Ardent Run Club

On this episode Tomi speaks about his experience running the original course for the GNR 2022.

Step by step, mile by mile, Tomi shares where he was at physically and mentally throughout the run.

It was a really fun event that is highly recommended! The biggest half marathon in the world, did not disappoint.

Hope you enjoy episode 75 with Tomi Adedeji, who runs in the family.

On this episode Tomi speaks with Cian Ó'Rían, the chairman of Durham City Harriers.

Cian speaks all things running clubs. He speaks about their role in society, the necessity of them and what running clybs need to do to get more athletes involved.

He also shares about his journey into running and where he's at right now.

An episode full of excellent craic with Cian!

Hope you enjoy episode 74 with Cian Ó'Rían, who runs in the family.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with former multiple British Triathlon Champion and Former Iron Man record holder, Mike Harris!

Mike has done it all in the sport of triathlon. Today he shares what his journey was from schoolboy to triathlon champ. He describes what it was like growing up and doing sports in the 60s 70s and 80s.

Mike has always been a strong runner, but he started triathlon relatively late, at the age of 31, but that didn't stop him from rising to the top of the sport.

Mike shares what his training used to look like and how his work ethic was what set him apart from other athletes. The discipline required to train himself, to work full time, raise a family and still get to the top, is what stands out in Mike's words today.

Mike has written three books - "60 years an athlete (Pt 1 and Pt 2)" and "A unique Seventy Year Experiment", all autobiographies, about his life, career and training and these are all available online!

Make sure you stick with us all the way through to the end! You don't want to miss what Mike has to say.

Mike is a legend, who Runs in the Family

On this episode, Tomi speaks on his Great West Run experience!

I take you through the whole event; from the weather, to the race, the hills, the ups, the downs, the pain and the joy!

Mile by mile, go on the journey with me and experience the fun and the pain with me!

I'd definitely do this again, but until then, what are some races you'd recommend for me to do next?

Good fun on this episode today, with me, Tomi, who Runs in the Family!

On this episode, Tomi speaks with the Gosforth Grenadian, Vanessa Nair!

Vanessa is one of the definition of a fun runner! She runs anything from Parkrun to marathons and has goals to go beyond!

Today, Vanessa talks about what got her into running and what made her so famous around the world in running. She's met many famous athletes and personalities at events such as the Great North Run, and it all started with her just wanting to represent her country in the GNR 2016.

Lots of opportunities have flowed from this for Vanessa, but that hasn't made her take her eyes off the reason she started running - the fun!

Vanessa has an exciting story so make sure you listen all the way through for all of it!

Vanessa is a legen and she Runs in the Family

On this episode, Tomi speaks with speacial guest from way back in episode 12, Chris Parr.

Chris speaks about last Sunday's Gateshead Half Marathon and 10K. He shares the results, his highlight of the day and all that goes into planning and prepping for the race.

Chris also talks about the vision for the Gateshead running festivals, including this year's Quayside 5k on Wednesday 10th August.

Chris is a legend and he Runs in the Family.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Mark Allison, founder of the blog Run Geordie Run!

Mark is running across the world. Literally.

He takes us on a journey through his running career so far. He shares why he started running and how he eventuallky increased a three mile run to a 3100 mile run.

Mark shares his experiences running across the US, the highs and the lows and what kept him going through the tough times.

He also speaks on his run across Australia and all of the hardships on that run (listen intently to this part!)

Furthermore, he share his plans to complete his run across Europe and what is to come after that!

Mark is a fundraiser and has raised,so far, in excess of £300,000, with goals to make it to half a million!

Mark's inspirational nuggets are sprinkled all thoughout this episode, so listen all the way through to absorb his wisdom and experiences!

Mark is a legend and he Runs in the Family

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Oliver James.

Oliver is from the North East, but has lived in America ever since moving over there for college back in 2013/14.

Today, he shares what got him into running and how, although he started late, he was able to get to near the top of the rankings of athletes in the North East in his age group.

We go on a journey from the North East to Louisianna, in which Oliver tells us about his choice to move over to the US, how training in the US is dfifferent than in the UK and what competitions are like.

He breaks down what the US student athlete life looks like and how he had to train in order to compete in his conference.

Oliver talks about the different divisions and conferences and all the competitons you need to perform well in in order to make the NCAA tournaments.

Although he loves the US, the NE is his home and he loves running in Sunderland.

A wholesome episode is this, so make sure you listen all the way through to the end!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Ben Palmer - triathlete and co-founder of North East Project.

Today, Ben shares how he got into triathlon and what competitions look like. Coming back from injury, Ben doesn't have any races lined up yet, but will certainly be looking to get back to competing once fully recovered.

He talks triathlon training, his schedule, his favourite event and best and worst races.

Ben shares how he met Kieran Walker (ARC Ep 61) and eventually got to working with him on building NE Project. He shares insights into their training methods and vision for the company.

Ben's work ethic is astounding and it shows in his running and in the growth of NE Project.

Check out NE Project: https://www.northeastprojectrun.com/

An episode full of fun, laughter and motivation.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks to Paul Hilton a founding member of Tyne Bridge Harriers.

Today, Paul speaks about his running journey. What got him into it, how long has he done it for, why he runs and the friendships we has built through running.

As a co founder of TBH, Paul shares the journey from the start up to now. He talks about how the club started, why it started, how it got its name, the ups and downs, highs and lows and much more!

Paul shares funny stories, highlights and lowlights, but overall a deep passion for the community and friendship.

Make sure you tune in all the way to the end to experience the whole journey!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Albert James - assistant secretary of Sunderland Harriers.

Albert shares on the topic of teenage burnout - a topic very close to his heart. He talks about his experiences as a young athlete and how they unfortunately lead him away from running at such a young age.

He talks about overtaining and how that not only affects young athletes bodily, but alsomentally, leading many to lose interest in running and eventually dropout.

Albert shares solutions to this problem and urges us to pay attention ifin case we see signs of this happening in our clubs.

Growing up watching the likes of Seb Coe and Steve Cram, Albert has been inspired by greatness, however that doesn't mean he doesn't give this generation of runners their props! He defends top runners today and says they would be able to compete with the legends of the past.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with a Great British legend Charlie Spedding!

Today, Charlie walks us through his career as an athlete, all the way through to his career post-running.

We talk about what got him started, his good races, his bad races and his best race ever! We talk about winning a bronze medal in the Olympics, we talk about his mindset and we talk about his physical and mental training to get to the top of the sport.

Charlie really hones in on the importance of being mentally ready before racing when physical readiness (although important) seems to be the only thing that people focus on.

This episode speaks to all athletes as Charlie is coming with experience, knowing what it takes to get to the top of the sport. Make sure you listen all the way through to get all of the pearls of wisdom that he shares!

Charlie has been an inspiration to many athletes in the country and especially here in the North East, being from Bishop Auckland. His book - From First to Last: A Long Distance Runner's Journey from Failure to Success - has been recommended by numerous guests on this podcast and we talk about why and how the book was written, today.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Will Bryan, a Top-20 GNR finisher from Southampton!

Will has run 5K up to half marathon and is currently training for the Mancheter Marathon!

On this episode, Will tells us about his journey in the sport, running for the last 5 years. He tells us about when his times dropped massively and how he's run some massive PBs over the last few seasons.

Will shares his training schedule, and his mindset when it comes to training. He shares his motivating thoughts and how he has overcome injury setbacks.

Will talks about the support he gets from Saysky and how that has really impacted him, beyond getting nice gear!

Will tells us his goals for this season, especially with the marathon coming up and what he needs to do to ensure he's at his best come the day.

Lots of fun on this episode - make sure you listen all the way through!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Kevin Jeffress.

Kevin used to run for Tyne Bridge Harriers and Sunderland Harriers, but over the last couple years took a step back from competing.

Kevin shares his journey; why he started running, his first race, his best and worst races and all the training he did.

He shares why he took a step back from racing, but still runs almost everyday.

Kevin is getting back into competing and has a few goals for this year, which he shares.

The message Kevin shares is "remember to enjoy your running".

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi talks with Kieran Walker - long distance runner and founder and head coach of NE Project.

Kez talks about his running journey and all the work he has done to get to the level he's at.

He shares experiences from his racing and training and talks about the work he's putting in en route to breaking his marathon PB later on this year.

Kez also talks about coaching and the running community and training group he founded - NE Project. Kieran spends his days running or coaching, but he's always around the sport.

We get an insight into his work ethic and drive today so make sure you listen all the way through!

Check out NE Project: https://www.northeastprojectrun.com/

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

Back with a bang for 2022!

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Jonny Evans of Houghton Harriers.

Jonny runs 5ks-half marathons and is coming back from injury with big PB goals.

Today, Jonny tells us how he got started in running, how his training has got him to his current level and what his plans are for this year.

He's got a lot of hard work ahead of him as he builds up fitness and speed, coming off a big injury.

Jonny shares advice and wisdom that has helped him improve over the last few years, along with some good racing stories!

Make sure you listen all the way through to not miss a thing.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks to Simon Allen from Elswick Harriers. Simon runs 5ks all the way up to Ultra Marathons and has been in the sport for the last 7 years!

Joining the sport later on, Simon takes us through his journey; what initially got him into running, his first races, his joining the club and now improving and training towards big goals with huge determination.

Simon shares experiences of his best races and lessons from his worst races. He shares his training schedule and his favourite sessions and how he structures his training around the races and events he has.

He also talks about coaching young athletes and how he loves sharing the wisdom that he has gained over the last few years with them and he reveals what he belives is the most important aspect of training.

Inspiring and full of goals, is Simon Allen, so listen in for inspiration and knowledge!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Jay Bowley - a marathoner for Jarrow and Hebburn AC.

Jay started running as a teenager, orignally running for Gateshead Harriers, but after more than a few years out of the sport, he joined Jarrow and Hebburn.

Jay has completed 4 of the 6 world marathon majors and is looking to complete the remaining two in the next two years.

Today Jay tells us about his training experiences and his racing experiences. He shares his best marathon moments and his worst marathon moments, along with a few goals that he still has.

Jay's story is very interesting and one that many can relate to.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks to Paul Doxford of South Shields Harriers who has spent a lifetime in running.

Paul grew up playing football, but when he picked up running, he never looked back. Over the years he has competed in events from 1500m, up to marathons and as if that's not enough, he's looking to smash a few ultras!

Paul shares his experiences running, the highs and the lows, peak fitness and worst injuries. He talks about his best races and worst races. He shares his training plans and what motivates him to train even still after so long in the sport.

Paul really stresses the importance of enjoying your running and getting it done while you can!

His story is one of joy and perseverance. Make sure you listen all the way through!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Kat Downie - a runner from Keswick, who lives in the North East and runs for Gateshead Harriers and Keswick.

Today, she takes us on a journey, of what got her into running, why she loves fell running and what her goals are.

Kat shares her typical weekly training shares what it is like to race in the fells.

She talks about good races and bad races, good expriences and bad experiences and all that motivates her to keep running

She fell in love (pun intended) with the sport again over lockdown after reflecting on her running and has since completed lots of races and is chasing big goals of completing the Bob Graham Round!

A different but very fun episode, so make sure you stay tuned in all the way to the end!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire

On this episode, Tomi speaks with local legend Guy Bracken!

Guy runs for Morpeth Harriers and competes in anything from 1500 to 10K. He holds multiple world records in different age categories over different distances and he's not done! Still full of goals and ready to get more world titles and records, Guy is getting back from a huge injury, with winning on his mind.

Guy shares what got him into running and what his journey has been over the last 11 years. Guy got into the sport quite late, but that hasn't stopped him from fulfilling his potential through hard work and consistency.

Today, Guy tells us what training is like, what competing around the world is like and how it feels to still be able to race against and beat many younger men.

A true inspiration and hard worker, is Guy.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks to special guest from Episode 38 - Carl Mowatt.

On 27th September, Mowza set out to complete an unthinkable challenge - 8 half marathons in one day! The point of this challenge was to raise money for Guide Dogs - a charity, very close to Carl's heart that provides blind people with guide dogs.

At the time of this recording, Carl has raised more than £15,000 with the help of everybody who has generously donated.

Carl takes us through every half marathon he ran - from 1 am all the way to the end. He shares the routes, the people he ran with, his thoughts and feelings and what kept him motivated in the hard times.

Out of this is event the birth of a yearly Super 8 Relay event - stay tuned to find out how you can get involved!

Truly an amazing feat and so inpiring, is what Carl has done.

If you'd like to donate to Guide Dogs, here's the link:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mowza100miles

If you're interested in more of Carl's story, check out episode 38!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks to Gateshead Harriers coach Lee Morgan. Lee coaches young athletes at North Shields Poly and Gateshead Harriers and has been coaching for the last 10 years. Before he was a coach he was a strong 5 and 10k runner at Wallsend Harriers as a junior, but after a few years out of the sport, he returned as a coach and has regained his passion for the sport of athletics.

Today, Lee shares his experiences as a coach and the things he's learnt over the years. He shares the highs and lows, the best and worst moments but what is evident is his passion for the athletes he gets to lead.

Lee reveals his mindset as a coach and what makes coaching so fulfilling in his eyes. He talks about learning from great coaches and about what he finds to be the most important thing to know and do as a coach.

Lee puts such an emphasis on community and camaraderie and he explains why today.

Lee's Ardent passion and zeal for what he does and who he does it for shines through on today's episode so if you want to be inspired, listen all the way to the end!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode Tomi speaks with Lucas Sutherland. Lucas is from the North East, he runs for Gateshead harriers and is coached by John Stephenson.

Lucas is an ex-football player turned long distance runner, who has seen massive improvements in his running over the last two years of training.

Today Lucas tells us about his training, and he highlights the value of training with  a team. He also shares his race experiences - good and bad (🤣) and he takes us into his mindset of wanting to get better and push himself.

Lucas is focusing on 5 and 10ks for now, but has dreams of competing in marathons around the world. Today he tells us what he needs to do to get there and shares advice from experience to help you too, improve your running.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Garry Reay, a long distance athlete who runs for Jarrow & Hebburn.

Garry was an athlete as a young boy, but as he entered adulthood and started working, running took more of a backfoot, until it eventually faded out of his life.

Recently, Garry has started running again - after 38 years! He's loving it and is improving rather rapidly.

Today Garry talks about running as a junior athlete, he talks about his hiatus, working at Nike along with Brendan Foster and the process of gettin back into running.

Garry's return is full of goals, but has been plagued with injuries, however the injuries have not dimmed a light on his goals, that he's looking forward to going after!

Garry's unique story inpires. It shows us that no matter how long you've been out of sports, you can make your way back by just taking the first step.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with U20 National Silver Medallist in the 3000m Steeplechase, Luca Minale.

Luca is from London, but lives in Newcastle, while studying animation at Northumbria university. He runs for Gateshead Harriers, is coached by John Stephenson and focuses on the middle distance events.

Luca talks about training with his group in Gateshead and how that compares to training in London. He also shares his racing experiences and lessons learnt from the good and the bad races.

Luca tells us about the ups and downs he's faced in getting to national level. He talks about injuries, losing motivation, getting re-motivated and keeping the inspiration.

Despite all the injuries and setbacks, Luca has always managed to bounce back and never give up - the true mark of a champion.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks about the Great North Run!

Oh the pain, the fun, the joy, the almost tears, the struggle and thr accomplishment.

I take you through, mile by mile, thought by thought, what was going on in my head and legs, so you can live through the pain with me.

I'd definitely do it again, but man that hurt! Enjoy my stories and complaints about my first long distance race - the Great North Run!

I hope you learn something, I hope you get inspired and I hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Josh Blevins, a young athlete running for Gateshead Harriers, coached by John Stephenson and specialising in the middle distance events.

With a 1500m PB of 3:54 at the age of 16, Josh is always racing older boys up and down the country, even getting to represent England and compete nationally!

Josh talks about his journey so far in athletics. He talks about running from the age of seven, winning English Schools and competing nationwide.

He shares his best and worst racing stories, and shares how he has improved over the last few years.

His training is a big part of that, so we discuss what sort of work goes into producing fast times at a young age.

Josh inspires by sharing his goals and dreams for his future athletics career and he's certainly going in the right direction!

His love for the sport shines through in this episode, so make sure you listen all the way to the end!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Alexis Dodd of Jarrow and Hebburn.

Alexis has been running for J&H since 2019 and has rapidly reached a high level, winning local and regional events and even getting to represent England and Team GB.

Today, Alexis shares how she got into running and how she has improved rapidly.

She talks about her races, good and bad, and how she has improved consistently.

Alexis talks about the training that got her to this level. Alexis breaks down a standard training week and shares what her favourite and least favourite sessions are. She talks about her training group and how community motivates her and is so prevalent at Jarrow and Hebburn AC.

Alexis talks about why self belief is so important for her and is looking to build this over the off season.

Make sure you listen to the end to hear her tips!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Andy Ball - a member of Elswick Harriers, who runs 5k to half marathons.

Andy shares his running journey; what got him into it and how he has progressed. He talks about how his half marathons especially have improved and what sort of training he has done to see these results.

Andy is very big on not putting pressure on himself and he shares his goal setting strategy, offering another perspective on how to see goals and improvement.

Beyond the physical aspect of running, though, Andy has a very big passion for the mental side of it - mindset and mental health. He shares his thoughts on why athletes should care more about mental health and what clubs and club members who don't struggle so much with mental health can do to look out for those who do struggle with it.

Andy has a big focus on removing the stigma of mental health, so that people can come forward without worrying about how they sound and confidently, knowing they can get help.

Lots to think about in today's episode.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Amy Fuller! She runs for Elswick Harriers and has quite an affinity for 5k, 10k 10 miles and cross country!

Amy has been running seriously for the last six years, now but she has seen dramatic improvements over the last two, since joining Elswick.

Today Amy talks about her running career so far. She talks about the Elswick Harriers community, her training group and where her passion for racing cmes from.

BNeing self aware, Amy shares where she feels needs to improve to get to that next level and she gives tips to listeners to improve their running, have more fun and stay in good shape.

Amy is a PhD student, so she has quite a packed and full on life when it comes to running, studying and working alongside brands like adidas and Start Fitness. She shares how she manages to fit it all in, without any area of her life struggling.

Her passion for running and drive really stands out in this conversation, so make sure you lean in!

We hope you learn something, we hope youj get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi talks to David Race - a young athlete from the North East, who runs for Gateshead Harriers and is coached by the legendary John Stephenson.

David shares his journey into running and how he's progressed so much over the last year. He shares his training tecniques and race experiences.

David tells us the key to his growth and talks about continuing with that theme, going forwards.

He shares some of his ambitions and it's clear that with dedication to the sport and patience, he'll certainly get there!

David is 17 years old and is already running 3:47 in the 1500. He's working hard and is representing Team GB U20 at the end of the month.

Make sure you listen in close, because this young man is going places!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Lewis Liddle - 5 and 10K runner for Elswick Harriers in the North East.

Still only 20, Lewis got into running at a young age, but had to pull away due to injury problems as a child. He got back into running a couple years ago and has seriously improved over the last year, dropping his 5 and 10 times by 5 minutes each!

Lewis says these huge improvements comes down to all the training he's doing, so he shared what his general training schedule is like these days - running and gym work.

As a PT, Lewis shares the value in stength training in improving running, highlighting two main exercises for runners to focus on.

Lewis' mindset is one focused on improvement, and his motivation shines through in our conversation.

Make sure you listen all the way through!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Jack Brown, a young athlete, running for Jarrow and Hebburn AC.

Jack is an ambitious athlete, training with many more experienced athletes, some of whom we've had on our podcast 😉

We talk all about Jack's training, his racing and his general passion for running. He talks a lot about the fun he has running and how the community plays a huge role in the enjoyment factor.

Improvement is what pushes Jack and he's got goals to lower all of his PB's, which is exciting!

Keep your eyes out for Jack Brown because this guy is going places!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with David Green of North Shields Poly. David started running in 2015 and has improved rapidly.He competes from 5k up to half marathon distance, regularly.

Today, David shares how running has helped him grow as a person, overcoming mental health struggles day by day, but by bit.

We talk about his training, his racing and his experiences in the North East running community, today on Ardent Run Club.

David has goals to improve all of his PB's and to challenge himself to run even further!

His passion shines through in his speech, so make sure you listen alltheway through for motivation.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Adrian Bailes of Birtley AC. Adrian has been running for almost 20 years and in the last few years has improved his times massively. He focuses on middle distance events but isn't afraid of throwing down in longer races.

Adrian tells us about his journey from being a young runner who couldn't win to becoming an adult with a few big race wins. He talks about how his love for running made it easy for him to persevere and how that persevarance has paid off.

We talk about the good races and the bad, the fun and the embarrassing, but we focus in on how it has helped Adrian improve in the long run (pun...intended..)

Adrian has goals to compete in the British Champs in the 1500m once he returns to full fitness after his injury. We talk about the training he has done to get to this point - the sessions and weekly breakdowns - and we talk about what he needs to improve on in the next stage of his running to reach the champs.

Adrian is full of fun and motivation, so make sure you listen in!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Matty Hynes - former Team GB marathoner. Matty is from the North East and has run for Gateshead Harriers. He was coached by Coach Stan Markley over the span of his running career.

Matty started his career with a bang, running a 2:42 marathon. Over the following 7 years, he went on to run a 63 minute half and 2:16 marathon.

Matty has competed at the highest levels - from national championships to world championships.

Today we talk about what it took for Matty to be a great runner, lacing up against the likes of Mo Farah. We talk about his races, his training and his mindest and work ethic going into events.

Matty ended his professional career early, but he still has goals to get out there and run another sub 2:20 marathon.

Matty brings motivation and inspiration, keeping it real throughout this episode so make sure you listen in!

We hope you learn something, gtet inspired and Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Carl Mowatt. Carl is a long distance runner from the North East, running for Jarrow and Hebburn. He competes in any distance really, but his main passions lay in the ultramarathons and trails.

As an ultramarathoner, Carl has completed The Wall - 70 miles - and has run a 100 mile ultra to raise money for a guide dog charity.

If that's not enough, he's run up mountains in the Swiss Alps and is looking to run another 100 mile ultra soon! His goals don't stop there though. Listen all the way through to hear the craziest running goal I've ever heard!

Carl is one of the founders of the Petite Dejeuner running club. He meets with athletes from all over the North East on a Wednesday morning to go on a run and then get breakfast. You can join too!

Carl's passion for running goes beyond racing. He's inspired by challenging himself to be better and break his own boundaries.

We hope you learn something, get inspired and Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Aly Dixon, an athlete from the North East who has represented Team GB at every major International event, including the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Aly talks about her journey through her running career - starting off as a decent junior, to becoming a world class professional athlete.

We talk about her favourite events, races and what training has looked like over the years.

We dive deep into Olympic talk; qualifying, training, the village, the camp, athletes, Team GB, racing and more! So fun and inspirational.

We also talk about Aly's 50 km world record and the road to that.

Aly's story is inspirational and full of success, yet she remains very humble. To all the young aspirational athletes who have big dreams, this episode is for you specifically.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks to Letha Whitham, a runner originally from the North East, who has travelled around the world and spent the last 4 years in New Zealand running and competing in marathons.

She talks about the running scene in the southern hemisphere - trail, track and road - and she talks about the competition.

Throughout her time down in New Zealand, Letha would regularly hit 70 km weeks and be in constant marathon shape. Today we dive into what her mindset is and why she is able to maintain a high consistency in training.

This consistency was brought through to training in lockdown with no race prospects upon returning to the UK. Letha talks about why she stayed consistent throughout 2020 wit a very positive perspective.

2021 has been different for Letha as she's had to stop training as she is getting ready to give birth. Being a new journey for Letha, she talks about how she has coped with decreasing training and how she hopes to get back into it.

We talk all about her goals and her hopes to break 3 in the marathon!

We hope you learn something, get inspired and Find Your Fire!

On this episode, Tomi sits down with Wallsend Harries athlete and army member, Danielle Hodgkinson.

Danielle talks about her career as a runner from being a junior to a senior and how she's maintained consistency throughout study and career changes.

Danielle is a mental health nurse in the army, so she's quite busy as it is, but she talks about how the army has helped her develop the mindset that helps her find consistency and work hard.

She talks about training, racing and coming back from injury with big goals this season.

We dive into all of that and more today, so make sure you listen in!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire

On this episode Tomi speaks to Michael McNally, another athlete and coach from the North East, running for Jarrow and Hebburn.

Michael is an avid parkrun fan. You'll probably catch him at South Shields parkrun every Saturday morning, because he's there literally every weekend.

Today, Tomi and Michael talk about Michael's running history; from earlier in his career to transitioning into becoming a coach - his races, training, events and travels around the world.

We talk about his passion for running and the things he's learnt over his years as an athlete.

Michael has achieved lots over his lengthy career, but that doesn't stop him from being full of goals, some of which we get to talk about today.

Make sure you lean in, because Michael's wisdom goes beyond simply running and can be applied to our lives.

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode Tomi speaks with Stephen Jackson - a runner from Sunderland, living in Durham - truly North Eastern. Stephen talks about his journey into running and how over time his times have come down astronomically. From 32 minutes to 15 minutes in 5k and sub 2:30 marathons.

Stephen's high mileage philosophy is crucial to his current success in will continue to play a huge part in his progress.

Something that is evident in this conversation is that anybody can do it if they work hard, stay dedicated and have fun. Stephen is an embodiment of this story so get ready for motivation!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode Tomi speaks with Phill Jamieson - a long distance from from the North East who has recently left Heaton Harriers to join Gateshead Harriers under John Stephenson.

Phill talks about his journey into competitive running and what prompted him to start training harder. The results of his hard work are definitley showing and he's excited to see what he can do for the rest of 2021, going into 2022.

Fun, banter and passion is shining through Phill today, so you'll definitely enjoy this!

Follow Phill on Facebook and Instagram @kingofthephill for more of his running updates.

Follow @ardentrunclub on Instagram and @thisisardent on all social media for updates on this podcast and us over here at Ardent.

Subscribe to Ardent Run Club so you can be the first to know when new weekly episodes come out!

And check out our new Ardent Performance running socks on Amazon!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire

On this episode, Tomi catches up with Sparrow Morley, a race junkie and member of Tyne Bridge Harriers.

Sparrow tells us about his journey into running and how his passion has developed over the years. He talks about his racing experiences, good and bad, and he talks about hs training.

We dive into why Sparrow has such a passion for running and why he jumps at every possibility to race that he can!

Sparrow shares his wisdom that he's picked up over the years in training and gives practical advice to those who have had their fair share of struggles over the last year or so. You're bound to enjoy this one!

Follow Sparrow on Strava, Facebook and Instagram @skybluesparrow

Remember to follow @ardentrunclub on Instagram for updates on this podcast.

Follow @thisisardent on all social media and check out our new Ardent Performance running socks!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with Scott Armstrong - the founder of Jesmond Joggers - a running club in the North East of England.

Scott is a passionate runner who's been around running since he was two years old. Today, he tells stories of his life in running and how he set up Jesmond Joggers. He shares training stories and competiton stories and all about the grind that it was to keep up the reputation of Jesmond Joggers.

There's so much inspirational passion oozing out of Scott, that we hope you can feel too!

Follow Scott on Strava!

Remember to follow @ardentrunclub on Instagram for updates on this podcast.

Follow @thisisardent on all social media and check out our new Ardent Performance running socks!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi dives into a discussion with Steven Medd about his career as a runner and his most memorable races. Steven is coached by John Stephenson and runs for Gateshead Harriers in the North East of England.

He talks about what got him into running, how he's improved and how his passion has grown. He shares his favourite race stories, the highs and lows, filled with drama, excitement and fun.

Steven tells us about his training group and how having top athletes around him pushes him to work harder and get faster.

We talk marathons and ultramarathons going into detail into the experiences Steven's had competing - good and bad.

Steven sadly lost his mother to cancer, specifically Ocular Melanoma, in 2020. In a tribute to his mother, he aims to run the coast to coast cycle route (150 miles) in three days, raising money for charities doing their best to combat cancer.

Donate on this link: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=MeddRuns&pageUrl=4

Steven's inspirational lessons are somethings we all need to listen to and learn from.

Follow Steven on Strava to keep up to date with his training and then his ultramarathon coming up this year!

Remember to follow @ardentrunclub on Instagram for updates on this podcast.

Follow @thisisardent on all social media and check out our new Ardent Performance running socks!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

Today, Tomi speaks with one of the Godfathers of North East running. The world record holding, gold medal winning, British and Commonwealth Champion - Jim Alder.

Jim talks about when he got into running and how he improved very quickly. He takes us on a journey from juniors to pros. From Harrier leagues in the 50s to gold medals in the 60s. He talks about setting world records, training with other North East greats, and being on the British national team.

Jim shares the importance of hard work and having the right perspective in running, training and in life. He talks about his coaching methods and how he picked these up throughout his professional career.

As an international athlete, Jim picked up lots of lessons that he shares with you today.

Remember to follow @ardentrunclub on Instagram for updates on this podcast.

Follow @thisisardent on all social media and check out our new Ardent Performance running socks!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi speaks with a long distance coach and lifetime Jarrow and Hebburn athlete and coach.

Alan Wears (Mik Thornton's coach - Episode 25) started running at 11 in 1969, for JHAC and has been coaching athletes for almost 20 years. With a wealth of stories and lessons over the years, Alan brings wisdom and fun to Ardent Run Club and we get to really dive into his passion for running and what it means to him.

Follow @ardentrunclub on Instagram and @thisisardent on all social media for updates on this podcast and us over here at Ardent.

Subscribe to Ardent Run Club so you can be the first to know when new weekly episodes come out!

And check out our new Ardent Performance running socks on Amazon!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.

On this episode, Tomi dives into a discussion with Conrad Franks about his last 16 years as a runner and his most memorable races. Conrad is coached by John Stephenson and runs for Gateshead Harriers in the North East of England.

Conrad talks about what got him into running, how he's improved and how his passion has grown. He shares his favourite cross country and road race stories, filled with drama, excitement and fun.

Conrad tells us about his successful races as a British Master representing the country and competing worldwide.

Conrad's inspirational lessons are somethings we all need to listen to and learn from.

Keep an eye on Conrad's Power of 10 this year and next for his racing updates!

Remember to follow @ardentrunclub on Instagram for updates on this podcast.

Follow @thisisardent on all social media and check out our new Ardent Performance running socks!

We hope you learn something, we hope you get inspired and we hope you Find Your Fire.