No Finish Line

Welcome back to No Finish Line.

In today's episode, Finding Peace in the Pace, I’m joined once again by Aoife Cleary, an endurance athlete whose running journey offers powerful lessons about resilience, mindset, and personal growth.

Aoife shares how running became more than a sport, it became a way to find clarity, confidence, and balance in a fast-moving world. We explore the mental challenges of endurance events, the lessons learned on long training runs, and the importance of defining success on your own terms.

Whether you're an experienced runner, training for your first race, or simply looking for inspiration to keep moving forward, this conversation is packed with insight and encouragement.

Follow Aoife Cleary for updates on her running journey and future endurance challenges on Instagram @aoife_cleary_wellness

And you can follow me on Instagram @johnoregan777

Today’s guest is no stranger to extremes. Meet Daragh Morgan — adventure athlete, endurance junkie, and open sea swimmer with a serious love for the wild waters around Ireland.

From triathlons to 100km ultra runs, Daragh’s racked up an awe-inspiring list of challenges: swimming Galway Bay not once, but three times, running from Mizen to Malin — 625 kilometers on foot — and cycling hundreds of kilometers across the country. And that’s just scratching the surface.

But in Summer 2025, he’s taking it to a whole new level. Daragh will attempt the first-ever tidal-assisted stage swim around the entire island of Ireland — a never-before-done feat that could land him in the Guinness World Records.

Fueled by a daily dip in the Atlantic and a mission to protect Ireland’s oceans, Daragh’s story is about grit, purpose, and the power of water to move us — literally and figuratively.  

The Project is called Swim Ére and you can find more information on www.swimeire.ie

In June 2023, Jason Williamson set a record by running the length of Ireland on 'The Ireland Way' in just 14 days, 9 hours, 26 minutes, and 23 seconds.

Originally from Australia, Jason now lives in Co. Cork, Ireland. He was a cross-country runner in school, but life took him away from running. In his 40s, he decided to reconnect with his passion and push his limits.

As he approaches his 50th birthday in September 2025, Jason is preparing for his biggest challenge yet—running a 4,000km ultra-marathon across Australia.

Join us as we explore Jason's inspiring journey of resilience and transformation. Stay tuned! 

Contact:

[email protected]

Instagram / Threads @jasonwilliamsonultra

Linkedin

Sorcha Loughnane's progress has been remarkable over the last few years. Since her first Marathon she has gone on to represent Ireland in the 50Km European Championships finishing 6th in a time of 3:26:46.

She has won the 50Km National Championship title twice and currently holds the Irish National 50Km Record with a time of 3:18:04. This time is also a World Age Group Best performance for O45. She bettered the previous Record of 3:20:33 which Sorcha already held.

She has won a few long distance Trail Races outright and recently finished 2nd in the Maurice Mullins Ultra to earn a place on the Irish Team competing in the European Off Road Running Championships 2024 in Annecy, France.

Sorcha is also a talented Marathon Runner and finished 3rd in the Irish National Championships 2023.

I could go on but would prefer if you'd have a listen and let Sorcha tell you the rest.

Outlier: a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample

Sorcha Loughnane - The Anglo Celtic Plate

In this episode I'm joined by Barry Loftus, a recent finisher of the Marathon des Sables, a 250Km Stage Race in the Sahara Desert.

The MdS is a race that has always been popular with runners from Ireland and it's one that I get asked a lot of questions about. My knowledge of the race is fading and I used this opportunity to ask questions that help with anyone planning to take on this or any other similar event.

We talk about the training, the kit selection, what to expect when over there and how to prepare for your return.

Barry has also recently published a book that documents his journey to the start line and then his experience in the Desert.

Instagram @strandfitness.ie

Buy the Book.

Velcro Service for Desert Gaiters

Trans Sahara Marathon Episode

Hoka Speedgoat

Wayne Spies is an Australian International Ultrarunner. He is famed for his serial participation in South Africa’s iconic Comrades Marathon. What's more, for a man who never showed much athletic talent during his formative years, his achievement is made even more remarkable by the fact that he broke three-time champion and Olympian Vladimir Kotov's 11-year-old Masters record of 05:48:12 on his way to stopping the clock in 05:42:00.

I caught up with Wayne at the IAU 50Km World Championships 2023 in Hyderabad, India. We had a very insightful talk about Ultra Running including the training, racing and most importantly the recovery. Wayne places a lot of emphasis on the recovery part of the training. Hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed the talking.

If you enjoy this or any of the recent podcasts then please consider leaving a review or sharing.

Thanks,

John

Instagram @johnoregan777

You may not have given much thought to your Marathon Recovery but in this episode we talk about why you should plan beyond that finishers medal.

Matthew Collins is an Irish International Ultra Runner and seasoned Marathon Runner with over 40 quality Marathons completed with the past 10 years. He has gone from a 3:20 finish to his most recent sub 2:30 in the Dublin Marathon 2023. He shares the lessons he has learned while on this journey and he talks about how he managed with some planning and a changed mindset to eventually achieve his goal of running under 2 hours 30 mins.

Matthew shares his thoughts on mindset and recovery both physical and mental.

We hope you enjoy this episode.