In this episode, I share an honest update on my own training. Cycling has been a big focus lately, and I’m seeing real improvements, but I’ve also started back running properly again. It’s not perfect—I’m still a bit creaky—but I’m grateful for what I can do. That sense of gratitude is something I want to carry into every session, and I talk about the decisions I’ll face as I balance cycling and running in the months ahead.

I also dive into the latest Excellence Actually podcast, which explored whether greatness is born or built. I connect that conversation to ultrarunning, showing how persistence, consistency, and resilience matter far more than raw talent. It’s a reminder that excellence in our sport is built step by step, not gifted overnight.

Nutrition is another big theme this week. I break down the five top diet tips from the Roadman podcast and explain how I’m applying them myself using the Food Coach app. With the festive season here, I also share my own strategies for staying fairly good with food and drink while still enjoying the celebrations—because balance matters, and guilt doesn’t help anyone.

Finally, I talk about mental fitness and recovery. Coming back from injury isn’t just physical—it’s mental too. I share practical tools like reframing setbacks, journaling, and leaning on community support to build resilience.

If you enjoy the show, please like, rate, and subscribe—it helps more runners discover the podcast. And if you’re looking for coaching support, I work with athletes of all levels through Team RunRun. You can find me on Instagram @davidultrarunner.

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🎙️ Episode Overview

• I share an update on my training and return from injury.
• I talk about looking at events and challenges for the year ahead, and why I need planning time before committing.
• I explain how I break down goals, use journaling to track alignment, and why structure helps me stay on course.
• I apologize for the planned guest not being on this episode — diaries got away from us, but they’ll be on soon. Let me know who you’d love to hear on the show.

🏃 Training & Planning

• First runs back after injury — what they’ve taught me.
• The importance of breaking down goals into manageable steps.
• Journaling as a tool to track progress and check alignment.
• Weekly check‑ins: am I moving closer to where I want to be, or drifting?

🚴 Running vs Cycling Balance

• Loving both sports, but time is limited.
• Reframing the challenge as gratitude instead of frustration.
• Recognizing the privilege of having multiple passions.

🙏 Gratitude Practices (inspired by Excellence, Actually)

• Gratitude builds resilience and psychological flexibility.
• It helps avoid burnout and grounds us in the present.
• It strengthens identity by focusing on values, not just results.
• Practical tools:
• Daily journaling with specific gratitude entries.
• Gratitude runs or rides — noticing what’s good.
• Narrative reframing during tough patches.
• Expressing appreciation to teammates, volunteers, and supporters.
• I share a set of journaling prompts listeners can use right away.

📣 Community & Coaching

• Reminder to like, rate, and subscribe to the show.
• Share the episode with anyone who might benefit — that’s how we grow the West Coast Ultra community.
• 👉 I now have space for more athletes - if you’d like coaching support to break down your goals, stay accountable, and build consistency, you can find me on Team RunRun: David Taylor – Glasgow Running Coach.

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

In this episode, I dive into the theme of consistency — both in the small, everyday habits and in the bigger picture of long-term resilience. I talk about how showing up, even when it’s hard, builds strength not just in ultrarunning but in life. I also explore the idea of impermanence: tough times don’t last, and if we keep going, we’ll get through them.

I give a shoutout to my athlete Bert, who won a race at the weekend. Bert’s been on the podcast before, and his win is a brilliant example of what consistency looks like in action.

I also reflect on Scotland qualifying for the World Cup finals. Now, I’m not trying to do one of those “lessons from football” posts you see all over LinkedIn — but there’s something powerful about just keeping going, even when the odds are against you.

I share my own journey of coming back from injury and those first runs back. They’re small steps, but they’re forward steps. I talk about how we can reframe setbacks: focusing on what we can do, adjusting expectations, and setting new goals.

I also explain why I’m swapping my annual 100K run for a very long bike ride this year — simply because it’s difficult. And I tie this into Jack Daniels’ teaching that you lose far less fitness than you think, especially if you’re cross-training.

• Consistency in the micro (daily habits) and macro (long-term resilience)
• Impermanence: tough times don’t last, but consistency helps us endure them
• Scotland’s World Cup qualification as a story of persistence
• Injury recovery: reframing setbacks and celebrating small wins
• Cross-training and fitness retention

I coach athletes of all levels through Team RunRun, helping them bring consistency into their training and prepare for their biggest goals. If you’d like to work with me, you can find me on Team RunRun or Instagram @davidultrarunner.

If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate The West Coast Ultra Podcast. It helps more runners discover the community and keeps the conversation growing.

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