ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What happens when pain, sacrifice, and suffering become so common that they stop feeling extraordinary?
In this episode, Tim and Ollie explore the idea of RUNFLATION - the phenomenon where the running community continually raises the standard of what's considered impressive, causing achievements that would once seem extraordinary to feel completely normal.
From 4am wake-ups and marathon training blocks to ultramarathons, injury management, and years of relentless consistency, we discuss how endurance athletes gradually normalise experiences that most people would consider incredibly difficult.
But as the bar keeps rising, an important question emerges:
Have runners become so mentally tough that they've lost the ability to recognise their own toughness?
We unpack how pain tolerance, resilience, discipline, and discomfort become part of everyday life for endurance athletes - and why constantly comparing ourselves to bigger goals, faster athletes, and longer races can make us forget just how far we've come.
They discuss:
◼️ How athletes normalise pain, discomfort, and suffering.
◼️ Why a 10km run can start to feel "easy".
◼️ The hidden downside of constantly raising the bar.
◼️ When mental toughness becomes so normal you stop noticing it.
◼️ The difference between resilience and obsession.
◼️ Why runners struggle to appreciate their own achievements.
◼️ How outside perspectives reveal what's actually extraordinary.
