Motional Intelligence

I'm joined by Cole Gibbens to break down his London Marathon debut, where he ran 2:16 as a first-timer! We get into the training mistakes that led to a stress responses, the reality of disordered eating and under fueling in the men's running scene, and a hands-on look at the newly released Adidas Pro 5 - how it compares to the Pro 4 and what it means for race day. Raw, honest conversation about the parts of running nobody talking about enough.

Cole: https://www.instagram.com/colerunning/?hl=en-gb

Watch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WGIXQz6Pa0V9WIa4gIxOV?si=e19d4acb7b964eeb
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@motionalintelligencepod
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motionalintelligencepod

Calum's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/
Calum's TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@calumgoddard
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A

Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com

0:00 - Welcome & Introductions
1:36 - Tonbridge AC & Running Clubs
3:54 - Who Is Cole Gibbons?
5:20 - Running From a Young Age
9:37 - Childhood Running Ambitions
12:28 - The Complexity of Running
13:08 - What Is an Osteopath?
16:23 - Common Running Injuries
19:16 - Biomechanics & Social Media
20:17 - London Marathon 2025
22:25 - Elite vs Masses Start
25:08 - The Sub-2:20 Barrier
26:32 - Race Day Execution
28:50 - Heat Training Advantage
31:14 - Running Alone on the Mall
31:55 - Training Block & E-Scooter Injury
34:22 - Typical Training Week - 100 Miles
35:31 - Why Double Easy Runs
37:53 - Discipline & Running as Lifestyle
39:01 - YouTube & Post-London High
39:34 - Gold Medal Syndrome
40:53 - Berlin Marathon & Mileage Escalation
41:37 - Disordered Eating in Running
43:02 - Breaking the Cycle
45:01 - Fueling Rules for Runners
46:31 - Underfueling & Injuries
48:46 - Berlin Training - Gut Issues
51:09 - Finding a Good Space
51:33 - Stress Fracture & Comeback
52:54 - Coach Jonny Mellor
54:07 - Phantom Pain & MRI Scare
55:14 - Overcoming Injury
57:38 - Great North Run Comeback
58:58 - Less Volume, Better Results
59:45 - Great North Run Course Critique
1:01:32 - Race Splits & Execution
1:03:50 - Nailing the Race - 65:52
1:04:38 - Next Race Goals - Sub 2:15
1:05:47 - Working With Videographer Alex Philpot
1:08:03 - Shoe Chat - Alphafly 4 & Nike
1:11:12 - Training Without Carbon Shoes
1:11:42 - Adidas Pro 5 First Impressions
1:13:36 - Pro 5 for Heavier Runners
1:16:06 - Pro 5 Hands-On in Studio
1:17:48 - Catcalling - Girlfriend's Running Experience
1:20:55 - What Can Men Do?
1:24:52 - Outro & New Podcast

Back with September's fry up after a no-show in August and we've got a lot to catch up on... Fresh off a massive 14:19 5K personal best that his coach Mario was far from happy about, Hugo breaks down the race, the splits, the £200 Uber to Colchester. Hugo also recently got back from Australia after a DNS at Sydney Marathon due to illness! Nice catch up between the boys - listen or watch now!
Calum: https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/
Hugo: https://www.instagram.com/hugo.fry/
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@motionalintelligencepod
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motionalintelligencepod
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A
Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Welcome Back1:18 - 14:19 5K PB2:39 - Why Mario Wasn't Happy4:42 - The £200 Uber to Colchester8:32 - Post-Race & Bournemouth Heat Training11:53 - Brooks Shoes & Half Marathon PB15:33 - Track Night in Bournemouth19:11 - New Coach20:07 - Learning to Trust the Process25:30 - The Dog with Separation Anxiety27:54 - Australia & the Sydney Marathon30:54 - How Many Races a Year?33:18 - Getting Ill Before Sydney34:32 - Performance Pressure as a Creator37:43 - Business Class Flights44:11 - Honeymoon Planning46:19 - 350 Person Run Club in Sydney50:54 - Wearables & Heart Rate Data53:15 - Spencer Matthews & Coaching Drama55:50 - Sydney Marathon Recap58:33 - Running with Ran Japan60:25 - Ned Brockmann66:13 - Sydney vs New York Course67:44 - The Changing Running Content Landscape71:16 - Creator Authenticity & Brands78:07 - F1, Silverstone & Bazball80:19 - Upcoming Races: GNR, Manchester, Valencia83:53 - Palma 10K with TUI85:18 - Wrap Up

Marshall Exler is back on the pod! Content creator and Sarcoma UK ambassador joins for a raw, funny follow-up on turning grief into purpose after losing his wife Faye, solo world travel, being vulnerable online as a man, and training for the London Marathon 2027... Follow and rate 5 stars to support the show💛
His first episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4hkpCfH4OSDpNpy4aQhbrA?si=37d1ee4110c64c1b
Follow Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/marshallexler/?hl=en
Calum's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Calum's TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@calumgoddard ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com

0:00 - Intro
0:11 - Marshall Exler returns
3:34 - 100K for Faye: raising £97,000
14:52 - Solo travel and healing through content
19:56 - Living with grief two years on
26:15 - Announcing the London Marathon 2027
30:01 - Marathon terminology quiz
37:35 - Body image and the "shirt pull" meme
52:16 - What's next: fundraising, travel, and a possible podcast
53:33 - Getting married
54:01 - Room 101: pet peeves

FINALLY! We find out what really happened... This week I sat down with ultra runner Ayyoub El Osrouti AKA Ello. I travelled over to the Another Cotton Lab store in Düsseldorf, Germany just days after he completed one of the most dramatic backyard ultras ever seen... The Last Soul Ultra. Ello ran 93 loops (623.7km) over 4 days, battling Achilles issues, sleep deprivation, hallucinations, and an intense head-to-head rivalry with Mark Dowdle that went viral around the world. This was such a great chat and so so interesting to get inside the head of one of the greatest endurance runners in the world at the moment.Ello: https://www.instagram.com/anotherello/?hl=en
Follow on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@motionalintelligencepod⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/motionalintelligencepod⁠⁠⁠⁠
Calum's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/⁠⁠⁠⁠
Calum's TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@calumgoddard ⁠⁠⁠⁠
YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A ⁠⁠⁠⁠
Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com
00:00 - Intro: Ello's Last Soul Ultra result
00:50 - Welcome to the podcast
04:17 - How Ello's body feels after finishing
09:07 - Ello's PBs and race highlights (Ironman, London Marathon)
12:53 - Introducing the Last Soul Ultra rivalry story
19:30 - Bringing in elite coach Sam Harvey
30:46 - Back to the start line of this year's race
35:10 - The first mental barrier of a 4-day ultra
39:06 - The final 14 laps: it gets tense with Mark
49:01 - Ello's relationship with Mark Dowdle
58:12 - The viral finish line meltdown moment
1:03:09 - Fame, attention, and being an athlete vs. an influencer
1:06:04 - Room 101: what Ello can't stand about the race
1:08:43 - Fan questions: darkest thoughts, hallucinations, and more
1:16:36 - What's next for Ello: Moab 240

I sat down with George Rickwood to break down the Last Soul Ultra, the backyard ultra that took over the internet. We cover Mark Dowdle's last-minute private jet dash across Europe to complete 94 laps, Ello's heartbreaking collapse in the final stretch, and the biggest moments, controversies, and characters from one of the most-watched ultrarunning events ever. We also dive into George's own Backyard Ultra disqualification drama, the debate around live coverage in ultrarunning, sleep deprivation and race-day mind games, and George's next big challenge: a 24-hour track ultra.

George's first appearance: https://open.spotify.com/episode/380ch5ewRbfsCP8tXo7lJ3?si=e57d9544cf9b483b
Follow George: https://www.instagram.com/georgerickwood_/?hl=en
Follow on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@motionalintelligencepod⁠⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/motionalintelligencepod⁠⁠⁠
Calum's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/calumgoddard/⁠⁠⁠
Calum's TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@calumgoddard ⁠⁠⁠
YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@UC4g2mhwrlRBzXhAsyXVWz4A ⁠⁠⁠
Contact: motionalintelligencepod@gmail.com
00:00 Intro & Last Soul Ultra Overview
02:17 Meet the Founder & the Team Behind the Race
03:52 Backyard Ultra Format & Why It's So Popular
07:46 The Elite Field & How the Race Got Global Coverage
10:11 Mark Dowdle's Private Jet Sprint to the Start Line
13:20 How Mark Dowdle Went Viral During the Race
15:17 Backyard Ultra Coverage vs. Badwater 135 Debate
17:54 Max Jaluf's Badwater Controversy & Course Record
19:07 Mark Dowdle's Wild 94-Lap Finish
20:50 The Infamous Loop 87 Mind Games
21:04 Elo's Emotional Second-Place Collapse
23:19 Mark Dowdle vs. Harvey Lewis: Contrasting Mindsets
28:19 Sleep Deprivation, Hallucinations & Caffeine Strategy
30:35 Phil Gore's Project 168 Solo Backyard Ultra
32:38 Personal Relationships & Pacing in Ultra Running
36:00 Live Call With International Commentator Bryony
46:04 George's Suffolk Backyard Ultra Disqualification Story
50:31 The Russia Backyard Ultra Disqualification Scandal
54:31 George's Next Challenge: 24-Hour Track Ultra
58:46 Room 101: Ultra Running Pet Peeves
1:06:34 Goggins vs. Dowdle: Comparing Ultra Running Mindsets
1:09:01 George's Career Change & Move Into YouTube
1:13:28 Could Cal Qualify for the Olympics?
1:17:12 Injury Prevention: Sleep, Strength & Nutrition
1:20:00 Marathon du Médoc & Closing Thoughts
1:21:00 Outro & Next Week's Elo Interview