Rob's very ready to pick Paul's brains post Marathon Des Sables on a very gentle recovery run round the park - and he's brought us back his desert diaries. Featuring various attitudes to preparation, the Tent 105 crew, Paul's resistance to briefings, nights under canvas, finding flow and becoming feral, how he took on the long, double-marathon stage, volunteers and running buddies, sandy eyes and sore feet, tears on the trail, a little light hallucination, becoming self-sufficient, embracing a simple existence, emotions outside the box, cool runnings, desert demographics, the grubby life, and a spiritual moment based on fizzy pop.

'After this, no more hard things.'

SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270

You can sponsor Rob's London Marathon here: https://rb.gy/fty8wh

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

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Paul and George take to the Parkland Walk for Paul's last run before the MDS - and one of George's last runs before the Manchester Marathon. Featuring Paul's kit, George's training, Rachel's tips, what to do and what not to do before their runs, spag bol, Ned's Mum, fundraising, hallucinating, playing football, aspirational young runners vs old school athletics, training plans, Rob's ribs, getting overtaken - and letting it go, Paul's pre-run pedi, picnic pack and potential penalties.

Thanks George - good luck!

SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

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With Paul still wending his way home from the desert, Rob popped down to Hove to run with a great guest - British acting royalty Craig Parkinson, new to running and doing his first marathon next week. Featuring wrestling with the wall in your long training run, what things are going to feel like on the day, the rolling wave of readiness, memories of Two Shot Pod Craig's great acting podcast, Adriene and other lockdown memories, Paul's jelly baby, Rob's tips, fuelling, how whether you've done none or twenty-five a marathon is a big deal, people shouting stuff out at Craig - and how that might or might not help, pace and predictions, how all of human life will be there, cement mixers and lawnmowers, partner support - and supporter tips, Craig's charity, and when and when not to party.

Thanks so much Craig; your London Marathon's going to be great.

You can sponsor Craig for Samaritans here: https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/craigparkinsonruns

You can contact Samaritans here: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

And you can sponsor Rob's marathon here: https://rb.gy/fty8wh

SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

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Paul is just hours away from the Marathon Des Sables and Rob's just talked to the doctor about his probably-fractured ribs as they start April on Hampstead Heath. Featuring Paul's plan - or lack of, new shoes and backpack, cooking kit, lazing and eating vs running and fasting, sexy spreadsheets, late night security issues, a doofus in the desert, the old clché: don't go off too fast, life without running, gig report, emotion boxes and emotional support animals, and your PBs.

SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270

You can download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ld

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.

Rob and Paul take a turn around Finsbury Park at a cuspal moment. Featuring Rachel's Birthday and other family fun, Paul's murky MDS medical, shoes and saunas, Rob's ribs, final training runs and the value of stopping and starting, the London Marathon start line, gig report, a poignant postcard from a parent, a bit of reading and writing, and some Tonkinson train etiquette.

SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270

You can download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ld

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.

Thwarted in their efforts to reach the obelisk on Coombe Hill, the boys turn back in Wendover and start the journey back to Chesham. Featuring the beverages in Rob's bag, Paul's Red Kite confusion cleared up, what they've both been watching, what they're both writing, walking the hills, finding the 'why', wiping out and running on, singing, football, and returning to Lee Common.

SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270

You can download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ld

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.

The final leg of Paul and Rob's long - but not as long as hoped - trail training run. Featuring Rob running on post-tumble, some drama in Paul's community, one man's comedy is another man's content, yogic breathing, a Race To The King overview, animals wild and domestic, Birmingham thoughts, possible parkruns, self care on the trail, the power of the youth, fading a little down Herbert's Hole, gig report, a bit of poetry, a moment in a marathon to look out for, and then they're back in Chesham - where it's still Winter.

SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270

You can download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ld

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.

Paul and Rob start a long run from Chesham to the monument on Coombe Hill and back on a freezing cold Monday morning. Featuring a Sunday of preparation and a morning of vaseline application, backpacks and muddy tracks, opening chapters and wheeling raptors, countryside sights and electrolytes, stress dreams and what they might mean, George's run and Rudy's fun, 'every day is a life' = drinking with your wife, a bear-carrying bloke and an octopus joke, listener rage when we talk about age, Raworth's power and the end of the first hour.

SUBSCRIBE for early access, ad-free listening and more... and BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444 - and you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270

You can download Rob's show Long Distance Man here: gofasterstripe.com/ld

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary.