Struggling with his mental health and looking to lose weight, Ross Thompson made the decision to start running around a year ago.

At first it was a struggle, and Ross was left wondering if running was for him. But he slowly grew to like it, and his efforts were supercharged when he took the decision to create his alter ego: The Orange Running Guy.

Suddenly, his running was more than just a battle with himself. Ross was growing a network of running friends across social media, inspiring him just as he provided them with inspiration.

Now, he has gone from 5k parkruns to planning his first 10k race at the Wolverhampton 10k - which finishes in the stadium of his beloved and orange-wearing Wolverhampton Wanderers. He is even hoping to complete 50k at Endure 24 later this year.

Running Tales spoke to Ross about how running has changed his life, gathering community and aiming to inspire others, and how his daughter created The Orange Running Guy...

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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!

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Like so many other people, Sam Kirchin started running during the Covid pandemic.

The rugby lover said he had been putting on weight even before lockdown started, so turned to running.

He initially hated it, but continued to increase his distance and even started to take part in races.

One person who was always spurring him on was his wife, Lyndsey, who took the decision to enter Sam into the London Marathon - an event he has now completed three times.

The couple even completed the London Landmarks Half-Marathon together, despite Lyndsey not having been a runner.

But, tragically, in January 2024, Sam was hit with an incomprehensible blow when Lyndsey sadly passed away following complications with an existing liver condition.

Unsurprisingly, Sam - who has five children with Lyndsey - went through some dark times, but when he needed them most his running friends - including people he barely knew - were there for him.

First among those who helped were members of Fordy Runs, the club he had already been a member of, while he was also embraced at the parkrun community.

Sam told Running Tales he didn't know where he would be without their support. In our conversation, he revealed how he loves helping others achieve their goals as a parkrun pacer, how he found help from people and places he didn't expect to, and his 5k goal for 2026...

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Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Buy Me A Coffee:

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

Path Projects:

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!

Visit Path Projects via this link and back Running Tales in the process (affiliate link).

Fordy Runs:

Find out more about Fordy Runs: https://www.fordyruns.com

Listen to Sam's episode son Fordy Runs Running Club TV.

While most people were heralding the start of the new year with something fizzy or sleeping as fireworks went off outside, Jack Syder-Mills was welcoming 2026 in an entirely different way.

The Norwich-based runner was heading out to the trails surrounding his home to tackle six half-marathons on New Year's Day.

Jack was taking on the extreme challenge to raise money for the Brain Tumour Research charity. It came after his sister, Ella, was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was just 22 - incredibly something the then-neuroscience student had self-diagnosed.

While the run would prove tough at times, it was far from the first time Jack has taken on long-distance events. Despite having only started running a few years ago, he has already completed several 50k and 50 mile races and has his sights set on the 100km distance.

Running Tales spoke to Jack about his almost spiritual love of trail running, how he plans to raise more money for Brain Tumour Research by running from Norwich to London, and why he swapped fireworks for fundraising on New Year's Day...

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You can still sponsor Jack and help raise vital funds for Brain Tumour Research via this link.