CAN I GET A PODIUM at the MAVERICK MARATHON in the PEAK DISTRICT?!

[@BenParkes]

Thank you for all the lovely comments on Strava after the race.. will touch on the the mental health issues, how they can physically effect me running and what I'm trying to do to improve it all in a video soon. Had a much better run today (Sunday the day after) and feeling a little more like my old self.. Still, the run had many positives and very happy with how I finished.. so lots of good stuff to take away. Whatever issues you might be facing please talk to someone.. or always feel free to drop me a DM. Much love xx

[@dilochetty9332]

well done.. seemed tough ..is ter enough recovery time from doing a marathon 3 weeks before comrades?

[@davidrogers5443]

Well done Ben and thank you for being so honest and sharing the mental health side of things… hope you are feeling better 👊🏻

[@stephenrobinson4449]

Well done and thanks for the beautiful video. Good luck at Comrades

[@misterbelll]

Brilliant vid & great run.... Glad you enjoyed your run...3rd place .....well deserved..👍👍👍

[@tubernua571]

Ben your videos are fantastic, you’re such a likeable person with tonnes of personality, we all enjoy watching the content you put out. Keep on keeping on brother 👍

[@zacdann1878]

Hear hear 👍👍

[@Notwhatiwasthinking]

Love your smile and optimism

[@dorothygraham6183]

Have a great Comrades Ben and Sarah. It is an awesome race. Did the down run last year.

[@susanheneghan5879]

Love your honesty Ben. Well done today 👍👍

[@jacquelinefrancis8127]

Nuff respect for your honesty!🙇🏾‍♀

[@BruceJackson-SEOCoach]

Great finish - well done!

[@123cheenabhoy]

What a lovely environment to run in.

[@alastairblakeman1308]

Incredible as ever Ben. Keep the videos coming. Helped me untold amounts to deal with pre London nerves so thank you!!

[@BenParkes]

Thank you Alastair. Hope London went well for you!

[@PartTimeMarathoner]

By all standards, an amazing race and performance! You have every right to be proud of your podium finish. Wishing you the best with your mental health. Your honesty and openness are inspiring to people like me.

[@peakproofuk]

Didn’t know about that race. Right on my doorstep. Glad you had nice weather.

[@jennysmith8835]

congratulations, that looked a stunning route and perfect weather, can relate to what you were saying regards the anxiety about getting back on the trails, well you did it and in great style and good look going forward, and well done sarah too, 😊

[@50Something]

Fantastic Ben! You are way stronger than you think because people that suffer from anxiety and stress often give up. You however, soldier on and show us how it's done!

[@jeraldmccarthy785]

Great job Ben and sara.and opening up about the mental part was really brave ben.i myself I'm dealing with that.and I've watched alot of your stuff and that really touched a spot with me.thanks for sharing that.that really meant alot.

[@t5kcannon1]

Congratulations on the race and finishes!

[@leewellstead2305]

Congratulations on your 3rd place finish. Getting it DONE

[@JamesSmith-iz3pl]

Hi Ben, greetings from Oz. Thanks for great vid. So lovely to see such stunning scenery from the old country. Well done on the race. Keep it going, we are cheering for you!

[@heatherhepplewhite7885]

Great job, Ben!

[@lauraf5390]

Thank you for your time, talent and humanity! Great job out there…

[@seanmcsorley3958]

Awesome work Ben, congratulations. Loving your content

[@BenParkes]

Thank you Sean!

[@neillwalker2914]

Well done Ben great result and fab for Sarah too. All the best in your next adventure. Get it Done 👍

[@saytani]

Job well done! Good on you!

[@severiner7168]

Well done Ben. It looked like a lovely race and seems that you enjoyed it. I hope this helps build some trail confidence back. It's hard to fight that race anxiety or even just anxiety. Actually the word fight is not helpful, it's more acknowledging that's bound to happen and that it will pass because you know it does. You won the major battle of getting it done despite feeling anxious and that is something to be very proud of!

[@TheFODRunner]

Great job mate 💪 still take my hat off to you for openly chatting about these things… also looks like you’re in some great shape right now! Exciting times 🎉

[@erogerness]

Thank you Ben for sharing your mental health challenges. It resonates for many, and your openness is one of the reasons I'm a fan. Keep getting it done! 😁

[@bargh91]

Great effort! 👏 I passed you running the opposite direction just before the 0:46 5k scene. Thought it was you!

[@Logs888]

Watching this video, how the hell did you know where to go next 😂 awesome run, absolutely beautiful area! Just finished my first half marathon yesterday with your training plan, terribly nervous but somehow did it 😊 thanks a lot for your videos, super inspirational, keep it up and all the best for comrades!!!

[@BenParkes]

Thank you! There are lots of markers out on the course. Arrows and tape that gets tied to trees (they do remove all of it afterwards) so you always know where to go. I had the route on my watch too, so impossible to get lost really!

[@jackkasperski2912]

Ben!!! Congratulations!!! Beyond well done!!

[@lizusedon9237]

Looked a great race Ben Well done ! You always make it look so relaxed! Anxiety can be a pain but you are strong enough 💪🏻to overcome 🙌🙌

[@jamezday]

Great running Ben, love the peak district and a good bakewell tart so this was ticking all the boxes :)

[@Leeroy49]

Congratulations🎉 comrades is going to be great 😊

[@baggy2287]

Well done, a fab result. It's pretty hilly in Derbyshire, this is my local patch! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the MH issues, found the vid really helpful as currently struggling with confidence issues due to a recent DNF, but am getting back out there! 🙂

[@jacobriis7859]

The good thing about running is that it gives you time to think about something else. Or not think at all. Simply just run ❤

[@jasondawson321]

Great race Ben. Congrats pal💪👍👏👌 good luck with comrades🤞

[@Bisen222]

What an absolutely lovely race, stunning views.

[@tonypotter9578]

Awesome race Ben - perfect setting to clear your head. Great result 💪🏻

[@neilmurray549]

Great video mate well done👏👏 love your honesty 👌

[@peterjackson8244]

Great scenery, great run and just enjoy running! Well done!

[@petergibbs6993]

Looks a fantastic run and event, I will look up maverick as I am less than an hour from bakewell 👍 Great effort from you both

[@gary_runs]

Great running and great video Ben! Keep up the great running and videos! You made that look easy! 🙌🏼 💪🏼

[@Stewartuk73]

Congrats Ben - super run and video. Hope you have a great weekend and that you are okay. Great run by wifey too.

[@johnnylineham59]

Good stuff mate, love your honestly, Looked like a really nice area to run in

[@rob_h_7]

Congrats Ben, you flew round! I done the middle route, that was a slog and a half, a marathon with those hills is a great feat 👏

[@BenParkes]

Well done Rob! Yes they were tough routes, at least there was lots of beautiful scenery to took at!

[@ThePaulaon1]

Good on you Ben. Well done m8 & Sarah 💪🔥

[@runfilmsleep]

Wow, these videos are great! And vlogging while running is very hard! Thanks for sharing!

[@ians3983]

Great run Ben your the man. Keep positive. Theres a saying up here in scotland........when your arse is trailing on the ground...always keep your chin up .. Take it easy mate👍👍👍

[@BenParkes]

Thank you very much Ian 🙌🤗

[@willrobertsn]

Congrats! I picked up the hat you ran in a couple weeks ago and loved it. Used it during a UK trail race when here on holiday.

[@billycc97]

Great effort Ben!👍🏼

[@TravelRunner]

Great work, Ben! Awesome that you bumped into Sarah right at the finish. Looks like it was a fun event! Keep crushin it! 💪

[@peteforster8387]

Well done Ben. I also ran a 20 mile race in the peaks yesterday, they were tough conditions with the unusual sunshine!

[@BenParkes]

Well done Peter! 🙌

[@mijzzzz]

Always inspired by your vids,thanks for sharing😊

[@GyulaJentetics]

Great work out there Ben !😎👍😍

[@financeladlt5045]

Great video Ben! Really impressive filming and running as always!

[@nicmarlow6388]

excellent work out there Ben! Despite the MH issues you dug deep and genuinely looked like overall you enjoyed it. Maverick races are always great fun. If you've not done it and can fit it in your schedule i'd highly recommend the "Original Dorset" race, absolutely gorgeous. And as for Sarah, despite you running past her near the end i bet she had a cracking race too! :) love you guys. x

[@BenParkes]

We haven’t done that maverick race.. but Dorset is such a beautiful place to run.. it must be a great one to do!

[@petersalama4561]

Well done! Am thinking about doing more trail running to improve my overall running...this video might just push me into it.

[@davidhaywood8961]

Great run Ben. I know how you feel with the anxiety etc. I comes from know where sometimes. But it always seems abit better when you cross that finish line or finish a training session 👍

[@valadosmsport]

Well done Ben and thanks for sharing your anxieties, being open and honest. I’m more of a shuffler now but in previous years I always felt I was a fraud and what the hell was I doing running with these athletes, which gave me self doubt, sometimes leading to me pulling out.

[@pedrob8787]

Well done, Ben! Getting to the finish line with those issues! P.s...that cake...😍...p.p.s...that bottle Sarah had...nice 👌

[@kimbland5332]

Love hearing your experience and honesty ❤❤❤

[@irisr4536]

You inspire many, keep doing what you do!

[@AlistairNY]

Well done both of you! Suspect the beauty covered a lot of difficulty :) Have my first marathon in Edinburgh next week!

[@BenParkes]

Good luck Alistair!! Hope you have a great race!

[@georginawalters2766]

Amazing well done

[@petewilcock]

Don't be too hard on yourself Ben, keep on trucking and doing your thing.

[@jh230377]

Congratulations Ben and Sarah. That Bakewell looked delicious. 👍

[@marlinweekley51]

All while creating a video! Nice. Congrats👍🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[@deshall1885]

Well done 🎉

[@steverostill4186]

Well done Ben.

[@ALLAROUNDDREAMS]

Congratulations !

[@woutermolevelt1507]

I DNF'd twice the UTMB.. 3rd time I finished.. the trick in my case.. strength and high mountain training.. like the really steep climbs, up and most of all down, and repeat :D .. congrats on 3rd place!!

[@BenParkes]

Thanks for the tip Wouter! We’ve started going dedicated sessions like this.. think its helped. Congratulations on getting your finish! 🙌

[@johnmcnulty1129]

Well done Ben, great honest vid. Pretty sure ALL runners have suffered that 'Meh' feeling at some point ! Doesn't matter how well prepared, experienced etc ! As you stated, donning that backpack, the terrain etc, subconsciously 'rerouted' the mindset to that UTMB ! Kudos to you for documenting the situation & still coming through to obtain a slendid result. Should've gave Sarah a hug, instead of turning on the afterburner ! ❤ 😁

[@BenParkes]

It was only about 300m before the end.. she got a big hug just after crossing the line, don't worry! :-)

[@nataliemee4]

Well done on your podium finish! I thought it was you who I was walking next to near the quarry during the race (minute 6.21 of your video!) I saw Sarah at the start line too but I was clearly too shy to say hi to you both 🙈 Congratulations on both of your races 👏 hopefully see you again at another race!

[@BenParkes]

Well done Natalie! Of course say hi if you see us again. Congratulations on your run.. see you on the trails again soon!

[@juliana8113]

Highclere Castle - Downton Abbey filming location. Interestingly it's also the family home of Lord Carnarvon who funded the expedition that found Tutankhamen's tomb. Chatsworth house is the family home of the duke of Devonshire, and was where Joseph Paxton cultivated the Cavendish banana, which is the one we all eat today. He also designed the greenhouses, and then went on to design and construct the Crystal Palace

[@davidwatt7570]

Terrific run, and what a beautiful place for it. I would be interested to hear your views on the interplay between mental health and running performance.

[@shaifurrahman7423]

Cap tan lines be tanning! Congratulations on the incredible achievement!!🥳

[@richardrankin7488]

All my best thoughts go out to you and Sarah🌞!

[@BenParkes]

Thank you Richard!

[@shaunprince6986]

Dont you get crumbs in that car young man 😂 jokes awesome job on the race. I did my first ever marathon like a week prior to this in the lake district around lake windermere. Started running from scratch this year. Started with the couch to 5k which I completed in the first week of February. All your videos have helped me a lot and I'm grateful for your content. Heres to many more race 🙌

[@davidhamed8613]

Downton was filmed at Highclere Castle

[@BenParkes]

Thank you David! 😀

[@jkraner]

well done. you looked fresh at OP2

[@GarethFreshwater]

I was at that race running the medium and a girl on the pretend beer pong said didn't you finish 3rd or something 😂 didn't know I looked like you Ben!! I did have my hat on back to front mind you 👍🏻 it was an awesome run. Congrats.

[@BenParkes]

Haha! Hope you had a good run too Gareth!

[@mikew6840]

My gosh - 3rd place despite having issues - well done!

[@emrais]

Hopefully your 3rd place has gone some way towards slaying your UTMB demons 👊🏼

[@mikeharvey7383]

Fabulous

[@artwersky]

Great views making want to hit the trails as well What is the differences in your training towards the comrades

[@andyjamesmciver]

That was a harsh overtake with 700m to go!!

[@R41Z1NRUN]

Love your hat. What brand is it? I am in dire need of an actual hat made for running as my favorite regular use hat is going to get destroyed

[@BenParkes]

All the hats are here benparkes.com/collections/hats-and-wraps Enjoy!

[@laszlokovacs9596]

Grat🎉

[@LewisTillyer]

Hi Ben, thanks for all your great running videos! You inspired me to buy a GoPro to start filming my own runs! I was hoping you could share some tips. Do you put the camera away when not recording and if so, where do you put it? And what settings do you usually record in for a GoPro (FPS/ Linear or wide lense etc)? Thanks again!

[@Larsschmidt14]

Epic Ben! Thanks for sharing. Can you say a few words about why you picked Zegama for the run and not e.g. the NNormal?

[@BenParkes]

Comfortable over longer distances.

[@markscott9760]

You should have gone for the Bakewell puddings!! They’re the originals and taste so much better than the tarts.

[@BenParkes]

We would have normally! But needed to be back in London asap for an appointment, so had to get prepared the day before!

[@alexbukowski89]

Life goal: run a marathon as a training run

[@Nyelands]

Is it easier on the legs to run a trail marathon because of the softer surface and maybe also that there is more variation stepping wise?

[@BenParkes]

It's just very different. Both are hard on the legs if you haven't trained for the particular surface you're running on. The softer ground (if flat) is easier on the legs though.. it's the hills that are tough and bash the legs up!

[@zacdann1878]

In Bakewell but bought the pudding from Chesterfield 😂 glad you enjoyed it

[@BenParkes]

Ha, yeah. 😀 It was just because we had an appointment in London at 5 we couldn’t miss so had to get straight back. Was delicious though!

[@zacdann1878]

@@BenParkes 😂, glad you enjoyed it. Lucky to have them as my home trails. Lovely up along the edges. Top work 🔥

[@alfdickinson1971]

Is it therapeutic or more stressful to vlogg and run? Amazing edit of a great performance. The speed of both is inspirational.

[@BenParkes]

Can we both, depending on where my head is at at the time. Some races it makes things better.. here it helped a lot as took my mind off other things in my head.

[@robertdavies5263]

Well done Ben and Sarah. Was it an easy route to navigate or could you easily go wrong ?

[@TRFCv5]

Hey Ben - well done! What Salomon vest do you recommend?

[@BenParkes]

We use a adv-12 set. Pretty good!

[@andywyrobek902]

Hi Ben, I have this tomorrow any last minute tips for it?

[@eemivolotinen4608]

What headphones do you use while running? Looks handy!

[@BenParkes]

They are Aftershokz