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Walk Your Own Race: Lessons Learned From Walking A 50km Ultramarathon

“It’s not the mountain we conquer, it’s ourselves.” Edmund Hillary

As I write this, I’ve started four ultra-marathons and finished three of them. I did the Race to the Stones 100km in a weekend (2016); Cotswold Way 50km (2017); Isle of Wight 50km (2018 — I dropped out at 22km); Chiltern Challenge 50km (2020). I’ve learned something new each time and my most recent event went absolutely perfectly. In this episode, I’ll share some of my thoughts, tips, and lessons learned.

Why would you want to do an ultra-marathon anyway?
Preparation and practical tips. Here’s my day hike kit list.
Event day
Walk/run/live your own race
Enjoy the journey, not just the destination
Sometimes, it’s OK to give up. The importance of self-care.
What’s your next challenge?
Books about walking

Header photo by Fidel Fernando on Unsplash

Facing Fears And Changing Your Mind While Traveling. Cycling Around The World With Doug Walsh

Unusual Places

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If you spend years planning your dream trip, what happens when life gets in the way? Do you change your plans or do you plow on regardless? Is the journey more important than the destination, and are you living in a way that honors that choice?

In this wide-ranging interview with Doug Walsh, we talk about how fears and expectations can shape our travel experiences, and what we can learn about ourselves as well as the places we visit along the way.

Doug Walsh is a former game strategy author and travel writer. His novel, Tailwinds Past Florence, is a romantic adventure with a time travel twist based on cycling around the world with his wife Kristen.

Show notes

Planning a trip around the world for six years and some of the highlights
The generosity of strangers
Learning about ourselves on long trips — especially when we have to face our fears along the way
Holding plans lightly and pivoting when necessary
Dealing with travel burn-out
Maintaining a healthy relationship while traveling with a partner
What happens when you get home after a big trip?
Recommended books

You can find Doug Walsh at DougWalsh.com

Murder In Paradise. Mallorca With JJ Marsh

Unusual Places

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“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” Ibn Battuta

Mallorca is a beautiful Spanish island in the Balearics, rich with history and culture, from the medieval architecture of Palma’s old town to the picturesque coastal village of Deia and the mountainous interior. Many come to the relaxed island for an escape, but others imagine murder in paradise.

In this interview, international crime author, JJ Marsh, talks about the inspiration of Mallorca and how she sees the world as an outsider, constructing stories from her travels.

JJ Marsh is the bestselling author of the Beatrice Stubbs crime series. Her latest book is The Woman in the Frame, set in Mallorca, which we’re talking about today.

Show notes

Why Mallorca is so enticing to visit and write about
The joy of older cities with lots of history
Seeing past the beauty of a place to write murder
Wine and food recommendations
Is there any truth to cultural stereotypes? Writing as an outsider.
Recommended books about or set on Mallorca

You can find JJ Marsh at JJMarshAuthor.com

Solo Long-Distance Walking In England With Holly Worton

Walking

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“Man’s real home is not a house, but the Road, and life itself is a journey to be walked on foot.” Bruce Chatwin

Walking for a longer-distance can bring clarity of mind, a reconnection with nature, and a sense of well-being that does not emerge with a short stroll. It takes time to settle into your physical body, and walking an ancient path can help take you into that deeper state. In this episode, I discuss our mutual love of long-distance walking with Holly Worton.

Holly Worton is the author of 17 nonfiction and self-help books around business mindset and personal growth, as well as long-distance walking and the wisdom of nature. She’s also the host of the Into The Woods Podcast.

Show notes

How long walks help us disconnect from our wired world
Planning and navigating the South Downs Way
Bucket list long walks
Tips for avoiding hiking mistakes
Preparing for all kinds of weather
Dealing with fears and having the right mindset
The restorative powers of nature
Recommended books about walking

You can find Holly Worton at HollyWorton.com

Header photo by Cat Bassano on Unsplash

History As A Fine Art. Victorian London With David Morrell

Unusual Places

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If you look below the surface of an ancient city, you can travel through time and find its deeper layers. In this episode, David Morrell talks about how he researched Victorian London for his historical mysteries about Thomas De Quincey, and how he brought to light the “chasms and sunless abysses” of the first British serial killer.

David Morrell is the multi-award-winning and many times bestselling author of over 30 books, as well as short stories, essays, comics, and collaborations that have sold millions of copies and are available in many different languages. He has a Ph.D. in American literature and was a professor of literature at the University of Iowa. His novel First Blood became the Rambo franchise, but today we’re talking about the Thomas De Quincey historical mysteries set in Victorian London. The first in the series is Murder as a Fine Art.

Show notes

Time travel through book research as a way of dealing with grief
Thomas De Quincy, addiction and the unconscious
How De Quincy invented the true crime genre
Finding inspiration in mid-Victorian London
Famous locations that inspire David’s work

You can find David Morrell at DavidMorrell.net

Header photo: St Pancras Station, finished in 1868 and abandoned by the 1960s. After much lobbying, it was restored to its glorious Victorian self and re-opened in 2007. It is one of my favorite stations in London!

Druids, Freemasons and Frankenstein. The Darker Side of Bath, England

Unusual Places

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Bath is known for its ancient Roman spa, medieval abbey, and sweeping Georgian terraces. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site in Somerset in the south-west of England and visitors often come on a circular cultural trip that takes in Stonehenge and Stratford-on-Avon.

But it’s not all Jane Austen bonnets, Regency dresses, and afternoon tea — there is a darker and more interesting side of Bath if you escape the tourist traps and explore the layers beneath. In this episode, I talk about the city I currently call home.

How finding a map shop helped me discover a different side to Bath
Curse tablets for an ancient goddess
Angels and demons and the dead of Bath Abbey
The city of Frankenstein
Ley lines, Druids and Freemasons
Walking the Kennet and Avon canal
Finding home in Bath during the pandemic
Recommended restaurants, bars, pubs and coffee shops away from the tourist traps
Recommended books about or set in Bath

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