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?

👉 New episodes every Tuesday – Follow & Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & Acast!

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

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

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: info@runcensored.com

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UTMB 2025 Preview & The Truth About Gary and Harrier Trail Running

Gary’s been injured, he’s been running with mates Rich Lazenby and Rich Gill… and he’s got a story to tell. Spoiler: it involves UTMB, Chamonix, and getting sacked.

This week, the lads are talking all things UTMB 2025 — from race week in Chamonix to altitude training in Tignes — with plenty of gossip about working with brands, new shoe drops, and what really happens behind the sponsorship deals. Ben shares the inside scoop from filming with Jim Walmsley and the Hoka team, plus why his one-take Instagram reel went viral.

They break down UTMB race week day-by-day, talk English Fell Running Championship drama, and even tease a mystery new product they’ve been testing. Will RUNcensored make it to Chamonix to record live? Listen and find out.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

💥 Gary’s injury update and running with Rich Lazenby & Rich Gill

🏔️ Gary’s race in Chamonix & altitude training lessons

🚪 Why Gary’s departure from Harrier Trail Running wasn’t his choice

🎥 Ben’s pre-UTMB trip to Chamonix, St Gervais & Tignes with Hoka

👟 New shoe releases and gear chat

🎬 One-take Instagram reel with Jim Walmsley

📱 Gary’s advice on making great Instagram reels

🤝 Ben’s blueprint for getting sponsored by a running brand

💼 Big discussion: how to work with brands without losing your soul

📅 UTMB race week – how it all works & the Francesco Puppi Strava segment

🕵️ Teasing a secret new product they’re testing

🏪 How Sportsshoes.com are gearing up for UTMB week

🏆 English Fell Running Championships – Ben Rothery vs Finlay Grant, decided by 20 seconds

🔮 Predictions for who will crush UTMB 2025

🎤 Will there be a RUNcensored podcast recorded live in Chamonix?

Why You Should Listen:

If you love trail and ultra running, UTMB week in Chamonix, or want the inside scoop on working with big brands like Hoka, this episode is for you. You’ll hear unfiltered race stories, sponsorship advice, gear talk, and a behind-the-scenes look at the most exciting week in trail running.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday – Follow & Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & Acast!

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

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

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: info@runcensored.com

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rugby Legend Eorl Crabtree & Mel Sykes on Lakeland 100, Fuelling for Ultras & THAT Chant.

He’s 6’6”, 20 stone, and used to batter people for a living. Now he’s thinking about running 50 miles.

This week, Gary and Ben are joined by returning guest Mel Sykes and her lifelong mate, former rugby league star Eorl Crabtree. What starts as friendly banter quickly turns into a raw, funny, and surprisingly emotional deep-dive into life after elite sport, why running messes with your head, and what happens when your body doesn’t match your ambitions.

Eorl opens up about leaving rugby behind, getting heckled by French fans, and how being called a “fat Robbie Savage” became part of his legacy. Mel reflects on her latest Lakeland 100 adventure, including why she ran the whole thing without a watch and how she fuels on flapjack instead of gels.

They also unpack the weird rituals of gym culture, the pressure to perform after fame, and why data might be ruining the fun in both rugby and running. Expect brutal honesty, big laughs, and a lot of Yorkshire sarcasm.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🏉 Eorl’s rugby career, French crowd abuse & mid-speech chaos

🤣 The real story behind “Fat Robbie Savage”

💪 Life after pro sport – body image, motivation, and gym insecurities

🏃‍♀️ Mel’s return to Lakeland 100 and her “run by feel” strategy

🍰 Why she fuels with real food (and hates gels)

📉 Is data killing sport?

💬 Why runners need to laugh more and stress less

🤝 The difference between team sport and solo ultras

🥵 Eorl’s first 30K run and why ultras are terrifying

👀 Mel’s savage honesty about pain, pacing, and personal growth

Why You Should Listen:

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a professional rugby player tries to understand ultra running — or how an elite runner fuels with flapjack instead of science — this episode delivers. It’s about identity, friendship, brutal races, and finding joy in the mess of it all.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday – Follow & Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & Acast!

RUNcensored Podcast 🎙

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

👉 Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more runners find the show.

👉 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RUNcensored

👉 Listen to all episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZGfMfc5i9Q&list=PL_pklymQxtluqvkNmf41MYI7fOk8Ki_YT

👉 Have your say in our listener survey: http://bit.ly/runcensored-survey

🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod

📩 Get in touch: info@runcensored.com

Produced by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media

www.eastwood-media.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.