#198 Callam Smith: From Smoking and Drinking Daily to a 2:55 Marathon

Get 20% off a Strava annual subscription with code KRISTIAN Save on FlexBeam using code WARWICKRUNS or this link: https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/55GAPb Kristian sits down with Callam Smith, whose transformation from smoking, daily drinking, and recreational drugs to running a 2:55 marathon and placing fifth in a 50k beach ultra is nothing short of remarkable. Callam opens up about the wake up call that changed everything: ordering a beer for breakfast in front of his mum, and realizing he'd slipped further than he wanted to admit. He shares how he channelled his all or nothing personality into running instead, working night shifts while training for the marathon majors, and the years long chase to finally break three hours. He also introduces Run For Your Mental, the running brand he and his partner started to connect mental health and running, and shares advice for anyone looking to turn their own life around. In this episode: - Life before running: smoking, drinking, and recreational drugs - The wake up call that started everything - Finding running (and later boxing) as an outlet - Training around a rotating shift work schedule - Chasing sub three: three attempts, three near misses, then a breakthrough - Race recap: a 2:55 marathon and dialing in his pacing strategy - Racing a 50k ultra along the Dutch coast - Building Run For Your Mental, a brand connecting running and mental health - His honest advice for anyone trying to change their lifestyle Content note: this episode includes an open discussion of past substance use and mental health. Please take care while listening. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and a preview of Callam's story 00:52 Kristian's running update 03:14 Introducing Callam, straight off a night shift 04:15 Balancing shift work with serious training 06:31 How Callam first got into fitness 10:16 Getting serious about training 10:51 Life before running: smoking, drinking, and recreational drugs 13:01 The wake up call: a beer for breakfast with his mum 13:54 Going all in on running and fitness instead 16:14 His all or nothing personality 16:59 His first marathon and getting hooked on chasing sub three 19:52 Getting a coach and seeing real improvement 20:27 Missing sub three by six seconds 22:47 Switching coaches and building bigger long runs 22:55 Race recap: finally breaking sub three with a 2:55 25:31 How friends and family reacted to the transformation 27:53 His honest advice for anyone trying to change 29:14 Taking on a 50k beach ultra along the Dutch coast 34:41 Building Run For Your Mental, his running and mental health brand 37:19 Ambitions for the brand and future charity runs 52:07 Where he sees himself going next 53:05 Closing thoughts and where to follow Callam Callam on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwithcallam Run For Your Mental: https://www.instagram.com/runforyamental/ Start your free Musicbed trial: https://fm.pxf.io/kristianwarwick Full episodes + the Boston 2025 documentary: https://www.youtube.com/@Warwickruns Follow my training journey on Instagram: @warwick.runs Music from Musicbed: MB01XPYH8ZYENVAMB0133EV2TCQFZY