Tom Bedford
Say yes more, push into your passions and take those calculated risks
RunFest Founder and Race Director Tom Bedford sits down this week to tell his story. Tom shares about his early days as a competitive runner, growing up with a world record breaking Dad and living and training with the legendary Mo Farah. We hear about his early athletic career, and how he once ran a sub 2:20 marathon for a bet!
We get a behind the scenes view of what it took to organise the Olympic trials marathon at Kew Gardens during Covid, and we talk about what happens when things don’t go to plan, and what it was like for Tom as RD for the recent Richmond Marathon, a day that he admits was one of the worst of his life.
What makes Tom tick above all is a lifelong passion for running and for the amazing running community - and that comes through in spades.
Find out more about Tom's events: https://riverthamesrunning.co.uk
Go Do:
Be inspired by Tom to say yes more to what makes you come alive.
This might mean saying no to other stuff - but do something this week to say 'Yes' to something you're passionate about.
We'd love to hear what emerges for you as you work through these questions. Follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Run Unbound Endurance Coaching.
Whether running your first half, discovering trail running, tackling an ultramarathon or attempting one of the UK big 3 rounds, Run Unbound can help you to achieve your goals in a fun and inspiring way.
We are so grateful for Run Unbound's support Find out more about them here.
Show Notes:
The RunAlive Podcast x Tom Bedford
Podcast Title: Say yes more, push into your passions and take those calculated risks
Hosts: Ed Perry and Gary Armstrong
IntroductionTom Bedford introduces himself and his role as the race director of RunFest.Tom talks about his background in running and his experiences as a junior athlete.
Early Running ambitionsTom shares his childhood ambitions and the desire to surpass his father's achievements.He discusses his junior running experiences, including steeplechase.Tom mentions living with Mo Farah during their time at St. Mary's.
Relecting on running career and achievementsTom discusses his running career, including his personal best marathon time.He mentions the self-critical nature of athletes, always feeling like they could have done more.Tom talks about the decision to stop professional running.He discusses his challenging experience in South Africa and overtraining.
Coaching and Mentoring Athletes Tom discusses his role in coaching and mentoring athletes, particularly Carl Langford.He shares the rewards and challenges of coaching young talent.
Achieving Running Goals Tom describes reaching his marathon goals, running sub-2:30 marathons in Dublin and Florence.He mentions going for Paula Radcliffe's record but not succeeding.He emphasizes the importance of experiencing challenges and controlled risks.
The Olympic Trials Marathon during COVID Tom explains how he became involved in organizing the Olympic Trials marathon during the COVID-19 pandemic.He shares the challenges of finding a suitable venue and overcoming obstacles.
Race Director Pressure and Race conditions Tom and Ed discuss the pressure of being a race director and ensuring everything works on race day.Tom discusses the importance of considering weather and course features like the wind.
Tom mentions that this event introduced super shoes and how they impacted the race.
Personal Impact of a Tough Event Tom talks about the emotional impact of a challenging event and how it affects him personally.They discuss dealing with various issues on the event day, including the medical team being overloaded.
Tom shares details about the event, including it being the hottest September day in 120 years.They mention the efforts made to mitigate the effects of the heat.
Tom and the team discuss how half marathons can be especially challenging in hot conditions.
Looking Ahead to Future Events The conversation shifts towards future events and the lessons learned from the recent event.Tom mentions upcoming events and the importance of improving.