He ended up in intensive care after an Ironman. But that didn’t stop him.

This week, Gary and Ben sit down with Paul Tierney – former Irish county hurler turned elite ultra-runner, coach, and record-breaker. From the sidelines of team sport to the solitude of the mountains, Paul has carved a life around endurance, coaching, and community – but not without setbacks.

Paul shares how a stint in Australia kickstarted his love for endurance sport, how a brush with death changed his perspective forever, and why a documentary about the Lake District made him pack up his life and move. Now a respected running coach with clients around the world, Paul opens up about the myths of perfect form, the dangers of one-size-fits-all coaching, and why failure has been his best teacher.

We talk coaching, movement quality, social media misinformation, injury recovery, and how to build a strong mind andbody through running – without obsessing over it.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🏑 From county hurling to Ironman

🏥 Surviving hyponatremia and landing in ICU

🏔️ Discovering the Lake District and the Lakeland 100

🧭 Getting lost with no map skills and a second-hand compass

🧠 Why coaching is more about communication than correction

📱 The problem with Instagram advice

🦵 Strength work, ankle stiffness and plyometrics

🩹 Injury, rehab and athlete buy-in

😂 Humour, humility and lifelong learning

If you’ve ever questioned your training, felt overwhelmed by online advice, or struggled to come back from injury – Paul’s honest, practical approach will give you a fresh perspective. This episode is about mindset, movement, and the messy reality of progress.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday – Follow & Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & Acast!

00:00 - Intro: From hurling to endurance

07:15 - ICU and hyponatremia

14:30 - Falling in love with the Lake District

21:00 - Lakeland 100 and early mountain race mistakes

27:45 - Becoming a coach and finding purpose

34:10 - Coaching philosophy and movement over mechanics

40:20 - Social media advice and form obsession

47:00 - Strength work that actually helps

53:25 - The rehab mindset and listening to athletes

60:00 - Final thoughts and what keeps him going

🔗 Follow Paul:

Instagram: @paulmissinglink

Website: www.missinglinkcoaching.co.uk

#PaulTierney #TrailRunning #UltraRunning #RunningCoach #FellRunning #EnduranceAthlete #Lakeland100 #Wainwrights #MountainRunning #RUNcensored #RunningPodcast #StrengthAndConditioning #InjuryRecovery #Hyponatremia #Inov8

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