Running Commentary

Latest Episodes:

Round Hackney Marshes With Esther Manito Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Rob takes a turn with the comedian, who has a new running podcast - with another friend of ours Zoe Lyons - recently ran a Half Marathon in a fantastically iconic location, and is working on how to keep running with a chronic injury. Plot spoiler: it involves very strong legs.

Subscribe to the Fan Feed at ⁠⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠⁠ to hear more from Esther, plus get early access, ad-free listening, and all manner of exclusive content.
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444⁠ - you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270⁠ - and you can pre-order his NEW BOOK here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-through-sand/paul-tonkinson/9781399404013

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

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Where Tonk '26 - With Tom Price Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

Tom Price stands in for Paul on a muddy, mizzly turn around Finsbury Park, Woodberry Wetlands and Clissold Park. Featuring dad hair, charity wars, exercises and neurodiversity, parenting techniques, dialling codes, 'showering a St. Bernardoodle's back end', plank talk, podcasts, wild swimming wives, where and where not to find friendliness, procedures and pop music.
Thanks Tom.
PAUL TONKINSON WILL RETURN.

SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444⁠ - you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270⁠ - and you can pre-order his NEW BOOK here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-through-sand/paul-tonkinson/9781399404013

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

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John Robins Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

Rob is out in the country with John Robins, who's running the London Marathon for Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse. Featuring managing marathon training on a shonky ankle, the mental health benefits of running in the woods and the hills (the Chilterns in this case), recovering from addiction and how running and exercise fits into that - not to mention therapy and meditation - and ultimately owning the more uncomfortable moments in running, and in life.
You can sponsor John - and maybe get him to the massive fundraising total he's closing in on - here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/johnrobins?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
And his book Thirst is available to pre-order here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/thirst/john-robins/2928377356323
The 'pain cave' woman is Courtney Dauwalter!

Subscribe to the Fan Feed at ⁠⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠⁠ to hear more from John, plus get early access, ad-free listening, and all manner of exclusive content.
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444⁠ - you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270⁠ - and you can pre-order his NEW BOOK here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-through-sand/paul-tonkinson/9781399404013

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us.

Happy running.

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Ten Years In - And That Was Just January... Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

As February begins, it's definitely still winter on Hampstead Heath. Featuring the death throes of Dry January, 2026 fitness developing, 'feel the [SOMETHING] and do it anyway', the wisdom of Steve Martin, wellness world, Mark Maier and modes of momentum, movie chat, a farewell to wonderful Catherine O'Hara, another Ultra for the schedule?, the heath at its most blasted, and running through the doldrums.

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

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Still January Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

A pretty grim day sees Rob and Paul heading out East from Leytonstone to Wanstead. Featuring another bingle for Rob, finding focus in training, Spring Half Marathons left right and centre, Dry January continues, motivation on Mondays - and other days, finding dynamic pacing, gig report, birthdays and anniversaries, Paul marshalling the next generation of comedians, Rob meeting a LEGEND, last mile / fastest mile, and some more movie-based parkrun inspiration.
Happy Birthday Julia!
GET Coast-to-Coast Comedy Night tickets: http://hilaritybites.co.uk/runningcommentary

SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...

BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444⁠ - you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270⁠ - and you can pre-order his NEW BOOK here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-through-sand/paul-tonkinson/9781399404013

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

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Rob And Natalie, Jason And Medea Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

On a surprisingly sunny morning Rob catches up with our friend, writer, comedian and classicist Natalie Haynes. Featuring, appropriately, a little bit of Jason and a lot of Medea, plus understanding monsters, and allowing for later life choices.

Thank you Natalie.

Subscribe to the Fan Feed at ⁠⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠⁠ to hear more from Natalie, plus get early access, ad-free listening, and all manner of exclusive content.

BUY NATALIE'S BOOKS: https://www.waterstones.com/author/natalie-haynes/450500
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444⁠ - you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270⁠ - and you can pre-order his NEW BOOK here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-through-sand/paul-tonkinson/9781399404013

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January's Long, But June Will Be Here Before We Know It Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

Rob and Paul run down to Finsbury Park and back, in a slight break with tradition. Featuring an Escheresque detour, past and future theatre trips, the continuing adventure that is Dry January, making and breaking habits, maturity and the moment, being ill and running, obligatory parkrun and plank chat, Guildford and other places, late-life living arrangements, and a look ahead to the Coast To Coast.

SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more...

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Maier's Marathon Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Paul takes his first turn with our fellow North London-based mature comedian-runner Mark Maier, in training for this year's London Marathon. But will he even make it to the start line?
Thanks for sharing your journey Mr Maier.

Subscribe to the Fan Feed at ⁠⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠⁠ to hear more from Mark, plus get early access, ad-free listening, and all manner of exclusive content.
BUY OUR BOOKS; you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444⁠ - you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270⁠ - and you can pre-order his NEW BOOK here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-through-sand/paul-tonkinson/9781399404013

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. Happy running.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On A Saturday! Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

A surprise return to Hampstead Heath on a chilly Saturday, Featuring all the reports - parkrun, drinking, gigging, writing - plus the toilet in the woods, a sad accessory loss, cycling on ice, Lisa Jackson - more of that soon - Sabrina Pace-Humphreys - listen if you haven't already - the youth getting on board, soundtracking a plank, last mile fastest mile, incoming road trips, and a surprise George.

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Paul Runs With Lisa Jackson Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Our old friend Lisa Jackson - back-of-the-pack angel and author of Your Pace Or Mine - has now written a book of bereavement, grief and her journey back to running - Still Running After All These Tears. Paul took a turn around the Heath with her to find out more. Is she still a powerhouse of good vibes? Amazingly, but unsurprisingly - yes.
Thanks so much Lisa.
Lisa's book is available here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/still-running-after-all-these-tears/lisa-jackson/vassos-alexander/9781837997374?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=626889&awc=3787_1768397523_8aabb52e805f5ee23bdb8bc057b8aca1&utm_source=626889&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=adstrong
While we're on books, you can get Rob's book Running Tracks here - ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444⁠ - you can get Paul’s book 26.2 Miles to Happiness here: ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270⁠ - and you can pre-order his NEW BOOK here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-through-sand/paul-tonkinson/9781399404013

Thanks for listening, supporting, and sharing your adventures with us. SUBSCRIBE at ⁠https://runcompod.supercast.com/⁠ for early access, bonus episodes, ad-free listening and more.

Happy running.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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