#153 - Love Island Winner Kai Fagan Shares Rugby, Resilience & Life Lessons Ahead Of Manchester Marathon

On this episode of the RunThrough Podcast, Kai Fagan joins host Ben Sheppard to share his inspiring journey from rugby player and teacher to Love Island winner.Kai reflects on how his early life in rugby shaped his mindset, taught him resilience, and led him to play Rugby League for English universities. He also talks about his transition from teaching to reality TV, and how embracing opportunities and staying chill along the way has guided his personal growth and future ambitions.During the podcast, Kai receives a very unexpected text, adding a surprise twist to the conversation. He shares key life lessons about handling setbacks, seizing opportunities, and the role rugby played in his mental and emotional development. He also looks forward to the Manchester Marathon and shares his previous racing experiences.Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/Kai Fagan - https://www.instagram.com/kaifagan_/

Welcome back to The RunThrough Podcast. Today we’re joined by the incredible Chloe McNiven, a former professional dancer turned Guinness World Record holder and ultra marathon runner, as well as a mum of two.Chloe faced huge adversity growing up and was often told her dream of becoming a professional dancer wasn’t realistic. She left school at 15, worked as a cleaner on a building site, saved everything she could, and eventually moved to London where she put herself through dance school while juggling three jobs. That determination paid off and she went on to spend more than a decade performing alongside global stars including Elton John, Little Mix, Liam Payne, Robbie Williams and Zara Larsson.She later discovered running and it changed everything, ultimately leading her to set a Guinness World Record with RunThrough at Goodwood Motor Circuit, where she pushed a pram around 50K. She has since taken on huge endurance challenges, including running 50K in Wales while five months pregnant.In this episode, Ben Sheppard sits down with Chloe to talk about resilience, mental strength, motherhood and pushing far beyond what you think is possible.Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/Chloe McNiven - https://www.instagram.com/chloejmcniven/

Ultra runner Sam King joins the RunThrough Podcast fresh off completing an extraordinary 80 ultramarathons in 80 consecutive days.Once the world’s No.1 ranked player on Call of Duty, Sam weighed 19 stone and lived behind a screen before completely transforming his health and mindset through running. What began as a personal journey soon became something far bigger after his mum suffered a near-fatal brain bleed.Originally planning 74 ultras in 74 days, one for each year of her life, Sam kept going, running 50km every single day for 80 straight days and finishing outside her church with his mum there to see it. In conversation with host Ben Sheppard, he opens up about how purpose fuels performance, how he handled injury and setbacks, and why focusing on just one day at a time was the key to achieving something extraordinary.Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/Sam King - https://www.instagram.com/fatboysking/

Kat Matthews joins Ben Sheppard on the RunThrough Podcast to share her remarkable journey from serving as a physiotherapist in the British Army to becoming one of the world’s top Ironman triathletes.Kat is the IRONMAN Pro Series Champion for 2024 and 2025, a three-time Ironman World Championship runner-up, and has twice finished second at the 70.3 World Championships. With a personal best of 8 hours and 5 minutes 🏊‍♀️🚲🏃‍♀️, she continues to compete at the very highest level of endurance sport.In this episode, Ben and Kat discuss her transition from the army to professional triathlon, the discipline and consistency required to succeed at Ironman distance, and the unique coaching relationship she has with her husband. Kat also reflects on the serious accident she experienced in 2022, opening up about the rehabilitation process, the role of nutrition, and how redefining her goals strengthened her mindset.Kat and her family also recently joined RunThrough at Warwick Half, and let's just say this, we probably should have got Guinness World Records involved…Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/Kat Matthews - https://www.instagram.com/katr_matthews/

In this episode of the RunThrough Podcast, Angel Arutura shares the story behind her rise from a challenging childhood in Belfast to building a name for herself as a DJ and content creator. Growing up, music wasn’t just background noise; it was an escape, a source of strength and eventually the foundation for her career. Influenced early on by her father, a hip-hop instructor, Angel found connection and confidence through sound at a time when she needed it most.She opens up about navigating identity, representation and belonging and how her cultural roots have shaped both her perspective and her creative voice. Angel speaks honestly about self-doubt, the pressure to fit in and the resilience it took to back herself in an industry that isn’t always welcoming.Host Ben Sheppard guides a thoughtful and open conversation, digging into how Angel reframed fear as excitement, why moving to London unlocked new opportunities and how prioritising wellness became essential to sustaining her growth.From building community to embracing uncertainty, this episode is a powerful reminder that your past doesn’t limit your future and that staying true to who you are is often the boldest move you can make.Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/Angel Arutura - https://www.instagram.com/angelarutura/

In this episode of the RunThrough Podcast, we sit down with adventurer Mitch Hutchcraft, whose journey started with a bold promise at just six years old, to climb Mount Everest. That childhood dream eventually turned into something truly extraordinary: the longest climb in history. Mitch travelled an incredible 13,157 km under his own power, swimming, cycling, hiking and mountaineering all the way from England to the summit of Everest.The journey wasn’t easy. Along the way, Mitch battled injuries, exhaustion, and huge mental and physical challenges, but stayed driven by resilience, positivity and a strong sense of purpose. Host Ben Sheppard digs into how Mitch kept himself motivated through months of relentless effort, and what runners and endurance athletes can take from an expedition that pushed the limits of what’s possible.Mitch has since been nominated as one of just three people worldwide for the 21st Century Adventurer Awards 2026 — and he’s the only British nominee. Voting closes in one month, and if Mitch wins, £5,000 will be donated to the charity SAVSIM. To support Mitch, please share this episode and cast your vote via the official link: https://fr.eoft.eu/en/win/adventurer-award/voting#votingBen Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/Mitch Hutchcraft - https://www.instagram.com/_mitchhutch/?hl=en

On this episode of The RunThrough Podcast, Ange Everington, a full-time firefighter and content creator, shares her journey from dreaming of joining the fire service to actually living it. After facing plenty of rejections, Ange finally made it and started sharing her story online to inspire and educate others.The conversation with host Ben Sheppard dives into the importance of mental health for first responders and her initiative, the Blue Light Health Club, which focuses on supporting their wellbeing. Ange also opens up about handling social media, dealing with trolls, and why being vulnerable and building community matters so much in her work.Alongside all of this, she’s training for a marathon. If you’ve ever doubted yourself, listening to Ange will make you believe in your own potential more than you ever thought possible.Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/Ange Everington - https://www.instagram.com/angeeverington/

In this episode of the RunThrough Podcast, we are joined by George Rickwood, an ultra runner whose journey started just six years ago with training for a half marathon and has since taken him all the way to winning his first Backyard Ultra with 31 laps.George talks about how running has become a huge part of his life, why the mental side of ultra running is often tougher than the physical, and how ultra training is more about time on feet than speed. He shares some of his standout challenges, including one he's in RIGHT NOW, starting the year by running an extra kilometre every day for 66 days, racking up a massive 2,266 km, with the ARC 100 miler thrown into the mix.Hosted by Ben Sheppard, we also discuss the importance of the running community, the vulnerability of sharing the journey on social media, and why George believes most people are capable of pushing far beyond what they think is possible. Looking ahead, his focus is on continuing to improve while still enjoying the challenge that ultra running brings.Perfect listening if you are ultra-curious, into endurance mindset, or just love hearing how everyday runners end up doing big things.Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/George Rickwood - https://www.instagram.com/georgerickwood_/

Lauren Knott is a coach, community builder, and the founder of Let’s Run Manchester, a thriving ladies-only run club built to create inclusive, supportive spaces for women in running. After leaving the corporate world, Lauren followed her passion into the fitness industry, helping women of all abilities feel confident, welcomed, and empowered through movement.In this episode of The RunThrough Podcast, Lauren joins host Ben Sheppard for an honest and inspiring conversation about career change, community, and purpose. She opens up about the realities of stepping away from a traditional career, balancing passion with practicality, and learning how to set boundaries when working for yourself.Together, Ben and Lauren explore why female-only spaces in running matter, the role community plays in personal growth, and the importance of reflecting on progress rather than pace. Lauren also shares her vision for the future of Let’s Run Manchester, including plans for structured training blocks, and offers advice for anyone considering a big life change: lead with your heart and trust where it takes you.Join Lets Run Manchester - https://www.instagram.com/letsrunmanchester/Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/Lauren Knott - https://www.instagram.com/laurenknott_fit/

Journalist, author, and mental health campaigner Bryony Gordon joins Ben Sheppard on the RunThrough Podcast for an open and honest conversation about mental health, loneliness, and the power of human connection.Bryony shares how her personal struggles led to the creation of her charity Mental Health Mates and why loneliness can be a significant trigger for mental health challenges, something many people felt more acutely during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also recounts her recent Goodwood Challenge, where she ran as many laps as possible in the worst possible weather, in her underwear, to hit her fundraising target. Why? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out!Together, Bryony and Ben explore the importance of connection, breaking overwhelming tasks into smaller steps, and trusting yourself through both personal and creative journeys. They discuss the cathartic yet challenging process of writing, the impact of social media on wellbeing, and Bryony’s latest novel, People Pleaser which is available for pre-order now.Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/Bryony Gordon - https://www.instagram.com/bryonygordon/Watch Bryony's Goodwood Challenge Here