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.