Welcome to the Women’s Running podcast: a very special Bake Off edition. We’re your hosts, Esther Newman and Holly Taylor, and usually you can find us chatting about life and running – though, let’s be honest, it’s mostly the life bit. Every year we get terribly overexcited for the Great British Bake Off and discuss it at length on the pod. Despite being total failures at baking ourselves, we’ve decided that we simply have far too much to say about the show – so here we are, turning it into its own spin off so we can dissect each episode properly. We’ll be chatting about all the highs and lows from the Bake Off tent, playing total favourites and slagging off bakes we could never dream of producing ourselves. Whether you run while you listen, bake while you listen, or neither – enjoy this extra little morsel!SPOILER ALERT: Of course, this episode is chock full of spoilers. What did you expect? Go and watch the opening episode before listening!Bake Off series 14 episode 1: Cake WeekWe start this week by discussing the merits of the now traditional Great British Bit that seems to start each new series. Do we really need to see Noel Fielding in a fedora? Discuss. We also share our thoughts on new host Alison Hammond and pick our early frontrunners. Signature: Vertical cakes…And they’re off! The first task of the series is underway. We chat about which baker’s offering we’d scoff and get to know this year’s cohort. Technical: Bake Off cake Well, wasn’t this a joy? We debate the first controversy of the season: what to do about the missing raspberry. Showstopper: Animal cakesThere’s plenty of beaver chat here, as we say goodbye to our first baker – who we were already a bit obsessed with. How are we going to cope?Join us!If you LOVE this podcast, become part of our Pod Squad on Patreon, where you can get involved in live zoom calls with us, weekly newsletters and an exclusive Discord community for friendly chat and support. Come and join us at patreon.com/womensrunning.Extra bitsThis is a VERY good time to subscribe to Women’s Running – join now for a FREE Women’s Running technical tee worth £35! Quote X23WRPOD at the checkout! (They're different from the Pod Squad ones!)Visit womensrunning.co.uk for expert advice and support Come to our Live Podcast event on 9th November at Sweaty Betty in Battersea Power Station for proper good chats and a goody bagGet your hands on our brand new special magazine: How to Run 10K with Esther and Holly, out now, and available at womensrunning.co.uk/learntorunBuy a Pod Squad t-shirt!Join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.com/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.