Another episode of our Long Run Conversations with John Connolly.

Ultra running has always moved in waves. One year it's barefoot shoes. Then maximal cushioning. Heat training. Carbon plates. Heat suits. Weighted vests. High-carb fuelling.

Some of those ideas genuinely move the sport forward.

Some quietly disappear.

In this conversation we explore why we're so drawn to the next big thing, how social media and marketing influence the way we train, and why it's often the unglamorous basics that make the biggest difference over time.

Along the way we chat about:

• Heat suits and weighted vest training
• Barefoot shoes, maximal cushioning and carbon plates
• High-carb fuelling and the rising cost of race nutrition
• Why elite athletes aren't always the best models to copy
• How to think more critically about new training ideas
• The difference between genuine innovation and clever marketing
• Why consistency still beats novelty

As always, this isn't about dismissing new ideas. It's about asking better questions before changing the way you train.

If you enjoy these conversations, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know what topics you'd like us to explore next.

Find Pyllon Ultra:

🌐 https://pyllon.substack.com

Winning is the part everyone sees.

The pressure beforehand, the difficult decisions, the quiet conversations between crew members, the volunteers standing in the rain, and the moments when an athlete is wondering whether they can keep going are much easier to miss.

After spending the weekend crewing for Gus as he defended his West Highland Way Race title, Paul and John sat down to compare notes. The conversation begins with the race itself but soon broadens into something much bigger.

They discuss how defending a title feels very different from chasing one, the responsibility that comes with supporting an athlete through difficult moments, and the fine line between coaching, crewing and simply being a friend.

Along the way they reflect on what makes the ultrarunning community so special, why races can bring out both the best and worst in people, and the stories that rarely make it onto social media.

This is the first of what we hope will become a regular series of conversations between two friends, coaches and long-time observers of the ultra running world.

• How this year's West Highland Way Race felt different from last year
• The pressure of defending a race title
• Crewing Gus through a difficult day
• The differences between coaching and crewing
• What spectators and social media rarely see
• The role of volunteers and support crews
• Community, belonging and friendship in ultrarunning
• Why racing often reveals more than finishing times

Paul Giblin is an ultra runner, coach and founder of Pyllon Ultra.

You can connect with Paul here:

Website: https://pyllonultra.com

Substack: https://pyllon.substack.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/pyllon

Pyllon Ultra: https://instagram.com/pyllonultra

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pyllon

There are some things in life that we carry alone.

Not because we don't have supportive friends or family, but because nobody else can quite carry the weight of something that matters deeply to us.

In this solo episode, I explore the quieter side of commitment. The emotional cost of caring deeply about a race, a business, a creative project, or simply the person we're trying to become.

Drawing on experiences from racing around the world, building Pyllon, creating films and writing, I reflect on why pursuing meaningful things can sometimes feel surprisingly lonely, and why perhaps that's not something to fear, but something to understand.

This isn't really an episode about running.

It's about what running, and other long pursuits, reveal about the way we live.

I hope it resonates.

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

You can find me here:

Substack: https://pyllon.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pyllon Pyllon Ultra: https://www.instagram.com/pyllonultra YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pyllon Website: https://www.pyllonultra.com

You can also find The Pyllon Ultra Pod wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Thanks for listening.