The Back Straight Podcast

Thanks for joining us for another episode! In part 1 of the ep. we we go through some local results in the cross country and from the indoor track meets in Boston where NI and World Records fell! In part 2 we were absolutely stoked to chat to Mullingar Harrier and 27:41 10k runner, Jack O'Leary! Jack talks to us all about his brilliant results from 2025, what has led to the fine run of recent...

It's a banging episode to kick-off 2026 and we decided to bring in the big guns! We are joined by athletics nerds Conor Curran and Connor McCann to help us recap all of the recent local results, Valencia 10k, World Cross + loads more! Once we get through the results section we then look back at our highlights for 2025 from an Irish and international perspective and share our thoughts on what w...

This one is all about the Euro Cross! In part 1 we recap the results from each race and highlight some of the standout Irish performances. In part 2 we welcome European Champions Nick Griggs and Callum Morgan as well as the master coach that is Mark Kirk! We recap the race and what it means to the lads and then get chatting about what is to come. Big thanks to the trio for joining us on the pod an...

Busy couple of weeks calls for a jam-packed episode! In part 1 of the episode we dive into all of the results from the Irish Novice Cross Country in Abbottstown and Irwin Spiers XC before we recap the 2025 Seeley Cup! To help us with the recap we bring the men's winner - Conall McClean onto the pod to hear about what was happening at the pointy end and how this changes the game for him and his...

Abdel Laadjel is an Irish International and current Oregon Duck. Abdel recently became an All-American XC runner placing 9th at the NCAA Div 1 Cross Country Championships. Abdel has had a brilliant year thus far on the grass and track and looks set to smash some PBs such as his 13:29 5,000m. It was great catching up with Abdel and hearing what it is like running for Oregon alongside his teammates...

The National Cross Country Championships 2025 was hosted in Derry this year and The Back Straight is delighted to welcome the National Champions onto the podcast! Super grateful to have the amazing Fiona Everard from Bandon AC and the charming Brian Fay from Raheny Shamrocks who are your champs for this year. This episode is very centred on the races in the muck over the weekend but we do venture...

This is the cross country episode of the year with epic results popping off both locally and internationally. We review all of the recent action from the McConnell Shield in Ballyclare, the Novice XC in Stranolar as well as some brilliant results out of the States and San Sebastián. A few other talking points hit the agenda such as Caitriona Jennings' amazing 100 Mile World Record this past we...

It is an absolutely massive episode this week as we are still reeling from the amazing results at the 2025 Dublin Marathon! We are very lucky to be joined by the 2025 Irish National Marathon Champion - David McGlynn - for an interview and race recap. David was a great guest and it was epic to hear how the race played out for him as well as what went into the achievement. Plenty of Northern Irish r...

Plenty to chat about in episode 54 as we have some great action on the roads of Armagh and in the fields of Comber! In addition to that we get chatting about Chicago Marathon and the main stories there as well as the upcoming Dublin Marathon that always produces some great results. Rounding out the episode we look towards the Autumn XC International and the Galloper Thompson 5k this coming weekend...

Savage guest on the pod this week, Irish international and recent representative at the Tokyo World Champs, Darragh McElhinney! We are delighted to have Darragh on the pod as he talks us through his origin in the sport and bumpy road in the lead up to the Tokyo World Champs. Agonisingly close to making the final in the 5,000m, Darragh still made Ireland proud with his efforts and we look forward t...

Episode 53 of the Back Straight Podcast revolves around two interviews with some local champions over the half and 10k distance on the roads of Belfast and Bangor. In the first half of the episode we recap the results from the Belfast Half Marathon where over 7,500 people took part. Top of the podium in the women's race was Dearbhla Cox from Annandale Striders so we called her up for an interv...

Michael and Danny are delighted to welcome Davey Seaton onto the Back Straight to chat about his impactful career in Northern Irish Athletics as both as a brilliant runner and top-class administrator. The Seaton Classic is looming on the calendar and Davey helps us understand the main players in this years iteration of the race named after him. In addition to the great chat we have with Davey, we...

Brilliant to welcome Newcastle man Patrick Sheridan onto the podcast after the breakout season he has had on the track. Patrick talks so us all about his return to running after a decade pursuing football and how his self-coached approach has yielded fantastic results so far. We talk all about Patrick's mindset for his focus event in the 800m and his goals for the future. In addition to all we...

Great to have Caitlyn and Noel back on the podcast for a 50th episode! We get a full catch-up with both of these local legends on how their year has been thus far and what is on the agenda in the lead up to Dublin Marathon. Noel and Caitlyn talk to us all about the Roadrunner night of the races, how the group is going, coaching plans and their nutrition sponsor that has come on board. On top of th...

Danny is out, Conor is back! Big thank you to the man from North Belfast for jumping on the podcast and chatting all things National Championships, road running results and upcoming meets! We hope you enjoy this insightful episode with Michael and Conor! Contact us here: thebackstraightpod@gmail.com Instagram - @thebackstraightpodcast

Big title for a big episode! You read that right, this episode we are joined by none other than Northern Ireland's 16th person to break 4 minutes for the mile, Lughaidh Mallon! Lughaidh chat's to Michael about his rise in the sport and running in Belfast as well as his move to competing for DCU. Lughaidh has many great races ahead of him and we wish him well in the future. In part 1 of the...

Lots has been happening on the track since you last heard from us here at the Back Straight! We go into all the results from France, Tullamore, Eugene Diamond League, Irish Milers Crusaders, Ards Half-marathon and the group selected to represent Ireland in Bergen, Norway! Part 2 of the episode (42 mins) we get chatting to the new Aussies in town, Zoe Toland and Thomas Elfenbein from Adelaide! Thes...

Andrew Thompson? Who is he? How is he running 1.46 in his second year competing in the event? What is his link to Northern Ireland and what led him to signing with North Belfast Harriers? The man from Carrickfergus shares it all in this bonus episode. We hope you enjoy it! Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: thebackstraightpod@gmail.com

*PRE-ORDER YOUR BACK STRAIGHT MERCH NOW - Link in bio on Instagram!* Big interview this week Back Straight gang! We have the brilliant Rebekah Osborne in the house to chat about how Faith Kipyegon is going to take down the legendary 4-minute mile barrier! Plenty of great insights for every runner out there on how to get the most from your races and training. Big thanks to Rebekah for giving up her...

It's a slightly shorter episode this week (we will explain later hopefully!) but we have a great guest and some good chat about some local performances! First off we recap recent results like the CS Lewis 5 Mile and some international performances before we are joined by Mark Kirk for a thorough BMC Belfast preview ahead of the meet this coming weekend. We hope you enjoyed this episode, let us...

Another jam-packed episode this week for number 44! We have got a tonne of great results from the Newells 5k and 10k, Newry Half Marathon and 10k as well as some brilliant performances on the track both near and far. In part 2 of the episode we are joined by Nick Griggs. Nick is a superstar runner and we are very lucky to have him on the pod as he shares his story of the comeback from a pretty nas...

Episode 43 of the Back Straight stays very local to Belfast with all the results from the Belfast City Marathon 2025 and the Belfast Irish Milers Meet (in association with Tripadvisor of course)! There were some brilliant performances in the home marathon and Eamonn Christie's Milers Meet never fails to bring the great weather and fast times. In part 2 of the episode we are joined by GB internatio...

Welp, it's the final episode of the Road to Belfast series! In the last episode of the series we get to hear from Gladys and Stephen on how they went in the race and all of the drama that unfolded on the day! Spoiler alert, they both went great and we reflect on this as well as the lead up to the race and what is to come next. Until the next road to series, thanks for listening! If you enjoyed...

It's race week and both Stephen and Gladys are locked and loaded! In this episode we reflect on the training blocks that were and how they are going to approach the race on Sunday. From race tactics to nutrition, this is a true insight into how Stephen and Gladys are going to take control of their races and get the most out of themselves. Make sure you get down there on Sunday to support our t...

Big few weeks of marathoning both close to home and fairly far! In the first half of the episode we go over some action from London Marathon and then preview the BCM for 2025. In part 2 we are lucky to be joined bu Eamonn Christie to go over the finer details from the IMC on 10th of May. It is shaping up be a great race, see you there! Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: the...