Megabus To The Ritz
By Jimmy Watkins
In 2006 I made the 800m final at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Moscow. A year later I quit the sport for rock and roll. I was only 24 years old. I lost my way and put on weight over a 12 year period of boozing and rocking. In 2019 I decided something had to change, so I started running again. 5 stone later I ran a 34 minute 10km and I feel better than ever. Here is my story via the Megabus to the Ritz - your weekly night time commute to a better version of yourself.
Megabus To The RitzJan 07, 2023
00:00
34:33
Keep The Channel Open
After nearly two years, the Megabus is back.
Jan 07, 202334:33
Tesla Taxi
My dreams have been haunted by the new Tesla Taxi that drives infinite loops around Llanelli.
This week I talk about the moment I lost a version of myself and found a better version of myself in the shower.
I discuss my running this week where I managed to run more than 70km for the first time since August last year.
Books discussed: Long Live The Post Horn! by Vigdis Hjorth and Panpsychism in the West by David Skrbina.
Follow me on Twitter @biggytimmkins
This week I talk about the moment I lost a version of myself and found a better version of myself in the shower.
I discuss my running this week where I managed to run more than 70km for the first time since August last year.
Books discussed: Long Live The Post Horn! by Vigdis Hjorth and Panpsychism in the West by David Skrbina.
Follow me on Twitter @biggytimmkins
Feb 25, 202136:51
The Psychedelic One
This week I talk about the power of memories, and how sometimes we need them, and other times we should push them to the back of our mind.
I'm also chatting about Running Reviews because they are back after a four week absence. There's the usual surreal, dreamlike chat and I'll also be telling you about the books I've read and the albums I've enjoyed. So, sit back, get comfortable and enjoy the ride.
Oh yeah, and as the title suggests, this is quite a trippy one.
Thank you to BrainGirl for the amazing words at the beginning!
Feb 10, 202138:16
Your own personal Imbolc.
This week on the Megabus we are talking about healing! We have some words of magic and encouragement from Brain Girl, I fight a man because he threw an empty crisp packet on the floor, and then I confess my deepest secret to The Sauce. It's wonderful having so many members of the Running Punks Community on the Megabus with me this week!
Feb 01, 202135:50
Croissants and Existentialism
Episode 2 of Season 2 of Megabus to the Ritz. I talk about my injury, why existentialism is good for recovery and why Strava is a forest that needs to be burned down sometimes.
In this episode I also talk about the health benefits of following Ceri Lloyd and her Saib Studio New Year Challenge. I discuss the books I've been reading recently, which are: Transcendence by Gaia Vince, Small by Natalie Ann Holborow and The Last Polar Bear on Earth by Rhian Elizabeth. My metal albums of the week are Eons by Neptunian Maximalism and Alphaville by Imperial Triumphant. Go seek these fine works of art for a richer existence.
Jan 24, 202129:17
Potatoes In The Fruit Bowl
We are back! Season 2 of Megabus to the Ritz is leaving the station! Grab your weird neck pillow thing and get comfortable, it's time to talk about the importance of progress and the benefits of a supportive running community!
Jan 16, 202128:30
FrontRunner Radio/ Megabus to the Ritz Mash-Up!
Here's something a little different to usual for you. This week there are two drivers of the Megabus: Myself and David Martin-Jewell from FrontRunner Events. We share the steering wheel, talk rock and roll and running and then I go off on some strange word acrobatics as usual.
May 05, 202051:29
Balloon Bungalow
This week I talk about the pure happiness of Balloon Bungalow and how feeling free makes you run better.
Apr 06, 202030:31
Jelly and Jam
Here we go. This was the toughest episode to record yet. Why was it so tough? Well, these are tough and strange times we're experiencing at the moment. The whole world is facing the same problem, and the current lockdown has forced me to take a good look at myself in an attempt work out why I run. Is it because I'm a selfish idiot? Conclusion: of course I'm not. I'm caring and full of love. Here, take a handful of positivity from your favourite bus driver.
Apr 01, 202029:40
I am the Iceberg!
I am back! Ladies and gentlemen, let's get the Megabus back on the road. After a little blip with a stomach bug, and having to miss the Llanelli Half Marathon, I am running again, and it feels good!
Mar 15, 202015:07
The invisible phonebox.
I didn't expect to do an episode like this after all the jubilation of last weeks 27 mile run, but it's been a tough week for me mentally. I spent a lot of time battling with negative thoughts and emotions, and running has helped pull me through it once again. It's time now to look ahead at the Llanelli Half Marathon on Sunday and worry about which way my hat needs to be facing on the day.
Mar 03, 202023:38
I just felt like running - 27 Mile Special.
This week the script is out the window and I talk about the 27 mile challenge I did on Saturday. I recall dehydrated memories like wanting to run as soft as the h in Rhubarb, and feeling my DNA change as the miles filled up my legs.
Feb 24, 202027:04
Sucking a Prawn Head. - my training for the World Championships.
This week I talk about my longest run ever (well, since strava got invented) and how, a few weeks before the World Champs in Moscow, I went to Spain to suck a Prawn head, drink beer and run up a mountain like a blue balloon.
Feb 18, 202024:46
Changing gears in the dark.
This week I started doing calf raises as part of my warm-up routine and it really got me thinking about my earliest memory of that particular exercise.
Feb 11, 202025:40
Bobble Hat, No Bobble.
It's a slightly longer than usual journey on the Megabus this evening. I hope you don't mind. It's mostly down to the fact that I feel extra energised after appearing on the Wynne Evans show on BBC Radio Wales today. This week I talk about the Bobble Hat at the beginning of time, how to train for a 5km PB, and how I put a postcode on my belly in 2019.
Feb 03, 202024:46
Snack Helmet.
I've decided to slow it down. Recently my focus has been on running fast, whether that's over 5km or on the track, but the speed work has been pulling at my body and making it sore. I took a few days off and re-evaluated why I run. I'm now focused on running longer and slower, which has already proven to make me feel better mentally and physically. The only issue I have now, is where do I carry my snacks on these longer runs?
Jan 27, 202017:35
My Custard Bits Are Freezing.
This week we are joined by my brother-in-law, who talks about Batman's waterfall whilst drinking gin through his nose. I discuss my week of steady jogging and why you should allow running to show you criticism rather than contempt!
Jan 20, 202021:37
A Room Full of Postmen Laughing.
Welcome to week 3 of Megabus to the Ritz. Today we talk about running on a treadmill, we give a round of applause to the moon and we ask ourselves "what were those postmen laughing at?".
Jan 14, 202016:47
Are you okay with cinnamon sir?
After two weeks of average boozing (it felt pretty epic to me though because I've been teetotal for 5 months), I'm going back to the soft drinks. It's been a funny start to the year, but after a few good sessions this week, I feel like I'm finding some form with my running again.
Jan 06, 202015:56
INTRODUCTION - Let's all jump on the Megabus to the Ritz. I'm the driver and a passenger.
Well, this is the very first episode of Megabus to the Ritz. I talk about my first run in 2019 and how a reincarnated chicken shouldn't immediately impersonate a peacock.
Jan 01, 202014:12