This week, things got a little messy before London. Is Alice experiencing maranoia, or are her stress fractures back? This episode features being bitten by a dog on the way to a session run, and we answer listener questions about whether having a running coach is worth the investment, plus how we make and meet our running friends. Huw is moved to tears again! This time by Rory McIlroy and Wout van Aert. Plus loads more fun topics!

Contact us

Email: twoaveragerunners@gmail.com
Instagram: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runners

This week, Alice shares how her tune-up half-marathon went: her Nomio experiment, race kit, and why she may or may not have come third. We get into race day, gels, and pre-race breakfast. We also answer a listener's question about juggling big races when your partner doesn't run.

Then, somehow, with a Welshman and a South African on the mics, it was inevitable that the subject would turn to the great game of Rugby, and what it was like growing up in very proud Rugby-playing nations. We ended up talking about rugby for quite a while. And we learnt someone else also cried all the way through Project Hail Mary, which Huw is very pleased about.

Contact us

Email: twoaveragerunners@gmail.com
Instagram: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runners

Chapters

00:00 Easter Reflections and Weekly Scores

02:57 Training Updates and Race Preparations

05:52 Race Day Experience and Nutrition Strategies

08:48 Mental Strategies for Endurance Running

11:57 The Nomeo Experiment and Performance Insights

21:38 Managing Nausea During Races

22:59 Choosing the Right Gels for Performance

24:33 Race Preparation and Nutrition Strategy

27:44 Mental Readiness and Tapering for the Marathon

28:11 The Cultural Significance of Rugby

29:32 Personal Rugby Memories and Experiences

34:30 Rugby as a Unifying Force in South Africa

44:00 Cultural Pride in Sports

50:59 The Connection Between Sports and Personal Identity

01:00:12 Balancing Family Life and Athletic Pursuits

This week, we respond to our first non-family listener comment. She asked us to share the weird running experiments we try on ourselves. So we did. We also get into Alice's ongoing sock crisis, returning from a stress fracture, some strides Huw is doing, and has warned everyone not to try. Huw shares how the podcast started on the first anniversary of his father's passing. Plus a lot more fun topics.

Also, Huw's mum follows him on Strava and has never given him a single kudos.

Contact us

Email: twoaveragerunners@gmail.com

Instagram: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runners

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Weekly Ratings

02:58 Running Experiences and Upcoming Races

06:06 Work-Life Balance and Procrastination

09:02 Stress Fractures and Running Trends

11:47 Listener Engagement and Running Experiments

15:01 Pre-Race Preparations and Gear Selection

21:33 The Importance of Socks in Running

25:11 Toenail Troubles and Tips

27:43 Trail Running Challenges

29:48 Experimenting with Trail Shoes

30:54 Incorporating Strength Training

39:41 Navigating Injury Recovery

41:57 Building Back from Injury

46:12 The Importance of Patience in Recovery

51:04 Seasons of Running and Life

58:01 Reflections on Family and Heritage

This week, we discuss the big running goal we are each working towards and the why behind doing so, given we are two average runners who aren’t elite or getting paid to do this!

Alice shares her journey recovering from stress fractures and her aspiration to run a sub-3-hour marathon. Huw shares his plans to move back to the UK and his interest in attempting the Paddy Buckley Round, a challenging trail run in Snowdonia.

We also discovered we both cried watching a movie this past week, and share the lessons we are taking from it in both running and non-running life. Finally, we answer a spicy listener question regarding societal perceptions of gender in sports. Plus more fun topics.

Contact us

Email: twoaveragerunners@gmail.com

Instagram: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runners

Chapters

00:00 Weekly Check-In: Training and Life Scores

02:58 Home Alone: Finding Joy in Solitude

05:57 Movies and Reflections: Immersive Experiences

08:58 Setting Goals: Adventures in Trail Running

12:01 The Challenge of Unstructured Goals

14:58 Breaking Away from Corporate Races

17:53 Exploring the Beauty of Wales: Hiking Adventures

20:52 Embarking on New Adventures

21:21 The Beacons Way 100 Race Experience

23:13 Alice's Marathon Journey and Challenges

24:37 The Allure of the Sub-Three Marathon

26:25 Injury Setbacks and Future Goals

27:43 The Competitive Spirit in Running

31:39 Why Marathons? The Appeal of Long-Distance Running

34:36 The Journey of Improvement in Running

36:57 Exploring New Challenges in Running

41:24 Pacing Challenges and Race Experiences

43:07 Inspiration from Film: I Swear

47:14 Existential Themes in Project Hail Mary

51:17 Overcoming Doubt and Taking Action

55:04 Listener Questions: Gender Assumptions in Running

We talked about how we fell in love with running as a lifestyle, the childhood experiences that play a role in this exciting yet not so exciting journey, and how it affects our lives and work. Plus other great topics!

Contact us

Email: twoaveragerunners@gmail.com

Instagram: @huwjedwards @dralicepenn @two.average.runners

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Running and Life

02:47 Perspectives on Running and Achievement

05:54 Cultural Differences in Sports and Exercise

08:59 Early Experiences with Running and Fitness

11:52 The Social Aspect of Running

14:57 Discipline and Consistency in Running

18:00 Motivation and Mastery in Running

21:05 The Role of Running in Personal Life

23:52 Finding Balance Between Work and Personal Goals

27:05 The Journey of Mastery in Running

30:22 The Allure of Social Media and Consumerism

32:56 Nutrition and Performance: The Science of Supplements

37:07 Consistency in Training: The Key to Improvement

39:40 Identifying Weaknesses: The Role of Coaching

41:01 Patterns of Behavior: Learning from Past Mistakes

46:14 The Ego and Commitment: Pushing Through Challenges

50:28 The Mental Game: Managing Expectations on Race Day

55:51 Future Conversations: Exploring Personal Stories and Lessons