160: The Psychological Cost of Chasing PBs
The Running Channel Podcast
The Running Channel
4.8 • 591 Ratings
🗓️ 7 March 2026
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We’re LIVE from ASICS in London, where Andy, Rick and Sarah explore the psychological toll of constantly chasing a personal best. Together, they discuss how social media and constant comparison are increasing the pressure on runners to always run faster and hit new time goals.
As runners, chasing a PB can be exhilarating and motivating for us and act as a powerful way to stay focused by pushing your limits. But what happens when that drive starts to take a toll? Can it lead to inevitable burnout and anxiety?
The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Lots of you are probably fundraising for marathons right now. |
| 0:02.5 | You might be finding it quite hard. Well, Give Star, the sponsor of today's episode, could make it a lot easier for you. And hopefully a complete no-brainer for you as listeners to this podcast. So when a marathon runner fundraises £200 on GiveStar, then they'll give you £100 to spend on yourself at ProDirect. So just create a fundraising page on GiveStar. Use the promo code Marathon 2026. and when you raise 200 pounds, |
| 0:23.5 | you'll then receive a 100 pound at ProDirect. So just create a fundraising page on GiveStar. Use the promo code Marathon 2026. |
| 0:22.2 | And when you raise 200 pounds, you'll then receive a £100 pro direct voucher to spend on |
| 0:26.2 | shoes, kit, tech is totally your choice. And if you already have a fundraising page elsewhere, |
| 0:31.2 | don't worry, GiveStar can add your existing donations to your new page. |
| 0:34.5 | GiveStar also allow you to fundraise for up to four charities at once. and you can take contactless donations on your phone with tap to donate, which is perfect for if you're at the pub. Yeah, Rick would be brilliant at this. To claim this offer from GiveStar, head to the link in the show notes. Make sure to use the code Marathon 26. Start fundraising, and once you've raised £200, you'll get £100 back. Simple. This episode is sponsored by Science in Sport. Yes, going to give some kudos here to my favourite running gels, the ones I used at the Valencia Marathon to help run a personal best and the team up at Science in Sport. Also, SIS was the first major nutrition brand to create isotonic energy gels and they also created a beta fuel range. The beta fuel gels are actually what I've |
| 1:10.9 | used to run my personal best. I use the ones with electrolytes built into the gels. But they're |
| 1:15.6 | pioneering dual source energy range forged from real world elite sporting environments to now |
| 1:19.8 | help endurance athletes around the world, even me. Also a massive shout out to the neutral |
| 1:23.5 | flavour gel, 10 out of 10. But also they they don't just say science-backed and just reference |
| 1:28.8 | random studies. They actually do the studies. And they have bona fide scientists and nutritionists working out their place. I know. I've been up there and met them, got really geeky with them. We didn't invite you. I'm so sorry to everyone who, Andy Bored when he went up there. So just head to |
| 1:43.7 | Scienceinsport.com |
| 1:44.7 | and use our |
| 1:45.4 | discount code |
| 1:46.0 | R-C-S-I-S-15 |
| 1:47.5 | that's our bored when you went up there. So just head to Scienceensport.com and use our discount code |
| 1:46.0 | R-C-S-I-S-15. |
| 1:47.8 | That's R-C-S-I-S-1-5 at checkout for 15% |
| 1:51.8 | off the Marathon Race Day Pack. |
| 1:59.8 | Welcome to the Running Channel podcast live from the ASIC store on Oxford Street. |
| 2:04.8 | Whoa! |
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