The Tea & Trails Podcast

This week we’re joined by physics teacher and West Highland Way – Great Glen FKT holder, Freya Shepherd.
It’s an incredible story of learning, grit and resilience. After her first attempt ended early at Fort William, Freya dusted herself off, rallied an army of friends and family, and went back out to complete the full 175‑mile journey in 2 days, 15 hours, 43 minutes and 16 seconds.
She talks us through the highs, the lows, the wobbly moments, the hallucinations, the power of community, and of course, every snack that kept her moving forward.
HARRIER - Use code TATP10 for 10% off - https://harrierrunfree.avln.me/c/qXhnTgIdEMea

XMILES UK - Listeners receive 10% of their order value back as store credit via the link - https://xmiles.avln.me/c/RiwxnARvfHeR

FENIX LIGHT LTD - Use code T&T5 for 5% - https://www.fenixlight.co.uk/

PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION - Use code TEA2026 for 15% off your first order
PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION PLANNER - https://visit.pfandh.com/3RuP25z
STRAVA - Use code TEA for 20% off an annual membership - #StravaPartner #Ad
https://www.strava.com/subscribe/checkout?code=TEA
ASCEND APP - Use code TeaandTrails30 to receive 30% off a monthly subscription.
https://ascendtrailapp.avln.me/c/MOwNWISPDOwi
Content may contain affiliate links which help support and grow this channel at no extra cost to you.
Brew with the Coaches - CLICK HERE
Hardmoors - https://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/
Trail Outlaws - https://www.trailoutlaws.com/
13 Valleys Ultra - https://www.13valleysultra.com/
Beyond Trails - https://www.beyondtrails.co.uk/
Hellfire Events - https://www.hellfireevents.com/
Dales Runner - https://dalesrunner.co.uk/
Hannah Walsh - https://www.hannahwalsh.co.uk/
Punk Panther - https://www.punkpanther.co.uk/
Pen Llyn Ultra - https://penllyn.niftyentries.com/
Raw Adventures - https://www.raw-adventures.co.uk/
XNRG - https://www.xnrg.co.uk/

This week on the Tea & Trails podcast, Gary squeezed in a Bob Graham support and a race. Not exactly the textbook taper, but he had such a cracking weekend and wouldn’t change a thing. And unbelievably, after all those months of graft, the Hardmoors 200 is now just one week away.
Meanwhile, Eddie is on the injury bench with a herniated disc flare‑up. Grim timing as she gears up for the Spine, and we’re all crossing fingers and toes it doesn’t keep her off the trails for long.
The coaches dig into a great listener question about bonking late in The Lap Ultra, what went wrong, what to learn, and how to avoid that death‑march shuffle next time.
And finally, Eddie and Gary chew the fat about an absolutely wild Cocodona 250, including a sensational run from Precision Fuel & Hydration athlete Rachel Entrekin. Truly incredible stuff.
HARRIER - Use code TATP10 for 10% off - https://harrierrunfree.avln.me/c/qXhnTgIdEMea

XMILES UK - Listeners receive 10% of their order value back as store credit via the link - https://xmiles.avln.me/c/RiwxnARvfHeR

FENIX LIGHT LTD - Use code T&T5 for 5% - https://www.fenixlight.co.uk/

PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION - Use code TEA2026 for 15% off your first order
PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION PLANNER - https://visit.pfandh.com/3RuP25z
STRAVA - Use code TEA for 20% off an annual membership - #StravaPartner #Ad
https://www.strava.com/subscribe/checkout?code=TEA
ASCEND APP - Use code TeaandTrails30 to receive 30% off a monthly subscription.
https://ascendtrailapp.avln.me/c/MOwNWISPDOwi
Content may contain affiliate links which help support and grow this channel at no extra cost to you.
Brew with the Coaches - CLICK HERE
Hardmoors - https://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/
Trail Outlaws - https://www.trailoutlaws.com/
13 Valleys Ultra - https://www.13valleysultra.com/
Beyond Trails - https://www.beyondtrails.co.uk/
Hellfire Events - https://www.hellfireevents.com/
Dales Runner - https://dalesrunner.co.uk/
Hannah Walsh - https://www.hannahwalsh.co.uk/
Punk Panther - https://www.punkpanther.co.uk/
Pen Llyn Ultra - https://penllyn.niftyentries.com/
Raw Adventures - https://www.raw-adventures.co.uk/
XNRG - https://www.xnrg.co.uk/

We are so lucky to bring you the brilliant Stu Edwards this week. Stu is part of the team behind the Reverse London Marathon, and if you’re wondering what that is, you’re in for a treat. It’s an incredible community who gather in Trafalgar Square the night before the London Marathon and run the entire route in reverse.
It’s a magical way to see the city at night, and it’s all wrapped up in some seriously impressive fundraising.
Stu brought huge energy to our chat, and his enthusiasm shone through from start to finish.
HARRIER - Use code TATP10 for 10% off - https://harrierrunfree.avln.me/c/qXhnTgIdEMea

XMILES UK - Listeners receive 10% of their order value back as store credit via the link - https://xmiles.avln.me/c/RiwxnARvfHeR

FENIX LIGHT LTD - Use code T&T5 for 5% - https://www.fenixlight.co.uk/

PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION - Use code TEA2026 for 15% off your first order
PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION PLANNER - https://visit.pfandh.com/3RuP25z
STRAVA - Use code TEA for 20% off an annual membership - #StravaPartner #Ad
https://www.strava.com/subscribe/checkout?code=TEA
ASCEND APP - Use code TeaandTrails30 to receive 30% off a monthly subscription.
https://ascendtrailapp.avln.me/c/MOwNWISPDOwi
Content may contain affiliate links which help support and grow this channel at no extra cost to you.
Brew with the Coaches - CLICK HERE
Hardmoors - https://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/
Trail Outlaws - https://www.trailoutlaws.com/
13 Valleys Ultra - https://www.13valleysultra.com/
Beyond Trails - https://www.beyondtrails.co.uk/
Hellfire Events - https://www.hellfireevents.com/
Dales Runner - https://dalesrunner.co.uk/
Hannah Walsh - https://www.hannahwalsh.co.uk/
Punk Panther - https://www.punkpanther.co.uk/
Pen Llyn Ultra - https://penllyn.niftyentries.com/
Raw Adventures - https://www.raw-adventures.co.uk/
XNRG - https://www.xnrg.co.uk/

This week on the Tea & Trails podcast we’re talking all things Stair Stepper, how to use it, when to use it. Neither Gary nor Eddie are exactly Stepper superfans, but we know plenty of you swear by it for your vert, so we’re diving in.
Eddie also pops on her coaching hat to chat about the classic back‑to‑back long run versus Gary’s preferred method: the double… but absolutely not back‑to‑back long runs.
We also cast our eyes across the pond for a pinch of inspiration from the mighty Cocodona 250!
Meanwhile, another week of Hardmoors 200 and Spine Race training is in the bank, and you lot have been absolutely smashing it over on Strava, big miles, big races, big energy. We’ve got a cracking Tales from the Trail and a Heavy Flex lined up too.
HARRIER - Use code TATP10 for 10% off - https://harrierrunfree.avln.me/c/qXhnTgIdEMea

XMILES UK - Listeners receive 10% of their order value back as store credit via the link - https://xmiles.avln.me/c/RiwxnARvfHeR

FENIX LIGHT LTD - Use code T&T5 for 5% - https://www.fenixlight.co.uk/

PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION - Use code TEA2026 for 15% off your first order
PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION PLANNER - https://visit.pfandh.com/3RuP25z
STRAVA - Use code TEA for 20% off an annual membership - #StravaPartner #Ad
https://www.strava.com/subscribe/checkout?code=TEA
ASCEND APP - Use code TeaandTrails30 to receive 30% off a monthly subscription.
https://ascendtrailapp.avln.me/c/MOwNWISPDOwi
Content may contain affiliate links which help support and grow this channel at no extra cost to you.
Brew with the Coaches - CLICK HERE
Hardmoors - https://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/
Trail Outlaws - https://www.trailoutlaws.com/
13 Valleys Ultra - https://www.13valleysultra.com/
Beyond Trails - https://www.beyondtrails.co.uk/
Hellfire Events - https://www.hellfireevents.com/
Dales Runner - https://dalesrunner.co.uk/
Hannah Walsh - https://www.hannahwalsh.co.uk/
Punk Panther - https://www.punkpanther.co.uk/
Pen Llyn Ultra - https://penllyn.niftyentries.com/
Raw Adventures - https://www.raw-adventures.co.uk/
XNRG - https://www.xnrg.co.uk/

This week we sit down with the very talented, and equally humble, Barney Plummer. The Helm Hill athlete has been making serious waves on the UK trail scene, stacking up wins and course records at some of the country’s most competitive races. It was his first time on Tea & Trails, which meant the conversation wandered a bit... Boat crashes, tea etiquette, road marathons, The Lap, The 13 Valleys Ultra, Old County Tops, and of course his incredible victory at the 2026 Fellsman. 
https://fellsman.org.uk/
Pic Credit - @andymiltonphotography
HARRIER - Use code TATP10 for 10% off - https://harrierrunfree.avln.me/c/qXhnTgIdEMea

XMILES UK - Listeners receive 10% of their order value back as store credit via the link - https://xmiles.avln.me/c/RiwxnARvfHeR

FENIX LIGHT LTD - Use code T&T5 for 5% - https://www.fenixlight.co.uk/

PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION - Use code TEA2026 for 15% off your first order
PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION PLANNER - https://visit.pfandh.com/3RuP25z
STRAVA - Use code TEA for 20% off an annual membership - #StravaPartner #Ad
https://www.strava.com/subscribe/checkout?code=TEA
ASCEND APP - Use code TeaandTrails30 to receive 30% off a monthly subscription.
https://ascendtrailapp.avln.me/c/MOwNWISPDOwi
Content may contain affiliate links which help support and grow this channel at no extra cost to you.
Brew with the Coaches - CLICK HERE
Hardmoors - https://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/
Trail Outlaws - https://www.trailoutlaws.com/
13 Valleys Ultra - https://www.13valleysultra.com/
Beyond Trails - https://www.beyondtrails.co.uk/
Hellfire Events - https://www.hellfireevents.com/
Dales Runner - https://dalesrunner.co.uk/
Hannah Walsh - https://www.hannahwalsh.co.uk/
Punk Panther - https://www.punkpanther.co.uk/
Pen Llyn Ultra - https://penllyn.niftyentries.com/
Raw Adventures - https://www.raw-adventures.co.uk/
XNRG - https://www.xnrg.co.uk/