This episode of Rompod is sponsored by M&S, where you can shop all your favourite sportswear brands.

This is a global player original podcast.

Hello there. Welcome to a very special double bill of Rompad episodes. I'm Jenny Faulkner,

and I'm thrilled to say it is that time of year. It is time for the Rumpold

Christmas Gift Guide, 2023. And in order for me to bring you the best ideas for gifts for

friends and family and loved ones or just perhaps yourself, I have recruited the help of two

individuals who definitely know a thing or two

about running. They were here last year and somehow I convinced them to come back again for more.

First up, we have the editor of Women's Running magazine, host of the Women's Running podcast and

multiple marathoner. Is it two this year? Yeah, I did do two this year. It's Esther Newman.

Hello there.

Welcome back.

Hello, thanks for having me.

And also joining her, we have top sports and running journalist.

You may well have seen his work in the likes of GQ, men's health, the Metro, amongst

others.

He's also one of the run testers.

It is Mike Saw.

Hello there.

You've been doing a lot of running as well this year. I have not as much as I'd like to this year, but no marathons for the first time a long time. But I've still been getting some running in while I can. So yeah, plenty of running, plenty of testing, still going on. So yeah. I want to ask actually, Esther, what was your favourite race this year? My favourite race wasn't either of the marathons I did. New York and London, neither of them.

Not New York or London.

It was a half marathon I did in the New Forest, which was just amazing.

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