In this solo episode, I delve into the quieter, often unspoken side of ultrarunning: what happens when motivation fades?

No injuries. No illness. Just a deep, unsettling disinterest in running. Right in the middle of peak racing season, this conversation is for anyone who's ever felt burnt out, disconnected, or unsure of their "why."

• Why motivation fades — and why it’s normal
• The emotional and physiological toll of training overload
• Life stress and post-race blues
• Losing your “why” and identity as a runner
• Personal reflections from my own journey
• Signs you might be in a slump
• What helps (and what doesn’t) when the spark disappears
• The science behind sustainable motivation

✅ Give yourself permission to pause

✅ Move without pressure or metrics

✅ Reframe your identity beyond running

✅ Talk to someone — vulnerability builds resilience

✅ Focus on intrinsic goals like joy, solitude, and connection to nature

❌ Don’t force it

❌ Avoid signing up for races out of guilt

❌ Stop comparing yourself to your past self

• Self-Determination Theory in sport psychology
• David’s reflections post-US 100 - Episodes 11 and 12
• Previous episodes on post-race recovery and identity

If this episode resonated with you, David would love to hear your story.

📸 Instagram: @davidultrarunner

💬 Share your burnout experience or how you found your way back

If this episode helped you, consider:

⭐ Leaving a review

📤 Sharing it with a friend

📩 Sending it to your past self as a reminder

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

This week, we will go back to the normal format with an interview with one of the local legends in Ayrshire.

Many of you will know Bert through the Fit Ayrshire Masses, but on this week's episode, we talk about:

• His fitness journey and early C25K ''ing'
• Realising that you don't have to run fast all the time and using running as a way of managing to lose over 6 stone
• Finding out what types of races and events he likes most
• Discovering the world of ultrarunning and, like many of u,s popping his ultra cherry on Run the Blades 50k
• Becoming a more confident runner and tweaking what he was doing through coaching
• Completing his biggest challenge to date - the Wall 70-mile ultramarathon
• and much more

Let's Connect/links

• You can follow Bert on Instagram here: @bert_runs.lifts.life_
• If for some reason you aren't already following me on Instagram, then you'll find me here: @davidultrarunner
• Like, subscribe, and rate the show so you don't miss an episode (and it would make me happy)

Do you want me to coach you?

Get in touch and see how I can help either here or by using the link in my bio: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach

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

Something a little bit different this week, where I am joined by not one, not two, but three guests.

I am joined by a previous guest of the show, Scott (S1 E6) and our crew for the Ultra Scotland 100, George and Michael.

Both George and Michael are also fresh off crewing duties from the West Highland Way Race, just two weeks after crewing Scott and I on the Scotland 100.

I have been crewed by all the guys so it was super interesting to hear what it is like being a crew member - and you also get to hear what it was like crewing on the Scotlans 100.

We talk about:

• Their background
• How did they prepare for the race
• What the experience was like on race day
• Some insights and reflections
• Advice if you are looking to crew, or looking to get a crew

Let's Connect/links

• If for some reason you aren't already following me on Instagram, then you'll find me here: @davidultrarunner
• Like, subscribe, and rate the show so you don't miss an episode (and it would make me happy)

Do you want me to coach you?

Get in touch and see how I can help either here or by using the link in my bio: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach

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

Mixing things up a bit this week where we have previous guest and friend of the show Kayleigh interview me about my time on the Southern Upland Way completing GB Ultras Ultra Scotland 100 Race.

This race covers 104 miles of the National Trails and around 18 thousand feet of climbing

We talk about:

• Some of my background in running and what led me here
• Preparations for the race and what specific training I did to get myself ready
• How the race panned out (TL;DR went well, then didn't)
• What's up next?

Let's Connect/links

• If for some reason you aren't already following me on Instagram, then you'll find me here: @davidultrarunner
• Like, subscribe, and rate the show so you don't miss an episode (and it would make me happy)

Do you want to work with me?

Get in touch and see how I can help either here or by using the link in my bio: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach

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

This week, we have another local legend, Catherine Armour.

Catherine is an inspiration to many people in the local running and fitness community.

Hear her story about where we talk about:

• How she used running and fitness to deal with a difficult change in her life
• Her couch to 5k journey
• Realising she could do more - and the going and doing it
• It's not been plain sailing all the way - hear how she overcame obstacles and challenges
• What she gets from running and how she uses the sport in a way that is right for her

Let's Connect/links

• You can connect with Catherine on Instagram @carmour1983
• If for some reason you aren't already following me on Instagram, then you'll find me here: @davidultrarunner
• Like, subscribe, and rate the show so you don't miss an episode (and it would make me happy)

Do you want to work with me?

Get in touch and see how I can help either here or by using the link in my bio: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach

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

I am back on the West Coast again this week, and I am joined by Alan Young, now the proud holder of the Kintyre Way Fastest Known Time (FKT).

We talk about his latest adventure, but of course, there is much more:

• Initial forays into running, going from 10k to a (trail) marathon
• Finding what events work for him
• Deciding to get a bit more serious and join a running club, and get a coach
• Winning and podiuming at races
• His adventure on the Kintyre Way

Let's Connect/links

• You can connect with Allan on Instagram @allanyoung11
• If for some reason you aren't already following me on Instagram, then you'll find me here: @davidultrarunner
• Like, subscribe, and rate the show so you don't miss an episode (and it would make me happy)

Do you want to work with me?

Get in touch and see how I can help either here or by using the link in my bio: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach

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

This week, I am joined by ultra running legend Damian Hall a man who for many needs no introduction.

He is one of the people whose stories are responsible for getting me hooked on the sport - his first book 'in it for the long run' is simply ace.

Fresh off winning (and setting a new course record) at the 300km Northern Traverse at the beginning of April, Damian joined me and we talked about:

• His meteoric rise, from giving a half marathon a bash at age 36 to representing Team GB within four years
• Getting caught by the ultra bug and the lure of adventure
• Winning races and breaking records
• His favourite foods (obviously :))
• Activism around climate change and access to the sport
• and a whole lot more

Let's Connect/links

• You can connect with Damian on Instagram @ultra_damo
• We also talked about The Green Runners on Instagram @the.green.runners and the web https://thegreenrunners.com/
• into Ultra on Instagram: @intoultra and on the web https://intoultra.org.uk/home
• If for some reason you aren't already following me on Instagram, then you'll find me here: @davidultrarunner
• Like, subscribe, and rate the show so you don't miss an episode (and it would make me happy)

Do you want to work with me?

Get in touch and see how I can help either here or by using the link in my bio: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach

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

This week, we were joined by a previous guest and friend of the show, Jo Findlayson.

Jo joined the podcast waaaaaay back in Season 1, Episode 7, but a lot has happened since then.

Jo started working with me at the turn of the year and has been putting in the work, in both training and races, with a big test coming in the recent Devil o' the Highlands Footrace.

Instead of doing a 'normal' debrief, we thought, why not share it, so here we are.

We talk about:

1. What on earth is the Devil o' the highlands Footrace (for those that don't already know)
2. What Jo's experience of training has been like since she started working with me
3. What my approach has been
4. How her race day unfolded

Let's Connect

• If for some reason you aren't already following me on Instagram, then you'll find me here: @davidultrarunner
• Like, subscribe, and rate the show so you don't miss an episode (and it would make me happy)

Do you want to work with me?

Get in touch and see how I can help either here or by using the link in my bio: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach

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