In this episode, Donald Wilson sat down with local legend John McCruden, chef, ultra-runner, musician and quite possibly the only man in Nairn attempting to beat Elon Musk to the moon… on foot.

John has been running a marathon every single day since 2006. He has currently clocked up around 190,000 miles and he is not slowing down.

Donald talks to John about how it all began, from the stress of running a busy restaurant to protecting his mental health through running.

They also dive into:

• How John fits a marathon a day around family life, cheffing and café shifts
• His running philosophy, including why he treats the first 20 miles as “transportation”
• Mindfulness on the roads of Nairn, from chimney smoke to freezing winter nights
• His experience running the Great Wall of China in a kilt
• Training methods, midfoot striking and how he strengthens his body rather than breaking it
• The reality of £250 running shoes
• The “dark ages” of chasing Michelin-level perfection in the kitchen
• Music therapy in care homes, including a story that will stay with you long after the episode ends

It is a conversation about discipline, obsession, creativity, grief, healing and what it means to dedicate yourself fully to something, whether that is running to the moon or making fresh pasta from scratch.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Challenge to the Moon
• 01:25 Why John started running
• 02:30 A marathon every day since 2006
• 03:00 “I’m halfway to the Moon”
• 05:00 Family running roots
• 08:30 How 26 miles became “easy”
• 09:40 Mindfulness on the roads of Nairn
• 11:00 Injury, cadence & midfoot strike
• 13:00 Fitting marathons around family life
• 15:00 Running the Great Wall of China (in a kilt!)
• 17:30 Winter running & cold weather mindset
• 19:00 £250 trainers & the superglue hack
• 21:30 Therapy through music
• 29:00 The “Dark Ages” of Michelin ambition
• 32:00 Seabank Hotel & John's love for fresh pasta
• 34:00 Beating Elon Musk to the Moon