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Chamonix is buzzing and Becky is right in the middle of it, number collected, tracker ready, and a 62k UTMB mountain ultra on the horizon. We talk about what it’s like when the town itself becomes the venue: runners drifting through the streets, crowds clapping people home, and that moment where you suddenly feel the weight of what you’re about to do.

From there we zoom out to something that matters far beyond one race: sponsorship and representation in trail running. Why do brands pour attention into elites while midlife mid-pack runners quietly carry the sport for decades? Becky shares a jaw-dropping stat about how few people are in her age bracket, and we dig into what “aspirational marketing” misses when it forgets who is actually showing up, training, buying kit, and still running strong.

We also get practical and specific about race logistics: registration quirks, the surprise of no kit check, LiveTrail tracking, and the temptation to let an app’s predicted finish time get in your head. Becky sticks with the low-tech option (laminated cards) and walks through travel to the Swiss start, wave starts, and how cut-off times really work. Dawn brings in the other side of endurance life too: training while dealing with family stress, nervous system load, and a simple idea for stress management that might help when life is already full.

If you enjoy honest conversations about ultra running, UTMB, Chamonix, masters running, and what it really takes to get to a start line, subscribe and share this with a friend. What’s the one part of race week that always messes with your head the most?

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Got a story about a trail friendship, or a question for us? We'd love to hear it — email us at stillrunningstrong@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram and Facebook.

Still Running Strong is for general interest and entertainment only. We share our own personal experiences, not professional medical, nutritional, or training advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making changes to your training, diet, or health.

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You can love running and still feel like there is no space for it. We’re both living that squeeze right now, so we get specific about what actually helps when training has to compete with work, family, caring and the constant “invisible jobs” that somehow land on your plate.

We start with our updates, including Becky’s final build-up to OCC in Chamonix and the surprisingly serious business of race logistics: kit laid out, lists ticked off, pacing notes, and a fuelling plan built to avoid decision fatigue when you’re tired and hot. We also talk honestly about underfuelling, sweetness overload, and why recovery is not a bonus, it’s part of the training.

From there we move into the real question: how do you fit training into a busy life without burning out? We share what works for us, what doesn’t, and what our listeners have found helpful, including run-commuting, ten-minute strength sessions at home, training by feel (RPE) instead of obsessing over watch metrics, and putting your runs on the family planner so they count as a real commitment. We also unpack the bigger mindset shift: consistency isn’t doing the same week perfectly, it’s finding your way back, and you do not have to earn your run by finishing everyone else’s list first.

We finish with a simple framework for choosing goals that match your reality, plus the big question of whether you adjust your goal or adjust your lifestyle. If you’re a midlife runner trying to balance trail running ambitions with a full life, this one will land. Subscribe, share it with a running mate, and leave us a review, what’s your biggest barrier to getting out the door?

Get In Touch

Got a story about a trail friendship, or a question for us? We'd love to hear it — email us at stillrunningstrong@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram and Facebook.

Still Running Strong is for general interest and entertainment only. We share our own personal experiences, not professional medical, nutritional, or training advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making changes to your training, diet, or health.

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Motivation gets talked about like it’s a superpower you either have or you don’t. We do not buy that. After a quick catch-up on how our training is going, we get into the messy, practical reality of staying consistent when sleep is poor, the weather is hot, and your brain would rather empty the dishwasher than lace up your shoes.

We also share the behind-the-scenes of real trail running prep: changing race plans to suit where the body is right now, getting kit sorted early, practising poles and fuelling, and why a full dress rehearsal run can calm race-week nerves. Becky talks through her OCC preparation, including a tight nutrition plan and how she’ll stay on top of eating every 20 minutes, while Dawn reflects on how daily rehab and strength work instantly improves run quality.

Then Dawn delivers a straight-talking running motivation masterclass grounded in sports psychology and CBT-style behavioural activation: act first, then motivation follows. We cover if-then planning, removing friction, the pain and pleasure principles that drive behaviour, and Dawn’s Three S’s framework: keep it small, keep it simple, start before you’re ready. If you are a mid-pack runner trying to build habits that last, this one is for you.

https://www.maverick-race.com/races/trail-series

https://www.blacktothetrails.co.uk/

https://www.blacktrailrunners.run/

Subscribe, share the episode with a running friend, and leave us a review if it helps. What is the one thing that reliably gets you out the door when you cannot be bothered?

Get In Touch

Got a story about a trail friendship, or a question for us? We'd love to hear it — email us at stillrunningstrong@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram and Facebook.

Still Running Strong is for general interest and entertainment only. We share our own personal experiences, not professional medical, nutritional, or training advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making changes to your training, diet, or health.