Paul catches up with Sam, a HYROX athlete, ex-rugby player and the very first person to run alongside PKS RUNS before it was even a thing. The two met in Auckland, New Zealand, between 2005 and 2008, when Paul was working at a church and Sam was a skinny 13-year-old. Sam entered the Auckland Half Marathon's 10K, ran the half instead, missed the turnoff after the finish, and ended up running about 34 kilometres before heading home. No medal, but plenty of bragging rights.

From there the conversation travels two decades. Paul shares the story of his own start-stop relationship with running: finishing a half marathon in 1:30, putting the weight back on, seven solo marathon-distance training runs in a single year, and finally discovering Zone 2 running before he knew it had a name. Sam talks about running his first marathon at 17 with no training and being put off running for years, then rediscovering it through rugby in France and HYROX in Australia, and finding that he loved the running more than the gym.

Sam is now two weeks out from the Auckland Marathon, chasing his first sub-3 and raising money for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. They get into how to pace a hilly marathon (run to heart rate, and let gravity do the work on the downhills), why Paul doesn't believe in race pace any more, how long a taper should be, and why Paul does time-on-feet long runs. There are also strong opinions on London Marathon, wall balls, and the books that shaped how they train.

At its heart this is a candid conversation about mental health: growing up with a tough childhood, running home from school, making a change to alcohol and vaping, and how running helps both men feel their emotions instead of numbing them. They talk about why we still find it hard to speak up, and what a run with someone you trust can do.

Funny, honest and a bit of a time capsule from the Nike+ era. This episode is about rediscovering running, the people who get you started, and why one foot in front of the other still holds up.

To support Sam's fundraiser for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, use the link in the comments. Donate Here

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The PKS Running Club Podcast is a running motivation podcast for everyday runners — real personal stories, honest conversations about health and fitness, and a growing community built around showing up, not chasing elite times. Hosted by Paul, it's a health & fitness podcast and community sports podcast for anyone running at their own pace, from first 5Ks to ultramarathons.

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