The UKRunChat podcast.

For most runners, Lazarus "Laz" Lake is the creator of the Barkley Marathons and the inventor of the Backyard Ultra. But after spending a year filming the first authorised documentary about him, filmmaker Paul Mellor has discovered there's much more to the man than his legendary races.

Paul takes us behind the scenes of the documentary and shares what it's like spending hundreds of hours with one of endurance sport's most fascinating characters.

We explore why Laz finally agreed to tell his own story, how his unconventional approach to race directing has influenced the running world, and why he believes running isn't about finding the fastest athlete.

Along the way, Paul reveals the experiences that shaped Laz's outlook on life, from childhood adversity to walking across America in his seventies, and explains why he believes Laz's influence on running will only continue to grow.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why Laz finally agreed to an authorised documentary
• The man behind the Barkley Marathons
• The philosophy behind Backyard Ultras
• Why Laz believes your mind quits before your body
• The real purpose of failure in endurance sport
• The surprising warmth behind Laz's public persona
• What shaped his outlook on life
• Why challenge means more than winning
• The future of the documentary

Enjoy!