Mind Over Muscle

by Ant Middleton

In his Audible Original Podcast, special forces solider and SAS: Who Dares Wins star, Ant Middleton, mentors five novice runners, all of whom are competing in the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon.

Each of the five runners taking part have their own mental health struggles that have encouraged them to sign up and take on this challenge. With the support of elite marathon runner, Mara Yamauchi, and sports psychologist, Dr Josephine Perry, Ant will mentally prepare his recruits for the big day – but is it enough to get them over the finish line?

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help

Audible Audio

Published February 6, 2020

Reviews

[Lilith Reading Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic so far

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more insight. There was nothing in this that I couldn't have heard at my local gym, and without the added insight peoples personal motivations really aren't that interesting

[Roxanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having recently taken up running during lockdown as a means to save my sanity, I was intrigued by this podcast where Ant Middleton (known for SAS Who Dares Win) alongside marathon runner Mara Yamauchi, train and mentor 5 runners of varying experience, capabilities and motivations through their training plans for the London 2020 marathon, originally scheduled for 26 April.

Despite a keen interest to pick up any training tips (both physical and mental), I struggled through this semi-documentary series crossed with the occasional motivational pep talk from Ant. Granted, the podcast was already produced and ready for release on a fortnightly basis when the lockdown began and when the postponement of the London marathon was announced midway through the release schedule, the production team tried to update the content, focusing on how to project positivity in this period of uncertainty, not to mention that all their training plans have to be revised for an October start date.

I wished that the podcast was more focused, both in terms of its objectives and target audience. Is it entertainment, so we can follow along with the 5 brave souls running the London marathon? Is it a motivational podcast, so we can bring Ant's tips to our own training? Or is it a training programme, so we can follow along ourselves to get our own training into gear? In the end, I think it tried to be all of the above but with the medium (and length) constraints of a podcast format, failed to really shine in any of these.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this quite inspiring and uplifting. Especially when it deals with the effects of the COVID pandemic last year too.

I think when you're struggling a little bit mentally, as I am during these uncertain times, it helps to get a bit of a mental boost and this did it for me.

There's not a lot of in depth psychology behind it, granted. So listeners expecting deep insights into mind over matter (muscle) may be left wanting.

But it's good to hear about people progressing in times of adversity.

[Željko Filipin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've started listening to this podcast in February 2020. I was training for my first marathon. The podcast is about 5 people running London marathon. COVID-19 happened. The race was first postponed, then cancelled. The final episode was supposed to be from the race. Since there was no race, the final episode was recorded in October 2020, so I've finally finished it.

[Hilary Cockshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not really what I wanted from this.

[David Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting take on how the correct mindset can overcome some of the toughest challenges in life and how to keep a positive outlook in dark times.

[Martha Kh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very motivating

[Charlotte Redhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring to hear personal insights in this audiobook and once again shows how covid really has affected us all

[Paul Pryce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Break it down. Don’t try to swallow the whole struggle in one go is what I took away.

[Gareth Rowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately after reading people like Gogins this book seemed very very repetitive, same story over and over again

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tips in this are very basic common sense. In all honesty I don’t think I got a single smidge of ‘new’ information.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting !