Adam Ross only recently started running seriously. Now, he's taking on a year long challenge to raise money for and awareness of homelessness charity, Shelter.

Each month in 2026, Adam will be completing a unique endurance challenge, from 10k races to half- and full marathons, with the promise of some even tougher events to come towards the end of the year.

As the co-founder and director of Track Global, a marketing, sales, and distribution advisory partner for property developers, Adam hopes to use his business to raise awareness of homelessness. As such, his project falls under the title of The Track Global 12 in 12.

In this episode, we speak about Adam's upcoming race for April, the Manchester Marathon. He has since completed the race, finishing in under four hours; a feat made even more stunning by the fact he was struggling to run 5k as recently as November.

Running Tales spoke to Adam about the homeless crisis across the UK, why he chose running to highlight the issue, and the challenges that await him over the rest of the year...

Sponsor Adam's on his 12 in 12 challenge journey for Shelter.

Visit Running Tales on:

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.

Buy Me A Coffee:

Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our affiliates:

◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 20% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

Ashley Riley has seen first-hand how running can help people with both their physical and mental health.

As an outgoing, comfortable, loud, business owning and confident middle-aged man, Ashley had few obvious worries in life.

But that was before he experienced his first ever panic attack. It was followed by another one. And another.

Within a month, Ashley's panic attacks had turned into bone crushing anxiety and deep, dark depression. Despite four courses of medication, the NHS couldn’t help and a psychotic Ashley was taken into psychiatric care.

Two weeks later he suffered two strokes.

Ashley's recovery has been powered by many things - the love of his family, therapy, routine... and running.

These days, via his male mental health support group, Blue Soul Shoes, Ashley shares his story regularly, talking honestly and openly to businesses and other groups.

Running, and in particular parkrun, have played a deeply meaningful part of his recovery. He runs at the 5k event every week with his 11-year-old son Teddy, taking time to share how physically, emotionally and spiritually, parkrun provides an amazing opportunity for anyone battling their mental health.

Running Tales spoke to Ashley about recovering from - and continuing to counter - depression, the daily run that boosts his mood, and how anyone can be a victim of poor mental health...

Find out more about Blue Soul Shoes

Visit Running Tales on:

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.

Buy Me A Coffee:

Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our affiliates:

◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 20% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

Lisa Jackson has seen every side of running, from completing the gruelling Comrades Marathon to finishing last in a host of marathons.

By embrace her 'flamingo runner' persona alongside a simple enjoyment of the sport, she has discovered the true power of running - becoming a published author along the way.

And when she needed it most, despite a brief departure, running was there for her, helping Lisa find some solace after the loss of her husband, Graham.

Her latest book is the brilliant, Still Running After All These Tears; a simultaneously heart-breaking and inspiring account of coping with Graham's illness, finding positivity at the toughest of times, and the part running played in helping her reclaim her life.

It's fair to say Lisa loves running. Her completion of more than 100 marathons is testament to that. But when her grief over Graham was followed by losing her sister and father as well, all within 17 months, that relationship was tested to its limits.

Still Running After All These Tears is marketed as a survival manual for the broken-hearted and a celebration of the redemptive power of running.

Running Tales spoke to Lisa about the highs and lows of dealing with the medical community and how to navigate serious illness, why running means so much to her, and how she hopes her story will help and inspire others...

Buy Still Running After All These Tears

Visit Running Tales on:

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.

Buy Me A Coffee:

Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our affiliates:

◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠

◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠

◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 20% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

Coach, journalist and now author, Raziq Rauf, is well-known in the running/writers world on Substack.

His popular Running Sucks newsletter, where he writes about running culture, run clubs and stories from across the sport, has more than 5,000 subscribers.

He’s currently taking part in the Salomon Off Track Gravel Tour, which involves him talking all things running and going on a gravel run in the uber-cool Salomon Aero Glide 4s.

Raz will also be reading a passage from his debut book, This is Running, a celebration of running that explores the culture, history, brands, races, and people that make this sport we love so special.

Currently available on pre-order, This is Running will be released on April 2 in the UK and five days later in America.

Running Tales spoke to Raz about the success of Running Sucks, why he decided to write a book - and what people can find in it, Harry Styles and the good and bad of celebrity in the running world, and run culture...

Buy This Is Running on Amazon

Visit Running Tales on:

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.

Buy Me A Coffee:

Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our affiliates:

◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠

◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠

◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 20% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

George Puckett wasn't happy - and he couldn't put his finger on why.

The 31-year-old was living in a beautiful home in Abergavenny, south Wales on the edge of the stunning Brecon Beacons, with his fiancee and one-year-old boy.

But in the midst of making that life, he had forgotten to care for himself. Eating whatever he wanted and not exercising, George had ballooned to 130kgs (20 stone) and was struggling with his confidence as a result.

Hating every picture taken of him and over-thinking all the time, George was not only starting to lose sleep but was suffering panic attacks and palpitations.

Towards the end of last year, he realised it was time to make a change. While out for a walk, he decided he was not only going to start eating better and exercising, he was going to complete an Ironman.

George has already lost more than 30kg - almost five stone - and has now signed up to the Ironman Weymouth 70.3 in September. Aiming to inspire others along the way, George is also raising money for TalkClub, a men's mental health charity which provides therapy, talk sessions, and an exercise class.

Along the way, he wants to go from - as his Instagram account states - 'Fat Man to Ironman'.

Running Tales spoke to George about how running has helped his mental health, how he believes it will always be part of his life, and why he decided to take such a huge step towards physical and mental wellness...

Sponsor George to run Ironman Weymouth 70.3:

George's Ironman fundraiser⁠⁠

Visit Running Tales on:

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.

Buy Me A Coffee:

Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our affiliates:

◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠

◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠

◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 20% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

Mark Doris, has been using running as a vehicle to raise vital funds for SANDS, the UK's leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, for more than ten years.

The charity is close to Mark's heart as he runs in memory of his stillborn son, Marco, who would have been 11 later this year.

His fundraising efforts have seen Mark raise more than £27,000 for SANDS. And along the way, he has tackled a wide variety of runs including obstacle course races and the 95-mile West Highland Way ultra marathon.

The latter event was an epic adventure three years, two attempts and one knee operation in the making. Mark eventually completed the run last year in 34 hours and 29 minutes, a phenomenal tribute to his resilience and the power of running for a cause.

Next on his list is this year's London Marathon, an event he is already training hard for - and will once again be running for SANDS.

Running Tales spoke to Mark about his running and fundraising efforts, the importance of SANDS, and how he managed to beat the West Highland Way...

Sponsor Mark to run The London Marathon for SANDS:

Mark's ⁠London Marathon fundraiser⁠

Visit Running Tales on:

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.

Buy Me A Coffee:

Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our affiliates:

◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

Path Projects Affiliate Link

◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link

◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 20% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

Kibra Affiliate Link