Any Given Runday

On this week's episode of the Any Given Runday Podcast, we welcome Chris O'Connor (@christopher.oconn on Instagram), an 18-year-old ultra marathon runner who shares his journey from his Dad getting him into running to completing a 100K race in memory of his father and how running has helped him with his grief.  18:00 The Beginning of a Running Journey 25:08 The Impact of Loss on Running...

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Megan Hamill ( @soulfullyginger on Instagram), who shares her incredible journey from childhood runs to the Ironman World Championship in Kona, ultra marathons through the Alps, and secretive races like The Speed Project going through LA to Vegas and much more. Discover her insights on mental strength, body positivity, and pushing limits in spo...

This week on the Any Given Runday Podcast, we welcome Gary Connolly from We Run Wild NI ( @werunwildni ), who shares his journey from running his first marathon at the turn of the millennium to completing over 300 marathons and ultra-distance races, as well as organising ultra running events. Discover insights into training, organising ultra events, and the mental and physical challenges of long-d...

This week on the Any Given Runday Podcast, we welcome Emily Bond ( @operationironwoman ), an endurance athlete, aerospace engineer, PhD researcher, and public speaker with a TEDx talk to her name. Emily shares her journey from engineering and overcoming compartment syndrome on both her legs to completing her first Ironman and setting her sights on completing all UK Ironman races in one year. 23:00...

This week on the Any Given Runday Podcast, we welcome Dara O'Connor ( @oconnordara ) and Robert Merrigan ( @robert_merrigan ) from Positive Pacers ( @positive_pacers on Instagram) The guys talk about their running background, how they got into running and building Positive Pacers Running Community 16:00 Introduction to Positive Pacers 18:52 Dara's Journey into Running 21:53 Transitioning...

This week, we welcome Conor O'Keeffe ( @cokeeffe on Instagram), who shares his journey from fighting to ultra-running, overcoming mental health struggles, and launching a successful sports nutrition business, Altar. We get into his first marathon, chasing identity and external validation, overcoming injuries and surgeries, 100 Mile Runs, plus much more 15:00 From Fighter to Endurance Athlete...

In this episode, we welcome marathon runner and coach John McDonnell ( @jmruncoach on Instagram), who shares his incredible journey from getting into running, his journey to the Boston marathon, health struggles to sub-3 hour marathon runner, overcoming a life-threatening stroke and heart surgery along the way. 14:00 We welcome John McDonnell 18:30 The Transformation: From Overweight to Marathon R...

We welcome Andrew Walsh to the Any Given Runday podcast this week. Andrew Walsh ( @the_irish_adventurer on Instagram) shares his journey from a non-sporty background to joining the army, conquering a half Ironman, embarking on mountain adventures, and facing the challenges of documenting his progress on YouTube. We discuss entering the triathlon world, the common mistakes you make, training for a...

This week, we welcome North Clondalkin Running Club member Mick Hallows, who shares his journey from Gaelic football to sub-3 hour Dublin Marathon finisher, his transition into running, and insights into North Clondalkin Running Club, his upcoming 6 Hour Race in Leixlip, training strategies, working with Kevin English and more.  13:00 From GAA to Distance Running: Mick Hallows 15:43 The Transition...

In this episode, David O'Connor (@performance_doc on Instagram), a fitness and performance coach, shares his journey from childhood bullying to becoming a marathon runner and mental health advocate. He discusses the physical and mental benefits of running, training tips, and his unique experiences with ultra-distance challenges, including cycling across Ireland on a BMX and 10 marathons in 10...

Fresh, or not so fresh off the Barcelona Marathon, Eric and Seán review the marathon weekend, and they're contrasting experiences of race day. Munro, a previous guest and great friend of the podcast, also joins in later to provide his perspective on the race, which greatly contrasts with Seán's! 01:03 Experiences at the Expo 03:32 The ShakeOut Run and Pre-Race Preparations 11:32 Race Day...

This week, we welcome back Rachel Farrell ( @rachel_farrell20 on Instagram) to the podcast after being a previous guest all the way back on episode 26, where she talked to Eric about appearances at the Ironman World Championships. Since then, she has transitioned to the world of Hyrox. Rachel discusses her role as co-founder of Hybrid Series Ireland, its accessibility, and her impressive accomplis...

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we have two great guests from Ballymun AC ( @ballymunac on Instagram) in Dean Hayden ( @hayda0000 on Instagram) and Ger Prendergast ( @ger_prendergast on Instagram) From establishing how Ballymun AC came about, helping to remove financial barriers for youths in Ballymun, community, world major marathons, to marathons on 7 continents and 60 marathons in 60...

In this episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, ultra runner Eoin Keith ( @eoinkeithultra on Instagram) shares his remarkable journey from a non-sporty childhood to becoming one of the most accomplished ultra runners in Ireland. He discusses his transition from marathon running to ultra distances, the challenges he faces during races, and the importance of enjoying the process. Eoin also delves i...

On this week's episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, Eric is back in the country just in time for the Donadea 50k National Championships over the weekend as Sean attempted the "10 laps and fook off" If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your rac...

In this episode, Lawrence Mooney shares his incredible journey from being an active triathlete and marathon runner to facing significant health challenges, including hip replacements and getting a second chance at life.  He discusses his transition into triathlon, the barriers he overcame in swimming, marathons, and running marathons despite having a double hip replacement. We also discuss the eve...

On a special Thursday episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, we have the founder of Elite Event Management, Oliver Kirwan, on the podcast to discuss what goes on behind the scenes to create some of the top events in the country, including Quest and the Wicklow 200, as well as upcoming events such as Project 8 and Run The Night Run The Night 5 Mile event will be in Cork on February 11th and Dubli...

In this episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, performance & Wicklow GAA nutritionist Leah Headon (@ haeloo_nutrition on Instagram) shares her journey into the field of nutrition, discussing her personal experiences with diabetes and an eating disorder that shaped her understanding of food and health. The conversation delves into topics such as gut health, the balance between weight loss and...

In this episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, Ray Shah ( @rayshah on Instagram) shares his journey from being unfit and overweight during Covid to becoming a competitive athlete in Hyrox with multiple podium wins and World Championship appearances.  He discusses his weight loss transformation, the importance of diet and training, and the role of community in fitness. Ray emphasises the signific...

In this episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, after DNF'ing Art O'Neill in 2023, Seán talks about his second attempt at it over the weekend... and why he didn't tell Eric about it beforehand If you're looking for the top tips and inside scoops on how to complete AON, Seán is probably not the best example of that, as he talks about his experiences running through the night an...

In this episode of the Any Given Run Day podcast, mountain and trail runner Zak Hanna ( @zakhanna on Instagram) shares his journey from cycling to becoming a competitive mountain runner at the highest level. He discusses his experiences in various international competitions, the challenges of downhill running, and the importance of mindset and training in harsh conditions.  Zak reflects on his ach...

In this episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, Paul Pollock ( @ppmarathon on Instagram) shares his journey from a junior runner to becoming an Olympian and elite marathoner. He discusses the challenges of injuries, the transition from shorter distances to marathons, winning the National Championships in 2012 and the impact of training with elite athletes. Paul also delves into his unique approac...

The second half of 2025 brought a different kind of energy to Any Given Runday from race-day nerves and strategies, post marathon blues and pitfalls, big challenges, and honest conversations about what really goes into endurance sport. From first time marathoners to elite athletes, to caffeine, strength work, climbing the tallest peaks in the world, and ballsy strategies to endurance challenges, t...

The first half of 2025 gave us some of the most honest, inspiring and downright interesting conversations we’ve had on Any Given Runday. From survival stories on the far side of the world, to elite endurance insights, to everyday decisions that shape how we train, fuel and think — this episode pulls together some of the standout moments from the first six months of the year. Whether you’re switchi...

After a Christmas run in Howth, Eric sat down with Ger Copeland (@ gercopeland on Instagram) and Anto Lee (@rockyseven7 on Instagram) to record the Christmas Special of the Any Given Runday Podcast for 2025! They talk about Ger's recent marathon in Antarctica as well as Ger & Anto running the Cape Town marathon, how the running year was in Ireland, as well as the countdown to the Donadea...