Ep. 19 - European Champs 2024 - BMC Belfast Preview with Mark Kirk

It is a busy time to be a runner with events popping off all over the place! In this episode we recap the Victoria Park Road Relays and Michael gives us the inside line from the back straight at the Brussels Diamond League. Jakob did something pretty spectacular over in Copenhagen and Efrem Gidey smashes the Irish Record. In part 2 of the episode we get stuck into some previews for the opening clash of the XC season in Armagh as well as the Belfast Half Marathon taking place this coming weekend. The field is bigger than ever and more stacked than ever, who is going to be victorious? Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a new segment we are calling 'Strava Wars' - have a listen and see if you can record a fast time on the segment we are targeting this fortnight. Until next time, Hooroo! Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: [email protected] Twitter: @thebackstraight

It was race week for Dan and in this episode we do a before and after his 108-mile epic around the Mont Blanc massif. Spoiler alert, he survives, but at what cost? Episode 25 is also jam-packed with race results from the Antrim Coast Half Marathon, Laganside 10k, Derry Half, Diamond Leagues and much more! We end the episode with a preview of the NI & Ulster Road Relays at Victoria Park which are shaping up to be very fast with entries having increased by 70% this year. The Back Straight boys will be there on the weekend spectating and commentating, hope to catch you there! Hooroo! Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: [email protected] Twitter: @thebackstraight Show Notes: Dan's UTMB Result Laganside 10k Antrim Coast Half

Big fortnight on and off the track so we called in the experts! Both Connor McCann and James McIlroy join us on the pod this week to recap some past events and to preview what is to come in the Antrim Coast Half this weekend. Connor helps us chat through the NI Track and Field Championships and gives us some highlights from his time spectating at the 2024 Paris Olympics. James joins us for part 2 of the episode where we preview the absolutely stacked men's and women's fields at this years Antrim Coast Half Marathon. It has been a ripper of a year and if you like what we are doing here at the Back Straight please leave us a review on Spotify, follow us on Instagram and share the episode with a friend! Hooroo!Contact us here:Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]: @thebackstraight

It's Olympic time and we have been revelling in all of the results and drama from Paris 2024! 2 x Irish Olympian Kevin Seaward joins us on the podcast this week for part 2 to discuss the behind the scenes of his Olympic campaigns as well as what has been happening in distance running so far in Paris! How about that men's 1500m final eh! Part 1 we chat all about the local results including the Mazerunner 5k and 10k, Carlingford 5k as well as a bunch of different track meets that have happened in the past fortnight. Thanks to Kevin for joining us on the podcast this week and we wish him well for his future races. That was episode 23, see you soon! Hooroo. Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: [email protected] Twitter: @thebackstraight

It almost time fo the big dance in Paris and we simply cannot wait! The Back Straight is delighted to welcome sub-4 minute Thomas Moran a.k.a the Ciara Mageean Alpha Pacer onto the podcast for some yarns! This episode includes chat about the stunning performances by Mid Ulster's very own Nick Griggs, Diamond League recaps and much more! Thomas also gives us an insight into what life is like on the road with one of the worlds best 1500m runners and what preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games looks like. Thanks for listening and visit our Instagram page for your chance to win 2 entries to the Laganside 10k taking place on September 1st! Hooroo! Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: [email protected] Twitter: @thebackstraight

Lace up your spikes, folks! This week on The Back Straight, we're diving headfirst into the thrilling world of National Athletics Championships. We'll be recapping all the action from the Irish Life National Athletics Championships, the British Athletics Championships, and even peeking across the pond at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Joining us for this special episode is Connor McCann, a true track fanatic! We'll be dissecting the races, celebrating the champions, and uncovering the up-and-coming stars who stole the show. From the electrifying sprints to the gruelling distance races, it is all happening in this episode. Thanks again to Connor for joining us on this episode and we will see you in a fortnight! Hooroo. Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: [email protected] Twitter: @thebackstraight

It is a stacked episode this week with tonnes of race results and an interview with Belfast's newest 3:58 miler, Callum Morgan! Callum destroyed the legendary 4-minute barrier at the BMC Belfast and we were lucky enough to hear directly from the man himself. On top of the BMC we recap a tonne of other races including the Lisburn Half Marathon and 10k, Downpatrick 5k, Comber 10k + loads more. Danny and Michael also get chatting about race pricing and the upcoming Irish Nationals at Morton Stadium in Dublin! If you enjoyed this episode please like and share, we had a blast putting the show together and will be spinning some yarns again in a couple of weeks. Till' then, hooroo! Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: [email protected] Twitter: @thebackstraight

It is a fantastic time of the year with long evenings of track and road racing to be had at home and abroad! On this week's episode we are joined by Mark Kirk for a preview of the Belfast BMC meet on June 15. We also get chatting to Mark about the European Champs in Rome and throw a few random questions his way. Speaking of Rome, the action has been full throttle over there with a great showing by local athletes Ciara Mageean, Nick Griggs as well as many more. A bit closer to home we chat about the BMC meet in Watford as well as the Connswater 5 mile in East Belfast and the Out The Line 5 mile Classic in Derry. We finish the episode with some doping news and our excitement of races to come. Thanks for joining us for another episode, like and share for a PB. Hooroo! Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: [email protected] Twitter: @thebackstraight

Faithful Back Straight enthusiasts, we are back for a packed 18th episode! In this week's ep. we cover the Newell Stores Races and are joined by Keep Er Lit's very own Cathal O'Hagan for an interview! The Annadale lads smashed it in the men's 5 and 10k and the women's races were just as spicy! It is also getting pretty warm on the Back Straight as the track season starts to heat up both locally and internationally so enjoy our hot-takes on all the action from the BMC in Manchester (Ciara Mageean smashed it there!), the IFAM in Brussels as well as the highly anticipated Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. That men's mile will go down in history as one of the greats and we can't wait to see how the women's 800m pan's out in Paris later this year. Thanks for joining us for another episode, as always, feel free to like and share the podcast - it is greatly appreciated! Till next time, Hooroo! Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: [email protected] Twitter: @thebackstraight

It is a HUGE episode this week with all of the results and happenings from the Belfast Irish Milers Meet in Association with TripAdvisor as well as the 2024 Belfast Marathon! We go deep on the results for both events and are joined by none other than Gladys Ganiel, the first female local athlete home in this year's marathon. Not only do we catch up with Gladys, we get some good post-race interviews with Darragh McElhinney, Callum Morgan and Eamonn Christie. We hope you enjoy this very special episode, leave us a review and let us know what you think! Contact us here: Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast Email: [email protected] Twitter: @thebackstraight