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!

This week on Trails, Tales, and Fails we’re joined by Darren Evans, founder of The Green Runners and Pair Ups — two movements changing the way we think about running and sustainability.

We dive into:
🏃 Darren’s ultra running journey and what inspired him to combine running with environmental action
👟 How Pair Ups helps extend the life of trainers and cut down waste
🌱 Practical steps runners and races can take to reduce their footprint
📝 Darren’s creative side with Three Word Odes — capturing the spirit of running in just three words

It’s an inspiring reminder that small changes — from repairing shoes to rethinking events — can add up to a big difference for the planet we love to explore.

👉 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!

268 miles. 155 hours. A few wrong turns. One bull. And a whole lot of grit and resilience.

In this episode of Trails, Tales & Fails, we sit down with an inspiring ultra runner who took on the Summer Spine and came out the other side with blisters, stories, and a finish line moment to remember. From getting lost in the forest, to stubborn livestock, and the mental rollercoaster of non-stop movement — this conversation is raw, funny, and extremely inspiring.

We talk feet, planning, hallucinations, sleep strategy, and how belief — both from within and from others — can get you to the end of even the longest trail.

An inspiring reminder that you don’t need to be at the front of the pack to have an epic story to tell.⁠Join our brand-new Facebook community group

We’re back — and this week we’re diving deep into one of the toughest and most well supported ultras in the UK: the Montane Lakeland 100.

From Coniston to Coniston, the 103-mile loop through the Lake District serves up over 6,000m of elevation, technical trails, and usually unpredictable weather. Max and Sarah relive this year’s race:, sleep-deprived hallucinations, brutal climbs, and that unbeatable community spirit from all involved.

Sarah shares what it took to finish 3rd female and 13th overall in 24h40m, and we answer some great listener questions too.

Also, a shout out to Daniel and Rebecca, who we met at the campsite. Congrats to Daniel for getting his 500 slate.

Join our brand-new Facebook community group

Alan Bedford is raising money for Maggie's Centres
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