He Was Told He'd NEVER RUN AGAIN...Ben Shephard's 3:29 Marathon at 50

From a devastating back injury to a 3:29 marathon at 50, Ben Shephard has just completed his first marathon in 16 years.

This week on The Runna Podcast, beloved British TV presenter Ben Shephard joins us to talk about fitness after 50, marathon comebacks, and why getting older doesn't mean slowing down.

Just days after crossing the finish line in London, he shares the training, setbacks, and mindset shifts behind an incredible return to racing.

Ben opens up about the back injury that stopped him running completely, the long road back to fitness, and how consistency - not perfection - helped him run a remarkable 3:29 marathon.

In this episode:
🏃 Why Ben Shephard's ADHD became his biggest asset - in sport, his career, & marathon running
💔 The back injury that stopped him running - and the marathon comeback nobody expected
🎯 How he trained for a 3:29 marathon at 50 around a full-time TV career - fitness after 50 in practice
🧠 Why consistency beats strictness in marathon training - and how to apply it

Whether you’re chasing a PB, returning from injury, or trying to stay fit for the long term, this conversation is packed with honest insight and motivation.

Want to give Runna a go?
🆓 Try it FREE for 2 weeks with code: PODCAST26
👉 web.runna.com/redeem

📱
Instagram → @runna
TikTok → @runna
📺 Watch more episodes → @therunnapodcast

⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 – Ben Shephard: "I never expected to be back on the start line"
1:21 – Running with ADHD: why Ben Shephard couldn't sit still
3:54 – Dance degree to TV presenter: performance as identity
5:40 – Fitness after 50: turning 50 as a running benchmark
6:16 – The message from his son that made him cry before the race
7:37 – First marathon on the island of Tresco
13:30 – Charity challenges: 10 marathons in 2 years
14:00 – Marathon training mindset: "It was tougher mentally than physically"
14:59 – The back injury that stopped his running — & the marathon comeback
16:40 – Injury recovery for runners: "I might not make it to the start line"
21:56 – Marathon training tips: why consistency beats strictness
24:36 – Being a running role model for his sons
25:09 – Why watching him fail matters more than watching him win
34:00 – Running for longevity: "It's the most freeing and joyous thing"
36:04 – Injury prevention for older runners: do you wish you'd been more careful?
40:00 – Fitness after 50: could Ben Shephard do an Ironman?
44:05 – This or Thats: the fake tan confession
48:55 – Beat his sons or let them win?