Welcome to the Marple Runners Podcast—the ultimate community sports podcast from Stockport. Looking for a running motivation podcast or inspiring personal stories? Hosts Mark and Neil share entertaining tales, 'on tour ' recordings, and featured stories from our amazing club. We capture real running stories, training highs, and race-day triumphs. Tune in to our podcast episodes and unique club stories that keep you moving. With the Chairman's blessing (or last rites!), we bring the heart of our club to your earpods. Take us on your next run.
We Are Marple Runners.
Web/IG/FB: @marplerunners
Mission: Impossible – 24 Hours or Bust (The Bullock Smithy Hike)
56 Miles, 7,000ft, & The Windgather Trophy: Our Golden Bullock Smithy Special!
To celebrate our milestone 20th episode, we are diving headfirst into an epic local legend. The historic Bullock Smithy Hike celebrated its Golden Anniversary over the weekend of 5th–6th September 2026. This brutal 56-mile circular route starting from Hazel Grove throws 7,000 feet of punishing Peak District elevation at anyone brave enough to face it.
An incredible 12 Marple Runners took on the challenge this year. In this episode, we sit down with 3 of our finest club members to hear firsthand tales from their grueling 19-hour adventure. Plus, they reveal exactly what it means to bring home the coveted Windgather Trophy… again!
Also packed into this episode:
Second Breakfast Energy: Eleanor tries her best to keep pace with all your latest jaw-dropping feats of running and endurance.
A Familiar Face: Our very first guest from Episode One returns and almost gets a proper birthday treat.
Mostly unscripted, completely focused on you not us, and the ultimate companion for your next training run. Pop us in your ear pods.
Mark, Neil & Eleanor
#WeAreMarpleRunners
16 Aug 2026
Ultra Running: Bob, Graham & Lisa too!
Can you run 66 miles, scale 42 peaks, and conquer 27,000 feet of elevation in under 24 hours?
Back in Episode 15, we chatted with Simon and Richard about the legendary Bob Graham Round. They were joined by Lisa Capes, who was deep in training for her own epic attempt. Today, Lisa is back to share her incredible triumph! On 15th May, she took on the Lake District's ultimate test. Tune in to hear about the brutal highs, the challenging lows, and what it is really like to trudge through the dark, solo, on one of the UK's toughest endurance challenges.
Also in this episode:
Ultra Eats: Mark pitches a wild new business venture to deliver ultra-runners snacks on the go.
Community Round-up: Eleanor brings us the latest race results, fresh PBs, and standout triumphs from our amazing Marple Runners family.
Mostly unscripted, completely focused on our local community, and the ultimate companion for your next training session. Pop us in your earpods.
Mark & Neil
#WeAreMarpleRunners
15 Jul 2026
Going Sub-40 with an Olympian; Mike's 40 under 40 experience
Can a local runner smash the elusive sub-40-minute 10k barrier under the guidance of a double Olympian? This week, we sit down with Marple Runner Mike Taylor to unpack his journey inside the elite Run North West 40 under 40 project.
Out of hundreds of regional applicants, Mike was selected for a grueling 9-week training program coached by Olympic legend Andy Butchart, all leading up to a high-stakes showdown at the Wilmslow Summer 10K.
Also in this episode:
Speed 4.0: Mark introduces Neil to a highly questionable tactic to lock in a brutal 4:00/km pacing rhythm,
And Eleanor takes us through the latest race results, personal bests, and standout triumphs from the amazing Marple Runners community.
Mostly unscripted, completely focused on the local running community, and the ultimate companion for your next training session. Pop us in your ear pods and let's go!
Mark & Neil
#WeAreMarpleRunners
Who has been a guest on Marple Runners Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Hannah
Helen
Lauren
John Bailey
Andy Lord
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 4 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
8
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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