People Make Pyllon: Identity, Community and the Confidence to Keep Going (Final Part)

In this final part of our series with James Stewart, we return to the deeper questions that sit beneath every long run, every hard session, and every season of training: how do we stay connected to what matters, and how do we keep going when things get tough? This episode picks up where the last one left off - covering points six to ten from our list of ideas that influence long-term performance. From self-efficacy to community, identity to joy, we explore how these concepts shape how we train, how we lead, and how we show up in life. It’s a conversation about real resilience, the value of play, and how success so often depends on what you believe about yourself when things aren’t going to plan. If you’ve ever felt stuck, disconnected, or unsure where your motivation went, this one’s for you. In this episode: • Why confidence builds through small wins • How identity keeps you steady in hard times • Why community fuels long-term consistency • The role of fun in reframing pressure • How to balance play, purpose and progress • Advice for anyone feeling flat or lost in training 🔗 Stay connected Subscribe to The Ultra Life - weekly reflections from Paul on running, life and everything in between: 👉 https://pyllon.substack.com Watch short films, interviews and more: 👉 https://youtube.com/pyllon Follow on Instagram: 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllon 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllonultra Interested in coaching in 2026? Spaces are limited. Reach out early: 👉 https://pyllonultra.com

There are only 52 weeks in a year. In this quiet, reflective solo episode, I explore what that really means. Not in terms of productivity, discipline, or becoming a better version of yourself, but in how we live inside our weeks. How many pass unnoticed. How many blur together. How often we tell ourselves we will get to the things that matter later. This episode is an invitation to pause at the edge of a new year and ask a gentler, more honest question: What will you choose to remember? A meditative reflection on time, running, attention, and the small choices that shape a life, one week at a time. Listen. Read. Connect. 🎧 Pyllon Ultra Podcast Thoughtful conversations and reflections on running, life, and what it means to live the ultra life. 📝 Substack Long-form writing and quieter reflections. https://pyllon.substack.com 📷 Instagram Personal: https://pyllonultra.com

In this episode of People Make Pyllon, Paul speaks with Douglas Emslie,  a runner, entrepreneur and long-time coaching client who spent over 25 years building a global events business before selling it for over $1 billion. But this conversation is about more than business. It's about what it takes to build something that lasts, and how running can reflect that process. Douglas shares the lessons he's learned from a career lived at scale, the importance of consistency during turbulent times, and why people and purpose matter more than pace. They also explore Douglas’s personal path through grief, change and reinvention. That includes the launch of TrailCon, a new event designed to bring the trail running world together in a more open, collaborative way. Whether you're building a business, a coaching practice or a life in motion, this one is full of ideas worth holding on to. In this episode What building a billion dollar business teaches you about endurance How running supported Douglas through grief, travel and transition The story and vision behind TrailCon The value of long term thinking in business, sport and life What the trail world needs next How purpose and people build resilience 🔗 Stay connected Subscribe to The Ultra Life, Paul's weekly letter: 👉 https://pyllon.substack.com Watch films and episodes on YouTube: 👉 https://youtube.com/pyllon Follow on Instagram: 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllon 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllonultra Interested in coaching or collaboration? 👉 https://pyllonultra.com

In this episode of People Make Pyllon, Paul speaks with Alex Copley - a passionate runner and geologist who helps us see the ground beneath our feet in an entirely new way. From tectonic collisions to ancient mountain belts, Alex explains how the UK was shaped over hundreds of millions of years, and why understanding that history can change the way we run through the land today. They also talk about Greenland, recovery from toe surgery, and what it means to move through wild places with curiosity and care. Whether you love the science or just the trails, this one might make you look at your next run a little differently. In this episode How the UK and Scotland were formed What geology teaches us about time and perspective Why knowledge of the land can deepen your experience Thoughts on creativity, risk, and Arctic solitude Bonus: toenail removal, and why it was totally worth it 🔗 Stay connected Subscribe to The Ultra Life - weekly thoughts on running, life and everything in between: 👉 https://pyllon.substack.com Watch our latest films and conversations: 👉 https://youtube.com/pyllon Follow us on Instagram: 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllon 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllonultra Thinking about coaching in 2026? Spaces are limited. Reach out early: 👉 https://pyllonultra.com

What if the life you imagine - the one with more freedom, more courage, more meaning isn’t somewhere else, but just waiting beneath the surface of the one you already live? This short reflection invites you to pause, breathe, and consider what your “second life” might look like… and how much of it you could begin living now. It’s not a story about running, but it carries the same heartbeat - small steps, quiet change, and the courage to begin. A meditation for anyone standing at the edge of what’s next. Listen. Reflect. Begin. See you out there. pyllonultra.com | instagram.com/pyllon | youtube.com/pyllon | pyllon.substack.com

In the third instalment of our People Make Pyllon series with James Stewart, we explore the deeper forces that drive motivation, consistency and performance - and why fun, identity, and agency are often overlooked in training and coaching. We talk about joy as a performance enhancer, the neuroscience of fun, and how ownership and self-identity play a crucial role in how we train, recover and stick with it over time. This is a reflective and practical conversation for anyone rethinking how they show up in sport, life and work - and how to bring more meaning to the process. We only made it through the first five of ten planned themes - so look out for part four soon. 🧭 Show Notes In this episode, Paul and James dig into the real drivers of long-term performance and engagement: joy, identity and agency. It’s not about race results or training blocks: it’s about how we see ourselves, what we choose for ourselves, and how we make it all feel worth it. They cover five key ideas: Joy as a performance enhancer - Why joy improves consistency and psychological resilience The neuroscience of fun - How novelty, play and reward reinforce habit and learning Agency in training - Why taking ownership leads to better engagement and motivation Identity as a hidden driver - How seeing yourself as a runner influences daily choices Fun as protection against burnout - Why intentional variety and social connection matter Throughout the episode, they draw from coaching experiences, athlete stories, and personal shifts, reflecting on how and why we stick with the things we care about. This is for anyone trying to reconnect with the reason they started in the first place. 🔗 Links and extras Subscribe to The Ultra Life – Paul's weekly reflections on running, endurance and life: 👉 https://pyllon.substack.com Watch our latest short film Space to Return on YouTube: 👉 https://youtube.com/pyllon Follow us on Instagram: 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllon 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllonultra Explore coaching, community and more: 👉 https://pyllonultra.com

Show Notes: In this follow-up episode of People Make Pyllon, Paul reconnects with long-time athlete and coach James Stewart for another rich and honest conversation. From managing global travel and family life to balancing doctoral study, work, training and writing, James brings his usual clarity and candor to the table. They dive into how he structures his day, why routine matters more than motivation, and how AI might reshape the future of coaching, work, and even creativity. There’s a bigger conversation about what it means to stay engaged with the process  in running, in work, and in life. This is a thoughtful, practical episode for anyone who’s juggling multiple commitments and still trying to find meaning in their running. In this episode: How James uses structure and self-discipline to keep life on track The fine balance between routine and experimentation Why AI won’t replace coaches, and how it could actually make them better The joy of music and creativity outside of outcomes Why personal ownership is at the heart of leadership Running as a mirror for how we live, lead and adapt If you enjoy the conversation, please share it with someone else who might relate or leave a short review to help others find the show. More from Pyllon: Subscribe to The Ultra Life — weekly reflections from Paul on running, life and endurance: 👉 https://youtube.com/pyllon Follow along on Instagram: 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllon 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllonultra Explore coaching, community and more at: 👉 https://pyllonultra.com  

In this episode, Paul reconnects with long-time Pyllon athlete, coach and former podcast co-host James Stewart for the first conversation in a new series, People Make Pyllon - where we explore the lives, work and wider stories of runners in the Pyllon community. James has represented Great Britain, broken records, and worked at the sharp end of competitive ultrarunning, but this conversation is less about racing and more about life. They discuss what happens when running takes a step back, and how it still supports James's full-time leadership role, family life, and creative interests. They talk about injury, consistency, integrity, and why showing up matters more than chasing medals. James shares his evolving mindset as he begins doctoral research on the future of AI and work, and how he’s learning to value running not just for performance, but for what it gives back to the rest of life. Topics covered include: Returning from injury and rethinking goals Balancing work, family, running and personal growth Running at 4am, wherever you are in the world The "equilateral triangle" model of life Why self-integrity matters more than motivation Creativity, well-being and letting go of outcome The power and responsibility of AI in a changing world This is a thoughtful conversation about adapting, growing, and redefining what progress really means, both in running and in life. Links and extras Subscribe to The Ultra Life for weekly reflections from Paul: 👉 https://youtube.com/pyllon Follow along on Instagram: 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllon 👉 https://instagram.com/pyllonultra Explore coaching and more at: 👉 https://www.pyllonultra.com/

In this solo episode of the Pyllon Ultra Pod, Paul takes a slow, reflective journey into the deeper layers of endurance — not as sport, but as a human experience. Building on recent conversations with Jeev, Gus, and Alan, and echoing themes from his latest Substack essay “When the Race Strips Us Back,” this episode explores the emotional costs of going all in, the relationship between mind and body, and the quiet revelations that emerge through long efforts. Drawing on his own experiences; from winning the West Highland Way Race to breaking down in the New Zealand backcountry, Paul opens up about what it means to truly endure, and how suffering, presence, and stillness all play a part in uncovering who we really are. This isn’t a pep talk. It’s a pause. An invitation to feel more. To listen more. And to remember that the long run is more than training — it’s a way home. 🗝️ In This Episode Reflections from three powerful podcast guests - Jeev, Gus, and Alan, and what they revealed about vulnerability, calm, and transformation A behind-the-scenes look at Paul’s mindset during his WHW victory, and what real mental work means Honest stories from his Te Araroa journey across New Zealand - exhaustion, grief, and breakthrough The emotional cost of caring deeply and racing with your whole self Why endurance helps us build a true mind–body relationship The spiritual dimension of long efforts — and how they can reconnect us to what matters 5 powerful lessons endurance has taught over the years A challenge for your next long run: to listen, not chase ✨ Quote from the Episode “Longevity isn’t built on punishment. It’s built on partnership.” 🔗 Links & Resources Substack essay: When the Race Strips Us Back Instagram: @pyllon | @pyllonultra YouTube: youtube.com/pyllon Website: pyllonultra.com

In this special bonus episode of the Pyllon Ultra Pod, Paul speaks with Pyllon athlete Alan Hewitt, fresh from completing the gruelling Summer Spine Race — a 268-mile journey up the Pennine Way. But this isn’t just a race recap. Together, they explore what it means to commit fully, to endure the dark miles, and to discover a version of yourself you didn’t know existed. Alan opens up about foot pain, hallucinations, and emotional highs, but also the magic of watching the sunrise on Hadrian’s Wall — and what it truly means to go beyond potential. Whether you're deep in your own training or just curious what happens inside a challenge this big, this episode is about more than racing — it’s about becoming. Topics covered: Why the Summer Spine drew Alan in Training with purpose — and a pack Managing pain, panic, and perseverance The joy of sunrise on Hadrian’s Wall What personal growth really looks like Reflections on identity, commitment, and future goals Mentioned: The Pennine Way West Highland Way Race Cocodona 250 (future goal?) Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Pyllon: 🔗 @pyllon | @pyllonultra 🎥 YouTube.com/pyllon 🌐 pyllonultra.com