Ian Williams was born with spina bifida myelomeningocele, a severe form of the condition.

At the time, outcomes were very uncertain, with a survival rate of about 70% and only around 15% of those born with the condition going on to walk unaided - let alone run.

Thanks to an operation in the early weeks of his life, and despite a risky school time pursuit of rugby, Ian bucked that trend and over the last 22 years has completed four marathons and two ultramarathons - including the London Marathon twice.

His journey is demonstrated not only by the races he has completed, but by a scar on the base of his spine that tells the story of the challenges he has overcome.

But Ian's story isn't confined to just his own achievements. In 2004, he founded Fetcheveryone, an independent UK running community which has more than 100,000 users today. In a world of Strava and Instagram influencers, it is a reminder that running is ultimately about community.

In this episode, we speak to Ian about the joys of running the 100m at school, taking part in events as varied as the London Marathon and Race to Meriden, and why the authentic nature of Fetcheveryone works...

Join the Fetcheveryone community.

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Our affiliates:

◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 30% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link

Abby Heffern is an ultra runner and coach, who achieved her dream of completing a 100-mile race at the start of this year.

Couple that with her desire to run not only more 100s, but also 200-mile events, and you might be forgiven for assuming Abby is one of those people who take to extreme endurance running like a duck to water.

The truth is very different, and Abby's Forgotten Florida 100 finish was actually the accumulation of seven years of hard work.

Her journey to 100 took in 13 'warm-up' ultras across a host of distances, and saw her struggle with gastrointestinal issues that threatened to sidetrack her dream.

But Abby's confidence remained unwavering throughout and she eventually used all the experience she had gained to finish as third lady at the race.

Fuelled by a love of the trails and the great outdoors, Abby had been embracing a need for speed and a desire to qualify for the Boston Marathon before she turned to ultra running.

As a running and strength coach, she knows what it takes to achieve hard things and instills the mantra that anything is possible into all her clients.

Abby is also the author of The Wild Dog Write-Up Substack page where she writes about her own experiences, as well as sharing advice and tips on how to become a better runner.

In this episode, we speak to Abby about how she overcame the 100-mile distance, her future plans, and what runners should do if they don't really feel like strength training...

Read The Wild Dog Write-Up on Substack

Visit Running Tales on:

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://runningtales.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/runningtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please Like and Subscribe wherever you listen, watch or read Running Tales.

Buy Me A Coffee:

Back Running Tales and help us continue to tell the extraordinary stories of everyday runners: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/runningtales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our affiliates:

◾TAKE THE BEST PATH: Path Projects offer some of the best running gear in the business.

I love this kit and it looks really cool even on a 48-year-old, decidedly average runner like me!

If you buy anything from Path Projects, Running Tales will get 10% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Path Projects Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

◾SLOTH & DUCK: More than a shop, Sloth & Duck is a movement celebrating the outdoors, purposeful living, and adventure at every pace.

Designed for trail runners and ultramarathoners, their kit is crafted to connect you to nature with comfort, intention, and a splash of whimsy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sloth & Duck Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

◾DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE: Kibra empowers women to embrace their unique beauty through high-quality activewear designed to cultivate confidence and a resilient mindset.

Their distinctive performance wear supports every journey, while they also partner with global NGOs to bring about meaningful change.

If you buy anything from Kibra, Running Tales will get 20% of whatever you pay to help us continue to produce this Substack and the podcast.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kibra Affiliate Link