Your Race or Mine

For more than 20,000 runners, Irish Life Dublin City Marathon is the culmination of months of training and preparation. But what does it take to bring an event of that scale to life? On this episode of Your Race or Mine , I’m joined by Jim Aughney, who has served as Race Director since 1997. Jim’s journey began with a young runner from Carlow who found his feet in athletics after being steered awa...

Sometimes the reason we keep going is a person. Daniel Moores was training for his first marathon when, around 30km into a difficult run, he hit the point where his body was telling him to stop. He was running the Abu Dhabi Marathon in memory of two grandparents who had passed away. And as the kilometres became harder, thinking about them gave him the push he needed to keep going. It also sparked...

For Keith Russell, running began as a way to give his daughter Alanna a little more freedom, fun and connection with the world around her. Alana had complex needs and required 24/7 care. Keith had never been a runner, but set himself a goal: run the Dublin Marathon with Alanna, while raising money for a charity that supported his family. What followed changed both of their lives. For Alanna, runni...

Keith Russells reflections on carrying his ongoing grief

What happens when the path you thought you were on suddenly stops making sense? James Brogan grew up surrounded by Dublin GAA. The Brogan name is woven into the history of the game, and football was a huge part of James's identity from a young age. But a serious injury at 17 was his first experience of a dream being interrupted. Years later, after studying commerce, becoming a solicitor and fo...

For Natalie Weston, running had always been part of life — something she enjoyed, but never something she imagined she couldn’t do. Then, unexpectedly, she was diagnosed with appendix cancer. In an instant, life changed: her health, her family, her plans and her relationship with her own body all looked very different. But this isn’t simply a story about cancer. It’s about what came afterwards. As...

The advice Tony Barclay MBE lives by is simple: believe in yourself, and magic will happen. But when you hear how he went from a police career cut short by sight loss to marathons, ultramarathons, guide runner training, and becoming the first visually impaired person in Ireland to qualify as an archery coach, that mantra hits differently. I sit down with Tony for a remarkable conversation about re...

From building athletics in rural Donegal to managing Ireland at four Olympic Games, Patsy McGonagle has spent more than five decades helping athletes and communities achieve more than they thought possible. In this episode of Your Race or Mine , Patsy reflects on his remarkable journey — from founding Finn Valley Athletic Club and developing athletics across Donegal, to managing some of Ireland’s...

One sentence, 5 years, completely different meaning. What does it mean to become a “real runner”? And why do so many of us still feel like imposters, even when the evidence says otherwise? In this deeply honest and uplifting conversation, Mairead Hogan joins Your Race or Mine to talk about discovering running in her forties at a difficult moment in her life, finding confidence through community, a...

They say running can become an addiction — but sometimes it becomes the thing that saves you from far more destructive ones. My guest Cathal Quinn knows both sides of that reality. For much of his life, Cathal battled inner demons that eventually brought him to the very edge. This conversation is an honest and deeply personal account of addiction, vulnerability, self-destruction, and the long road...

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Paul Robinson speaks for the first time since stepping away from elite athletics. From running around Kilcock at just four years old, to running a mile in the South Pole, and everything in-between, Paul’s journey into running was built on passion, discipline, and consistency. By 15, things became serious — setting him on a path toward becoming one o...

We often talk about equality in sports—and rightly so. But when it comes to running, fitness, and health, men and women don't face the same challenges. In this episode, I sit down with Laura Ward from LWF Physiotherapy for a really honest and important conversation about what that actually means in real life. We explore the importance of pelvic health, strength training, and taking a holistic...

What does it really take to stand behind the finish line? In this episode, I sit down with Brian Conroy, co-founder of Pop Up Races, to explore the journey behind one of Ireland’s most recognisable race timing companies. Brian shares how he went from working as a chartered accountant to building a business rooted in the running community — what that transition felt like, the risks involved, and ho...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Noel McCarron reflects on a life shaped not just by running, but by the people and communities it brought him to. At the heart of this episode is Noel’s involvement with the Special Olympics and his role in bringing the World Games to Ireland in 2003. He shares the story behind what it took to make that happen, offering a rare glimpse into the dedication, challenges...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we sit down with Noel McCarron to explore an incredible running journey that began in the most unexpected way. Growing up in Letterkenny with little interest in sport, Noel’s path changed when an inspirational teacher from Tennessee arrived at his school and sparked something that would shape the rest of his life. From those early days, Noel went on to achi...

Chris Drysdale is a 2:35 marathon runner. Experienced. Disciplined. Used to pushing through discomfort and coming out stronger. But last year in Berlin, something was different. Coming into the race unwell, he made the decision to start anyway. What followed wasn’t a personal best or a breakthrough performance — it was a battle simply to finish. A day when the body didn’t cooperate. A day when tou...

When Cheryl Auret started running for the first time, she wasn’t chasing medals or finish lines—she was chasing a different life. At 53, living in Co. Offaly, Cheryl’s running journey began not on a track, but on a treadmill in her shed, and a decision to change. Supported by her family and a community who believed in her before she fully believed in herself, she lost over 70lbs and gained somethi...

In this episode, we’re joined by Colin Thomas — an avid runner, deeply respected coach, and someone who has spent a lifetime immersed in the sport he loves. Colin has coached and advised runners of every level, from complete beginners to elite Kenyan athletes, and his perspective on running is as grounded as it is inspiring. Colin shares what sets Kenyan runners apart beyond raw talent — their min...

What if one run could change everything? After recently moving to a new town and feeling disconnected, my guest Camila Melo was looking for more than just fitness. When she couldn’t find a running club that worked for her, she took a brave step and created her own—built on core beliefs: everyone belongs and no one finishes last . What began as a small group has grown into a powerful community of o...

If you love running but crave a new edge, this episode is for you. We’re joined by Kieran Lillis , former Laois intercounty football captain, who shares how stepping away from intercounty football in 2024 led him to the intense, hybrid challenge of HYROX . Kieran explains what HYROX is for anyone hearing about it for the first time—and why it’s proving so addictive for endurance athletes. Combinin...

In this episode, I sit down with health and nutrition coach Yvonne Hudson , who shares her powerful journey from a 24-year corporate career to building a purpose-driven business on her own terms. Yvonne is passionate about nutrition, running, and realistic habit change —and she’s refreshingly honest about what actually works. We talk incremental gains, food variety, planning, and accountability, a...

In this episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of Martin Hoare who proves that success isn’t about overnight breakthroughs—it’s about consistency, grit, and stacking small gains. Starting his athletic life in GAA, where he spent 15 years building strength and resilience, he didn’t lace up running shoes seriously until the age of 24. A brief flirtation with triathlons followed, but once he co...

What does it take for a busy mother to train for her first marathon? In this episode, we sit down with Annemarie Seddon who decided to chase a bold goal—not for a podium finish, but for herself. Balancing work, family, and the nonstop demands of everyday life, she carved out time to train, push through self-doubt, and ultimately cross the marathon finish line. She shares the realities of training...

In this episode, we dive into the transformative journey of a Paddy Hoare who credits the power of accountability and community for his progress. With the support of a running group behind him, he pushed through challenges, embraced the highs and lows of different race experiences, and discovered a new version of himself along the way. He shares how running has reshaped his mindset — not just on t...

Meet Peter Salama whose journey goes far beyond the miles. Living with a chronic illness, he laced up his shoes for the first time in 2019 — not to chase medals, but to chase a purpose. Since then, he’s completed seven marathons, each one a powerful reminder of why he keeps going: his children. Running has become both a lifeline and a legacy. Through setbacks, resilience, and relentless determinat...