12 Months to Marathon

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What happens when you discover running later in life?
In this episode, I sit down with presenter, ring announcer and event host Tom Campbell to talk about his running journey, mental health, and why getting back into running in your late 30s and early 40s can be genuinely life-changing.
We discuss:
🏃 Why Tom returned to running later in life
 🧠 How running has helped his mental health and mindset
 💪 Building confidence through challenging yourself
 🏅 His experience of the Great North Run
 🎤 Balancing a busy career with training
 ❤️ Why running is about so much more than pace and finish times
This is an honest conversation about finding something that improves both your physical and mental wellbeing, proving it's never too late to start.
Whether you're just beginning your running journey or looking for motivation to keep going, there's plenty to take away from this one.
If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review, share it with a friend, and follow me on Instagram @12monthstomarathon.

https://www.instagram.com/mrtomcampbell/ on Instagram  @mrtomcampbell 
YouTube: Tom is a regular presenter on the channel  https://www.youtube.com/@Cultaholic, where most people know him from. 
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Can running help you lose weight?
The answer is yes... but probably not in the way most people think.
In this episode, I draw on over 20 years of personal experience, my own 70lb weight loss journey, and 17 years of coaching people to lose weight and improve their fitness to explain where running fits into the bigger picture.
You'll learn:
 Whether running is an effective tool for fat loss 
 Why exercise alone rarely solves the problem 
 The biggest mindset mistake people make about their weight 
 Why you should separate your identity from the number on the scales 
 The "bottomless pit" problem with using exercise to burn calories 
 Why marathon training and weight loss need careful balance 
 How to use running as part of a sustainable long-term lifestyle 
 The mindset shift that helps people lose weight—and keep it off 
Whether you're training for your first marathon, hoping to lose a few pounds, or simply want a healthier relationship with running and your body, this episode will help you take a more balanced approach.
If you'd like support with your running or weight loss journey, you can find me on Instagram at @12monthstomarathon, or join my free running community via the link in my bio.
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What if running could be about more than pace, PBs and race medals?
In this episode, I sit down with Lucy Canham, founder of Run of a Kind Birmingham, a unique running community that combines running, local history, storytelling and exploration.
Lucy shares how her love of running, travel and meeting people through her career as airline cabin crew led her to discover running tours around the world—and ultimately inspired her to create something similar in Birmingham.
We discuss:
• How running became part of Lucy's life from a young age
 • The running tours that inspired Run of a Kind
 • Why Birmingham has more to offer than many people realise
 • The power of community in running
 • How running can combat loneliness and build confidence
 • Lessons from building a business from scratch
 • Why so many people underestimate what they're capable of
 • The difference between running for enjoyment and running for performance
 • How travel, fitness and connection can come together through running
Whether you're a runner, a business owner, a traveller, or simply someone looking to connect with others, this conversation is a reminder that running can open doors to experiences far beyond fitness.
You can find Lucy and Run of a Kind at:
📍 https://www.runofakindbirmingham.com/ 
 📍 Instagram: @runofakind.world
 📍 Lucy's Instagram: @lucyrunstheworld
Enjoy the episode. 🏃‍♀️🌍✨
Based on Episode 102 interview with Lucy Canham, founder of Run of a Kind Birmingham.
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What happens when you reach a point where enough is enough?
In this episode, I’m joined by Mark Simpson, whose journey from 25 stone (350lbs / 159kg) to completing his first half-marathon is one of the most inspiring stories we've featured on the podcast. 
Mark opens up about decades of struggling with his weight, being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the emotional impact of obesity, and the moment he decided to take control of his life.
We discuss:
 How Mark lost over 12 stone (168lbs / 76kg) 
 The role weight loss medication played in his transformation 
 Why consistency matters more than perfection 
 The mental and emotional challenges of long-term weight loss 
 Building confidence after years of feeling trapped 
 Discovering running and completing his first 10K and half-marathon 
 Social media, accountability, and inspiring others 
 Men's mental health and the importance of talking openly 
 Why is it never too late to change your life 
This is an honest conversation about health, self-belief, resilience, and what's possible when you decide to give yourself one more chance.
You can follow Mark's journey on Instagram:
@shrinking_simmo
If you're over 35 and training for a race, or simply looking for support with your running, you can join our free running community via the link in my Instagram bio:
@12monthstomarathon
If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review and share it with another runner. It really helps us reach more people. 
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In this special 100th episode of the podcast, I reflect on the biggest lessons I've learned from interviewing runners, marathoners, weight-loss success stories, world record holders, and everyday people who have achieved extraordinary things.
From first-time 5Ks to marathon finish lines, one theme keeps appearing:
You are capable of more than you think.
I also share some personal thoughts on mental health, self-identity, and the stories we attach to our running.
In this episode, we discuss:
• The most important lesson from 100 podcast episodes
 • Why curiosity is often more powerful than confidence
 • The problem with comparing your journey to other runners
 • Why there is no "right" distance to run
 • How social media can distort what's possible
 • The difference between data and identity
 • Why calling yourself a "slow runner" may be holding you back
 • Mental health, self-talk, and the stories we tell ourselves
 • How to stop attaching your self-worth to your running performances
 • Why your next challenge should be defined by you, not by anyone else
Whether you're training for your first 5K, chasing a marathon PB, or simply trying to become a healthier version of yourself, this episode is a reminder to stay open-minded, stay curious, and keep exploring what you're capable of.
Thank you for listening and for helping the podcast reach 100 episodes. Here's to the next 100. 💙
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