Running Tales

About Running Tales

Running Tales, presented and produced by husband and wife couple Michelle and Craig Lewis, aims to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners. There are so many wonderful and inspiring stories in the world of running - this podcast aims to give as many of them as possible the publicity they deserve.

Publisher

Michelle and Craig Lewis

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Mar 2020

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

184 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   James McLeod: One man's extraordinary running challenge to honour his dad

   James McLeod is better known as Jiggsy, a name given to him back in 2003 by his father, Jimmy McLeod. Sadly, in November last year, Jimmy took his own life at the age of just 52, the kind of loss which no family could ever be prepared for. But Jiggsy was determined that grief wouldn't become the end of the story. Instead, he wanted to use the loss of his father to create something that might help others. Already a keen runner, he set out on an extreme challenge to honour Jimmy's memory and raise vital funds for the If U Care Share Foundation (https://www.ifucareshare.co.uk). Throughout 2026, he will be running an average of 52 miles every week for the 52 weeks of the year, with every mile representing the hope that together we can all create a future where fewer families experience heartbreak. Jiggsy has already raised close to £5,500 - and he's not finished yet. In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to him about his memories of his father, why he decided to take on such a huge challenge, and how we should all be talking about suicide... Find out more about If U Care Share: www.ifucareshare.co.uk (https://www.ifucareshare.co.uk) Sponsor Jiggsy here: www.justgiving.com/page/2026jm (https://www.justgiving.com/page/2026jm) Follow Jiggsy on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084150664888) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jiggsy_mc07/). Visit Running Tales on: Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://runningtales.substack.com/) YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/runningtalespod) Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales. Buy Me A Coffee: Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales) Our affiliates: ◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: 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! If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://pathprojects.com/?avad=427649_d4a6b85c1) ◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace. Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.slothandduck.store/?sca_ref=10799816.AAnBhcRieXZzfDiH) ◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset. Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change. If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link⁠ (https://alnk.to/bEm14m6)

2. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Les and Jules Telford: Meet the 'Shit Runners' championing inclusivity

   Les and Jules Telford are members of one of the most inclusive clubs and brilliantly named running club around: The Shit Runners Club. Formed by Shaun Fagen, with the first group operating in Kendal, Cumbria, Shit Runners shuns pace, podiums and perfectly curated Strava posts in favour of showing up and getting out of the door. Les and Jules take the club's trail running group, helping new runners to learn about the sport and get fitter, healthier and happier. The couple, who are keen trail runners themselves, are also pushing back the boundaries on running as seniors, taking on races including the 47-mile (75km) The Lap around Lake Windermere. In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Les and Jules about the ethos behind the Shit Runners Club and why the BBC isn't the biggest fan of the club's name... Find out more about The Shit Runners: https://shitrunnersclub.co.uk Visit Running Tales on: Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://runningtales.substack.com/) YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/runningtalespod) Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales. Buy Me A Coffee: Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales) Our affiliates: ◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: 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! If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://pathprojects.com/?avad=427649_d4a6b85c1) ◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace. Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.slothandduck.store/?sca_ref=10799816.AAnBhcRieXZzfDiH) ◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset. Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change. If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link⁠ (https://alnk.to/bEm14m6)

3. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Ally O'Rourke: Head Boomeranger on founding the 10 Boomerangs parkrun project

   Ally O'Rourke is the founder of 10 Boomerangs, a project which has created community and brought enjoyment at parkrun events across the world. It was back in June 2024, when South Beach Recreation Reserve Run Director Ally decided to send those ten boomerangs out into the world. Starting at her Fremantle home in Australia, they have travelled the globe, meeting new temporary owners and taking in the sights and sounds of some of the world's largest cities and smallest towns. As each boomerang heads around the world their stories are shared on social media, building a new community while bolstering the already established one possessed by parkrun. Those stories are tracked on a Facebook page, ‘10 Boomerangs ParkFunning, A worldwide ParkFun adventure’ (https://www.facebook.com/10BoomerangsParkFunning?). So far, the boomerangs have visited a host of countries including America, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Namibia, South Africa, and - of course - the UK. In this episode of Running Tales, we spoke to Ally about why she started the project, whether she has been surprised by its success, and the moving story of Boomerang DellB6... Visit Running Tales on: Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://runningtales.substack.com/) YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/runningtalespod) Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales. Buy Me A Coffee: Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales) Our affiliates: ◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: 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! If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://pathprojects.com/?avad=427649_d4a6b85c1) ◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace. Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.slothandduck.store/?sca_ref=10799816.AAnBhcRieXZzfDiH) ◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset. Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change. If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link⁠ (https://alnk.to/bEm14m6)

Who has been a guest on Running Tales

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Steve Cushing
• Natalie Crawford
• Stephanie Reents
• Nikky Lilley
• Tony Letts

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

4,972

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

4.3 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 67 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

95

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

32

Contact Running Tales

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  MARMCAST

• 

  The News Agents

• 

  The Rest Is History

• 

  Short History Of...

• 

  The Rest Is Politics: US