21 | Becoming the Best

Is training off-road good for you, or does it put you at risk of injury? John Brewer and Paul Larkins dig into trail, grass and cross country running for older runners on Seasoned Strides, the podcast about running at an older age.In this episode:Is off-road running kinder on your body than pavement, or does uneven ground raise your injury risk?Can softer surfaces help you train more often as you get older?What are the pros and cons of trails, grass and cross country compared with road running?Are you more Jakob Ingebrigtsen or Paul Larkins? Which training approach suits you?Whether you’re a veteran runner, a masters athlete or returning to running later in life, this is a conversation on staying healthy so you can keep running for years.Subscribe for more episodes made for the runner who refuses to slow down.Get in touch: ⁠⁠[email protected]

Running with bad knees? John Brewer and Paul Larkins are joined by Dr Bernard Liew, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics at the University of Essex, to talk knee pain, joint health and running at an older age on Seasoned Strides.In this episode:Does running wear out your knees, or is that a myth?What does the research say about knee pain and older runners?What can runners do about knee niggles, from strength work to training changes?Whether you’re a veteran runner, a masters athlete or returning to running later in life, this is a conversation on keeping your knees healthy so you can keep running for years.Subscribe for more episodes made for the runner who refuses to slow down.Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]

Seasoned Strides is back for Season 2, the podcast about running at an older age. John Brewer and Paul Larkins are joined by Mike Gratton, 1983 London Marathon winner and 1982 Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist, to talk marathon running then and now.In this episode:How much difference do modern running shoes really make, from today’s carbon-plated super shoes back to the racing shoes of the 1980s?Do marathon runners carry much top-end speed?How has nutrition changed marathon racing, and what would you have used if running in the 80s?Whether you’re a veteran runner, a masters athlete or training for a marathon later in life, this is a conversation on running performance, training and longevity from someone who won one of the world’s biggest marathons.Subscribe for more episodes made for the runner who refuses to slow down.Get in touch: [email protected]

Paul Larkins and John Brewer sit down for the series finale to discuss all things running at an older age.Do supplements really work, or are they marketing hype? How can you get the most out of your diet? Can beetroots boost performance?We'll be back in a few weeks after our summer break! Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don't miss the next episode.Get in touch: [email protected]

Oklahoma State Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Dave Smith joins his former athlete Paul Larkins, and sports scientist John Brewer to discuss the US college system.Is US running booming? What perks do student-athletes have? What advice would professional coaches give to an older runner?Get in touch: [email protected]

John Brewer and Paul Larkins sit down to discuss the success, and challenges of the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships.Could you train like Keely Hodgkinson? Why are more older athetes winning more medals? Should you easy run on the track?Get in touch: [email protected]

Fresh back from a visit to the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, Paul Larkins and John Brewer sit down to discuss the European Athletics Championships.Just how impressive is Jakob Ingebrigtsen? What is the atmosphere like inside the stadium? How did John lose his mobile phone?Get in touch: [email protected]

John Brewer and Paul Larkins are joined by England Masters International Brian Corleys to discuss what it takes to get to the top of the sport.How do you become the best in a sport? Do serial winners still get imposter syndrome? Do Master's Champions wonder what their potential could have been if they started at a younger age?Get in touch: [email protected]

John Brewer and Paul Larkins are joined by Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games coach Mark Kirk to discuss the Glasgow 2026 Games.What's it like behind the scenes at a games? Is there a future for the Commonwealth Games? Why is this competition so important to some nations and athletes?Get in touch: [email protected]

John Brewer and Paul Larkins discuss Josh Kerr's incredible Mile Record set at the London Diamond LeagueHow much quicker is Josh Kerr than Paul Larkin? What time would Josh Kerr have finished a marathon in if he continued at that pace? Why are we seeing so many great performances by masters athletes?Get in touch: [email protected]