Irishman Running Abroad With Sonia O’Sullivan

Whether you're injured or PB'ing every race, finding running easy or bored off your head by the thought of it...chances are some form of cross training is going to enhance your experience. Sonia O'Sullivan, the queen of Irish athletics, makes the case for the one part of running that most people avoid. She talks to Jarlath Regan about the massive return you can see from even a little swimming, cyc...

Has the world of athletics started to move away from the super shoe? Does a regular even need a carbon plate under their foot? Jarlath Regan talks to the legend Sonia O'Sullivan from Nike HQ. With the road to Cobh heating up they get voice notes from the squad and Ciara Cullen joins them on the LiveLine for a fun chat about her progress. Finally Jarlath was sent the new ASICS Nimbus 26 to review w...

It's week 7 of the 2024 Road To Cobh so it's totally normal to have a bit of training fatigue. That can manifest in many ways. Loss of running libido is just one of them! Sonia is here to help. Today we get the squad provide the questions and we get to check in on their progress. Sonia recommends a brilliant new book by Frank O'Mara and we announce the winners of the Cobh 10 early bird prize. A lu...

You can't go around them, hills are a fact of life for all runners. The great Sonia O'Sullivan is the proof that running up and over them can provide a huge bang for your training buck. Today on the Irishman Running Abroad she sets out the keys to doing it right. We hear from her hand picked squad of listeners heading to Cobh to run her homecoming road race. We get a taste of my extended interview...

Sonia O'Sullivan chat's to comedian Jarlath Regan about the ABCs of athletics training sessions. Where do most people go wrong? Is it ever ok to cut a session short? How do we keep our energy level and get the most out of a session? Sonia has the answers. It's week three of her training plan for the Cobh 10 - her homecoming race in Cork. We hear how the squad are doing and get Sonia's advice on ta...

Sonia has read every email, letter and postcard. She has deliberated long into the night to find the best collection of talent and stories to form her squad for the road to Cobh 2024. Today we reveal who they are and hear some of their inspirational journeys. Which member of the team are you most like? There's someone for everyone. You can match your training plan to their's and take the journey C...

No matter how long or short the layoff, returning to running is a tough task. Sonia O’Sullivan has returned from every kind of challenge. From childbirth to injury, burnout to loss of confidence - Sonia has seen it all. Knocked down, written off and told it is not possible, she is proof that nobody should take no for an answer when it comes to running. This week she provides all the information yo...

Would you like to be coached by Sonia O’Sullivan? Well that’s the chance we are offering our lucky listeners over the next four months on the road to the Cobh 10 Mile Road Race. Listen to this episode to hear how you can be considered for selection. Entry is now open for Ballymore Cobh AC’s centrepiece race of the year. https://eventmaster.ie/event/R4l7UL5h76 But you can win free entry and the cha...

Sonia O’Sullivan looks back on a jam packed year in athletics and makes her selections for the best of 2023. Later in the show we hear first hand accounts of the Valencia Marathon from listeners James Carty and Wynona Grant. Pop over to hear the full size episode and access hundreds of hours of Sonia’s advice and training tips. www. Patreon. Com/irishmanabroad . Don’t forget to contact the show an...

If a run happens in the woods and there’s no watch there to record it and post it to Strava, did a run ever happen at all? Is the measuring of running ruining running? Sonia O’Sullivan and comedian Jarlath Regan ask whether the focus on data and super advanced technology is sucking the joy out of running? Later in the episode Sonia looks at the limits of data analytics for elite athletes and the o...

Your stories of triumph and pain at the 2023 DUBLIN city marathon are the focus of today’s episode. Sonia O’Sullivan and Jarlath Regan hear from the listeners who ran, finished, wound up in hospital and got the bus home. This is a one of a kind instalment of Irishman Running Abroad. For anyone thinking of doing a marathon or contemplating getting back in the ring, this is a must listen. Make sure...

The crowds, the rain, the determination, the exhaustion, the exhilaration and the heartbreak; it’s all here in this bumper edition of Irishman Running Abroad. Let Jarlath Regan & Sonia O’Sullivan take you around the course. The Irish Life Dublin City Marathon 2023 was a beast. Jarlath recorded it every step of the way. This unique documentary episode tracks his race journey and how things didn...

Marathon week is a tense time. Even though you’re meant to be relaxing a bit, the sense of “hurry up and wait” can have you thinking some pretty silly thoughts. Sonia O’Sullivan helps to calm the mind with some solid tips and stories from her week and running career. We then sift through the race day tips and hints from our loyal legion of listeners. Finally I go to Vinny Mulvey for a race week ru...

Sonia O’Sullivan knows a thing or two about preparing properly for a big race. Whether you’re heading to Dublin or not you’ll love her advice on troubleshooting in advance of your big event. We really get into the weeds this week as the clock ticks down to just over a week to go to the big one. We hear Sonia’s number one life hacks for getting ahead of race day problems, how to avoid the post race...

Sonia O’Sullivan advises comedian turned runner, Jarlath Regan on how to taper his training before a marathon. Former Irish international athlete and now physical therapist/coach Vinny Mulvey joins the conversation to reflect on an incredible week in the sport of long distance running. Would you like to join the conversation with hundreds of other like minded runners? Email Jarlath on irishmanabro...

Jarlath’s marathon training comes a cropper. Can Sonia get his wheels back on the track in time? What happened and how can everyone avoid the same mistake? There’s less than a month to go to the Dublin City Marathon 2023. Is there time for a detour. Sonia’s hair raising US experience says yes. Vinny Mulvey joins that chat over on Patreon for a deeper look at how to avoid a marathon training dip an...

Sonia O’Sullivan dips into the mailbag to answer your toughest marathon training questions. David Gillick joins the chat to discuss the Dublin Half Marathon and how he changed his training this year (Patreon only). And we reflect on the incredible performances at last weekend’s Berlin marathon. It’s another jam packed episode soaked in knowledge and craic from the best Irish track athletes of all...

40 days from a marathon is dangerous territory. Let Irish athletics legend Sonia O'Sullivan guide you past the pitfalls. We also get a breakdown of the Diamond League Final in Oregon. Jarlath is going out on tour. He will be doing his latest standup show “Yer Man” across the autumn and winter. Why not grab a ticket while you can. All the dates are selling out! https://linktr.ee/IrishmanAbroad For...

Putting the right petrol in the tank is not as simple as it sounds. When you're running heaps of extra miles you can be tricked into thinking you can eat anything you want. How can we strike the right balance between filling up and staying on track. Sonia O'Sullivan is here again with her essential guide to a training diet that can work wherever you live and whatever you lifestyle might be. Vinny...

Less than 50 days to go to your big race? Is there enough time to train properly and enjoy the experience or are you dicing with actual death. Sonia O’Sullivan and Vinny Mulvey are here to answer all the questions you might have around preparing against the clock. Comedian Jarlath Regan has his sights set on the Dublin City Marathon. Can he get the miles he needs in the final 8 weeks or has he ove...

Nobody feels like running every day. Everyone goes through periods where running is a chore and not a joy to behold. Whether you’re deep in a funk right now or have suffered through one in the past, you will want to hold on to this episode and Sonia O’Sullivan’s advice on how to work through it. Together with Jarlath Regan she breaks down the best way to get the mojo back in your mind and body. Fr...

Sonia O'Sullivan returns to the championships where she conquered the world all those years ago. This time it's to watch and coach the next generation of stars. She and Vinny Mulvey dial in from their hotels to fill comedian Jarlath Regan in on the big races, events and news from Budapest. From Ciara Mageean's courageous performance to the lightening speed of Rhasidat Adeleke, things are looking u...

Do you feel awful at the end of your long run each week? Well that could be a sign that something is off in your weekly routine. It might not necessarily mean you’re unfit. Jarlath Regan speaks to Sonia O’Sullivan about his delirium at the end of his 20+ km runs. Recovery begins before the end of the run! Sonia gets into the nitty gritty of electrolytes, gels, salt tablets and more. If you’re a se...

Sonia O'Sullivan dials in from Spain as she helps her daughter Sophie prepare for the World Athletics Championships. The clock is ticking. What can an athlete pro or amateur hope to cram in before their big exam. Is it more about the head game at this point or can we plan a great final ten days before our big races? Sonia looks back on her 1995 gold at the worlds and helps Jarlath with his underst...

The GOAT herself joined our listeners in person this week for a run in Phoenix Park. I captured some sounds and asked Sonia why the "run slow to run fast" mantra might not apply to her. We look forward to the World Championships in Budapest and back at an incredible summer of running for Irish athletes including Sophie O'Sullivan. With the Dublin marathon less than 90 days away I ask Sonia about t...