S5 Eps 5 Young Hearts, Run Free - Inside the Barkley Marathons with Graham Connolly - 1 April 2022

*Cue CONCH*

Baby, this is what you came for……….

No April Fools tomfoolery here at YHRF, 100% we’ve another humdinger of an episode for your listening pleasure, it’s no joke.

To start us of we treat you to a first. John & Steven have a new toy, a hairy toy. Our hairy pal joined us to capture a first stab at an outside broadcast, join your hosts for a walk and talk around the hallowed turf of the North Inch in Perth. A lap of the Anglo Celtic Plate course, with our typical twist on it.

Then it’s the start of some Barkley Marathons content we’ve all been waiting for, we’re joined by Graham Connolly. A Barkley Marathons support crew vet.

Graham was fortunate to make a return trip to Frozen Head State Park last month for the 2022 edition of ‘the race that eats its young’. A veritable Disney World for ultra-runners

He gives us a remarkable insight into what it’s like to be on the ground in a support capacity at the world’s most infamous endurance event. The logistics, the unpredictable weather, the camp atmosphere as well as lifting the lid on quite how demanding the role of runner support is.

The history, the characters, the behind the scenes. It’s all covered. Graham’s been entranced by the whole history of this unique event in the running calendar, that becomes apparent early on, and it’s hard not to be pulled into the magnificent Barkley universe.

We’re grateful to Graham for many things. But his Barkley escapades really made us feel part of this event. He caught up with Lazarus Lake, he chewed the fat with Keith Dunn, he even almost got a shot of Danger Dave’s Bugle! All whilst supporting our big pal, the boss man Paul Giblin.

Graham also made some new pals….and that is where things get even more interesting. He regales us, in an excited kid on Christmas morning style, about how he got to spend some time on the trail with a couple of Barkley Alumni. Frozen Ed Furtaw and Leonard Martin (yes, of Leonard’s Butt Slide fame). Not only did he spend a memorable mile with them out on the Barkley trail, but a chance request has also led Ed to agree to speak to the Young Hearts Run Free Podcast. And what an episode we’ve got coming right up as we welcome our first ever transatlantic guest…

So come on down and enjoy Graham’s effervescent craic and be treated to an alternative take on the Barkley Marathons.

*Cue Bugle*