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Okay, do badders. We have got a bit of a special today because in a couple of weeks time we've got a couple events coming up, otherwise known as the run show, but depending where you are, that's depending on which the run show is going to be appropriate to you. So I thought it was very appropriate to get all things run show related and friend of bad boy running for a long, long time and all round. Nice chap, mr Mike Seaman. Hello Mike, hello mate, how are you Good to see you? Good to see you.
Speaker 1:Like I say, it's been ages I love that you intro'd me using the word appropriate twice and every podcast we've ever done, appropriate has not been the word that let out to me.
Speaker 2:I really we've got the person that. The person that signs the checks is. That is that how you've been described. What, what? What I thought is very interesting. Let's, before we start talking about the run show, let's talk about you, because what I thought has been very interesting is the fact that it's your evolution over the last few years, from you know that very first run show to now, when, if you, if you look at your social media I don't know whether it gives an accurate flavour of your involvement with these things as well. Previously, your Instagram was all it was like hustle. I am looking at the run show and doing things like that, and now it's just here I am going for a run, here I am picking up an award, here I am with a bunch of people I don't know, assuming, I assume their stuff it's either you've changed your social media strategy or your reality has changed. Which which one is it?
Speaker 1:I don't think I have a social media strategy, so I'm guessing. The reality. I mean, you've seen, my social media is not particularly interesting. God knows why anybody would want to follow me. It's usually close up pictures of my face on a run. But yeah, I guess it has changed. I think well, man, if I think back to the first one, which was me and two mates in a shed at the end of my garden, because we had this idea that we wanted to do a running show and it seemed really cool and everyone was like who's this dodgy dude? And now it's like a company and you know, I think this year will have 17 exhibitions split across the US and the UK. We've got like people, we've got an office like it's got people I know and I'm constantly sat there waiting for someone to just go sorry, mike you're, you shouldn't have this, you can't be in control anymore because you're a bit of an idiot. But no, it's really. Fun is and it's what we've managed to do is we've grown it, but we've actually kept that like spirit of the original place. The shop is as we used to call it, which was the shed office, which is it's just mates and everybody who works is really super fun. We all have a laugh. But do I get as much involved in the day to day of each of the individual shows? Now, probably not as much as I'd like. I still go because I love them. They try and keep me out because apparently I interfere too much, but I can't help it. I love what we do.
Speaker 2:I've got to say that you must have like the friendliest team in the history of I was going to say like it in terms of events, you know, on its own because events is a pretty hard, difficult, almost cutthroat, but they're generally like the loveliest, nicest team and they're either putting on the most incredible act and then it and in the office it's, it's horrific and toxic, or or I don't know, I don't know it's incredible, it's just such such a lovely team you've got.
Speaker 1:What you miss is that after each event, they all go outside and there's a group of puppies and they just line them up and kick them.
Speaker 2:I've heard about the puppy kicking. I've heard the rumor that you had. It's not like they've ever been a national canine show.
Speaker 1:Well, never say never. I think in all honesty, we it started out there. Most of the people that work with me or work with me now have sort of been people I've worked with in previous companies and we kind of. I think culture is really important in business. If you, if you're all going in the same direction, you all kind of think exactly the same way, that can be a restriction. But if you're all like nice and decent I mean we're all different people but we're all kind of friends and nice to each other and genuinely we, we I mean I'm going to be really like management textbook here, but we're like passion, profit and purpose. Those are our sort of three drivers and I don't think you can fake passion and I think if you, if you've got that, that kind of sets the culture which makes people nice, so I'm really proud of that. I think you know we we won an award for culture with a load of random people that you've never met, that you know. But but we, yeah, and actually that's probably the proudest day apart from the very first run show, when people actually showed up and I realized I wasn't a common and it actually worked because there's the.
Speaker 2:Yeah, of course it's a challenging area to work in, but one of the things that's related to exhibitions, related to shows, that is that every year you just do a little bit more to you know, I say a little bit more, you do a lot more to kind of improve the show and everything else like that. But also every year there's some movement in terms of trying to make the whole kind of exhibition space but a sector kind of leading the way in terms of sustainability and things like that. Is there anything that you're doing this year that's different from previous years? That's, you know that people will see in terms of changes, that's making a big difference, because I think last time we came along, carpets were stripped out, which you know when you're at the end of that, when you're at the end of the run show and stuff, when you see all that carpet being torn up and then put in skips and stuff like that, it's pretty horrific. So that was kind of a big big thing. What can people expect in terms of sustainability in both the show? And actually, is there a difference between the shows and everything between the US and the UK in terms of what you can and can't do?
Speaker 1:Well, yes, it's all of those. So, taking those in order, I guess we try and make it different every year. So I think that's really important. Like the show, you've got to have new features, new speakers, new brands. You've always got to try and grow it. You can't keep growing it forever, but you can keep evolving it and changing it. And I think we must never get, say me, we must never just churn it out the way we've always done it, because people get bored of you really quickly and the brand dies. So there's loads of new features. We've got a trail running zone this year for the first year. We've obviously got your Ultra Stage. We've got running skills again. We've got Pilates Studio. We've got an improved kids area. We've got Run Club Hub and then we've got some of the old favourites, like the Steve Cram training camp and all of the speakers etc. We've got Mo Farah. This year Mo's back. Well, he's never been at the Birmingham show. We had him at South Joe, so this is his first time up there. So there'll be a load of people and the South Joe that we did never didn't really attract that audience from kind of north of Birmingham. So there will be a load of people who haven't had the opportunity to hear him speak. I'm super excited about that. Kelly's back Ailish David Weir. David Weir is a phenomenal, phenomenal athlete I'm really interested in hearing from, like you've got Nicky Spinks, Jasmine Parris, so loads of cool stuff. So it evolves every year. Take a look at the floor plan, rather than me going through and listing everything but the running show in.
Speaker 2:I know I was going to test you. I was going to say every single sponsor in alphabetical order, please backwards.
Speaker 1:Please don't, because you made it very clear that I don't do any of the work anymore, but in all of this. So the Birmingham show it will be the biggest and the best show that we've ever done.
Speaker 2:How? How can it be like last time? I remember we were walking around last time and we, like, we walked around a bit and then there was a bit more that we weren't expecting to be there and we I mean, we've had conversations with Kate. So, listen, kate organises well, tries to organise David and I, and she's very, she's very diplomatic. She won't come out and say, will you not do that next time? And so we've been told we weren't, because we weren't aware the size of it. So what we've normally done, if you've not been to the run show before and you come to the ultra stage, we like to be a little bit more interactive, we like to set challenges for people. So you know, if you come to the stage, then we will get some people to go out and run around the run round the hall and time it, which normally is fine. But when it was extended and we weren't fully aware of it, we didn't realise just how far that is to run and we also didn't realise that part of the route took people across the inspiration stage as well, which we can warn people about, and I think it was a particular incident where you were halfway through a mental health panel. That was quite serious. And someone, someone from our stage, ran across the stage at the same time, which I think slightly slightly ruined the mood of it and everything. So Kate was just like, well, we could come up with some other ideas and things like that which is basically do you not do that again? Do I'm not doing that again?
Speaker 1:No, I think it is. I mean it's fun, and I think actually that's. The good thing about the running show is that it has now got to a point where there's because running is massive right, it's not just ultra, it's not just marathon, it's not just 5K, there's like there's a full range of distances and disciplines and actually hopefully now the show is representative of that and everybody can do a little bit for everybody, but it is massive. So, if you're coming, make sure you've got either a full day or preferably come for both days, because there's a lot to do and that's that was always the dream, and it turned out that, in order to get the dream to happen, the thing that I had to do was hire some professionals to do it instead of me.
Speaker 2:So it's just not do not do anything Like I get other people to do it. That's it.
Speaker 1:There's a rule, isn't there hire good people and get out of the way because it turns out I was the problem, so but no, the show is. I mean, it's phenomenal now. But to your point on sustainability and going back to our passion, profit purpose thing, I've I it's always been a bugbear for me, the exhibition industry, and actually 10 years ago you would see people sticking stuff in skips and throwing it all away. And it has. I mean, it's gone from left to right really, really quickly and we try and be at the bleeding edge of that. The carpet thing is is one of those obvious things that people noticed. So it saves me 20 tons of CO2 per show by not laying aisle carpets. It's not quite as easy a decision is just take it all out, because you've then got things like audio, reverb and that then affects people with their hard of hearing. You've got comfort, you've got demarcation, you've got all of these things that people worry about. But we found a compromise that we were happy with and saving 20 tons of CO2. A show is great. That carpet was already recycled. It wasn't. It was never thrown in a skip and thrown away, but the reason we saved them the money, or the money, the carbon money, the carbon cost is because we don't. It used to have to be transported to somewhere to be processed and then turned into pellets, which was then usually used in kids playgrounds actually. But just moving, just looking at it, is the first step. So we started measuring our carbon footprint two and a half, three years ago and now we're starting to take quite meaningful action and it's the probably the things that make the biggest difference are probably the things you don't see, so carpets, the one everybody notices, or when we change the food choices. So we we have a few vegan cafe areas in the show because we're trying to sort of food waste and general food. Carbon footprint is something that really needs to be considered, but that gets. That's quite controversial. Some people love that, some people don't like it. You have to present choice. So we we're almost like the eternal diplomats, but we're still trying to change stuff. But the biggest thing that we changed, that made the biggest difference, was travel, so encouraging people to consider how they're getting to the event. So please don't take two cars. If you're, if you're going with mates, meet up and take one. Get a train if it's, if it's works for you, run there. Cycle is quite hard to run to the NEC. Please be careful if you are running. But I think it's just encouraging people to think about if you're a running club, could you get a coach and all travel up there together, because actually, that you shouldn't feel ashamed to want to do stuff, and I think that's sometimes where the sustainability agenda can get a bit overwhelming for people. I think you're already doing stuff and actually what you now need to do is do stuff in a more considered way and maybe change 20% of your behavior right now, and if everybody did that, it makes a massive difference. And then if everybody can change, that, 20% to 30% makes a difference. So I'm not like I'm not like a, a zealot that goes out telling people off about sustainability, but I do try and do my bit and I think that's probably the right way forwards. I mean, we're by no means perfect, but we are doing something. I think, probably good, maybe go on. So I was going to say it is it.
Speaker 2:Is it the same in Boston? Then, like, do you have, do you have similar challenges, I mean, and is there difference in terms of things like health and safety and stuff? But you know, because obviously you know there's different standards and I imagine different venues require certain things and everything. So do you have to do you have the same like considerations that you have to kind of go through?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think so. So to the. For those who don't know, the Boston Running Show is now in its second year, very similar format to the running show. So Inspiration, kit, tech, nutrition, advice, races, anything you need, whatever type of running you are, you can come there. There's cool stages and interactive features and then things like that Michael Johnson is the headliner, michael Flipping Johnson how great, we've got Scott Durek there. We've got some really, really you know, hella Sadeeby, some amazing people that you will know and love, and he's a definitely definite must attend. If you're in the area To answer your question about different health and safety, heck, yes. So we moved into America two years ago and we started running our events over there and it's just very different. So the way the venues work, you have this thing that we're not getting to exhibition geeky have this thing called dredge, where if you want to move a box from one side of the venue to the other that's over a certain dimension you have to use a union member to do it. You can't do it yourself actually within the venue. So there's quite a few sort of intricacies about running events internationally that you would never think were a problem. Everything is more expensive, actually sustainability. When I started pushing the venues. I believe that it's up to me to push all of our suppliers and venues to be more sustainable rather than just accept what they do, and so we have quite a set list of questions that we now ask everybody we work with and when I did it in the UK, people were a bit annoyed because I was kind of irritating, but they were kind of aware that it was a thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:My perception of the US when we started asking was that they were a little further behind, that it was kind of like we were educating them that this was a thing, but actually they are moving really quickly and I think the US is is catching up with the UK in terms of sustainability. The biggest impact for a show is always travel, and the problem in the US is you've got much bigger spaces and people drive much bigger cars and less public transport. Yeah, and they tend to drive to the venue. So there's a real education piece for us that I can't change, that. I can't change what everybody drives, but I can encourage them to drive together and I think our real push there is an education piece around car sharing, because I can you know the impact of the actual event itself and us as a business and the marketing campaigns and so on. It's actually quite small in comparison to the impact of people moving. So we believe that our best approach and the bit where we can do the most good is by educating people or encouraging people to travel sustainably, and I think I think that's that's probably the bulk of our approach this year. Is is doing that. And actually then in America as well, a lot of the stuff that we build in, some of the suppliers bring in like big lorry loads of stuff which builds up the show, because we build like a mini city in a day and then we take it down again in about three hours. So encouraging them to sort of store stuff on site or store stuff locally is is a big part of our strategy as well. So that makes the difference.
Speaker 2:There's a certain poetic historical nature to a British person in Boston telling Americans what to do.
Speaker 1:You have to be very careful about that and I've avoided drinking tea.
Speaker 2:So wait a minute, wait a minute. Surely, surely you haven't suggested that they go vegan only in terms of that? Sure, has that, has that been mooted?
Speaker 1:So, because we went vegan only in the Central Cafe at the Run Show one year and I think I think I spoke about this on one of the last podcast and it was only one of the cafes. We have multiple food options throughout the venue and some people went nuts and thought it was it was. It was ridiculous that I was forcing this on people and I wasn't. I'm not vegan, but I just wanted to encourage people to think about the impact of the food that they eat. And it was maybe me being a bit too preachy and actually, you know, you can only do what people will accept and it's ultimately it's not our show, it's the Running Community show. They own it and if they tell us what they want, then then we'll try and do it. We will try and guide them and lead them, particularly around sustainability. But yeah, there's only so far you can push some people in America with the catering. Again, we have much less control over it than we do here in Florence and I think, to be honest, we don't actually have the ability to control those menus at this moment in time. But the more shows we organize and the nicer I am to people, the more we have potentially an impact, and I think it's it's it's a quiet revolution.
Speaker 2:It's like subtle influence and gradually moving things so people don't notice it, but we're achieving our objective, which is to minimize our impact wherever we go and what, in terms of, like, someone goes to the National Running Show in the UK and then they go to the Boston Running Show, what is there? Is there any kind of difference in terms of who turns up, in terms of what the feel of the show is, or will it just feel like National Running Show has been placed in a different place and there's just kind of different people, different brands and everything?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think the culture of it is pretty much the same. It's runners, and the vertical has always been runners, and whether you're a 5k road runner to a ultra marathoner, off road trail runner, whatever it may be, there's kind of a bit of everything between you, but the thing that brings you all together is the fact that you run and we all use our bodies to run and move and that's kind of the bit that unites you. So when you come to the show, you see that and it's all shapes, all sizes, all abilities, and it's very similar in the US in terms of the community element to the UK. The bit I like is it's really fun. Like the running community doesn't get this opportunity to meet up and chat running. Very often we all see each other at the start of a race, but you've got that one friend who's faster and then you've got that other friend who's slower and you probably don't see them during the race. And at the end of the race, if you're like me, you're looking for a burger and a pizza, a burger and a pizza, or a beer and a pizza, a burger and a pizza?
Speaker 2:wow, I'd probably take a burger and a pizza to build.
Speaker 1:But do you know what I mean? It's actually? When do you all sit around and just talk running? You don't do it with your normal friends because they think you're boring, because all you talk about is running. So it's a really nice opportunity to get inside, be part of a community and sort of be part of a tribe, if that makes sense.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and is it the same situation in the US? That there aren't any events like that, that most events are just like a race expo that's normally associated with a particular race?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and this was going back to how we started the event. I was going to Marathon Expos and I was conscious that there were loads of brands trying to talk to runners and sometimes runners buying things for the race that was like the next day or the next week, and that just didn't seem right. I was kind of like, well, why didn't we do this show at the start of the season and, instead of making it just about marathons, making it about all running and all runners at the time? That that was quite a radical idea, I guess, because no one else was doing it and still no one else is doing it anywhere else that I can see. So in the US, we've partnered with the BAA, who run the Boston Marathon, and we've said look, we'll be your pre-race event. So the Boston Marathon takes place in April, our event takes place at the end of January, and actually, so they can encourage all of their runners to come to our event, get all the inspiration and advice that they need, so they can actually integrate it into their training plan rather than learning about all the stuff that you should have done the day before. I think I should say that the Marathon Expos still have their plays and they're really good events and it's part of the vibe, isn't it? When you go and do a major, you want to go see, but it's a different. We're fulfilling a different need and I think it's about bringing the community together at the start of the season so they can train and they can plan and they can learn and be ready for spring when the Marathon's here.
Speaker 2:And in terms of the makeup of the exhibitors in the US is it massively different. Are they kind of like the bigger brands represented? What can people expect when they show up with their dollars to spend?
Speaker 1:Well, so in the US we've got some of the brands Hoka, new Balance, puma, altra, asics, adidas I've said them in the English way, sorry Adidas E6. So we've got big brands. But again, and it's the same in the UK We've now got really good traction with the big brands. It took us a while to get there but we've kind of fast-tracked that in the US because of the reputation from the UK. In the UK you've got some of the biggest running brands out there, sort of taking big stands, so to sort of the bit that sits behind, that is, the smaller brands that you maybe wouldn't see. So the premise was always it's the coolest running shop you could ever go to, but it's also got all of the stuff that's just coming through that you don't know about yet because they can't afford to get into the retailers.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly that's it, isn't. It?
Speaker 1:So there'll be low and for me that's the beauty of the running show is, yes, you've got the big brands where you want to go and buy the trainers that you know and you love, and you go back and get it every year. But actually it was also finding those little widgets or extras, or small companies that are small, local businesses that actually have something quite cool and neat that you probably want to use.
Speaker 2:There's always something new, isn't there? That's the thing, I think. There's always something new coming through, and always, you know, it's like the beetroot thing, isn't it? The beetroot juice thing? There's always a beetroot juice each year. That's going to do something.
Speaker 1:Whatever, the new superfood and nutrition is a great one, right? Because nutrition is incredibly personal and there is no right nutrition for anyone. But there are some foods that are better and then you have certain properties and you should roll those through. But actually my view on nutrition is you need to try it and you need to try lots of things and you need to try everything and then you'll find the stuff that works for you. Running Show is perfect for that, because they're all there, they're all giving away samples, they're all you know giving you extra bits. But we've got new brands this year at the Running Show that we haven't had before. It's the first year we've had Innovate there. It's the first year we've had Skechers there. It's that we've got Harrier back there with their sort of trail running zone, so it's really exciting, as well as all the sort of the old favorites oh, there's a company called Zembe who are there. They seem to be doing everything. Ice bath, did you do that last?
Speaker 2:year. No, I didn't do that last year.
Speaker 1:You need to get involved in that, the Ice Bath Challenge. For those of you who are game, bring your swimming costumes and get in the ice bath at the show. It's quite.
Speaker 2:I've always pushed for a hot tub, so it's kind of getting there. It's just the right temperature.
Speaker 1:I don't know if it's done yet, but I think we're getting a hot tub sponsor. What I don't know.
Speaker 2:So say listen, literally talked about BBR Hot Tub right from the start.
Speaker 1:This has got HR infringement all over it.
Speaker 2:It's all sorts of issues with that, but yes, it was always a dream, it was always a dream.
Speaker 1:Well, if it comes off, I'll let you know and I will keep you well away from it.
Speaker 2:It's not me, it's David that you need to keep away from a hot tub, because he's the one who will misuse it in some way. That's what you always need to be careful of. I'm going to put you on the spot here. Then, what should we look out for? Who? You said that you got lots of new, like little sponsors not so new little thing. Who are the ones that have kind of caught your eye in terms of oh, that's interesting, or I'd like to find more out about that, or anything else.
Speaker 1:So I think there's for me where I get quite excited is the big brands and what they're gonna bring that's new. So Mizuno, hoka, adidas, adidas this is the difficulty about flipping between UK and US, so I think those guys are gonna be really exciting because a lot of them have got new shoes coming out that you will see for the first time. So I'm a bit of a nerd. I quite like that sort of stuff. In terms of the specific smaller companies, I'd have to give that some thought because, let's be honest, I don't know who they all are until I get there, because I don't do that anymore.
Speaker 2:Well, I love now is that it's turned into the show that you wanted, that you're experiencing almost. It's like the dad who is there on Christmas morning seeing the kids open their presents and surprised for the first time as to what they are, because the mum's done all the buying.
Speaker 1:Well, it's like the dad who was the failed footballer whose son's actually playing in the Premier League. I guess the turn up and look proud, which is basically what I am. But I mean, I'm a fan like and actually I always had this vision for what I wanted the show to be, and I could never do that on my own. But actually it's credit to Nassie and Samantha that they've turned it into this awesome event now. So I will discover some of those brands for the first time and I can guarantee you there'll be four or five things that I spend a fortune on at the show that I've never heard of before that event, and it's great for business. I think, if you morally do, you want to support those small companies yes, you absolutely do but it's also great for running that it's constantly evolving and there's more money coming into the sport, and I think it's what we need to be careful of is. There's been some instances recently of money coming in and big corporates coming in and not investing back in. But I actually think we should encourage brands to come into the sport and I think that's quite important. It's good for business and good for the industry.
Speaker 2:Who are you talking about there? Hmm big brands coming in and not paying attention to the community. I think the other thing isn't it Is that actually a lot of smaller brands use the Run Show as an opportunity to essentially launch. Don't they Essentially launch that, and it's kind of like a launchpad that they wouldn't get anywhere else Because, yeah, like you say, they can't get into retail. They've got a huge amount of people in front of them and it's the opportunity to show their product in a way that other people wouldn't be able to see normally.
Speaker 1:And I think that often goes missed. Probably 75% of our customers are small businesses and they're generally people who are really passionate about something. Often they have really strong value-led businesses and it's something that they've done on the side, but often they've discovered something really, really cool. And for me, I think that's we kind of have an obligation to support those kind of brands, because we want variety. We don't just want big conglomerates sort of controlling the whole market. We want innovation and we want difference and you want that mix and I think small businesses and supporting other runners it's really great. I mean, if I look at Vic Owens I don't know if you've had- on this. Oh, yeah, yeah. So Vic and Gav, I mean they set up a business selling branded clothing and they exhibited with us and I think they're there again this year and it's brilliant and actually they're just awesome runners. They're both very good runners, as I found out to my detriment when I tried to run with them and but they've built a brand that they love. That's sort of part of their passion and part of their story, and they've done it. Another example would be Light Up you Now they've been with us since the start and he makes light up gear so that you can be seen when you're out for a run, because he was out for a run and he wasn't lit up enough and he got hit by a car and if you ever go to his stand, he has the wing mirror from the car that did a hit and run and left him in a tree on his stand. So he's got a really beautiful story and he's actually doing this to try and protect the running community and stop people from having the same issues that he had. And there are 350 stories that are exactly the same in the show from the different businesses that exhibit there.
Speaker 2:I do think that you do need to be a little bit more careful about some of these smaller brands, because there are some dodgy brands. I understand that there's one called Caffeine Bullets that's going to be established. I saw some of them slipped through the net, don't they?
Speaker 1:We are very careful about who we let in to the show and we've really managed to police that. And unfortunately this year there's this. One company has got through and we'll do our best to limit their impact.
Speaker 2:I don't think that's gonna be useful. So say that I've never been to the run show before. Say that I've never been to Boston. I've been to National Running Show and everything, and I'm thinking of coming for one of the days. What would you suggest as my itinerary for the day? What is the right way to, or probably the most effective way for someone who's brand new, who's never been to it before, about how they should experience the show to get the most out of it? Yeah, so I think the first thing is get there early.
Speaker 1:So we always do Q giveaways, so our sponsors are very kind and so if you get there right at the start, so before the door was open and people are wise to this, so it's getting earlier and earlier we ran our Boston Snow Show, we did the same thing. I had someone turn up at eight o'clock. I was like the show doesn't open till 11. I was like, look, go away and have a coffee. Like you can't stand it for three hours. So I'd probably say get there half an hour before opening and be in the queue and then you can get some of the three goodies. Look at the websites before you go there, because that will tell you who's on when and, I think, really plan your itinerary. One of the problems with the running show is we have so much good content across all the different stages you can't see everything. So you're gonna have to really make some choices ahead of time. But make sure you leave yourself time to go around the stalls. And I'd say please support the smaller businesses as well as the bigger businesses and remember that actually this is your show. So if you like it and you want it to keep going, invest in those brands, because they're the ones that are enabling us to do it. And then I say don't come for one day, come for two, because it's mega. And if you look at the website, you will see why. Just look at the content on its own the speakers. They're so good. I know people who just literally go in, park themselves in the theater, wait for the coffee breaks, then go around the exhibition, then, as soon as the content's back on, they're back in, and certainly your ultra stage has always been like that. I mean, it's full morning tonight, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, there are some people that will literally sit there counting. They're like I'm gonna stay here the whole time, I'm gonna have my lunch here as well and I'm not moving from this seat at any point throughout the day, which is kind of great. So but I think that one of the things probably is that on some of the bigger stands you may have to wait a little bit, because they do get incredibly popular. So if you wanna try shoes on and things like that, you just dedicate a bit more time for that and not running out of time, which I think is why I think like two days is probably the right amount. It got so busy the first day, that first day at the National Run Show. I couldn't believe how busy it is. What, also, what I absolutely love about the start of it is when I don't know why this pleases me so much is just how excited you are when you see that queue, like because it always seems to really surprise you how people are turning up each time, and it's like you're like a giddy child, like there's people here, there's people, and I don't know whether it was because during COVID, when that notorious show at the Running Show South, where it was a little sad, wasn't it?
Speaker 1:Because there was not, it was.
Speaker 2:It got better. It was a brilliant experience for everyone. It was an absolutely amazing experience for everyone, but it was just when you didn't have that kind of queue Now that when you get that queue there and you see it and you do the cutting of the ribbon and everything else, that seems to get you really excited, like oh it does. It carries through from that, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:Look, I'll never not be nervous before a show and what I love about runners is they show up, they say they're gonna do something and they do it. We've got over 40,000 people signed up for the Running Show in Birmingham and I know they'll come, but until I see them I can't believe it. And I told you about the first ever Running Show. I remember we had over 20,000 people signed up for the first one and I remember then we built the show and it looked amazing. It was tiny. If you compare to what the shows are now. It was tiny and I convinced myself that no one was gonna come. And then I came out of the hotel and it was snowing and I was like, well, that's 20% off your numbers. And I was like no one's gonna come, everyone's gonna abandon us. It's gonna be awful. I couldn't look any of the exhibitors in the eye and I thought everyone was gonna beat me up and they were gonna say you told us this was gonna be busy, you're a liar. And actually when the doors opened and it just went I mean it went nuts I could have cried because it's really emotional. It's like organizing the party for all of your mates. You've laid out all the drinks you bought, all the food, everyone said they're coming, it opens in. You know you're starting five minutes and no one showed up and you're like, oh, where are they? And it's, and until they're all there and everyone's having a good time, you never, you never, relax. But luckily, with Runners and this is the beauty about Runners everyone turns up early and everyone goes in and everyone, you know people stay, they like we. If you're a runner and you're real, you're really into it, you will love the running shows because there's so much for you to see and do and it really is just a good two days with nice people seeing all the stuff you love.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's a lot more. There's a lot more stuff to do now, isn't there? There's like there's a lot more activities. It's not just shopping, it's not just, you know, buying stuff and you know there's much. You know I, you know what. We feel exactly the same Every time you set the stage up, even from that first time when you set a stage up and there must have been what? 25 seats on our stage and we're going. How are we going to fill this?
Speaker 1:I what when you caused a health and safety issue because it was the first year we did the stage with the bad boy running guys it was. We reduced it down because we were really nervous that I think we had room for about 12 people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and we were just wondering how this is going to be so embarrassing if no one shows up to this.
Speaker 1:And then we think we had 400 people.
Speaker 2:It's not the area and David couldn't get to the stage because it was so crowded.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was awful, but now we've got a much bigger ultra stage and to be, I think people forget that that was the first time anyone had really done something like this. So actually we worked with you to do an ultra stage and everyone was saying, well, you know, ultra is a bit niche. No one really Exactly, and that's the thing.
Speaker 2:And we we're kind of involved. We're involved in ultra all the time. So we get the impression that it you know from our listenership and everything that you know it's really popular and there's going to be loads of things. But actually people coming out specifically for an, you know, to talk about ultra, to listen about ultra or to hear about ultra for the first time, like you said, that just didn't exist, like there was no, you know, if you've never done an ultra and you don't show up to ultra I mean even, like you know, actually previously ultra's you didn't used to have an expo or anything else like that. you know there was, there was, there was kind of none of that at all. So it's not like the you know Marathon expo or anything else, but there was literally nothing. So it was kind of a pun on your part, a big pun which obviously is paid off because the demand really is there still.
Speaker 1:And that's where we see it. I mean, look, I saw it because I run Altruz and not very well, but I try and run them and it just felt to me like there was an opportunity. You guys had a massive and engaged community. We kind of both felt all three of us felt it was a good idea. But until you do it you never know, do you? It's always a gamble. So I'm really glad it worked. We do the same in the US as we do here. I think one of the things I would say when on the interactive stuff and we've got there's a couple of things I really wanted to sort of pick out this year. So at the Running Show in Birmingham we've got Traveller, actually, you know, like gladiator style. So basically it's for those who don't know, it's kind of like an uphill treadmill that can go either medium or fast and there's some amazing videos of people some you know, failing miserably, trying to get up this thing and it's really fun. And I did it and I think I fell over three times and still made it to the top and I just I had watched the video back of myself and I was like God, I really am an old man.
Speaker 2:Well, with a reference. Like gladiators, you don't even need to get on the Traveller to do that.
Speaker 1:So I sort of aged myself. But the other one which I really like is is this Give Star Boost challenge, which is a whole new thing. So Give Star is like a fundraising app and it's quite cool Because you know, you know, if you're in the pub and you say, oh, I'm running a marathon, can you don't name me some money, and they go, yeah, I'll give you some money. Well, and then they never do, but this thing sort of turns your phone into like a pause, so you can actually collect the money there and then directly into a charity thing. So it's, I think it's quite cool. But what they've done is they said, okay, we want to do something cool and interactive at the show, and so what we're going to do is there's an obstacle course which is timed, and we're going to have Team Ewan and Team Susie. So those of you who don't know, ewan and Susie, the two hosts of the Inspiration Stage, and people get to pick who they're running for. They, they, everyone has to donate. They have to donate a five pounds which all goes to Birmingham Children's Hospital, who are charity partners. But if you do that, you get to race and you can win prize bundles and all kinds of stuff. But it's an obstacle course in the show and we're all going to do a trial run of it on the night before and start posting out our results, and I'm definitely getting you and David on it. So I think it's going to be very, very fun.
Speaker 2:David's an obstacle course. Well, I was going to say he's an obstacle course champion. He was never a champion, but he was in a. He was in a very, very good team.
Speaker 1:I think we may handicap him slightly.
Speaker 2:Don't worry, We've got your back mate, I hope so, I hope so.
Speaker 1:That's not that you bothered to turn up to the interview and he's going to say no, no, no I. So I think that'll be super fun. And then I think, if you go to the US stuff again, they've got cold plunge bars, they've got strength training, they've got gay analysis, treadmill tryouts, they have this road row house thing which is kind of where you sort of competitively use a rower. So if you are coming, you know, my advice is always come in stuff that you're comfortable kind of working out in. You don't have to be in shorts and t-shirt, but, you know, be ready to move, because I think then you can really get into some of the fun stuff to do as well as sitting and watching people speak. I think it's all quite cool.
Speaker 2:Yeah, technical tea is very much the dress code.
Speaker 1:Absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know you're coming to be active and you've got to. You've got to as well, haven't you? That's the thing, and also it makes it. It makes it easy to kind of try on stuff and see what you want and things like that. So if people want to come to National Running Show or the Boston Running Show, what do they need to do?
Speaker 1:Well, they need to use the code BBR, as in bad boy running, at the checkout and that will get them a free ticket. So if you're listening to this and you want to come to either the National Running Show in Birmingham or the Run Show USA in Boston which is now called the Boston Run Show, so it's good that I'm on brand Then use the code BBR at checkout and it will give you a free ticket. So National Running Showcom or Boston Run Showcom are the two websites Amazing.
Speaker 2:So what we'll do is we'll also post the itinerary in the BBR Facebook group. So if you head to the BBR Facebook group, we'll post it on there and also on our social channels as well, so you can see what's going to be going on in Birmingham, but also is going on in Boston as well. Well, this has been lovely. Thank you very much, Mike. Great to speak to you again.
Speaker 1:Thanks, mate, good to see you again. Well, I'll see you in a couple of weeks. We'll see you in a couple of weeks. That's it See you later Bye, bye, cool, nice one buddy. Thank you Really.
Speaker 2:Look at that 9.58.