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In episode 182, Sarah and Rick are joined by Jess Best, a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Westminster who explores the psychological transformation that takes place in trail and ultra-marathon runners.
Jess shares her research and findings from an ongoing 13-month study involving 36 ultrarunners from across the UK, exploring how the sport shapes mindset, identity, and wellbeing.
AND Rick speaks to Jack Pitcher, who recently completed an epic running challenge across Iceland, about his mental resilience, physical endurance and what exactly helped him through it.
The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.
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181: The Science Behind Cross-Training: Does It Make You a Better Runner?
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"182: Are Trail Runners Happier Than Road Runners?" is an episode of The Running Channel Podcast. Runtime 39 min. Published August 8, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.