183: Is Athletics A Dying Sport? (And Can We Save It)

Following Josh Kerr’s comments that the prize money for breaking the One Mile World Record was “ridiculous” and “appalling”, we take a closer look at the state of athletics and ask a bigger question: why does one of the world’s most popular participation sports struggle to attract the audience and attention it deserves?

With low attendances at major events, including this week’s European Championships in Birmingham, and athletes increasingly questioning whether their performances are properly valued, we explore the disconnect between the millions of people who run and the relatively small number who watch athletics.

Andy shares his own journey to the world stage, the sacrifices it took to get there, and what success really meant to him. Was it the financial reward, the achievement itself, or the pride of representing your country?

We also look at what World Athletics is doing to modernise the sport, attract new audiences and make athletics a more attractive prospect - and ask whether these initiatives can actually secure the future of the sport.

The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.

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Episoder(233)

190: What is Running Culture Really Like Across The World?

In this week's episode, Rick recaps his trip to Los Angeles for the On Squad Race; we hear all about Sarah's hen do antics and Andy's expedition on the trails. And we dive into Tigst Assefa's performa...

3 Okt 37min

“I was truly humbled..." Andy’s First Trail Race Debrief (BONUS FREE EPISODE)

Andy shares a full debrief after his first-ever trail race, the 2 Valleys Trail Race, over the weekend.22km with over 400m of elevation meant Andy stepped completely out of his comfort zone, aiming to...

2 Okt 28min

189: How to Run Faster With Less Effort

Both Sarah and Rick ran their respective half marathon and one-mile races in Copenhagen, spending most of their races in Zone 4. They take a look at what they could work on to improve their running ec...

26 Sep 46min

188/3: Sarah Runs 1:41:53 at the Copenhagen Half Marathon... Full Debrief!

Sarah wraps up this three-part mini-series with a deep dive into her experience of running the Copenhagen Half Marathon, as part of the World Athletics Road Running Championships. After a challenging ...

21 Sep 34min

188/2: How to Plan and Execute the Ultimate Race Strategy

It’s Day 1 in Copenhagen, and Rick has a newfound respect for a very different type of race, as he recaps his experience of taking on the Mile - where he had one goal in mind: to beat Sarah’s best eff...

20 Sep 43min

188/1: The Secrets to a Perfect Race Week

This is Day 1 of our three-part mini-series in Copenhagen for the World Athletics Road Running Championships. In this episode, we’re getting into everything you need to know ahead of race week.From ca...

19 Sep 45min

187: Are Your Long Runs the Biggest Risk Factor for Injury?

Is the 10% rule for increasing your running mileage actually a myth? And are runners really honest with their physios about how much they’re training? This week, Andy, Sarah and Rick take a closer loo...

12 Sep 31min

186: HIIT or Heavy Weights: What Makes You A Better Runner?

HIIT or heavy weight lifting - which one is better for runners? That’s the question we’re answering in this week’s episode of The Running Channel Podcast.Both types of training have their benefits, bu...

5 Sep 44min