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

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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

ALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles).

altarfuel.com

The Sports Recovery Kit is everything you need after training, matches, gym sessions and long active days. The full routine, ready to go

Shop HERE

Get the AGR Ultrapure Sprint Bundle HERE

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

ALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles).

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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

ALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles).

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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

ALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles).

altarfuel.com

It's the second last podcast episode with Eric on the far side of the Atlantic as we talk about his core challenge, the benefit of some core exercises over others when it comes to running.

After mentioning why February is a much better month than January to kick start your running goals, the lads announce a new 5k Challenge starting this Monday, February 8th in the Any Given Runday Run Club:

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

The challenge will have a few different levels to it, depending on your fitness levels and goals for the next 6 weeks. As well as the 5k Training Plan, we will continue to have HIIT sessions every Tuesday & Thursday from 7 pm in the group.

The lads also talk about the different runs associated with the 5k Challenge, Seán's biggest pet peeve with running plans and the pitfalls that some people went through during the last challenge along with how to avoid them yourself.

To celebrate the launch of the 5k Challenge, we are offering FREE 6 Week Online Coaching for you and a friend. To enter this competition, go to the Instagram post below and follow the instructions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CK2FhAyHj_x/

Don't forget to add yourself to our Running Group! We start Monday! 

Eric starts off the podcast with the most controversial topic in the history of the Any Given Runday podcast. Why you SHOULD put pineapple on a pizza and it's a hill he's willing to die on!

With it arguably being the first day of Spring, Seán & Eric talk about why now, as opposed to January, is a good time to start getting into running and how to build good habits to keep consistency in your running.

Talking about James Clear's Atomic Habits, we talk about habits being about repetition and tactics to implement repetition into your running and training.

Seán talks about his struggles starting to run and his continued struggles to get out for a run but how the repeatability of the same habits and routines can get him out with little resistance and how these are "trigger habits".

Eric talks about his struggles with nutrition and how he learned that you "don't have to be the most disciplined person but you have to make it easier to make the right choices."

Why you should always make your important decisions in the mornings.

Why you shouldn't take your readings from your smartwatch as gospel and learning to listen to your body.

Sean gives advice on how to ease back into your training if you haven't had the most productive month, fitness-wise, in January. Especially if you are only starting to run.

Eric ends the podcast with an "idea" along with strongly encouraging you to try pineapple on a pizza!

And if you are looking for Online Coaching in 2021, we have a team of experts ready to help you along your fitness journey! Check them out as well as how we can help you below:

https://www.anygiventrainingday.com/

Be sure to follow us on all our social media channels as well as downloading our free Couch to 5k programme in the link below:

https://linktr.ee/AnyGivenRunday

Did you know that January is World Vegan Month, hence the name that Seán can't pronounce "Veganuary"?

Did you know that January is also World Carnivore Month? Where it's a mostly meat-based diet?

And did you know the Muffin Man? Not sure where he factors into this but you'll have a slightly better idea when you listen to today's episode of the podcast.

Carbohydrates are the fuel source for the body. Which makes it surprising that athletes would turn to a low carb diet to help fuel their races. Yet, they are some of the most successful endurance athletes in the world, how is this?

Seán and Eric delve into this today, along with other nutritional aspects to endurance runners including:

 - How to fuel the body before big races such as a marathon
 - What ketogenic diet and ketosis are and why some athletes prefer them for running
 - 40/40/20 Splits
 - The Vegan Diet for runners and potential supplements to take if you're doing it
 - The surprisingly simple meal Eliud Kipchogue ate before his two-hour marathon

And much more
 
And if you are looking for Online Coaching in 2021, we have a team of experts ready to help you along your fitness journey! Check them out as well as how we can help you below:

https://www.anygiventrainingday.com/

Be sure to follow us on all our social media channels as well as downloading our free Couch to 5k programme in the link below:

https://linktr.ee/AnyGivenRunday

ALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles).

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After 8 long months, Aaron is back on the podcast as we get an update on how he is getting on along with his fancy running watch!

In this episode, we talk about what Aaron felt worked and didn't work for him during his first run on the podcast, pun intended.

The topic then switches to approaching your first runs as well as the benefits and downside to some people doing interval training. When should you do interval training and when could it possibly be holding you  back

And if you are looking for Online Coaching in 2021, we have a team of experts ready to help you along your fitness journey! Check them out as well as how we can help you below:

https://www.anygiventrainingday.com/

Be sure to follow us on all our social media channels as well as downloading our free Couch to 5k programme in the link below:

https://linktr.ee/AnyGivenRunday

In January, a lot of people will tell you to train this way or eat this diet because it worked for them. The problem is, what worked for them may not work for you. 

In this episode of the podcast, we talk about Eric's journey in training and fitness from football to college to American Football, marathons, triathlons and now his goal in 2021: to do an IronMan.

What's just as important as the ultimate goal is the journey and destination and the lads talk about their pitfalls in both. 

And if you are unsure of where to start in your fitness journey, hit the link below where you will get online personal training from the Any Given Training Day crew, join our community and work towards YOUR goals through your lifestyle and interests in 2021:

https://www.anygiventrainingday.com/plans-pricing

ALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles).

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