What is it like to DNF?

What is it like to DNF?

Author: Runner's World UK July 8, 2025 Duration: 43:16
Racing is hard. At some point, there will probably be a race that you won't be able to finish and how you reach that point and respond to it, can make all the difference to your relationship with running. Of the back of her first DNF at a 100k race, Ali Ball joins us to discuss her first Did Not Finish and what it meant to her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every week, hosts Rick Pearson and Ben Hobson sit down to explore the vast, varied, and sometimes wonderfully weird landscape of the sport. The Runner's World Podcast from Runner's World UK is less a lecture and more a conversation among friends, one that welcomes everyone from the first-time jogger to the seasoned marathoner. You’ll hear candid stories from elite athletes about the mental grind behind their physical feats, and practical advice from professional coaches that you can apply to your next run. The discussions, however, stretch far beyond split times and nutrition, often veering into the unexpected intersections where running meets culture, as musicians and comedians share how the rhythm of the road influences their work. At its heart, this podcast understands that a runner's life is about more than logging miles; it's about the community, the personal challenges, and the small triumphs. Each episode blends thoughtful interviews with genuine, actionable insight, creating a space that is as much about the why as it is about the how. It’s a companion for your training journey, offering both entertainment for your rest days and motivation for your next outing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Runner's World Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Jasmin Paris and Damian Hall talk about The Spine race [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:24
Two stalwarts of the game, winners of the race and a course record holder, Damian Hall has been running the race since the third edition and Jasmine Paris won the race outright in 2019 and set a course record whilst expr…
Running 40 marathons in 40 European countries solo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:55
Angus Read graduated from university in July and, like any adventurous 22-year-old, wanted to go travelling. His plans grew, as did his desire to do something to not only better himself, but also raise money for charity,…
Our 2025 running highlights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:33
It's been a bumper year for running, from mass participation at an all time high to elite sprints at the marathon, Rick, Ben, Rachel and Jen discuss some of the highlights and chat about their own personal moments too. L…
An 82-year-old blind runner on why you should never give up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:45
Mick Duplock is truly remarkable. A season ultra-runner and Comrades finisher, he developed retinitis pigmentosa (aka tunnel vision) in his fifties, leaving him unable to see. Did it stop him from running? Not likely. In…
What does it really mean to train "hard"? A running coach explains. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:44
Joining Ben and Rachel this week is former GB athlete and now supreme running coach, Jo Wilkinson. We chat about what it means to train hard, the different versions of this and what the main goal of any running that requ…
The running inventions we'd love to see [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:32
We sat and down and thought, "What do we need to invent to make running better?" and here is what we came up with! Set a new PB using the FuelDrone or continue to run whatever the weather with ClimaBubble. These and many…
How to run faster as you age with masters athlete James Greenwell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:30
Ben and Rick speak to James Greenwell, a former elite pentathlete who is now finding gold medal success in the fast-paced world of biathle, aged 50. We talk training methods to cope with the need for speed, but avoiding…