I've

32:30

worked on it everyone says it's good you

32:32

is a potential PB course they say as

32:34

well and can you get an

32:36

uber halfway around I

32:39

was really considering that half I thought wouldn't it just

32:41

be is there any little shortcuts I can take here

32:43

because I need every help I can get at the

32:45

moment but yeah unfortunately I can get signals to get

32:47

that uber it is it

32:49

is amazing I'm so glad you had a good day I'm

32:52

really proud of you as well I'm proud of everyone

32:54

that did it that day yeah and every day and

32:56

every year whenever people do it's brilliant yeah and

32:58

if you were in the streets thank you for cheering

33:01

it makes a difference and if you ran congratulations

33:03

and if you ran any of the

33:05

others Brighton Paris Maris and Manchester if

33:07

you're doing Edinburgh or any of the

33:09

other ones that are around now good

33:11

luck yes and have it I mean

33:13

it's have an amazing enjoy it yeah

33:16

enjoy lots of gels and

33:19

go up and down the escalator on the tube

33:21

to get all the trains until people applaud exactly

33:23

and wait I was gonna wear my medal in today by

33:25

the way oh I've got my mind I was going to

33:27

but I didn't I was like is that a bit keen

33:29

oh no never I should have done it shouldn't I next

33:31

year you're here you've got to do the

33:34

rumpod quickfire challenge and we can maybe relate it

33:36

well we can't we could just keep it to

33:38

running which trainers did you run in new

33:41

balance 1080s had you run in

33:43

them for the whole time nope because my injury

33:45

my physio said you need to get something with

33:47

lesser foam to support my leg and I just

33:49

ordered some that's why I had to change that

33:51

I think this is the problem I actually would

33:53

advise people because you don't need to spend fortune

33:56

on good running shoes I thought that I thought

33:58

I'm just gonna buy the most expensive ones

34:00

because they'll be the best but that's not true. Yeah,

34:02

a neutral good, just a comfortable running

34:05

shoe. That's what they say. I did

34:07

that. Mine were really high support, loved

34:09

them. I'm super comfy but unfortunately didn't

34:12

work with my ankle. Well you don't realise that you're

34:14

giving yourself an injury until it's too late, right? Yeah.

34:16

My advice with running shoes is just yeah, get something

34:18

in the middle. You obviously want cushioning to help but

34:21

nothing too nuts. When you see them they look like

34:23

a high heel. Don't do that. That's exactly what I

34:25

had. Which one was yours? Well I

34:27

loved them though, the awns. But I

34:29

wouldn't do long distance in those awns

34:31

now. I feel terrible. I

34:34

don't want a bad mouth on them because they just

34:36

didn't work for me. But they might work for you

34:38

but yeah, that high cushioning didn't

34:40

work. No, me either. So yeah, their New

34:42

Balance 1080s. That was a long answer. Yeah but

34:44

it was good we got to it. What was

34:46

your favourite time of day to get out running?

34:48

Favourite time of day. Near sunset. I love running

34:50

just after working hours even though I

34:52

don't have those. Probably 4 o'clock to 7 o'clock.

34:54

I love that.

34:57

I love when the sun's going down. It's just really

34:59

nice. Really really nice. And it's such a great way

35:01

because then you've got dinner to look forward to.

35:03

That's so true. Chicken and margaritas. Yum

35:06

yum. I know look it's

35:08

a really weird meal make. Now I feel like

35:10

I should have gone and had pizza and everything.

35:12

They just didn't serve it. No, I'm only winding you

35:14

up. I was taking what I got. What

35:17

was your favourite season to run in? Favourite

35:19

time of year? Favourite time of year.

35:22

Spring. Easily. Not too hot, not too

35:24

cold. Lovely. Oh you see I do

35:26

like running in the summer though. Oh

35:28

my god. Yes. Love it. Yeah. Yeah.

35:31

I'm a spring guy. Yeah fine. You

35:33

can be a spring guy. Where is your

35:35

favourite place to run? I'm very

35:37

lucky. I live near Windsor Great Park. I

35:40

love that. I mean it's also quite hilly but

35:42

you've got Virginia Water Lake there. It's just lovely.

35:45

Yeah it's so beautiful. So I would say there.

35:47

Yeah. They've got loads of races round there. Yeah they

35:49

have. Haven't they got one that goes up the long

35:52

walk? They have, yeah. But that's miserable. I never hate

35:54

the long walk. Is it just really boring? It's just

35:56

a straight line. Once you've looked at Windsor Castle for

35:58

five seconds it's not a good time. I'm bored of

36:00

you now. How far, how long is it? I think it's

36:02

two and a half miles. Of just running towards you? Yeah,

36:05

I don't know. I was just like, God, this is dull.

36:07

Never again. See, I didn't do it on

36:09

my training program this year because I'm sick of the sight

36:11

of Windsor Castle. You're boring, mate.

36:13

Isn't it funny? One of our

36:15

most amazing landmarks, our amazing pieces

36:17

of history. But yeah, when you've

36:19

seen it for that long. It's

36:22

just average and I'm in

36:24

pain. So just let me see something else. So

36:26

yeah, don't do it once, but don't do

36:28

it again. Okay, fine. Yeah. When

36:31

do you get a runner's high? I get a runner's high. I

36:33

get a runner's high the night before, which I

36:35

know makes no sense, but I quite, because I like to

36:37

eat. I love my food, so I'm like, I can

36:39

just eat a load of pasta tonight and I love pasta.

36:41

So I get a bit of runner's high there and then

36:44

when I get back on that sofa and I've had

36:46

after my shower, oh, I love it. I'm just like, I've

36:48

done that. Good for you. Put your

36:50

feet up and enjoy your evening. When was

36:52

your highlight? When was the best, the peak

36:54

moment on marathon day? It was coming around

36:56

that bend on the final end. Oh yeah,

36:58

that is good. It's just that right. So

37:01

basically I had a stick, not stinker, but

37:03

I really struggled here. My watch, I know

37:05

it's not always as accurate. My watch was like 26.1

37:07

miles. I was thinking, amazing. I've

37:09

only got 0.1 mile left, but I actually had

37:11

a mile left. Mine was a thing

37:13

because unless you follow that blue line, you run more.

37:16

I ran an extra kilometer. I ran an extra

37:18

one and a half miles. One and

37:20

a half miles, Jenny. Do you

37:22

know how depressing that is? By

37:25

the way, and this is nothing. You actually have

37:27

to walk from Blackheath station. We

37:30

probably walked, walked, walked, walked over

37:32

30 miles that day. Oh my. If

37:34

you think about it. It's so nuts. It's

37:36

not. It's huge. Oh, step count.

37:39

And then also I looked, because I'm always obsessed with how

37:41

many calories I've burnt. Disappointing. No, what did you all say?

37:43

Two and a half thousand. It would be more. I

37:46

promise you it would be more. Because I was like, well, that's rubbish.

37:48

Two and a half thousand. I gave it my all. I

37:50

definitely am going to eat more than that. And when you break

37:53

it down, that's about 15 custard creams.

37:55

You're like, what? That's

37:57

not fair. I mean, it's a bit more, maybe 30. So

38:00

yeah, I think I did 4,800. What?

38:04

Oh my god, I really need to look at my garment.

38:06

Maybe you'll just fit it. You'll definitely fit it with me.

38:09

Final question. Why do you

38:11

love running? The mental health aspect for

38:13

me is what running does. It just

38:15

clears my head, gives me motivation, gives

38:17

me something to get up for. When

38:20

I've really struggled, running was my therapy,

38:22

actually. So yeah, that's why it's so

38:24

special. It's just been so

38:26

lovely having you on Rumford. Josh Cuthbert,

38:28

that's it. You've renewed your membership for

38:30

the Rumford Run Club. I'll come back in a few

38:32

years' time. We'll have to make it an annual. Yeah.

38:35

Why not annual? That's every year. Every five years. OK,

38:37

well, we do it more than that. And listen, if

38:39

you're listening, if someone's coming up to a hill, how

38:41

do they get to the top without stopping? Get on your

38:43

hands and knees if you need to. Don't

38:46

be a wimp. Just do it. No, not

38:48

even that. Just do it. You can do it.

38:50

You can really do it. And this is what

38:52

I always think. You can do anything you put

38:54

your mind to. You genuinely can do that. Us

38:56

human beings are incredible creatures. Keep doing it on

38:58

one foot in front of the other. Brilliant. And

39:00

you'll get there. Josh, thank you. Thank you so

39:02

much for having me. It's been a pleasure. A

39:05

pleasure. And if you get the chance

39:07

to do any race, just do it. Just do

39:09

it for the personal challenge. Do it for the

39:11

achievement. Do it for the satisfaction afterwards. And do

39:13

it to get the medal. Absolutely. Yes.

39:16

Absolutely. And also, I just want to say, anyone that's listening

39:18

that did the marathon or is doing one or has done

39:20

one, I salute you. You're incredible. Thanks,

39:28

guys.