Strava W*nkers, Dream Races & Downhill Carnage | RUNcensored EP36

Gary House and Ben Mounsey are back with another Chat GBT special – this time joined by ultrarunner Mel Sykes – answering listener questions on all things trail, fell and ultra running. Expect laughs, strong opinions, and one of the funniest reveals in podcast history: the truth behind the infamous Strava W*nkers account 👀.

This wide-ranging episode dives into the best midweek summer races in the UK, the chaos of downhill-only races like the Trifan Dash, and why smaller fell races are struggling in the era of big-name ultras. The team debate the most reliable running vests and race packs for everything from short mountain races to epic multi-day events, and argue over which single race they’d choose if it was their last: UTMB, the Winter Spine, or Western States.

There’s also advice for beginners – including an ex-professional rugby player starting from scratch – and hard-earned lessons from multi-day stage races like the Dragon’s Back Race. Along the way, Gary, Ben and Mel trade stories about dot-watching culture, sleeping on toilet floors, and whether running should be about bucket-list ticks or the pure challenge of the mountains.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

😂 The truth about Strava Wankers – revealed at last

🏔️ The best midweek summer fell races (Blencathra, Holmfrith, Trifan Dash)

💨 Downhill-only chaos – including records, injuries & local legends

🎒 Race packs & running vests – Salomon, Innov-8, and the quirkiest kit hacks

🔥 One last race: UTMB vs Western States vs Winter Spine

💪 Advice for new runners & ex-rugby pros transitioning to running

🌙 How to survive multi-day ultras like Dragon’s Back & Spine

🎶 Oasis gigs, Stone Roses, and music vs mountain miles

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re passionate about trail running, fell running, mountain marathons or ultra marathons, this episode has everything – from gear chat and training tips to race stories and pure comedy. With UTMB 2025 in Chamonix just around the corner, the big question is: will RUNcensored be there to cover the action live?

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RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.

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Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

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