The Inspirational Runner Podcast

Podcast #42 Laura O'Driscoll Winner RawUltra 50 Miler and Adventure Race Series Winner 2018

A superb episode for you this week from the first female home in the RawUltra Wicklow Way 50 mile race in an astonishing time of 9hrs 1min, a great achievement especially considering  this was the first time taking on this distance.

From Dundalk County Louth Laura is an amazing adventure racer who has taken countless podiums and is the adventure race series winner of 2018 she has amazing energy and enthusiasm which comes across in this podcast she even cycled 70k to my house to record this episode before cycling back home.

I was interested in how Laura integrates Yoga into her training regime which contributes to her success, you can join Laura during one of her Yoga sessions by contacting her through her Facebook page.

Podcast #41 Keith Clarke 100 Mile Record Breaking Run Backwards, Deca Ironman raising over 100k for Charity

Keith Clarke a phenomenal athlete from Dungannon County Tyrone, last week he was breaking records by running 100 miles backs wards, I’m still amazed by this achievement but completion of larger than life challenges is nothing new to Keith.

In this episode we hear what it takes to complete a triple Ironman which  consists of a  7.2 mile swim 336 mile bike and a 78mile run, if that wasn’t enough how about a Deca Ironman which is 10 Ironman events in 10 days, and the less said about the Irish Ironman the better.... a great listen from someone who knows no limits.

 

Podcast #40 Catherina McKiernan London Marathon Winner Irish Marathon Record Holder and Winner of Four Consecutive Silvers in World Cross Country Championships

Winner of Berlin Marathon with a record Debut performance, Irish Marathon record holder with a time of 2:22:23 seconds taking first place in Amsterdam whilst chasing the world record, and winner of the prestigious London Marathon. 

Catherina won four silver medals in four consecutive years in the world cross championships showing a strong consistency in her sport, making it to two Olympics including reaching the finals in Atlanta in 96.

We may never see a runner of Catherina’s Quality again in our life time, she carved out her success through the pure love of running and continues to inspire and give back to the support that she gained so much from.

Podcast #38 Rosy Ryan Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and battles on in search of the World Major Marathons

A very special guest on the show this week Rosy Ryan from North Belfast Harriers AC, she started park run in Jan 2015 and two weeks later she was re-diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer a fatal disease but one that hasn’t stopped Rosy from living a full and meaning full life. She has now ran over 160 park runs and has just competed in Berlin, Chicago and Newyork marathon with London already ticked off she is on course to complete the world major marathons.

Check out Rosy's Instagram page @baconfromheaven where she shares everything running.

Podcast #36 Gerald Boyle on Running the World Major Marathons in Memory of his son Harvey.

Gerald might be the most colour co-ordinated runner that you’ll meet, he’s an inspiration to a lot of people.

In this episode Gerald talks about how running has helped him with his grief and how he celebrated his son Harvey’s life by running all of the world major marathons finishing in Newyork last weekend.

Finishing the world major marathons is a great achievement, I’m sure that Harvey is very proud and I hope that his courage helps to inspire you to lace up as running can help you through the most difficult of times. 

Podcast #25 Ivan Prue was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and made the decision not to give up “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome”.

Big Ivan is truly an inspirational guy he had a real wake up call in 2005 when his MS was misdiagnosed, at that point he made a right turn with his health losing just over 6 stone and competing in the Berlin marathon finishing in an amazing time of 3:12 this was only the start of Ivan’s marathon journey but little did he know this was also the start of his journey with Multiple Sclerosis.

Never will you meet a nicer person that genuinely wants to do good in the world, he’s helped introduce a lot of runners into Park run through the couch to 5k and is the current race director of Bangor Parkrun which hosts 250 – 300 runners every sat morning.

In Ivan’s wise words “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome”.

Podcast #21 Monaghan Town's Leslie Crawford sets his sails in a new direction and runs 200 marathons

A great open and honest podcast from one of the most genuine and giving people that you'll meet in the running community, I was inspired to hear how he ran his first marathon at the age of 51, ran a 3:20pb at the age of 57 and completed his 200th marathon at the age of 62.

There's a saying that if you want to run enter a 10k if you want to change your life run a marathon, its never to late to change the direction of your sails.

Podcast #20 Lauren O'Malley After learning to walk again she takes on what is arguably the toughest foot race on the planet the Marathon De Sables.

A fantastic story on never giving up no matter what life throws at you, Lauren talks us through how a walk home turned into her worst nightmare as she is knocked down by a drunk driver only to bounce back into a life full of adventure which eventually leads her to The Marathon De Sables a 156 mile Ultra race across the Sahara desert.

 

This is a double feature episode so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did....

 

Podcast #19 Cathy McCourt talks us through how she bounces back from injury to be the first Irish runner to win 5 medals at a major world championship

This is a great podcast for anyone lying up with injury and feeling a bit out of condition, nothing is impossible with the 3 Ds Desire, Discipline and Dedication.

Cathy has become a great role model for never giving up on yourself.

Podcast #18 Tony Barclay Running Blind 'Believe in yourself and Magic will Happen'.

In the this episode we hear how Tony overcomes his disability through running couch to 5k, but he doesn't stop there moving on to running Ultra distances and several marathons in all terrains. He truly is an Inspirational person giving so much in return for so little, in his words believe in yourself and magic will happen!