Jen Benson is a runner, writer, running coach and mum of two.

Along with her husband, Sim, she has co-authored 10 books including Smart Running, The Camping Bible, Wild Running and The Adventurer's Guide to Britain.

She has an MSc in sport & exercise medicine and is currently a PhD researcher exploring the phenomenology of running.

Jen has run more than 50 marathons and ultras, including the 100-mile Arc of Attrition in 2024.

Her new book on women in ultrarunning, The Path We Run, is out in September.

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Show notes

Who is Jen
Intro to her life and work
Publishing 3 books in 2024
Book: Smart Running: The ultimate guide to becoming a fitter, stronger, more confident runner
Book: The Camping Bible: The Complete Guide to Life Under Canvas
Book: Great British Walkies: 100 brilliant dog walks through beautiful countryside (National Trust)
First speaking to Jen - 23rd July 2019 - Adventuring with her partner and two young children, living in a tent for 18 months!
What's been going on since 2019
The wild year - spending 18 months in a tent
Having freedom from the monthly treadmill of paying rent and bills
Writing their first book (Wild Running) and wanting to make writing a full time career
Writing their second book - Amazing Family Adventures: Fun days out and action-packed weekends.
Being back in a proper house since 2016
Son aged 10, daughter aged 13
Researching an alpine adventure book in the Alps
Getting back into running and starting to train for a 100 miler
Documenting her training for and attempting to finish her first 100 mile race
Always being a runner and doing a MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine specialising in distance running.
How pregnancy impacted on her life and withdrawing from her PHD
Deciding to go back and do a PHD at Liverpool John Moors University - wanting to look at the meaning of running for couch to 5k runners and ultra distance runners.
The battle with negative troughs and how a lack of confidence impacted on her running.
Signing up to do a mindfulness course and how it changed her life for the better
Deciding to train as a mindfulness teacher
Identifying the triggers for what causes the negative spirals
The impact of tiredness and sleep deprivation
Running through the dark and running through the night
The dream of wanting to run 100 miles
Book: The Path We Run: A personal history of women's ultrarunning
Learning about the history of women in ultra running
TGP Episode Ann Trason (July 19th 2016) - American ultra runner who has broken 20 world records & won Western States a record breaking 14 times
Barriers for women in ultra running
Why running can be an expensive sport
Working with her partner to fit in training
Being anaemic and how 50% of women/runners can have low ferritin levels
Book: Smart Running: The ultimate guide to becoming a fitter, stronger, more confident runner
Why it was a dream book to write
Book: The Camping Bible: The Complete Guide to Life Under Canvas
Top tips for camping
Some of the challenges from the past 5 years
Planning for work and family life
Getting older
How to connect with Jen online
Final words of advice
"Just because something feels scary, that's not a reason not to do it."
Taking the plunge and doing the scary thing

Social Media

Website: jenandsimbenson.co.uk

Instagram: @jenandsim

Facebook: @jenandsimbenson

X: @jenandsim

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