Jake Williamson: Footballer Turned Hyrox Champion and LGBTQ+ Advocate

This week on The Runna Podcast, Ben and Anya sit down with Jake Williamson, an elite Hyrox athlete, mental health advocate, and founder of BTND (Better The Next Day). Jake opens up about his powerful journey, navigating masculinity in football, coming out, and how fitness helped him reclaim his identity. From winning his first Hyrox to running 100K with just a bottle of water and no support crew, Jake proves that embracing your true self is a superpower. In this inspiring conversation, we dive into: 🏳️‍🌈 Why Jake is leading the charge for LGBTQ+ visibility in sport 🔥 His Hyrox journey: from rookie to champion in record time 🧠 The mindset shift behind BTND & building confidence every day 💬 Why he ran 100KM solo with no training plan 🤝 The importance of making gym & race spaces inclusive for all Jake’s story is a reminder that when you show up as yourself, anything is possible - on the track, in the gym, or in life. 🎧 Make sure to subscribe, rate, and share The Runna Podcast for weekly stories from the world’s most inspiring runners and athletes. 🆓 Get 2 weeks free on the Runna app with code PODCAST25 → https://www.runna.com 📱 Follow us for behind-the-scenes content: Instagram →   / runna   TikTok →   / runna   ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:05 - Jake’s early days in football 00:03:42 - Coming out and navigating football culture 00:06:30 - Transitioning into Hyrox and winning his debut 00:10:15 - Founding BTND and the power of daily improvement 00:13:54 - Representing England at Hyrox Nice 00:16:20 - Running 100K with just a bottle of water?! 00:20:05 - Building inclusive spaces in sport 00:23:41 - Mental health & redefining masculinity 00:28:30 - This or That 00:30:45 - Embarrassing Running Story of the Week 00:32:55 - What are your 3 race-day essentials?