Any Given Runday

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Brian Swaby (@swabysessionscoaching on Instagram), a Level 2 Athletics Ireland coach with over 22 years of experience in coaching, as well as the Health Matters 20 Weeks to a Better Marathon Coach. For anyone starting their running journey towards the Dublin Marathon this year, this is a must listen. As well as his own background, Brian talks a...

In this episode, Sam O'Hara ( @samohfitness on Instagram shares his journey from online content creation and physique development to marathon running, breaking the sub-40-minute 10k barrier and pushing further into running goals in such a short space of time. Sam highlights the importance of consistency, mental health, and proper fuelling with gym training and increased running.  15:00 We wel...

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Matthew McConnell ( @mrmattmcc on Instagram). Matthew is 2 time and current Irish mountain running champion, with countless podium finishes in trail and IMRA races around the country over the years, as well as representing Ireland on the World stage and recently represented Ireland in European 50k Trail Championship. He discusses training strat...

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Kayti Simonson ( @kaytisimonson on Instagram). Kayti shares her incredible athletic journey from track and field to semi-pro soccer to Hyrox World Championships, representing Team Canada twice in the relay, all while balancing a law career and much more.  We explore her experiences balancing sport, career, and personal growth, along with insigh...

Seán shares his detailed experience of participating in his first Spartan race, the 21k Beast Challenge in Edinburgh, Scotland, over the weekend. Covering obstacles, training insights (and mistakes!), as well as the terrain, Sean talks to Eric about how he got on throughout the course and the lessons he learned Is he more or less looking forward to the 5k version in Limerick in August, and what do...

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome back original Fantastic 4 member, Conor Sweeney, to talk about his upcoming 330km relay from Achill to Baltray, how his fitness has improved since we last talked to him after the Dublin Marathon, the Dublin City Half Marathon, Hot Yoga and much more 11:00 We welcome back Conor Sweeney  13:53 Training and Preparation for the Relay Challenge 16:5...

In this episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome skyrunner David Kelleher ( @o_ceileachair12 on Instagram). David shares his journey from rugby to ultra running, discussing the challenges and rewards of transitioning from team sports to solo endurance events. He reflects on his first marathon experience, the differences between road and trail running, and the meditative aspects of runni...

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...