We promised we would have guests after last week's Q&A show and we definitely deliver on that today. In today's episode of the podcast, Eric and Seán talk to Rachael Smyth, an avid runner who holds a brand new record of having the fastest 5k from any of the guests ever on this podcast. As well as running, Rachael talks about her new love for cycling, Swift and goals for the future.

Rachael talks about how she got into running [3:30]

Eric asks about Rachael's 5k PB and competing at a very high level [5:15]

The mental battle to keep going and pushing yourself at a demanding pace and breaking mental barriers [8:00]

Rachael talks about competing at a college level for Maynooth before suffering an injury while running that made her stop[13:00]

How Rachael fell in love with cycling and the challenges it brings [15:20]

Experiences with Zwift - virtual cycling and joining an E-Team [17:10]

How virtual cycling compares with cycling on the road and why virtual cycling could be considered harder [21:10]

Preparing for duathlons, competing in a series last year before COVID and Rachael's approach to her training [26:40]

Rachael talks about changing her reasons for wanting to run/cycle and how running always makes you feel like you could have done more [31:30]

Rachael talks about her future goals, including wanting to do a 70.3 Ironman [34:00]

Rachael's advice for people that want to get into running, cycling or triathlons [38:10]

And don't forget, you can join our running group on Facebook, for FREE, by clicking the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anygivenrunday

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

You can now get 25% off all Perform Nutrition products using the code 'AGR' at checkout

PerformNutrition.com

For this first time ever, we are turning over the content to you guys for this week's episode of the Any Given Runday Podcast. We asked for questions and you guys delivered on our Running Group and Instagram Stories. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and let's get into today's episode:

Thoughts on why some people are morning runners and some are evening runners and can you change this? [5:00] 

How to overcome the negative voice in your head if you have a bad run [11:50] 

The effect micronutrients have on the body [16:45]  

Our top 5 worst runs we have had and why [21:15] 

Foot placement and breathing for running [30:10] 

The difference between drinking with Americans and Irish people [37:25] 

TrainerRoad review and comparisons to Swift for cycling and running plans [38:30] 

When to taper and peaking too earlier for a marathon [45:10] 

What are the key things to stay consistent with your training [49:30] 

Thanks again to everyone who sent in questions, we will have guests back on the podcast from next week. Let us know if you enjoyed the Q&A format and whether we should bring it back for future episodes of the podcast.

And don't forget, you can join our running group on Facebook, for FREE, by clicking the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anygivenrunday

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

You can now get 25% off all Perform Nutrition products using the code 'AGR' at checkout

PerformNutrition.com

Seán & Eric are back for another week of the Any Given Runday Podcast as we head towards a new 6 week challenge in the online running group. In this episode, the lads talk about a a lot of different running topics including:

[00:00] - If you had to pick one celebrity to train with, who would it be?

[3:00] - The most wonderful word in the English language

... we swear the running topics are coming...

[3:50] - The Vaccine...

Ok, the running topics definitely start from here...

[5:40] Overcoming lulls in your running

[7:00] The dreaded Shin Splints

[8:45] Why Seán swears by mini bands, only if they are strong enough! And doing exercises with right form and tension

[11:20] Pacing yourself through runs, staying with a pace in training and the difference on race day.

[19:50] Overcoming injuries like shin splints the right way and how just resting may not be the best answer

If you want to take part in the 6 Week Challenge and try out some of the exercise workouts that the lads were talking about in this week's episode, go to the link below to join for free:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anygivenrunday

And if you are interested in coaching with us, or personalised running plans for the 6 week challenge, check out our website:

https://www.AnyGivenTrainingDay.com

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

This week's episode of the podcast sees the return of Austin Doyle to the podcast. 

Seán & Eric catch up with Austin on his farm life; his new arrival; in-depth nutrition for offseason, gym days, running and more; as well as all his future challenges for 2021. 

[2:35] Austin talks about the farm life

[6:00] How his training has been going since we last had Austin on the podcast and how he has coped with training during lockdowns. 

[10:00] How his gym training may affect his endurance running and how he splits his training days and intensities

[15:15] Eating too little as well as how Austin changes how he eats for run days, gym days and how he got into nutrition more to learn more about it. 

[21:35] "Good", "bad" food, processed food and how the conversation around food and fat loss needs to change

[31:40] Austin talks about what he is training for next including a duathlon, a marathon and the 7 sisters run and his training for those events.

[33:05] The INSANE challenge that Austin's wife, Louisa, is going to be doing and how Austin will be driving along in a camper van to support along the way!!

To get involved in the future 5k Challenges (starting soon), be sure to add yourself to our Running Group asap:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anygivenrunday

And if you are interested in coaching with us, check out our website:

https://www.AnyGivenTrainingDay.com

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

You can now get 25% off all Perform Nutrition products using the code 'AGR' at checkout

PerformNutrition.com

In this week's episode of the Podcast, after a late-night Zoom session and a few drinks for his birthday, Seán talks about missing his first training session of the 5k Challenge after nearly 5 full perfect weeks. 

Eric and Seán talk about why having the focus for perfection only in a training plan may not be a sound way of thinking and how balance is key for the long term, healthy approach to training and nutrition. 

They then talk about it being the final week of the 5k Challenge in the Run Club as well as a unique Any Given Training Day offer for podcast listeners only! 

To get involved in the future 5k Challenges, be sure to add yourself to our Running Group asap:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anygivenrunday

And if you are interested in coaching with us, check out our website:

https://www.AnyGivenTrainingDay.com

In this week's episode of the Any Given Runday Podcast, Eric & Seán talk to Dara O'Brien about his scenic valley runs, struggling to run 200m to taking on virtual challenges and an upcoming 120km ultra run challenge in June that will guarantee him a distinct new record.

[6:00] Eric introduces Dara to the podcast and how it all came about

[8:20] How and why Dara got into running only 2 years ago, his initial struggles and the unique scenery that he has for his runs

[12:45] The love/hate relationship with running

[16:20} Why the Sunday run is more enjoyable than the rest of the week

[18:40] The effects of training and running during lockdown: Making the most of the commute time and dealing with the isolation from a social view.

[23:05] Signing up for The Great Virtual Race across Tennessee in 2020

[26:45] The mindset shift Dara had that gave him a whole new appreciation for long distance walking

[27:30] Building up a base after injury, using a weighted bags and strength training

[29:40] Circumpolar Race Across the World (CRAW)

[32:30} How the Virtual events, connecting with other runners and the history and views of the Barrow Valley lead him to his 120km Challenge in June this year and raise money for two local schools; Saplings Schools for Children with Autism and O'Neill Centre Kilkenny

[41:30] The behaviour mindset behind not wanting to get out and get a run in, and it's not laziness.

We will keep you guys updated with Dara's journey and his challenge in June! You can check up on hos progress and more information on hos challenge by following him on Instagram @barrow_valley_runner

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

You can now get 25% off all Perform Nutrition products using the code 'AGR' at checkout

PerformNutrition.com

In this episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, Eric and Seán talk to fitness coach Maria Hackett on how getting into the fitness industry helped her overcome her anxiety along with how she got into calisthenics and strength training.

In this episode, you will hear about Maria's journey into the fitness world and her training, including:

 - The journey from feeling lost after the leaving cert to getting into the fitness industry

 - Overcoming her fears and anxiety in college

 - How she fell in love with calisthenics and strength-based training

- What calisthenics actually involves

- Training with the Irish Calisthenics Academy

 - Challenging Eric to change from "bicep curls for the girls" to be able to do a handstand

- Coaching strength training with New Era Coaching

- Why she loves the scientific approach to training, assessing and knowing when to push and when to pull back on exercises as opposed to the Instagram Exercises for the likes

- "Move well first, Move often..."

- The pitfalls of Social Media and proper training for exercise and health

- Maria's tips for getting into fitness

You can continue to follow Maria's journey in the fitness world by following her on Instagram HERE

There is still time to get started with the 5k Challenge. To get involved in the 5k Challenge, be sure to add yourself to our Running Group asap:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anygivenrunday

And if you are interested in coaching with us, check out our website:

https://www.AnyGivenTrainingDay.com

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

You can now get 25% off all Perform Nutrition products using the code 'AGR' at checkout

PerformNutrition.com

In this week's episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, Eric & Seán are joined by Conor Jamieson who looks to compete in his first CrossFit open next month.

In this episode, Conor talks about:

- How he & Eric met in the military (with Conor crushing Eric's plank time by setting a time of 14:30)

- What appealed to him to get into CrossFit

- Why he left and then returned to Instagram along with putting himself out there by posting his training and nutrition on Instagram and how he feels about what others might think

- How he is training for the CrossFit Open and what motivates him

- What his goal is with CrossFit and the appeal of the CrossFit community

- How Conor approaches his nutrition and his three big key words for success with it.

- "You can't eat like a show pony and race like a racehorse". Why this analogy applies to Conor's training and nutrition

- Conor breaks down his nutrition and meals as he preps for the CrossFit Open and using food for fuel.

- His final thoughts on helping people get started and setting goals

You can keep up with Conor's progress in the CrossFit world by following him on Instagram

There is still time to get started with the 5k Challenge. To get involved in the 5k Challenge, be sure to add yourself to our Running Group asap:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anygivenrunday

And if you are interested in coaching with us, check out our website:

https://www.AnyGivenTrainingDay.com

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

It's the last transatlantic episode of the Any Given Runday Podcast (for now...) as Eric has packed his bags and is ready to go and leave Alabama.

In this episode, we talk about all the obstacles that faced everyone who took part in Week 1 of the 5k Challenge as well as what to do when you do fall off the wagon in your running journey. 

Seán also went down the rabbit hole in looking at the pros and cons of barefoot running, while Eric has a very simple analogy for why he doesn't.

There is still time to get started with the 5k Challenge. To get involved in the 5k Challenge, be sure to add yourself to our Running Group asap:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anygivenrunday

And if you are interested in coaching with us, check out our website:

https://www.AnyGivenTrainingDay.com

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

Not many people can say they can take a hammer to the building that started their fitness journey, but that's exactly what Seán talks about doing as he opens up this episode of the podcast.

Apart from finding out if strawberry butter goes well on chicken and waffles (you just know Eric is still in America with food like that), the lads talk about getting started with your running; what to do, and the mistakes to avoid. 

In particular, they talk about:

 - Why you should embrace and be proud of your times, no matter what they are
 - How to approach that first run
 - How to focus on your breathing
 - The one principle that Eric applies to his training that is especially important when you are starting out!
 - Cross-training with your running
 - Running technique
 - Setting goals for the first 5k (this answer might surprise you!)

And more! 

They also announce the winner of our Instagram competition to end the show and quickly go over their Superbowl quicks... well, Eric tries to make it quicker but Seán is still bitter...

To get involved in the 5k Challenge, be sure to add yourself to our Running Group asap:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anygivenrunday

And if you are interested in coaching with us, check out our website:

https://www.AnyGivenTrainingDay.com

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie