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The thoughts, life and comments from ‘That Runner Guy’.
Hi: My name is Nick Butter. I’m a British endurance athlete, adventurer, speaker and best selling author. I am proud to say i’ve somehow accumulated 11 world records, and 4 world firsts over the last decade. I recently became the first and only person to run a marathon in every country in the world. That meant running 3 countries each week, for roughly 94 weeks.
I write about things that matter to me, and that I think would matter to you too. I’m a runner, so that’ll get a fair share of the air time. I also like travel, dogs, beaches, food, psychology philosophy, writing, communities, global politics and … you get the idea.
My SubStack: Sharing my life, comment, ideas, philosophies, tips and tricks, reviews, thoughts, training programmes, wellness routines, and life as founder of my sports travel company; Run Weekends. I’ll cover everything from the wonder of dogs, to that new training app that everyone’s talking about.
Instagram: @nickbutterrun
Web: nickbutter.com
That Runner Guy - Nick Butter
We must all suffer one of two pains; the pain of discipline, or the pain of regret - Jim Rohn
Subscribe for £6 per month to get access to all the best bits.
Why subscribe?
Subscribe to get full access to:
The newsletter and my publication archive
Weekly training sessions
Full training programmes
Product, gear and gadget reviews
Exclusive discounts to Run Weekends events
My book giveaways
Access to group zoom calls for coaching
Philosophy topics
Travel advice & latest news
Latest running events, deals and giveaways
Book recommendations and insights
Snippets of the behind the scenes in life as a travel business founder and general day to day of living in Cornwall with my two dogs.
Plus everything in between.
Benefits of Paid Subscribers: (Only £6)
🔒 1. Subscriber-Only Content, Comments & Chat
You now get access to every post I write that has a little lock icon on it—this is the good stuff, the unfiltered, deep-dive, post-run brain-dump goodness. Plus, you can now jump into the comments section and actually be heard. Ask questions, share your thoughts, argue with my hot takes on tempo runs—whatever you like.
Also: Substack Chat. Think of it like a WhatsApp group, but with fewer memes and more meaning. We talk running, life, snacks, injuries, bounce-back plans, and how to not lose your mind tapering.
🎬 2. Behind The Scenes + Giveaways + Signed Stuff
You’re now on the VIP list for “Life Behind The Scenes”—aka, all the messy, real-life, not-always-Instagrammable stuff. The highs, lows, a look into the juggling act of being an athlete and running both a charity and a travel business. You’ll get the inside scoop.
Also: Run Weekends Giveaways. I give away cool stuff to subscribers (think: gear, books, race entries). No spammy nonsense—just free, useful gear I think you’ll love.
And yes, exclusive discounts and signed books are part of the deal. You want a book signed? You got it. You want it with a weird doodle or a motivational quote? Done.
🏃 3. Running Training Programmes + Zooms
This one’s big. You now get PDF downloads of my running training programmes (from couch-to-5k to race-your-guts-out half marathons). Plus, printable training log books, because progress looks better in pen.
But wait—there’s more: Live Zoom Q&As where I answer your questions, talk training strategy, mindset, gear, and occasionally rant about shoes. It’s fun. It’s nerdy. It’s helpful.
📲 4. For Founding Members Only: 1-2-1 WhatsApp Coaching
Are you a Founding Member? You now get direct 1-2-1 WhatsApp access to me for training questions, support, and advice. Need help structuring your marathon build-up? Hit me up. Struggling to stay motivated? I’m there. Wondering if that weird pain in your foot is serious or just a sock wrinkle? Let’s discuss.
(If you’re not a Founding Member but want that WhatsApp access—upgrade anytime and let me know. I’ll add you to my phone.)
That’s it for now, but truly: thank you. Your support means I get to keep doing what I love—and help you do more of what you love, too.
My Services:
Speaking
Tales to inspire. Nick draws on his vast experience spanning 11 world records over the past 15 years. Nick has delivered hundreds of talks all over the world. Corporates, universities, schools, theatres, and special events. Nick provides a unique perspective, stunning photography and outstanding story telling
Nick's storytelling is exceptional, we'll have him back next year. - Tim Herrings - Cisco
Coaching
Private running coaching for all abilities.
Weekly 1-2-1 sessions with a carefully curated training programme covering all the essential elements for optimised progression. Get in touch with Nick to discuss your needs. Nick will act as an accountability partner and share insights into various training methods.
I came to Nick wanting to get fitter and train for a 10km. Last week I just completed my first ever ultra marathon. Nick is half coach, half therapist and friend. Invaluable. - Abby Chancy - Coaching Client
Retreats
Run Weekends - Trail Running Retreat Holidays
Offering over 30 destinations world wide, join the Run Weekends team for fun, laid back running trips. Run Weekends is for everyone. From hut hoping in the Italian Dolomites, a casual long weekend in Cornwall, or luxury in Dubai. It's all about the camaraderie.
A weekend of deep community and stunning trails. One of the best weeks in recent years. - Toby - Run Weekends guest
Partnerships
World record breaking partnerships. Nick has delivered result for brand spanning the past 2 decades, offering awareness, meaningful content, and an authentic approach. Nick's unique perspective brings a loyal following of an ever growing subscriber base of over 620,000 who receive monthly updates.
Nick and his team are so easy to work with. We've long been impressed with the return on investment. - Andrew P - LBG Finance
Consultancy
Travel & Expedition Consultancy.
Having worked with the United Nations, the British Government, Overseas embassies, and with connections to world leaders and security institutes globally Nick and his team are well connected to support with your next adventure.
Nick's team have been so helpful. From contacts and detailed visa support and safety protocols, we're very grateful. - Simon B - Director
My Philosophy:
Dear Reader,
To dream big, to give it a go. When asked questions like: why do you run, what motivates you, or how do you do what you do - I think the answer is pretty simple. I believe there are 2 routes in life. There’s the route of ’NO’, and the route of ‘YES’.
Let’s start by stating the obvious - if you’re reading this, you’re likely in the tiny percentage of human beings that are undeniably more fortune than others. For starters, you can read this without even thinking about it. That also means you have your sight, a connection to the internet, and therefore bank account, and a home address, and a device to read this on. I would bet you can probably walk to the fridge or shops and put food in your mouth whenever you want to as well. You likely have the freedom to pray to your god, pick a holiday, get an education, grab some medicine if you're sick, or just pick what socks go well with an outfit. My point here, is that we are all so unaware of how privileged we are. That is what motivates me. I'm obsessed with being present and valuing my time on the planet.
Let me throw a few heart wrenching stats at you to illustrate my point. 1) Every year over 2 million children die before their 5th birthday because they don’t have enough food. 2) Only 20% of humans alive today will ever leave their own country. 3) 1.2 billion people live in extreme poverty - they survive on less than $2 per day.
Our lives are so easily consumed by the day to day that we forget to zoom out. We get trapped by societal norms and instant gratification that we lose sight of how unfathomably lucky we are. Our privileges are made up of freedom, opportunity, and time. I therefore choose the route of YES. Yes to investing my time on the planet wisely, Yes to taking responsibility of the opportunities I have, and yes to using the freedom I could so easily take for granted - the freedom of choice.
If I’m lucky enough to get to the point in life where I’m old and grey, chatting with my grandchildren, I want to know I’ve woken up every day and not just been aware of my fortunes, but acted on the freedom and opportunity that I have. I want to live exploring every inch of the planet, To do what I can to help others, and to have exhausted every ounce of my potential. I want to challenge myself beyond comprehension and to leave the planet knowing I did everything in my power to make the best use of my time. To love, and be loved, to work hard, to value my days, and to spend as little time as possible in the so called comfort zone. I believe that it’s the crazy things, the things that no one else is doing, and the things that we’re afraid to do… which are exactly that which leave a positive mark on the world.
Through adventure, through daring endeavour, I choose YES.
I didn’t always have this view. I was once trapped behind a desk in a busy finance job, blissfully unaware that life was passing me by. It wasn’t until I had a chat with a random man in the middle of the desert that life was quickly pulled into focus. This moment changed my life forever. This random chap was called Kev. We were running the famous 260km race in the middle of the Sahara - The Marathon des Sables. We were chatting as strangers after a long slog in the heat. He dropped the bombshell that he was recently told he may only have 2 years to live. Terminal prostate cancer. We were slogging it out in the desert for many days, and so we had a chance to chat further. He shared with me what it’s like to be told he may never see his boy turn 11. He said, Nick, whatever you do, don’t wait for a diagnosis like I did. This was Kev’s way of explaining he had been living assuming that tomorrow would exist. He, like so many of us were fumbling from one day to the next assuming that the sun would rise and he’d there to see it. The words “don’t wait for a diagnosis” have echoed in my mind ever since.
3 weeks later, I quit my job, and did everything I could to live by Kev’s council. Foolish, shortsighted, mad, maybe. But I dreamt up a plan to raise some cash and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK. They are the leading charity fighting prostate cancer in Britain. This plan involved taking on a big running challenge. Needless to say 2 years later, I’d planned an audacious attempt to try and run a marathon in every country in the world. I thought it was maybe big enough to get some press. It seemed to work.
Everything I have; the world records, the books, documentaries, the business, the travel, the charity, brilliant friends all over the world, the day to day of running life. It' all thanks to a chap called Kev. He taught me that we really don’t know how lucky we are.
Did you know, the average person lives for 29,747 days? If you subtract the time spent sleeping, working, commuting, driving, waiting, tidying, scrolling, and all the mundane necessities of life - it works out that we only really have about 5,000 days to make our mark on the world. How will you use yours?
Running has changed my life. I've been fortunate enough to transform my hobby into a career, and therefore I owe a debt of gratitude to Kev, to running, the path that led me to it, and those around me who ushered me in the right direction. Thanks to running I've travelled the world, I've sat on the lip of volcanos, I've swam with whales, I've seen every country on the planet. Most of all, this journey opened my eyes even further to the privileges we all so easily take for granted,, I learnt that today is the most precious thing any of us experience.
Dream big, value now, open your eyes to your privileges, and take action. Your time is now.
Run well,
Nick
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Run Weekends
If you enjoy a run, like to travel, and are keen to meet new people, I host ‘Run Weekends’ - adventure travel holiday. Mostly long weekends, just turn up, and the team will do the rest. All accommodation, all meals, all guides and support.
To learn more about the destinations we offer visit runweekends.com
Get in touch
Email: nick@nickbutter.co.uk
Book a call: https://calendly.com/nickbutter/30min
