The Back Straight Podcast

By The Back Straight PodcastSports Running

The Back Straight Podcast episodes

November 11 Ep. 83 - Laura Nicholson Interview - XC Results - Parkrun Glory - National Cross Preview
Another chockablock episode with tonnes of cross-country results and some very fast Parkrun times from Victoria Park over the weekend! We have also got a great interview that we recorded with Laura Nicholson about her return to Ireland, new coaching set up with Mark Kirk calling the shots, and what is to come in the future. Plenty of good stuff in this episode and we look forward to covering the National Cross in the next episode! Thanks for listening, hooroo!
If you are interested in checking out the great offerings from Precision Fuel and Hydration, please support the pod and use our discount code TBS15 or use this ⁠⁠⁠link ⁠⁠⁠and it'll automatically apply the discount! Thanks!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]
1 hr 14 min
November 04 Hugh Armstrong on the Back Straight
In this week's episode we were delighted to be joined by the 2026 National Marathon Champion, Hugh Armstrong, for an interview. Hugh has had great success in his running career to date, having run 2:12 a few years ago in Seville, represented Ireland in several major championships and most recently being crowned the king of Dublin marathon.
Hugh shares a heartfelt tribute to Ciara at the beginning of the episode which was greatly appreciated, and from there we recap his race a few weeks ago and get to know him a little better. We hope you enjoy this episode!
If you are interested in checking out the great offerings from Precision Fuel and Hydration, please support the pod and use our discount code TBS15 or use this ⁠⁠⁠link ⁠⁠⁠and it'll automatically apply the discount!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]

57 min
October 28 Ep. 82 - Dublin Marathon ft. Judith Storm - Valencia Half - Galloper Thompson 5k
What a sensational couple of weeks of racing with the Dublin Marathon producing some exciting results alongside debuts aplenty at the Valencia Half and some exciting races and costumes at the Galloper Thompson 5k! In addition to the results, we are absolutely delighted to be joined by the 2026 Women's National Marathon Champion - Judith Storm! Judith just ran a huge PB and provided a very exciting finish to an unforgettable Dublin Marathon! We hope you enjoy this interview and a massive thanks for Judith for joining us!
If you are interested in checking out the great offerings from Precision Fuel and Hydration, please support the pod and use our discount code TBS15 or use this ⁠⁠link ⁠⁠and it'll automatically apply the discount! Thanks!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]

1 hr 12 min
October 21 Cormac Dalton on the Back Straight
Mullingar Harrier and Irish International, Cormac Dalton, joins us for an interview on the pod! This was seriously good craic and we enjoyed our trip down memory lane with Cormac as we got to know him better as a runner and as a person. Cormac recounts some of his running career highlights and talks us through how he tackles injury and setbacks when they arise. Looking ahead, Cormac has a new coaching set up and big aspirations in the marathon which is exciting for not only him but the Irish distance running scene! Big thanks to Cormac for joining us on the pod and we wish him well in his marathon journey.
If you are interested in checking out the great offerings from Precision Fuel and Hydration, please support the pod and use our discount code TBS15 or use this ⁠⁠link ⁠⁠and it'll automatically apply the discount!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]

1 hr 9 min
October 14 Ep. 81 - Local Results and Galloper Thompson 5k Preview ft. Conal McCambridge
Welcome back everyone to another episode of the podcast. In this one we cover a tonne of great results from the Comber Cup XC, Armagh 10 mile, Masters Cross Country + more! We also get speculating about the Dublin marathon and chat at length about Nick Grigg's decision to head to the NCAA + the reaction it has received. In part 2 of the episode we are joined by North Belfast Harrier and race organiser extraordinaire - Conal McCambridge. Conal talks us through what has been going on since we last had him on in episode 7 back in 2023 and previews the exciting Galloper Thompson 5k happening this Friday. We are looking forward to see how the costumes and wish Conal best of luck in Valencia in a couple of months.
If you are interested in checking out the great offerings from Precision Fuel and Hydration, please support the pod and use our discount code TBS15 or use this ⁠link ⁠and it'll automatically apply the discount! Thanks!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]

1 hr 9 min
September 30 Ep. 80 - Luke Dinsmore Interview - Belfast Half Results - Seaton Classic - XC Season Opening Fixture
I know we say this every time, but there sure has been a lot on running-wise the past two weeks! In episode 80 we have a great interview with Annandale Strider's Luke Dinsmore fresh off a brilliant Half Marathon debut in Copenhagen. In addition that we packed the episode full of results and talking points from all of the great road racing and off-road events that have occurred since we last released. Not an episode to be missed, thanks for being here!
If you are interested in checking out the great offerings from Precision Fuel and Hydration, please support the pod and use our discount code TBS15 or use this link and it'll automatically apply the discount! Thanks!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]

1 hr 17 min
September 16 Ep. 79 - Ultimate Champs Recap - New ANI XC League - Local Results
Plenty on for episode 79 of the Back Straight! We begin with some great results from the Laganside 10k, Derry HM, Dromiskin 5k before moving to a preview of the Belfast Half marathon this weekend! Alongside these great discussions we get chatting about the Ultimate Championships in Budapest, the new ANI XC league for 26/27 as well as preview the Irish contingent at the World Road Running Championships this weekend in Copenhagen. Plenty in there to satiate the hungry athletics ears, we hope you enjoyed it!
If you are interested in checking out the great offerings from Precision Fuel and Hydration, please support the pod and use our discount code TBS15 or use this link and it'll automatically apply the discount! Thanks!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]
1 hr 6 min
September 02 Ep. 78 - Antrim Coast Half - Coleraine Campus 5k - Zurich Diamond League ft. Stephen Connolly
It's a really long format episode this week so bear with us! We had lots to go through including all of the main talking points from the local road racing action at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon as well as the Colerain Campus 5k + more! In part 2 we welcome friend of the podcast, Stephen Connolly, on to chat about his trip to the Zurich Diamond league where he was able to get up close and personal with the athletes and provide some brilliant insights! The sport is on fire in such a good way at the moment, we hope you enjoyed this episode! Hooroo.
If you are keen to try some Precision Fuel and Hydration products for yourself feel free to use our discount code TBS15 or click this link for it to be directly applied at the checkout! Thanks for supporting us!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]

1 hr 48 min
August 19 Ep. 77 - The European Championships catch-up ft. Conor Curran
The title says it all! In this week's episode Michael is joined by Conor Curran, friend and frequent contributor to the podcast, for a catch-up on all the action from the European Championships! The fellas go deep on all of the major highlights with specific focus on the key Irish performances from the meet. In addition that we have some chat about the recent road racing and what is coming up on the Isle! Until next week hooroo!
Check out Precision Fuel and Hydration if you want to level up your nutrition nd hydration game like Dan did in his race. Use this ⁠link ⁠or the code TBS15 for 15% of at checkout.
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]
1 hr 3 min
August 12 Ep. 76 - European Champs 2026 - Comm Games Recap - Dan's 100k race recap - Local results
The Back Straight hosts might be trotting across the globe a bit currently but that is not going to stop the show from going on! In this episode we recap Dan's 2nd place at the Fjällmaraton 100k, some local results from the Carlingford 5k and Feile 10k, the Commonwealth games as well as some impressive track performances in GB as well as Europe. The episode then rolls into a full recap of the distance events at the European Champs thus far where Michael was in attendance to see the return of the king, Jakob Ingebritsen. We throw out two cents at how Nick must be feeling after his impressive 8th place in the 5000m with only one shoe for the last kilometre. Plenty of good stuff this episode, we hope you enjoy it!
Check out Precision Fuel and Hydration if you want to level up your nutrition nd hydration game like Dan did in his race. Use this link or the code TBS15 for 15% of at checkout.
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]

55 min

About The Back Straight Podcast

From the publisher's feed

A fortnightly podcast based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Join Daniel Squires and Michael McKnight along the 'Back Straight' as they discuss the running scene in the Isle of Ireland and shine a light…