Mile 021 - One Vision

Its Christmas and ignoring my "fake misery" and BAH HUMBUG hat (left) its the time of goodwill to all men .. and we have a packed edition of the A Mile With Me Podcast this time.



Join us live at the finals of "Helium Idol" where you can select your 2008 champion, Royson or Keith. Listen to them perform their songs whilst inhaling helium from a balloon! Send in your votes and/or your own audition "tapes" for 2009 to the mail address below.



Also find out some secrets from the host of this podcast as we have possibly the most insightful interview ever.


This edition is called "One Vision" and is dedicated to human beings collaborating to achieve more than they could individually. We discuss "synergy" and the roles of Chris Chataway, Chris Brasher and Franz Stampf as I tell the story of these unsung but very successful heroes in propelling Roger Bannister to the first sub-4 minute mile in 1954.


Chataway paced both Bannister to the first 4 min mile and also John Landy to 3:57.8 a few weeks later, he went on to break the world record at 5000m. Brasher won Olympic Gold in the Steeplechase in 1956 and set up both the "Sweatshop" retail chain and the London Marathon.


We also hear Christmas greetings in several languages and hear a clip from a conference call where we listen to carol singing from the incredible city of Mumbai, India.


Join me in the search for bagpipe music in my local area, plus hear as Christmas comes to Christchurch. Theres a lot going on, so please lace up your shoes and come a mile with me!


Music on today's show

Amb26 - Summers Day (A Mile with Me Theme)
Jerry Lee Surber - Try and Go the Distance Together!
Jakki Jelene - Silent Night



Links

A great feature on the 4 Minute Mile http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/features/360/bannister.shtml
John Bryants Book
http://www.amazon.com/3-59-4-Quest-Break-Minute/dp/0099469081/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230070493&sr=8-14
Charity project supported by Chris Chataway and featuring him running with Haile Gebreselassie
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lS0i01gRfVQ

Email: Chopper@amilewith.me.uk Web: www.amilewith.me.uk Twitte
r: SteveChopper

Join runners from around the world at "The Table"

Theres a place where runners from around the world gather to discuss their running in a global podcast thats recorded live and then saved so those that cant make the live recording can listen later.

"The Runners' Roundtable" is hosted by the world famous podcasters Steve Runner, Nigel Runner, Zen Runner, Nik and Dan Runner and Toni Runner. Its by absolute luck that they all have the same surname and amazingly, when they grew up, they all became .... well... runners! - what are the chances of that!!!!

I was lucky enough to be invited to the table this week to chat about my running and podcasting and thoroughly enjoyed the banter. You can find the Runners' Roundtable at http://runnersroundtable.blogspot.com/2008/12/runners-roundtable-episode-11.html

Mile 020 The Power of Music!

Music can be a powerful motivational tool for runners. With the advent of small MP3 players (with no moving parts to jog about!) it is now very easy to take our favourite sounds (including podcasts) on the run with us. We make our own playlists of songs we like, or ones that have meaning for us. We can however now utilise the latest scientific research to help us to use music to its maximum effect. On Mile 020, Dr Costas Karageorgis from Brunel University in London explains how through his world leading research we can all select better music for our runs.

Dr Karageorgis (above) is one of the world leaders in this area of research and explains how his studies have shown that the correct music can increase exercise output by 15% at the same time as our believed exertion falling by 10%. Dr Karageorgis was also previously an accomplished athlete and has worked with many established and rising sports stars.

I discuss all this with Dr Costas, and also tell how (whilst I shelter from the rain during a run) you can link your pace to music. I also talk about some online resources that can help you work out what music will best fit you and check the BPM of your own music library.

We discuss what unexpected track Haille Gabrselassie uses to motivate him in training, some other famous uses of music in sport, and even if you dont listen to music during your run how you can still use music BEFORE a run to good effect.

We talk about Run to the Beat http://www.runtothebeat.co.uk/ a recent event in Greenwich London, that linked music and a 1/2 marathon. Dr Costas programmed the live music for this.

Music on today's show courtesy of the podsafe music network at music.podshow.com is:

• Summers Day - Amb26 (A Mile with Me theme)
• Secret of Sound - Polished Chrome
• The Music - David Usher
• Reasonings in Dub - Messian Dread

Also a brief excerpt from "Scatman" by Scatman John who died in 1999. Born with a severe stutter, John Larkin had grown up on "Scat" singing style popularised by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. His wife Judy convinced him to not hide from his stutter but to use it in his music as an inspiration for those impacted by the ailment.

Links
http://www.runtothebeat.co.uk/ Check out some of the science and register for next year!
http://www.run2r.com/running-music-store.aspx - Running to Rhythm. Check out the BPM calculators and links to software downloads
http://www.download.com/BPM-Calculator/3000-2356_4-10193282.html Calculate the BPM of your favourite tracks!
http://www.mixmeister.com/download_freestuff.html BPM calculator and free Mix /Scratching "all this music's making me itch!"
http://www.runcast.tv/ for the video showing where I run, the church in the pictures is where I am sheltering in the porch
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1731941 check out Pachelbels Canon sketch by Rob Paravonian
http://www.robprocks.com/ ... and other great satirical songs by Rob, at his website and blog

http://www.amilewith.me.uk/ my website
SteveChopper - on Twitter
Chopper - on Runcast.tv
chopper@amilewith.me.uk Dont be shy to email me with any comments on this or other episodes!

Mile019b Where I Run

Whilst I am finishing the next episode "Mile020 - The Power of Music", I have loaded a short video showing the area in which I live and run. This is compiled from some of my photos and short movie clips. Its only using a trial version of a wmv to MP4 converter but hopefully you can get an idea of the scenery I run through and describe on the podcasts!

You will get the video delivered by itunes as usual if you are a subscriber to "A Mile With Me" (if not click "subscribe" on the right, to get each edition downloaded free as soon as its ready). To watch the video on this site, click the play button on the player in the righthand section against mile019b.

Also, look out for Mile020, out this weekend, as I talk with a professor who is the worlds leading authority on the science of Music and Running!

A Mile with Me .. Get Motivated

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Originally uploaded by SteveChopper

What is "A Mile with Me"? Its my personal Blog and also the home of a podcast. The podcast is amateur and designed to be downloaded and taken on your ipod so I can keep you company during your long runs. On it you can hear me running about around the countryside, hear my race reports and me generally chatting with people who have done inspiring things in their running, along with a bit of music to keep the cadence up!!. On recent episodes I have spoken with Danny Dreyer, author of Chi-Running, Carole who has just run from Lands End to John O'Groats solo, Sam Whittingham at 81mph the worlds fastest self-propelled man, plus Steve, an ex-team mate of Laurent Fignon who tells us all about the crossover between cycling and running training. In the current edition (below) I tell the story of when I recently met Tommie Smith, the 1968 200m Olympic Gold Medalist and multiple world record holder. Its all free and totally "unprofessional" but thats half the fun !! - so why not come "a mile with me" ?!!

Find out more as A Mile with Me is featured on Page 74 of this months "Runners World" in the UK

Pick up a copy of the mag or click the link below to read the article if you are not in the UK, (select "all sizes" in flickr to get a large readable image)www.flickr.com/photos/32101715@N07/sets/72157608653897298/

See Mile 019 (below) for how to download the latest episode and join the online running community!

Mile 019 - Tommie Smith, the Sound of Silence

As any salesman knows, there is nothing as powerful as silence, and silence plus an image can convey more than many pages of text.

In Mile 019 of the A Mile with Me podcast, we will discuss the story of Tommie Smith who I met a few weeks ago at a charity event. Tommie took his platform and moment in time to make a stand for human rights, a stand for which he was to pay a heavy price. Olympic Champion and holder of 11 track and field World Records simultaneously by the age of 24, his stand at the 1968 Olympics led to a life of death threats. 40 years on there are many who hate him for this, but still more who have come to realise the importance of what he did and its resonance today.

Described (by a fan who had travelled 40 years and across the globe to be at the dinner) as the "greatest sprinter of all time", listen as I tell Tommies story interlaced with contemporary clips and also sounds from the dinner as Tommie answers a couple of key questions.

Its a long podcast, but I wanted to do Tommie's story justice, so take me on your long run and hear me as I run in various locations and explore the reasons behind the satnd and why Tommie has received so many human rights honours for it

Music excerpts in todays show, some supplied courtesy of the podsafe music network at music.podshow.com

Neville Brothers - God on Our Side
Boston - Star Spangled Banner
Michael W Burgess - Silence
Flocabulary - Let Freedom Ring
Youssou N' Dour - Chimes of Freedom
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - San Jose
AMB26 - Summers Day (a mile with me theme)

Links

http://www.tommiesmith.com/
http://www.100bmol.org.uk/

Thanks to Ron Daniel for the link to the charity work of the 100 Black Men of London
Tommie's Book is "Silent Gesture"

http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Gesture-Autobiography-Tommie-Sporting/dp/1592136397

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Mile-018 Soundtrack to the 3rd Annual Worldwide Festival of Races

The Worldwide Festival of Races comprises of 3 events; The Pheddipidations Worldwide Half Marathon, the Zen-10k and the Kick the Couch 5k

I have broken my runcast recording equipment this week (bah!) so whilst I await for my new kit to arrive in the next couple of days here is a "change to the featured programme!"

Here is a "short-format soundscape" with the material Id already recorded following my run on the WWFoR remixed with some other material. So I hope you enjoy this interlude, ahead of Mile 19 The Sound of Silence, next week!

Picture above - the mirrored glaze of the beach at Hengistbury discussed in the podcast.

Music, courtesy of the podsafe music network at music.podshow.com

Amb26 - Summers Day (the A Mile with Me theme)
Damh The Bard - Land, Sky and Sea
Adam Zampino - At the Sea
Who is this Poet - Being Strong Always

The poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling, performed by Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal as part of a BBC lead-in ahead of the 2008 Wimbledon final

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jDC_S4zTGyY

I'd love to hear from you if you can spare the time to write:

Email: Chopper@amilewith.me.uk
Itunes: amilewithme
Web: http://www.amilewith.me.uk/

In the next few days...

Join me on the next edition of A Mile With Me, as I meet an American Olympic Gold medalist, one of the greatest sprinters of all time - the only person to hold 11 world records in track and field simultaneously. But if that was not enough, he was also the key player in one of the most iconic sporting moments in history which changed his life and impacted that of millions. Hear his story and the enduring humanitarian work hes been involved in since, on Mile 18 - "The Sound of Silence". Subscribe below and I'll look forward to running with you in a day or two when Ive finished the episode... All the best, Steve "Chopper"



"Time waits for no man" - Click here to get each "A Mile with Me" delivered free to you by ITunes!

Mile 017 - Reach for the Stars

"Why is it the ship beats the waves when the waves are so many and the ship is one?
The reason is that a ship has a purpose" - Winston Churchill

The builders of England's medieval cathedrals had ambition, drive and belief: all qualities of a successful runner! They felt that building tall brought them closer to god. Whatever spirituality you have, there can be no doubting their endeavour and the sheer beauty that they left behind. Join me as I discuss how human beings have always "reached for the stars", from the Pyramids of Egypt to the Burj Dubai.

Join me on a late evening run alongside the medieval walls surrounding the historic city of Southampton as we discover how the two most famous ships in history (separated by 300 years) both departed from the same dock as I run along it.

This week I was also in Salisbury, where the cathedral (above) is celebrating its 750th anniversary this year. It is the tallest structure from the 15th century or earlier that remains standing. Another English church, Lincoln Cathedral, was the tallest structure in the world for 250 years from 1300 until its spire toppled in 1549. Its a testament to the amazing ambition of its creators that its original height was not surpassed for almost 600 years (by the building of the Washington Memorial in 1884)

People are still reaching for the stars .. its the old saying "Reach for the stars and you may hit the moon". Join one person, Carole Loader, who has just done that and decided she would run the full length of Great Britain, 1250 miles, at the pace of just under a marathon a day for 10 weeks. Hear her incredible story and the planning that goes into it, as Carole and I run round a local golf course and talk about her achievement. Find out how she was fueled by sugary tea and the same special diet as Michael Phelps (on occasion)!!

Its all on Mile 17 of the A Mile With Me podcast

Music on today's show, some of this courtesy of the podsafe music network at music.podshow.com

Amb26 - Summers Day (Intro and Outros)

Jerusalem - Billy Bragg

Antanas - Eastern World

Howard Jones - Building Our own Future

1250 miles in one Blog!! - More of Carole's amazing story, and a link to help her cause!

http://endtoendrunner.blogspot.com/

"Bournemouth Joggers" Running Club

http://www.bournemouthjoggers.co.uk/public/index.html

Email: Chopper@amilewith.me.uk Itunes: "amilewithme" Web: http://www.amilewithme.uk/

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Mile 016 - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

"What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" is the new book by Haruki Murakami, the Japanese novelist which in my view is the literary equivalent of a running podcast. Murakami is not only a top writer but also a seasoned marathoner and triathlete. We join him in spirit on a "long run" as his book shares his life in running and thoughts with us. I talk about the book whilst travelling along the banks of the River Stour

Murakami feels he is in the Autumn of his running and I celebrate this season which reaches it equinox today (22nd September) by looking at the origins of the words "Autumn" and "Fall" nd how they diverged. Join me on an Autumn run to the local dump for the "Dump Runners Club" as we kick through the leaves! See the scene I describe of the River Avon, Christchurch Priory and Castle below!

I have a report from the New Forest Half Marathon on Sunday 21st September (below). It was a beautiful weekend, very reminiscent of the summer with a free hog roast and music festival afterwards at a pub. 12 of us from my department took part so it was a great day.

Also last Friday (19th) was "International Talk Like A Pirate Day" so I encourage (bully) some "landlubbers" (members of my team) to talk like pirates or walk the plank at appraisal time!

Its all on Mile 16 of the A Mile With Me podcast

Music and links

Amb26 - Summers Day (theme)
Air5- Write my Story
Antanas - Eastern World

Murakami's book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Talk-About-When-Running/dp/1846552206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222117815&sr=8-1

Link to Rich Scott's incredible running club
http://www.sharedvisiontrackclub.org/

Mile 015 - Faster, Higher, Stronger!

Faster, Higher, Stronger is the motto of the Olympic Games and the theme of today's show:

HIGHER: As we leave Beijing, follow the Olympic spirit to London, home of the 2012 games as we run the Nike+ Human Race from Wembley Stadium, London. This event is aiming HIGH - to get 1 million people running 10k on the same day. Listen to my report from a rainsoaked London (pics above).

FASTER: The worlds fastest self-propelled human being is Sam Whittingham, who has piloted his streamlined bike to 81mph (130.34kph). Sam joins me on the show and we talk about his records, the events he takes part in, the remarkable machines involved and the crazy way he has to accomodate his frame within the... er... frame! We also discuss his recent bike ride with Lance Armstrong and Gary Fischer.

STRONGER: I share my "Top 5 Olympic Oddities", and the incredible story of Betty Robinson, the first ever female Olympic medalist and her amazing survival from near death, coma and disablement to mount an Olympic comback. Its a tale of immense strength.

As I run around RAF Coningsby, I talk about the Eurofighters that are based there, its one of the worlds fastest, powerful and nimble aircraft

All this on Edition 15 of the A Mile With Me podcast. Set your dial to 11 and off we go!

Music interwined in todays show, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network at Music.Podshow.com

Amb26 - Summers Day (Intro / Outro)

Randall Cousins - Euphoric Aftermath

Klavar - Do You Believe?

uGene - Sunlight Euphoria

Peter, Bjorn and John - 100 Metres of Hurdles

If you have a comment on the show, then please leave it at iTUnes, on www.amilewith.me.uk or email chopper@amilewith.me.uk

Mile 014 - Revolutions

There has been a revolution in cycling over the last 20 years, on edition 14 of a mile with me we explore how cycling training techniques and thinking can improve our running.

Im joined on the show by Steve Moss, an ex international cyclist, who was a former team-mate of Laurent Fignon, 2 time winner of the Tour de France. Steve is now a cycling coach and also a committed runner - so we compare and contrast running and top level cycling training.

Come with me on a local cycle as we explore the revolution in literature in the last 150 years and how many famous authors who lived and wrote in Bournemouth, from JRR Tolkein and Robert Louis Stephenson to Thomas Hardy. Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein is buried here, alongside the heart of her husband, the romantic poet Percy Shelley. Wilde and Henry James also visited so we go on a literary cycle tour and I tell you about all these connections. Find out why the residents of Bournemouth are not today running into the sea to drown like they did in the James Herbert book "The Fog"

Its a feature packed edition of the podcast

Podsafe music courtesy of music.podshow.com:
Amb26 - Summers Day (a Mile with Me theme)
Scanlan - Bike Ride
Jeff Rosiana - Another Trip Home

Website: http://www.amilewith.me.uk/
Email: Chopper@amilewith.me.uk
ITunes: amilewithme

Mile-013 William Penny Brookes - Olympic Champion

William Penny Brookes has been widely recognised as the founding father of the modern Olympic Games, but surprisingly not that many people are aware of him or his remarkable life.

Born in Much Wenlock in Shropshire, England in 1809 he was a local doctor, played a major part in bringing the railway to town and also introduced both a reading and an Olympian class into his newly created library.

In 1850 he set up his first Olympian Games and 40 years later a visit to those very games by the French aristocrat Baron Pierre Coubertin was destined to change both their lives. The Baron stayed at Brookes's house for some time and inspired by what he had seen Coubertin went on to launch the modern Olympic movement in 1894.

In 1994 the President of the IOC visited Much Wenlock to celebrate a century of the modern Olympic movement and in a moving speech said "I came to pay homage to Dr Brookes, who really was the founder of the modern Olympic Games"

Find out more about his extraordinary life and the Much Wenlock Olympian Games as I chat with Helen Cromarty, historian of the Wenlock Olympian Society on Mile 13 of the "A Mile With Me" podcast.

To find out more visit

http://www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk/

Music on this edition, supplied courtesy of the podsafe music network at music.podshow.com:

• Amb26 - Summers Day (A Mile With Me theme)
• Psykosoul - So Deep Orgasm Medley
• Jakit Patrick - Go for it

Email: Chopper@amilewith.me.uk

Itunes "amilewithme"

Mile-012 Digging Deep

Sometimes raw grit is what is necessary to get through!

On Mile 12 of the "A Mile With Me" podcast we look at digging deep, which is what the 2000 participants of Trailwalker needed to do to get through 100km of tough hills within a day. Hear my report from the event which will raise over £1m for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. A few pics of me on the run are above. Find out one of the 1000 unusual uses for an umbrella!

Also hear me off the coast talking about how Bournemouth Council is literally digging deep in the sandy seabed off the coast to create the northern hemisphere's first artificial surf reef. Bournemouth is sheltered from the Atlantic by the Purbeck peninsular and thats one reason why its beaches are regularly voted the best in the UK. Once the reef is open in the autumn it will provide an excellent 400 metre wide surf beach within 1.5 hours of London for the first time. Its even claimed it will be good for the local fish stocks. Hear about what you can see from the Bournemouth Eye and also about the designer developing the "best beach huts in the world".

http://www.bournemouthreef.com/
http://www.pooleandbournemouth.co.uk/content/view/88/55/

I also explore how focussing on improving concentration can help when you need to dig deep at that crucial point.

Music this episode from music.podshow.com

Amb26 - Summers Day (A Mile With Me theme)

Psychosoul - So Deep Orgasm Medley

Mangomad - Simple Theory

"Shafty" in his makeshift tent

Mile-011 Inner Strength

In this edition of the A Mile with Me podcast, a conversation with Danny Dreyer, founder of Chi-Running about the philosphy, benefits and next stages in the programme. Its been described as "the most exciting and revolutionary book to hit the running community this decade" by Toby Tanser, author of "Train Hard Win Easy". Danny shows us how we should emulate the speed and grace of the Cheetah by focussing on inner strength and flexibility of our core muscles in our trunk and spine and less on bulking up our legs. Danny's work has helped hundreds of thousands of people become more injury free and "glide" rather than "pound" the streets.

We also talk about Danny's forthcoming Chi-Running Marathon training programme.

Chirunning can be found at http://www.chirunning.com/

Another form of Inner Strength is demonstrated by Nelson Mandela who has not only forgiven his enemies but embraced them and helped forge a future together. Join me at Hyde park in London for his 90th Birthday Celebration concert and hear words of wisdom from the great man.
I'm on a couple of runs in the countryside an villages of the Avon and Stour Valleys and find out along the way in what race I survived longer than Louis Hamilton and why there are some strange new residents in the village of Holdenhurst. The above photo is taken on my cycle in the podcast and shows the Avon Valley from the top of St Catherines Hill with the Isle of Wight in the distance.

Its all on the A mile with Me podcast, Mile 011

Music from the podsafe music network at music.podshow.com

Amb26 - Summers Day (Mile with Me theme)
Whoisthispoet - Being Strong Always

For other great running podcasts see http://www.runningpodcasts.org/

For the Wordwide Festival of Running (more about this next time) see http://worldwideraces.blogspot.com/

This includes the Wordwide Half Marathon at http://www.worldwidehalf.com/

Mudeford Spit and Christchurch Harbour

Heres some pics from the location of the Iron Man podcast (009)

The Telectroscope .. Hello New York, this is London!

Mile10 Please Adjust Your Altitude!

Stonehenge on the Solstice and some members of our Trailwalker teams with the Queens Gurkha Signals PT team

Podcast:
http://www.amilewith.me.uk/ mail chopper@amilewith.me.uk iTunes "amilewithme"

The Sun reaches it maximum altitude on Mid-Summers Day so join me for the next edition of the A Mile with Me as we podcast at dawn on 21st June from Stonehenge in England for the Summer Solstice.

Also we explore the effects of Altitude on our bodies and how altitude training can help runners and why.

Join me as I run alongside the River Avon, that flows past Stonehenge and into the Sea at Christchurch.

Find out more about the people from Nepal as I go on the run with a Gurkha team and I understand after 2 miles why they are the living proof of the live high : train low strategy!!

Music in today's show (courtesy of the podsafe music network at music.podshow.com:
Amb26 - Summers Day (A Mile with Me Theme)

• Blood Ruby - Midsummer Fires


• Pitch Lab - Just like 2091

http://www.altitude.org/index.htm for some articles on Altitude

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.876 further information on Stonehenge

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/fundraise/trailwalker/history.html Trailwalker whats it all about

www.justgiving.com/atrailwithme Please help me if you can towards my team's target of £2000 to help Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust fight poverty in the world, thank you!

Mile009 Iron Man

Welcome to Mile 009 of the "a mile with me" podcast - IRONMAN.

This show is not about the triathalon series or even the recent movie but about the important part the mineral Iron has played in the development of the world as we know it today and also its role as a key nutrient for us as human beings.

3.5 Billion people today have an iron deficiency that directly impacts their lives - the World Health Organisation and Harvard University state that iron deficiency has an overall cost to humanity that is higher than any other ailment apart from TB. We look at why we need Iron and how we can improve nutrician to support our running and how fortification is helping in the developing world.

The improvement of smelting of Iron using coke rather than charcoal in 1709 was a major catalyst for the Industrial Revolution which began in England and has changed the world forever. Join me in Ironbridge in Shropshire where this began as we explore how Iron gave us the world we know today.

We also tackle the Wrekin, a famous hill in Shropshire and hear the legend of that and also you can hear me as I run to the Brooklyn Bridge in my lunch hour via an invention called the Telectrosope!

We are now in the Information Revolution and the exponential increase in technology allows us to share knowledge and solve the Iron deficiency problems. So join me on a 300 year journey from Iron-Bridge to Iron-Fortification. Some of us move at a slow pace on our runs, however the pace of change in the world is increasing dramatically, watch the video below that gives an idea of this, and then join me on Mile009 of the A Mile with me Podcast - click right to download/ listen!

Mile 008 Jurassic Forest Hills

Welcome to the Jurassic Coast, 190 Million Years in 95 miles!

On Mile 008 of the A Mile with Me Podcast we learn more about the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site on my doorstep and follow us on a 21 mile tough hill training challenge between Lulworth Cove and Weymouth.

Also join me on St Catherines Hill for some Hill Training practice where we explore the techniques for hill sessions and on Warren Head surveying the panorama of Christchurch Harbour in the Sunshine.

Lets explore The Mall on a lunchtime run from my office in The City to Buckingham Palace and Admiralty Arch

Find out more about the Pheddipidations Worldwide Half Marathon Challenge and how you can take part with others in the online running community wherever you may be in the world. Think Global - Run Local!

Links for today's show:

http://www.jurassiccoast.com/ to find out more about this unique area

Music from the Podsafe Music Network at http://music.podshow.com/

• Amb26 - "Summers Day" (A mile with Me opening and closing theme)
• Mangomad - "So Pure"
• Junction Pool - "Cheetham Hill"
• Damh The Bard - "The Hills they are Hollow"

You can mail me at Chopper@amilewith.me.uk or visit www.amilewith.me.uk for more details

Mile 007 - Freedom of the Soul

For many of us running is a way of achieving freedom, there is the lure of the open road and beautiful countryside. We need these open spaces for Freedom of the Soul

Join me on Mile 007 of the “a mile with me” podcast, as we explore this freedom in more detail and look at the pleasures of running in the countryside, on both sides of the Atlantic.

Its May Day here in the UK, which is both the celebration of labour rights and also of traditional festivals of Spring, including Beltane which gave us the May Poles! Find out what a May Pole is and join me as we visit a “new age” style retreat for May Day weekend.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (www.cpre.org.uk) has for over 80 years been supporting the English countryside. This site has details of the “Quiet Conference” which is mentioned in the podcast. We have an interview with Christopher Napier, Vice Chairman of the CPRE about the work they are doing to protect the countryside.

We also look at the origins of Central Park in New York City which has a direct connection to the English landscape - find out how and why on the “a mile with me” podcast. I speak with Sarah-Cedar Miller, the official historian and photographer of the Central Park Conservancy in New York City about the history of the park which is 150 years old this week. We also find out how runners worldwide can support the park and gain a free place in the ING NYC Marathon or Nike Half Marathon this year. Check out the great work the Central Park Conservancy does at www.centralparknyc.org.

As we are discussing quietness, join me on the banks of the River Stour as we discuss some comments from Quiet Mind: One-Minute Retreats from a Busy World by David Kundtz (2000).

Find out more about the Quiet Organisation at

http://www.quiet.org/faq.htm

... but sssssshhhh keep it to yourself !!!

The countryside gives us Freedom for our Soul … stop and think for a moment about it on your next run.

Find more great running podcasts at

www.runningpodcasts.org

Remember we welcome your comments at www.amilewith.me.uk, you can email me at chopper@amilewith.me.uk If you enjoy the show please vote for us at www.podcastalley.com or leave a comment on itunes.

Music in this week’s edition, supplied by the podsafe music network at http://music.podshow.com

• Open and Closing titles - “Summers Day” – Amb26

• “Arrival” and “Do You Believe?” by Kalvar

• “Freedom for my Soul” by Mark Harold

• “Freedom” by Joshua Koback and Swim

Mile006 London Marathon Special

This is London, home of the biggest fundraising event in the world, the London Marathon.

Join us on the A Mile with Me - London Marathon special as we tell the history of the London Marathon and how the 26.2 mile distance came about in London, exactly 100 years ago.

Hear the story of Dorando Pietri, who drank wine along the way and was still the first man over the line in the 1908 Olympic marathon.

Also we are at the British Academy overlooking the finish line at The Mall and hear about the work of Oxfam in Liberia directly from Abraham, a local worker on the ground. We also hear a heart warming personal account of this year’s race from a lovely young lady called Alex, who ran through her tears to achieve the title of “Marathoner”!

Join me on the run along the Beaulieu River in Hampshire, and join “Team Pingu” on their Trail training on the Solent Way path. Also join my Trailwalker team as we get caught in a blizzard on an exposed headland in the Purbecks. The snow was blowing horizontally into the side of our faces. In direct contrast, join me for a gentle evening run on a Spring Evening.

Its all in Edition Mile006 of A Mile with Me podcast

Music this time:

• Summers Day – Amb26 – The A Mile with Me opening and closing theme
• Arrival by Kalvar
• Walk in London by Null Device
• Marathon by Loving the Sun

I look forward to hearing your feedback on www.amilewith.me.uk or email me Chopper@amilewith.me.uk. If you enjoy the podcast then please tell your friends and subscribe via iTunes.

Mile 005 - A Fresh Start

"A mile with me", the podcast you can take in your stride!
Episode 005 - A Fresh Start

Welcome to Episode 5, which is all about about fresh starts.

Its Spring up here in the northern hemisphere and nature is coming to life, so lets come to life also - its time for our own fresh start ! Join me on the run around St Catherines Hill overlooking the beautiful Avon Valley and Christchurch Harbour.

Its Spring but as Easter was early it was very snowy on my trip up to Lincolnshire. The contrast was stark between the snow and the flowers in bloom. Join me on a theoretical Boston Marathon as we explore the strong links between the Boston Lincolnshire area and Boston MA. I'm in the small village of Tattershall exploring in the snow and taking pictures of the castle (above) and talking about sons and daughters of the area who played a crucial role in the formation of Boston USA

Theres another type of fresh start on a very early morning start on the Trailwalker training on the Isle of Purbeck, with the deer, sunshine and driving rain to contend with over a 22 mile trek. Join Chloe who tells us about her special "mile with me" between Broom and Darwin in Australia

Music in this edition courtesy of the podsafe music network at http://www.music.podshow.com/:

Summers Day by Amb26 (opening and closing sequences)
Dark Days of August by Amb26
Barbers Adagio for Strings by Tiesto remixed by Makrolon
Dream by CoreyCosmo
Star Fly by D Fast

Dont forget to leave any feedback at www.amilewith.me.uk or Email: Chopper@amilewith.me.uk

The Big Wave - Help make a difference

Surfs Up Dudes! ... The Big Wave is Coming!

Over the weekend of 11/12 October 2008, runners of all abilities from around the world will come together to run a half marathon or 5km distance in their local area as part of the 3rd annual Phedippidations Worldwide Half Marathon.

The sole purpose of the World Wide Half is to remove the barriers to camaraderie, with the intention that like minded athletes who harbour this passion for running, could share a single experience of competing in a world-wide event whilst running in their own area. This is a free, non-commercial event where everyone is invited to register, train and run in the spirit of friendship. More details of how to register free at http://www.worldwidehalf.com/

As you participate in this exciting event, you will truly feel that you are part of a community of friends all over the globe, who will support you, encourage you, and are sharing this experience with you.

In the UK the "a mile with me" podcast is also arranging "The Big Wave", which will be a unique opportunity for runners run their Worldwide Half or 5K together (if they choose) and also help to raise valuable funds for the Ellen MacArthur Trust.

At 10am on Saturday 11th October we are looking for runners for concurrent 13.1 mile stages along the entire south coast of the UK (500 miles). This distance from Lands End to Dover will thus be covered in less than 3 hours making it the worlds largest simultaneous half marathon !!

If you would like to take part in this event please email me chopper@amilewith.me.uk or leave a message on this site... its so mad and ambitious its our sworn duty to make it happen!

So ... if you have a heart and the desire to make things happen why not Think Global and Run Local .. and make a difference to the lives of children and young adults suffering with long term illnesses. If you cant be there in person then you can of course still help the trust by donating using the links on this site!

Mile 004 The Long Trek

Welcome to Mile 004 - The Long Trek.

Good news! ... I have shed 8lbs so far, so almost on target but a little way to go yet !!

This edition covers the Trailwalker event and some of the training runs we are doingYou will get an introduction to Team Pingu ,, why are they named after a cartoon penguin?- find out in the cast. Join us in the New Forest for a long run racing a few ponies!

Music from the show:
Walk Away by My Little RadioWalking the Universe by The PuffinsTides and Sandcastles by Hugh Campbell
Opening and closing themes from a Summers Day by amb26
All from www.music.podshow.com

For more information on Trailwalker UK www.oxfam.org.uk/Trailalker
For Trailwalker events worldwide http://www.oxfam.org/en/getinvolved/
For the Pheddipidations Worldwide Half Marathon www.worldwidehalf.com
To find out more about the Big Wave www.amilewith.me.uk

I welcome your feedback and audio comments at chopper@amilewith.me.uk
Thanks for listening!Steve Chopper.

4 Feet and "Ruining"!

Heres Chris's shoes before and after our run as featured in Mile-003. My socks ended up in the bin!

Until Saturday he had two pairs of identical running shoes - they dont look so identical now !!! .. but every cloud has a silver lining - he now has a designated on-road and off-road pair !!!

Mile-003-You Need Only be Human to Take Part!

Hi everybody and welcome to Mile-003 of the A Mile with Me podcast. This time we have a really packed edition featuring the Winchester 10k roadrace, training in boggy conditions for Trailwalker and some interviews with new runners.

The theme this time is Running and Poetry and we look at "Great North", a 1000 line poem by Andy Croft which brings us the atmosphere of the Great North Run, the largest 1/2 marathon race in the world. Andy was the poet in residence at the race for a few years and we talk to him in depth about the poem and the sorts of things that come into our heads as we run, whilst listening to a few excepts. You can also find out why my running partner Chris will be suing me for a new pair of training shoes!

We look at the history and architecture of Winchester and talk to some of the guys and girls from Fareham Crusaders running club.

Music this time (from as always the podsafe music network at www.music.podshow.com)
Drum Dub by Lion of Joppa Sound System

• Losing Time (Dub) by Satori
• Be the Change you want to see in the World by 37Hz
• Young Folks by Peter, Bjorn and John
• Gotta Keep on Movin' by Urban Clearway

Check out Andy Crofts books on www.Amazon.com

Winchester 10k and stuff

Hi everyone, I hope you are well!
Got round the Winchester 10k at the weekend successfully and recorded a few bits for Episode 3 of the podcast along the way - this is out at the end of the week and you can find out all about Winchester the ancient capital of Wessex and England. I know its really episode 2 as the first was a test trailer if you like, but it will be easier if I keep the episode numbers in line with the Mile-xxx references - or I will become very confused!!

Got round in 49 mins which wasnt too bad as stopped to change from recording to Nike+ on the Nano and started from the back. Start weight 2 weeks ago 95kgs, weight now 93kgs so largely to plan. Need to lose a another 8kgs try to get to my PB from about 4 years ago (41:07) and try and dip under 40 mins by the end of the year... you've got to dream right :o) !!!

a mile with me launched!

In this show you can join me for a couple of lunchtime runs away from the office and down to the beach. On a windy day you can also join our team during our training for the Trailwalker event. More details about this in future episodes.

Find out a little more about the area in which we live and run and also about setting some SMARTER goals for your activities. Avoid letting the mind “demons” in as we “Search for your Zen” courtesy of the band Mangomad and race the final sprint with me to the sounds of Federico Fasce and his instrumental track “Speed Limit”

The opening and closing sequences use the track “Summers Day” by amb26.
These great songs and some of the others we will feature are supplied under creative commons licence, courtesy of the podsafe podshow network at www.music.podshow.com
Please send in your audio clips or emails about your favourite miles to chopper@amilewith.me.uk and we will get YOU on the show!

Podcast coming soon!

A nice run down to the beach and back yesterday from the office - around 6 miles. The weather has been great for the time of year, about 11 degrees C, bright skies and little wind, was the perfect running weather. Made a couple of recordings for the podcast which will be here very soon. A few things to tie up and then will post Edition 1 at the end of next week.
It will be available here and on iTunes - search "amilewithme". I'm looking for your favourite mile - is it a place you regularly run, or a mile you did in a race where you felt a particular buzz. Through the cast Im looking to find out the places that people are passionate about.
"Without Emotion there is no Motion"

A Brief Session in a Gale

The team for Trailwalker met up for the first time last Sunday. More of Trailwalker in a later entry but essentially you need a team of four who are willing to do something quite mad! We had a run along the seafront in gale force conditions, so the order of the day was slow but steady. Saturday did a just under 2 hour dreadmill session covering a half marathon distance, Sunday was a bit more refined at about 10k, nice and steady in just over an hour battling the severe winds. The sun was out and it was about 5 degrees Celsius so not bad at all - and we all felt refreshed for sure. Recorded some basic intros for the podcast which is coming on slowly but steady with other commitments!

Introductions

What is a mile? Its not simply a measure of distance, it truly transcends that definition.
A mile exists in its own space and in the minds of everyone. It can seem a long way as in "going the extra mile" and "miles away", but for the long distance runner it is like atoms are to the universe, the basic building blocks of our world. We use it to define how far or how fast we can go and whatever distance we run, its a multiple of a mile. A mile is thus both the reality of distance and a concept of progress and ambition for us.

So what is "a mile with me" about? Firstly inspired by some of the great running podcasts out there I thought it would be good fun to experiment with a show that will hopefully add to that existing body of content. These all help us through the famed "loneliness of a long distance runner"!

I also need to lose about 10Kg (22lbs) so this blog and the podcast will (hopefully!) follow that progress. I'm training for some great events during 2008, so the show will also cover that and listeners will get to hear about some activities and places that they may not know too much about. We'll talk with the organisers and the competitors and find out about the location itself - a type of travelogue.

With a mile having a place in the collective consciousness there are two additional elements that will be part of the show, and are the reason its called a mile with me.

Firstly I want the show to have an element of inspiration to help us on those long outings, so as part of each episode I plan to interview a person who has achieved something specific. By running a gentle mile with them, through the chat we can find out about their inspirations, goals and some tips.

Secondly, with the idea of a mile in mind, I want YOU to send in email and/or audio clip talking about your favourite mile of this planet. It will be great to hear about the mile that is special to you, whether it be a mile at a point in time (e.g. that last mile of your latest PR!) or a place you like to run, a course or a location that has a special resonance for any reason. By hearing these we will truly be sharing our miles together worldwide - quite literally keeping the world running !

Whilst we're doing this I also thought it would be great to try and raise some money for charity and hope that you will be able to help me in this! It would be great along with collecting miles and experiences to try and also use this collective effort for a good cause. More about this in future postings, but my objective will be to raise a $ for every mile around the world.

So the idea is now out there and its up to us to embrace it and make it grow. I hope you will enjoy the first "a mile with me" podcast when its posted shortly and send in your own miles. Each mile will help our global community on their long runs. With the charity aspect we can hopefully help others - for whom the leisure and sport we enjoy is a luxury they cant afford.

Thanks for listening and welcome to "a mile with me"

Starting the Blog

This is the first post. Please see my website at www.amilewith.me.uk The first podcast will be available shortly. This is an experiment, producing an audio accompaniment to long distance runs whilst sharing other people's inspirations. I hope you enjoy it when it's published!