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Hello there, welcome to RunPod. This is where all runners unite. The joggers, the plodders,

the part runners, the gazelles, the maratheners and the crazy ultramaratheners. And one of those crazy people is joining me today. I'm Jenny Faulkner. And to be honest, the reason I say crazy is because what she is doing truly is quite incredible. She's like, I don't know, she's a running challenge guru now. She's done quite a few. She's an an actress a singer and a runner she's Suzanne

oh hi Susie hi Jenny thank you for that it's so weird because you've been on Rompot a few

times yeah this is the first time we've actually done an episode in studio together I know

it's mad because my running I don't know whether I call it a career or all time

started in lockdown and and so obviously we did all our interviews online. So, yeah, it's crazy. It's nice to be face to face. It's very nice to catch up. I know you've been on put before. And hello to you, by the way, if you're about to go out running. You might indeed have heard Susie on another episode. But just in case there's someone listening and they don't

know your running story before we talk about this epic challenge that you're taking on, why did you

start running in lockdown? And why haven't you done it before? I don't know why I've not done it

before. It's funny really, I started running in lockdown purely because I completely changed my

lifestyle. I quit drinking.

I took up being plant-based and that I took up running. I think when you stopped drinking,

well certainly for me, somebody who had quite the drinking career, I decided that I needed to fill it

with something and I got a lot of space in my life. So basically I thought running was the thing to do.

I just put my shoes on, probably not the best shoes. I think they were like fashion trainers or something

just stepped out outdoors and started to run. Got down the street, felt like I was going to die.

And then I was like, I just keep going, keep doing it. And before I knew it, I'd done four kilometers

and I got back and this runners high that everybody was talking about was an actual thing. And I was like, I just keep going, keep doing it. And before I knew it, I'd done four kilometers and I got back and this runner's high that everybody was talking about was an actual thing. And I was like, gosh, I feel really good. And I've actually sorted a few things that were playing on my mind and in my head. And it just felt like it was almost like a therapy that I didn't know about and that I just kind of entered into. And it was suddenly like, wow, what is this now going to entail and where's it going to go and it's certainly gone a long way since then yeah it's funny that you said on that first run you might you know got down to the end of the road and then thought that you're going to die I think everyone must feel like that just on your first run everyone wears the wrong kit and you only learn through

wearing it that it's not right. And you also just, you think your, your throat feels on fire.

Yeah. Your face feels like it's going to explode. And I don't know, but when I first went on my

first run, my legs turned like this really incredible corn beef color.

Purple. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, I remember that well. That throat burning. Yeah, that's really great. It did. It felt like it was burning. I remember my ears hurting because I'd started running in January 2020. So it was really cold. And I went out, I think about six in the morning because I'd woken up. I was feeling fresh from not having a hangover and everything felt glorious. I felt like, you know, a snow white opening the curtains and the birds singing. It all just felt wonderful until I went for the run. But yeah, when I got down the road, the throat was hurting and there was a hill ahead of me. And I was like, I've got to challenge this hill. And once I got to the top, there was this lovely loop that I could do, which was flat, and then it was all downhill back home. Got to the end of the road, legs throbbing, burning, thought, oh, can I make this hill? But I was just so determining to just, I kind of feel free. I wanted to feel free. And yeah, it was amazing that I was able to actually do it. I think the biggest mistake

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