Ep. 53 - Belfast Half ft. Dearbhla Cox - Seaton Classic ft. Craig McMeechan

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. Finally, we share our thoughts on training and racing over the muck and what to consider when looking for a running coach. We hope you enjoyed this episode, we certainly did! Hooroo.Contact us here:Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]

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 to seeing where his career takes him next. Thanks for listening and cheers Darrragh for giving us the time. Until next time, hooroo. Contact us here:Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]

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 interview - thanks Derv! In part two of the episode we recapped the Seaton Classic 10k in Bangor, and, similar to part one, we called upon the man of the moment, Craig McMeechan, to join us for an interview after his emphatic win. Lots of other tidbits in this episode as well, we hope you enjoyed it!Contact us here:Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]

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 also get some results and previews of some local races out and a good segment on the World Champs which has been drama-filled! Thanks for listening and share the episode round if you enjoyed it! Hooroo. Contact us here:Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]

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 discussed with Patrick we recap a load of results on the roads and track, this is not an episode to be missed!Contact us here:Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]

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 this thorough catch-up we then go into some results from the local and international track scene and then preview the NI and Ulster Road Relays and a short piece on the Antrim Coast Half Marathon. Another great episode and a big thank you to Noel and Caitlyn for joining us, hooroo for now!Contact us here:Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]

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:[email protected] - @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 episode we get chatting about the European U23 championships in Bergen, Norway, where there were 5 medals by Irish athletes in total! Adding to this we cover some of the big stories from the Morton Games and Cork City Sports track meets. We finish off the first half with a chat about Ruth Chepnegetich's doping ban and how we see the sport currently. Thanks for listening, we will see you soon!Contact us here:Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]

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! These two have been tearing it up since arriving in Belfast and we are super stoked to have them on the podcast. Until next time, hooroo!Contact us here:Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]

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: @thebackstraightpodcastEmail: [email protected]