There are five Thursdays in July, so the guys are excited to release a bonus fourth episode this month, an interview with Richmond Running Festival Founder Tom Bedford! This will be the first of several interviews with international events professionals in the coming months, as Tony and Eli look to celebrate the endurance sports events industry across the globe and learn about different nation's cultures and quirks.
This episode's topics are as far-reaching as you would expect for a transatlantic interview, featuring stories about a cascading series of running bets made over too many pints at the pub post-race day as well as about Sir Mo Farah and why Tom might be partially responsible for his success (and was also responsible for his near-demise). He tells us what it's like to grow up with a legendary badass as a father and also what it's like to work with some of the greatest athletes in the world at the London Marathon, as well as giving us some insight as to what it takes to get a new event off the ground in a place like Richmond (hint: knowing Sir Mo doesn't hurt) and what it takes to make a new event a success.
Tom talks some about a key feature in the British running scene, Park Run, and how this series of free 5ks that may not be familiar to our American listeners helps new people find the sport and creates an inclusive community around it. He then tells us about the British club running scene and how you're with your club for the whole of your life, but also about how run crews and other, "fresher" types of running groups are bringing a new vibrancy and at times a "punky" feeling to the running scene.
He shares his thoughts on the challenges facing the events industry in the post-pandemic world and also a bit about his plans to make Richmond Running Festival one of the first major races to take place in-person this fall, which we would all be excited to see go forward as a safe and successful event!
And it's ambiguous whether Tom ends the episode by inviting just the hosts or all Early Risers to come visit him in Richmond, but if you show up on his doorstep and tell him Tony and Eli sent you, it sounds like Tom would probably be happy to have a pint with you.
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