The Back Straight Podcast

By The Back Straight PodcastSports Running

The Back Straight Podcast episodes

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
July 29 Ep. 75 - Nick Griggs - Irish National Champs - London Diamond League
Welcome to episode 75 of the Back Straight Podcast! This episode is a real cracker as we are joined by Nick Griggs for a chat prior to him competing at both the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the European Championships in Birmingham. Nick is always a great guest and one of our favourites, we wish him well! In addition to the interview we have a full run-down of the distance results at the Irish National Track and Field Championships and a cap of the London Diamond League where Dan was there in person to witness the Mile World Record fall! As always, a big thanks to Precision Fuel and Hydration for their support. Feel free to check out their website for some great nutrition and hydration products as well as information about training and fuelling! Use TBS15 or this link to receive 15% off at the checkout. Take care of yourselves and we will see you soon!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]
1 hr 14 min
July 17 Ep. 74 - Jasper McDowell Interview - Cork City & Morton Games Results - Diamond League chats
Big old episode this week with a tonne of results from Cork City Sports, Morton Games, Watford BMC, Prefontaine Classic and the Monaco Diamond League! We round out part 1 with some speculations of what might happen in the London Diamond League. In part 2 we are joined by 2.19 marathoner and winner of the Rathmullan 5k for 2026, Jasper McDowell! Jasper has a very interesting story and he chats us through his Northern Irish roots, his running career so far being based in Geneva and what he thinks of the content creation world in relation to running! Big thanks to Precision Fuel and Hydration for supporting this episode, feel free to use TBS15 at the checkout or use this link for 15% off your next purchase! Until next time, hooroo!
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]

1 hr 29 min
July 08 Zak Hanna on the Back Straight
This week's interview features one of Ireland's leading mountain runners, Zak Hanna. Zak hails from the edge of Slieve Croob, is a Newcastle AC athlete, and sponsored runner for New Balance and Precision Fuel and Hydration. Zak talks us through how he got into running, the journey it has taken him on so far and the specific training requirements for his discipline. This was a great interview and we thank Zak for his time! If you have another athlete you want us to chat to, let us know! Keen on some Precision Fuel and Hydration products, feel free to use our discount code TBS15 for 15% off or checkout this link.
Contact us here:
Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast
Email: [email protected]

1 hr 1 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…