The Back Straight Podcast

Welcome one, welcome all! This is a very special podcast series brought to you by The Back Straight Podcast! Join us as we follow two local sub-elite runners in their journey towards the Belfast Marathon. Gladys Ganiel from North Belfast Harriers and Stephen Connolly from Annandale Striders will be talking us through their preparation for the big race on 4th of May, we can't wait to see how they get on!

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It's a top-shelf two-parter this week! In part 1 we recap the Senior Cross Country that happened in Lurgan Park, Armagh 5k, Irwin Spiers XC, The League, some indoors results and a brief mention of the crazy half-marathon WR that happened in Barcelona. In part 2 we are joined by TripAdvisor's top-dog and brilliant runner in his own right, Justin Reid! Justin takes us for a trip down memory lane for an insight into how today's crop of athletes compare to the 80s and 90s. Justin also talks to us about how running has helped him in business and why he thinks it is so important. We are also stoked to be the platform where TripAdvisor announce they are sponsoring the Belfast Irish Milers meet again for 2025. We hope you all enjoyed this episode and we will catch you in a week or so! Hooroo!

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Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @thebackstraight

For the second part of this bonus episode on the Armagh International Road Races we are joined by the 3rd placed man in the 5k, Sebastian Lörstad. Sebastian amazed everyone when he basically ran a time trial in the event leading from the gun and stringing out the race until he was unfortunately passed in the home straight. Sebastian is still happy enough with his 13:36 and unofficial 5k age group work record which surpasses Jakob Ingebritsens previous mark at the same age. Sebastian talks us through his training, coaching set-up, passions outside of the sport and hopes and dreams for the future. We are firm believers that this is only the beginning for this rising talent and can't wait to see what is next. Thanks for listening! Hooroo.

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Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @thebackstraight

Off the back of a brilliant iteration of the Armagh International Road Races for 2025 we were lucky enough to be joined by the women's 3k winner, Verity Ockenden. Verity talks us through her set-up in Northern Italy, training methodologies, the Armagh 3k race and what is next! Verity also talks to us about mental health and elite athletics and shares some great insights on this for runners of all levels. We hope you enjoy part 1 of this bonus episode! Hooroo.

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Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @thebackstraight

The title basically says it all for episode 37! We have tonnes of results from a plethora of different races that happened recently as well as a few previews of some exciting events on the horizon. Results wise we have two cross country league fixtures to go over, Trim 10 Mile, European Clubs XC in Portugal and some National Records have fallen. On the preview front we will be talking all things Armagh 5k and the NI Senior Cross Country which is almost here. Keep an eye out on our Instagram for some details about the giveaway of two race entries to the Springwell Running Club's Coleraine Campus 5k! Thanks for joining us for another episode, we hope you enjoyed it! Hooroo!

Contact us here:

Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @thebackstraight

For episode 36 we are joined by two legends of the local running scene. First up is Vincent Bradley who is a local at the Queen's Parkrun alongside his daughter Meabh. Meabh and Vincent have been turning out every Saturday to Parkrun, rain, hail or shine and have now ticked over the 200 Parkrun milestone. Meabh and Vincent are fantastic ambassadors for running and are loved dearly by all they meet! Vincent talks to us about Meabh's deep love of Parkrun and being involved in the local running community. Meabh truely personifies the inclusivity and accessibility of running, she is a force to be reckoned with! Eamonn returns to the Back Straight for a second time to talk to us about this year's Belfast Irish Milers Meet. There are some big names on the start lists for 2025 and we can't wait to see it all go down in May! Thanks to both of them for joining us and we hope you enjoyed this episode. Hooroo!

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Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @thebackstraight

We are joined by none other than Ciara Mageean for our first episode of 2025! Ciara is a true local legend and international running superstar. She is a 5-time Irish record holder and has won multiple medals at a number of championship events such as gold in the 2024 European Champs 1500m. Ciara gives us the full low-down on her move back to Belfast, training set-up, reflections on 2024 and what is to come in the future. This is not an episode to be missed and we hope you enjoy! Hooroo!

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Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @thebackstraight

Short snippet of commentary from Rome 2024 world champs was taken from RTE2 and is not property of the Back Straight Podcast.

East Down and now one of Providence's finest athletes, Anna Gardiner, joins us for episode 34 of the Back Straight! Anna is fresh off a bronze medal team result at the prestigious NCAA Cross Country and a stellar performance in Turkey at the Euopean Cross. Anna talks us through the ins-and-outs of American college running, from the cafeteria all the way to private jets! We think Anna is a true icon of the running scene in Northern Ireland with so many great results ahead of her, we can't wait to see what comes next! This is not an episode you want to miss. Merry Christmas y'all! See you in 2025, hooroo.

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Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @thebackstraight

Big recap episode this one! We brought in well-known running nerd, Conor Curran, to help us properly analyse an assortment of recent races. We get chatting on the Seeley 10k, European Cross. Country, Valencia Marathon and the NCAAs. Thanks for listening, you will hear from us soon! Hooroo.

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Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @thebackstraight

The title says it all! For this week's episode we are joined by a legend of Northern Irish running, and the Seeley especially, Ben Branagh! Ben has won the event 3 times during his prestigious running career and gives us the inside line on what it takes to run well through Ormeau Park. We chat about the main players for the 2024 event and how we think it is all going to go down. Send us your predictions for who you think is going to win on Saturday, it's gonna be epic!

Contact us here:

Instagram: @thebackstraightpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @thebackstraight