Welcome back to the Pyllon Ultra Pod. In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most curious and compelling corners of ultra endurance: the 24-hour track race.
Joining Paul today are two people with intimate knowledge of this format. Grant MacDonald, a former GB international and coach at Pyllon, was due to compete at Crawley this year before injury struck — instead, he stepped into the crew role. On the other side of the table is Alice, a Pyllon athlete who not only took on the challenge but hit the qualifying mark to represent Romania at the upcoming World Championships in Albi, France.
This conversation explores far more than race splits and lap counts. Together, we unpack:
-
The strange appeal of running in circles for 24 hours
-
The invisible ingredients that make up a great race
-
How training, mindset, and support differ from other formats
-
The emotional rollercoaster of racing — and missing a race
-
What it takes to crew well and how that impacts performance
-
Reflections on identity, setbacks, and why people keep coming back
-
And what the future holds for both Alice and Grant
Whether you're a seasoned ultra runner or simply intrigued by what drives people to circle a track for a day and a night, this is an honest, reflective, and insightful discussion that offers much more than race results.
🎬 You can also watch The Loop, a short film about Alice’s race, on the Pyllon YouTube channel — it captures the rhythm and reality of the 24-hour format in a way words alone can't.
🔁 Keep Going with Pyllon: Subscribe to the Pyllon newsletter: pyllon.substack.com Follow us on Instagram: @pyllon | @pyllonultra Watch our films on YouTube: youtube.com/pyllon Learn more or get in touch: pyllonultra.com
Thanks as always for being part of the journey. Keep living the ultra life. #theultralife | #pyllon
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.