S5 Eps 2 Young Hearts, Run Free - Running is the Remedy with Jenni Rees-Jenkins - 11 March 2022

In this week’s episode we are really chuffed to eventually catch-up with Aberdeenshire based ultra-runner Jenni Rees-Jenkins. She's been in our sights for a while and with John's newfound speed training we've somehow caught up with her. And boyo was it worth it....

We kick off proceedings with some John n Steven chatter. The Barkley Marathons tops our agenda as we start by analysing the 'race that eats it's young', lucky for us we had a few pals reporting live from Frozen Head State Park. We then have an announcement, our local running festival in Auchterarder is returning to in person racing and taking place on 10 & 11 September 2022, entries open this Sunday! In non-running chat, or food chat as we call it, we find out foods John has never tried....is it melon? is it mango? All is revealed!

Then Jenni joins us for a most chilled out chat on her own remarkable running story. Jenni first captured us when we started out ultra-marathoning ourselves, she was/is an absolute 'kent face' in the Scottish ultra-community. With regular podium finishes she's also proved to be quite the athlete too.

We chart Jenni's progress and find out such a refreshing outlook and spirit for running that's it's hard not be entranced. She talks openly and honestly about the reasons she runs with mental health and weight control cropping up. Running gives her sanity, now how many of us can relate to that?

Her running though has allowed Jenni to find her tribe. What started out as 10k's soon became half's and then on to marathon distances before finding the wonderful world of ultra-marathons where she has achieved so much but more importantly made lifelong friendships and bonds with so many.

2016 saw Jenni compete in 20 ultras and the reason for that is one that sums up her approach to running so well, listen in to find out how things went a little crazy that year.

Now firmly part of the ultra-running family Jenni has learned so much along the way and she's happy to share her lessons with us all. A talented storyteller we're sure you'll enjoy her tales from race experiences every bit as much as we did. With Bob Graham Rounds and Lakeland 100 in her sights for 2022 she's got plenty of chapters still to write too.

As Jenni says herself 'the journey is more important than any PB's'. We agree. Enjoy our chat with the wonderful JRJ. Run Free.