Welcome back to Trails, Tales, and Fails — the podcast where we celebrate the highs, the lows, and everything in between on the ultra-running journey.
Today’s episode is a little different. It’s just the three of us — Max, Rob, and Sarah — catching up, talking training, and looking back on 2025 with a fun (and slightly chaotic) quiz based on our previous guests. Expect confident guesses, very shaky answers, and a surprising amount of disorder.
We also dive into where everyone’s at right now:
Sarah is deep into her build-up for the Spine Challenger South, juggling winter miles, kit admin, and long dark days.
Rob is gearing up for the Arc 100, while Max is preparing for the Arc 25.
We talk honestly about training through winter — the highs, the setbacks, the kit that’s actually working, and the mindset shifts needed when motivation dips and conditions get tough. As always, we share lessons and tips that might help you navigate your own winter running.
We’re proud to be supported by Protein Rebel — get 15% off with code TTF15 — and by Beta Outdoor Sports, where you can get 10% off BV Sports compression and apparel, plus 10% off Näak Nutrition products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.
Don’t forget to click here to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.
Ultras aren’t usually lost because you’re not fit enough — they’re lost because of one bad decision made when you’re tired, cold, or emotional.
In this week’s Ultra Tip Tuesday, we introduce the Traffic Light Decision System: a simple framework to help you make smarter calls during long runs and race day.
Learn how to:
Keep moving when things are green
Monitor and manage problems early when they’re amber
Act immediately when things turn red — no ego, no delay
This episode is all about staying calm, avoiding unnecessary stops, and knowing when stopping is the smartest move you can make.
Train smart. Race smart. Finish strong.
For coaching enquiries, DM me on Instagram or click here.
We’re proud to be supported by Protein Rebel — get 15% off with code TTF15 — and by Beta Outdoor Sports, where you can get 10% off BV Sports compression and apparel, plus 10% off Näak Nutrition products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.
Don’t forget to click here to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.
This week on Trails, Tales, and Fails, we dig into one of the smartest — and most overlooked — ways to build race‑day confidence: training on terrain that actually mirrors your goal route. Rocky, muddy, flat, hilly, or wildly technical, every surface teaches your body something different.
In this Ultra Tip Tuesday episode, we break down how to sharpen your weaknesses early in the training cycle, build durability without pressure, and dial in true race‑day specificity as your event approaches. You’ll learn how to balance technical skill‑building with injury prevention, get creative when you don’t have access to the perfect trails, and discover why even one long run on race‑like terrain can transform your confidence.
If you want fewer surprises on race day — physically and mentally — this episode gives you the blueprint for showing up ready, not rattled.
For coaching enquiries, DM me on Instagram or click here.
We’re proud to be supported by Protein Rebel — get 15% off with code TTF15 — and by Beta Outdoor Sports, where you can get 10% off BV Sports compression and apparel, plus 10% off Näak Nutrition products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.
Don’t forget to click here to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.
Trish Patterson joins us fresh off her incredible Winter Dragon’s Back FKT — a huge achievement made even more impressive by the rocky road leading up to it. Weeks before the attempt, Trish sprained her ankle. Then came missed training weeks, lingering fatigue, and a build‑up that was anything but smooth.
In this episode, we dive into Trish’s journey: how she handled setbacks, what the Winter Dragon demanded physically and mentally, the conditions underfoot, pacing decisions, crew strategy, and the mindset required to keep pushing when the plan falls apart. We also explore recovery, long‑term health, and what it takes to stay motivated through big efforts.
We’re proud to be supported by Protein Rebel — get 15% off with code TTF15 — and by Beta Outdoor Sports, where you can get 10% off BV Sports compression and apparel, plus 10% off Näak Nutrition products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.
Don’t forget to click here to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.
Jade Barrett has taken endurance to extraordinary heights. In 2025 she completed the Centurion Double Slam on her way to running every Centurion event in a single year. She also raced the legendary Arc 100 in January. Most recently, Jade conquered the Winter Downs 200, finishing in an astonishing 76 hours and 58 minutes.
This year’s Winter Downs was one for the history books, with Caspian James setting an epic course record of 43:38. Against that backdrop, Jade’s own finish was a masterclass in resilience, pacing, and determination.
In this episode of Trails, Tales, and Fails, we dive into Jade’s race experience: the conditions and the mental and physical strategies that carried her through nearly 77 hours of running. We also explore how she balances recovery, crew support, and the sheer mental toughness required for this scale of mileage.
While this time of year is exciting for many, we know Christmas can be difficult for some. If you’re finding December tough or feeling a bit lonely, you’re welcome to reach out on Instagram for a friendly chat.
If this episode inspires you, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies — it really helps the show grow.
Don’t forget to click here to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
We are proud to be partnered with Protein Rebel. Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
From signing up to her first ultra with just three days’ notice, to conquering the legendary Dragon’s Back and setting multiple Fastest Known Times, Lizzie — better known as Ultra Mad Lizzie — has built a reputation for resilience, grit, and determination.
In this episode of Trails, Tales, and Fails, Lizzie shares her journey through the unique world of backyard ultras — a format that tests mental strength as much as physical endurance — and her recent victory at the notorious Copthorne 100, a race infamous for its brutally low finish rate.
Don’t forget to click here to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.
Lizzie is a proud ambassador for Protein Rebel and sponsored by Snack’d — fuelling epic endurance feats with sustainable energy.
If this episode inspires you, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies — it really helps the show grow.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
In this episode, Max and Rob chat to fellow Protein Rebel ambassador, Alex Bance, who didn’t just run an ultra — he ran 300 miles, self-navigated, unrecced, and with minimal support, all to raise money and awareness for a children’s hospice close to his heart, Julia's House.
We unpack the soaring highs to the crushing lows, kit disasters, hallucinations, moments of kindness, and the mental resilience needed to keep moving when everything says stop.
Expect raw honesty, wild stories, training insights, and lessons for anyone looking to push beyond their perceived limits.
If this episode inspires you, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies — it really helps the show grow.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
Charlotte Fisher is having a breakout year — and we’re here for it. From her early win at North Downs Way 100 to podiums at UTS, Lakeland, and Mallorca by UTMB, she’s proving she’s one of the fiercest rising stars on the European ultra scene. In this episode, Charlotte opens up about the highs and lows of racing 140KM through technical terrain in Mallorca, how she’s evolved as an athlete in 2025, and what keeps her grounded when the trails get tough. We dive into training shifts, recovery rituals, race-day mindset, and yes — her guilty pleasure post-race treat. Whether you’re chasing your own ultra goals or just love hearing how the best do it, this one’s packed with insight, grit, and inspiration.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
This week we sit down with Charlie Steward — fresh off what many are calling the worst conditions in Moab 240 history. Think rain, snow, high winds, falling trees, and actual mountain lions. Charlie says the race broke him in every single way — physically, mentally, emotionally — and yes, he really did cut open his own feet mid-race to relieve pressure.
We talk Ironman roots, hallucinations, sleep strategy (or lack of), and what it takes to survive 238 miles of chaos through Utah’s desert and mountains. It’s raw, intense, and a masterclass in suffering with purpose.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
This week on Trails, Tails and Fails, Rob and Sarah relive the Jurassic Coast Maverick 50K — a race full of coastal climbs, wrong turns, and one spectacular kit fail that nearly ended things before the start line. Sarah took the win and Rob had a great run to take 10th.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
Ellen Cheetham went from London roads to French mountain trails — and landed on the podium at UTMB Nice 100 miler. In this episode, we unpack her transition to ultra running, the move to France, and what it takes to race 165 km from the Alps to the Mediterranean.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
This week, we’re talking pacing — the skill that separates finishers from faders. Whether you’re running a 50K or a 100-miler, smart pacing protects your body from bonking, inflammation, and breakdown.
We dive into the science behind restraint:
Glycogen depletion and why fat-burning isn’t enough
Cardiac drift and rising effort over time
Muscle fatigue, form collapse, and injury risk
Gut shutdown when blood flow prioritises your legs over digestion
Why walking early climbs can save your race later
Plus: the talk test, segment thinking, and why patience is power.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
This week on Trails, Tales, and Fails, Max, Sarah Rob are joined by Victoria Henderson, fresh off her heroic finish at the Tor des Géants — a 330km monster through the Italian Alps with over 24,000m of elevation gain. That’s 145 hours of sleep deprivation, technical climbs, and weather that can swing from blazing heat to alpine snow.
We break down the race step by step, score it using our Race Toughness Index, and dive into training, and finish-line emotions. Plus: celebrity pacers, truth or lie, ultra guilty pleasures, and a quickfire round.
Victoria’s ultra resume is stacked: CCC 2021, TDS, 5th at Winter Downs 200, and 17th at Arc 100 earlier this year. But TDG? That’s a whole new level.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
This week on Trails, Tales, and Fails, Max and Sarah are joined by Seb Briggs and Emma Harris, fresh off their epic 37-hour, 57-minute finish of the Kerry Way Ultra. That’s 200km of Irish wilderness, bogs, climbs, and unpredictable weather. We break down the race step by step, score it using our Race Toughness Index, and dive into training, fails, and finish-line emotions. Plus: celebrity pacers, truth or lie, ultra guilty pleasures, and a quickfire round that reveals more than you'd expect.
Seb and Emma are part of the George & Falcon Runners, a friendly, inclusive trail running crew based in Hampshire. They meet regularly for social runs, training sessions, and big race adventures.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
This week on Ultra Tip Tuesday, Max dives into one of the most overlooked performance boosters in ultra running: sleep. From muscle repair and glycogen replenishment to mental resilience and injury prevention, sleep is your secret weapon. Learn how to optimise your sleep routine, avoid common pitfalls like caffeine and screen time, and treat rest like the training block it truly is. Your legs will thank you.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
Welcome back to Trails, Tales, and Fails! This week’s Ultra Tip Tuesday is all about the unsung heroes of your stride — your calves. Whether you're climbing, descending, or cruising through long miles, your calves are working overtime.
We break down the difference between the gastrocnemius and the soleus, why most runners neglect one of them, and how to train both for better performance, injury prevention, and smoother movement. From straight-leg to bent-knee calf raises, we’ve got the tips to build bulletproof lower legs.
🎙️ Want to support the pod? Check out our Patreon in the show notes.👟 Join our Facebook community to share your strength wins and fails — we’ve all had both.
In this week’s Ultra Tip Tuesday, I'm diving into one of the most overlooked keys to endurance success: fuelling early and often. Whether you’re training for your first ultra or your fiftieth, timing your nutrition is just as important as what you eat.
I’ll break down why waiting until you’re hungry is too late, how to keep your energy steady with small, frequent fuel hits, and how to train your gut to handle fuel on the move. From gels to real food, this episode is all about keeping your engine running strong — and avoiding the dreaded bonk.
This week on Trails, Tales, and Fails, Max flies solo and is joined by returning guest Daniel, fresh off completing the 130-mile Leeds–Liverpool Canal Race.
We dive into:
UTMB 2025 — snow at 2,500 m, frozen hands at night, and nearly 1,000 DNFs. With Tom Evans storming to victory, Josh Wade taking 3rd, and Courtney grinding through injury to finish 10th, it was a year of resilience as much as speed.
The Leeds–Liverpool Canal Race — Daniel takes us step by step through 130 miles of towpaths and mental battles.
Race Toughness Index (RTI) — our brand-new scoring system breaking races down across 10 categories (terrain, weather, aid stations, fatigue, etc.) for a total toughness score out of 100. Daniel gives the Canal Race its first ever official rating.
Quickfire round — bucket-list races, forgotten kit, irrational pre-race rituals, and more.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
Max and Sarah sit down with elite ultra runner and passionate coach Chris Kelly. From his jaw-dropping 273km win at Albi 24hr to course records and podiums across the UK, Chris shares the mindset, training, and grit behind his success — including his selection for Team GB’s 24-hour squad and prep for the upcoming World Championships in Albi. We dive into coaching insights, play our usual games, and explore what it really takes to go the distance.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.
💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
Use code TTF15 at Protein Rebel for your 15% discount.
Welcome to our very first Ultra Tip Tuesday! In this short, practical episode, Max shares how to master layering so you stay warm, dry, and strong on the trails.
We’ll break down the three-layer system:
🧥 Base layer – sweat manager🧣 Mid layer – insulation🌧️ Shell – outer defense
You’ll learn about hydrostatic head, why breathability matters as much as waterproofing, and the common mistake most runners make at the start line.
👉 Key takeaway: Start cool, go windproof when it’s dry, save the waterproofs for biblical weather.
👉 Join our Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.💚 If you enjoy the podcast and want to support what we do, check out our Patreon — every bit helps us keep sharing stories from the trails.
🎧 Don’t forget to share the episode, leave us a rating, and help spread the word!