Episodes

  • This is a special post-completion edition of the Te Araroa episodes. Paul is done. He's back in the UK but these Q&As were done in the immediate days after the run. So much of what you hear is raw and without the benefit of distance from the event.

    You will hear Paul talk about his experience, the trail, the learning, the emotions, how it feel to come so close and how hard it was to push for that. And what is next.

    This is not to be missed. Grab a cuppa and listen to what is an epic journey laid bare for your ears.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    To check out our Winter Base Training Plan visit the website

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms at at https://www.youtube.com/pyllon and James is on 'X' @james_stewart13 and instagram as @jamesstewart13 - if you have a question to submit get James at any of these handles.

  • The 3rd report from the trail is here

    Paul's epic 50 day journey continues. He is tackling the FKT on Te Araroa in New Zealand. A 3,000km journey across the entire country, water crosses, sea crossings and everything in between. To find out more about the journey visit the website here:

    In this 3rd episode Paul talks about the adventure of getting to the south island, the highs and lows of that milestone, the terrain, sleeping under mattresses in remote huts and battling pain, fatigue and the enormity of the trail.

    We have listener questions from Nikki, Gary & Greg on his trail confidence, nutrition, mindset and equipment. Paul also looks ahead to the final push, of over a week!

    We plan to record these around weekly whilst Paul is on the trail. You can follow in near real-time and get a feel for the journey Paul is on. And you can also submit questions to James (see below) to ask Paul in future episodes.

    Paul is thriving off of the interaction and contact while out there on the 10-14 hour days. Drop him a message and let him know how you are following and spread the love.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    To check out our Winter Base Training Plan visit the website

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms at at https://www.youtube.com/pyllon and James is on 'X' @james_stewart13 and instagram as @jamesstewart13 - if you have a question to submit get James at any of these handles.

  • Missing episodes?

    Click here to refresh the feed.

  • The 2nd report from the trail is here

    Paul's epic 50 day+ journey continues. It will last 50 days. He is tackling the FKT on Te Araroa in New Zealand. A 3,000km journey across the entire country, water crosses, sea crossings and everything in between. To find out more about the journey visit the website here:

    In this 2nd episode James sent Paul a few questions to get answers to and Paul responds "live" from the trail. But this time we have some listener questions. As before, you will hear birdsong, cars passing and Paul's footsteps as he runs and chats with us. And some breathless hill work!

    You will get a sense of the why, the journey so far, the joy, the highs, the lows and just how he keeps fed and clean on the trail. His trusty companions, Alice and Mya, are there supporting and their role is key. Hear more about that in the pod.

    We plan to record these around weekly whilst Paul is on the trail. You can follow in near real-time and get a feel for the journey Paul is on. And you can also submit questions to James (see below) to ask Paul in future episodes.

    Paul is thriving off of the interaction and contact while out there on the 10-14 hour days. Drop him a message and let him know how you are following and spread the love.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    To check out our Winter Base Training Plan visit the website

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms at at https://www.youtube.com/pyllon and James is on 'X' @james_stewart13 and instagram as @jamesstewart13 - if you have a question to submit get James at any of these handles.

  • The first in a special series of pods

    Paul Giblin is on an epic journey. It will last 50 days. He is tackling the FKT on Te Araroa in New Zealand. A 3,000km journey across the entire country, water crosses, sea crossings and everything in between. To find out more about the journey visit the website here:

    In the 1st special episode you will get a very different Pyllon podcast experience. James sent Paul 8 questions to get answers to and Paul responds "live" from the trail. It's not a conversation but an interview. You will hear birdsong, cars passing and Paul's footsteps as he runs and chats with us.

    Recording to place as Paul was on day 10. You will get a sense of the why, the journey so far, the joy, the highs, the lows and just how he keeps fed and clean on the trail. His trusty companions, Alice and Mya, are there supporting and their role is key. Hear more about that in the pod.

    We plan to record these around weekly whilst Paul is on the trail. You can follow in near real-time and get a feel for the journey Paul is on. And you can also submit questions to James (see below) to ask Paul in future episodes.

    Paul is thriving off of the interaction and contact while out there on the 10-14 hour days. Drop him a message and let him know how you are following and spread the love.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    To check out our Winter Base Training Plan visit the website

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms at at https://www.youtube.com/pyllon and James is on 'X' @james_stewart13 and instagram as @jamesstewart13 - if you have a question to submit get James at any of these handles.

  • Final Sprint of Series 8 already!

    This is the last in the series - it’s been us giving you our Top 6 training (and life) mistakes! For Number 6, it’s a cracker - it’s something that we are all prone to: Self-Deception.

    In this episode, we talk about the main dangers of self-deception and how you might combat them:

    Injury and BurnoutStunted GrowthUnrealistic ExpectationsMissed OpportunitiesMental Health

    James then goes on to talk about how those same dangers exist in our everyday lives and how it’s not all doom and gloom, providing us with the opportunity to be more vulnerable and ultimately live happier lives.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    To check out our Winter Base Training Plan visit the website

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms at at https://www.youtube.com/pyllon and James is on 'X' @james_stewart13 and instagram as @jamesstewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

  • Series 8 continues, and it's another Sprint Pod. James is back in this episode as the series on training mistakes continues.

    In Episode 5, you'll hear about the troubles of expectations not meeting reality. We'll talk about:

    Using data and inputs to set better goalsWhy your expectations should be anchored by reality How low expectation levels can stop you reaching your best performancesThe impact on our day-to-day lives

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    To check out our Winter Base Training Plan visit the website

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms at at https://www.youtube.com/pyllon and James is on 'X' @james_stewart13 and instagram as @jamesstewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

  • Series 8 continues, and it's another Sprint Pod. You're stuck with just Paul in this episode as the series on training mistakes continues.

    In Episode 4, you'll hear about 'the struggle of sticking to the plan'. We'll ask:

    Even when really motivated to reach your goal, why do so many people go off-plan? What do you need to be aware of in order to mitigate the risks?Have you ever found yourself in a continuous cycle of excitement > impatience > discouragement > abandonment?

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    To check out our Winter Base Training Plan visit the website

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms at at https://www.youtube.com/pyllon and James is on 'X' @james_stewart13 and instagram as @jamesstewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

  • Series 8 continues, and it's another Sprint Pod. Slightly bigger than bite-sized this time as we had a lot to talk about!

    This series we thought we'd give you the benefit of 15 years of run coaching experience and cover what we currently see as the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to training, and also how those mistakes turn up in your 'normal' life too.

    In Episode 3, you'll hear about 'the absence of passion'.

    What happens when you have enough motivation to train for something (like a race) or commit to a race calendar for the year ahead but you’re actually not all that passionate about it? What do you do about a lack of passion?How do you deal with the unhelpful suggestion of "just find your passion"?

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms at at https://www.youtube.com/pyllon and James is on 'X' @james_stewart13 and instagram

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

  • Series 8 continues, and it's another bite-sized Sprint Pod.

    This series we thought we'd give you the benefit of 15 years of run coaching experience and cover what we currently see as the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to training, and also how those mistakes turn up in your 'normal' life too.

    In Episode 2, you'll hear about 'Short-cuts'. Instead of just doing the necessary work we seem to invest a lot of time looking for short-cuts to get us where we want to go - quicker and more easily. But by doing that we end up being less engaged in the process, and looking for further short-cuts when we hit the next block.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on 'X' @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

  • We are back with Series 8, and it's another set of bit-sized Sprint Pods.

    These short podcasts around the 10 minute mark to give you something to think about as you move through your training and racing.

    This series we thought we'd give you the benefit of 15 years of run coaching experience and cover what we currently see as the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to training, and also how those mistakes turn up in your 'normal' life too.

    In Episode 1, you'll hear about 'Comparison'. We seem to be driven to making comparison in a lot of areas, and whilst it's a useful check-in for making progress it can be damaging too. You'll hesr from Paul on training, and James on life. Enjoy.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on Twitter @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

    Next session will be diving deeper into AWARENESS!

  • In the last episode James and Paul talked through the last part of their ATAK approach to challenging situations. They shared some detail on how they’ve made the approach work and when they haven’t had the awareness or control to turn a hard time into a good experience.

    So the theory is good, but it can be really easy to stall at any step.

    In this, the final episode of the series - #TeamPyllon runner Ally McColl talks about his own views on ATAK. Ally has a few specific races in mind to illustrate the benefits and the potential blockers - both examples having very different outcomes!

    If you’d like to join the team, work with a Pyllon Coach or buy a Pyllon training programme please check out the website at www.pyllonultra.com.

    If you would like to collaborate with us please get in touch: [email protected]

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on Twitter @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

  • A to the motherfunkin' K homeboy!

    We are busting our way towards the end of this series on our ATAK model for dealing with challenges in racing, training and life.

    If you haven't already listened to the intro episode please start there!

    In this episode we break the 12 min structure and have both James and Paul discussing the final piece of the jigsaw. In this episode they'll talk about:

    Why 'Kick Ass' is not an instruction but a state of mindWhat they will take into their own training and racingWhat to look out for in terms of traps along the way

    We'll do one more episode and be joined by one of our TeamPyllon athletes to discuss learnings and alternative approcahes.

    If you’d like to join the team, work with a Pyllon Coach or buy a Pyllon training programme please check out the website at www.pyllonultra.com.

    If you would like to collaborate with us please get in touch: [email protected]

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on Twitter @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

  • As we continue with Series 7 of the Sprint Pods, James Stewart is back, and he's taking ACTION!

    This is a follow-on from the last episode where Paul tackled 'Thinking', on our journey through our ATAK model for dealing with challenges in racing, training and life.

    If you haven't already listened to the intro episode please start there!

    In this episode James talks specifically about:

    The importance of acting on the awareness and thinkingTactical and strategic differencesHow in-action could have lost him one of his finest race performances

    We'll finish up the final part of ATAK in the next episode :)

    If you’d like to join the team, work with a Pyllon Coach or buy a Pyllon training programme please check out the website at www.pyllonultra.com.

    If you would like to collaborate with us please get in touch: [email protected]

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on Twitter @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

    Next session will be diving deeper into KICKING ASS!!!

  • As we continue with Series 7 of the Sprint Pods, Pyllon Head Coach Paul Giblin returns to talk about the 'thinking mind' in racing - when things aren’t going as planned.

    This is a follow-on from the last episode where James tackled Awareness, on our journey through our ATAK model for dealing with challenges.

    If you haven't already listened to the intro episode please start there!

    In this episode Paul talks specifically about:

    Decision-making and strategyProblem-solvingRe-focusingEnjoyment

    Some of these might end up as separate longer-form conversations, but provide some areas to be aware of in the heat and emotions of racing.

    If you’d like to join the team, work with a Pyllon Coach or buy a Pyllon training programme please check out the website at www.pyllonultra.com.

    If you would like to collaborate with us please get in touch: [email protected]

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on Twitter @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

    Next session will be diving deeper into ACTION!

  • We are back! Series 7 of the Sprint Pods is underway.

    These are short podcasts around the 10 minute mark to give you something to think about as you move through your training and racing.

    If you haven't already listened to the intro episode please start there! We'll be talking about an approach to dealing with tough times in racing, and developing an approach to take your race craft to a new level. We call it ATAK.

    In the first main episode James tackles AWARENESS. You can't begin to sort an issue if you don't know exactly what you are facing and accepting that there is indeed a problem. It's a key stage in improving your situation and weighting up options - which we'll talk about in the next episode.

    As always, our thinking is always adaptable to normal life outside of running too. So please dig out those headphones and let us know what you think.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on Twitter @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

    Next session will be diving deeper into THINKING!

  • We are back! Series 7 of the Sprint Pods is on its way.

    Short podcasts around the 10 minute mark to give you something to think about as you move through your training and racing.

    In this introduction James will introduce a Pyllon-specific approach to overcoming challenges when you are out there in the heat of racing or just trying to work through a tough training plan or session.

    As always, our thinking is always adaptable to normal life outside of running too. So please dig out those headphones and let us know what you think.

    James talks ATAK!! :)

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Follow us on socials @pyllonultra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on Twitter @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

    Next session will be diving deeper into AWARENESS!

  • Pyllon Ultra Podcast.

    BONUS EPISODE.

    This isn’t the start of the next series of our shorter sprint pods. We just couldn’t miss the opportunity to talk about a pretty special run from one of our Pyllon athletes - Romy Beard.

    Running a West Highland Way is a big under-taking for anyone. But Romy decided to tackle the High Route, which like the trail, finishes in Fort William. It just has significantly more ascent, covers some seriously rough ground and is a navigation challenge all of its own!

    Romy was kind enough to share some of her adventure with Paul, and John (her coach at Pyllon).

    Not to be missed! :)

    You can connect with the Pyllon Ultra team on twitter and instagram @pyllonultra or check out the website at www.pyllonultra.com

    Paul is on Twitter and instagram @Pyllon

    John is on instagram @johnconnolly

  • We are ready to wrap up this Sprint series of pods on the subject of belief and confidence.

    Paul and James finally get together again to chat through any thoughts and learnings from the last series. Some useful discussion including:

    - How James has built his confidence ahead of his race this coming weekend

    - How you can buy into believing more of the positive self-talk

    - Why self integrity is crucial

    - Some useful tools for building confidence

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. Pyllon is on socials as @pyllonulotra.

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on Twitter @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

  • We will shortly be recording the summary of the last series of Sprint Pods, and we'd love to hear from you, as we can then discuss any observations and comments.

    This is a medley of the sprint series as a reminder of what we discussed. It's all 5 episodes in one handy podcast - it's centred on confidence and identifying how and where you can sharpen up your mind so that you can train better and race more effectively.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you. You can find us @pyllonultra and can reach Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James @james_stewart13

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

  • Welcome back to the Pyllon ultra Pod.

    If you've listened to the last few episodes you will already be aware that we are focusing on confidence and self belief in this series of short podcasts.

    This is the last of the short episodes in this series. Paul takes back the mic to talk about the threats to our self-belief and why it's important to improve your own awareness so that you can better handle these threats when they come knocking.

    In the series finale - James and Paul will get together to spend a bit more time reviewing the series and asking some of the questions we know you have. Please feel free to get involved and send us any of your questions or observations and we'll try and cover them off in the next week.

    If you liked the pod give us a 5* review below and drop us a line. The best feedback is hearing from you. We love to get your insight as to what the episodes and sprints spark in you.

    Join us on instagram: @pyllonultra

    Join our Team Pyllon Facebook group

    You can get Paul on @pyllon on all social media platforms and James is on Twitter @james_stewart13

    If you listened to Episode 3, there's some further reading on the Pyllon Ultra website.

    To find out more about the support and coaching Pyllon offers go to www.pyllonultra.com

    Thanks for listening.