Fresh off my first HYROX experience in Bangkok, I'm sharing the highs, lows, lessons, and surprises from race day. From the atmosphere and race strategy to the stations that broke me and the moments that kept me moving, this is an honest reflection on what it was really like to compete in my first HYROX event.

I discuss the biggest mistakes I made, what I learned about pacing, why being strategic matters more than simply being fit, and how HYROX compares to my background in endurance sports.

And despite crossing the finish line exhausted, sore, and questioning my life choices, I somehow found myself signing up for another race before I'd even fully recovered.

In this episode:

• Why I decided to do HYROX
• Race-day nerves and the Bangkok atmosphere
• The stations that challenged me most
• Lessons on pacing and race strategy
• What surprised me about HYROX
• Biggest mistakes and takeaways
• Why I immediately signed up for another race
• Advice for anyone considering their first HYROX

If you've ever finished a race and said, "Never again," only to find yourself entering another one a few days later, this episode is for you.

📩 Email: [email protected]

📷 Instagram: @aidoalan

📊 Strava: Adrian on Strava

📘 Facebook: Adrian on Facebook

Finally the time has come to give my first HYROX a CRAIC!!

Race week is here, and it’s time to find out where I really stand.

In this episode, I break down my first ever HYROX race in Bangkok, how I’m feeling heading into it, what I’ve learned in training, and most importantly… my prediction.

I dive into:

• My expected finish time
• Where I think I’ll perform well
• The stations that could make or break my race
• Mistakes I’m trying to avoid
• And what success actually looks like for me on the day

This isn’t about being perfect, it’s about showing up, testing myself, and seeing what happens when training meets reality.

Whether you’re racing HYROX, thinking about it, or just enjoy the process of pushing limits, this one’s for you.

Let’s see if I’m right…

📲 Follow & Connect:
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidoalan
📊 Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/1686155

📩 Coaching & Enquiries:
[email protected]

Most people know their goals. Very few know their values.

In this episode of The GymCraic Podcast, I go into the idea of living according to your values and why it’s one of the most important things i think i can do for longterm fulfilment.

I break down the four values im trying to guide my life right now, freedom, health, connection, and creativity and how they influence everything from the way I train, to the work I do, to the relationships I build.

But I also talk honestly about the fact that right now I’m not fully living in alignment with all of these values as of right now . Like most people, I sometimes drift away from what truly matters. This episode is about recognising that, reflecting on where I’m at and consciously redirecting myself back toward the life I actually want to build.

Sometimes we chase achievements without asking if they truly matter to us. This conversation is about stepping back, getting clear on what you stand for, and making sure the life you're building actually reflects it.

Keywords: personal growth, endurance mindset, values, self-development, life direction.

Listen to The GymCraic Podcast:
🎧 Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-gymcraic-podcast
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-gymcraic-podcast/id1580946939

Follow Adrian:📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidoalan/
📊 Strava: https://strava.app.link/l85uCUtvTLb
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aidoalan1

Welcome back to The GymCraic Podcast.

Today’s episode is all about one thing: becoming a high performer in 2026.

Over the past few days, I’ve just come out of a powerful two-day goal setting workshop, where I sought guidance from The Mindset Mentor, Rob Dial. And in this episode, I want to reshare what I’ve learned, what challenged me, and what genuinely shifted how I see discipline, identity, and growth.

Because high performance isn’t about motivation.
It isn’t about hype.
And it definitely isn’t about perfection.

High performance is about goal setting with intention.
It’s about discipline as the highest form of self-love.
Choosing your future self over your current comfort.

It’s about identity.
Belief.
Action.
Repeat.

Who you believe you are shapes what you do.
What you do shapes who you become.

We’ll talk about finding your why, building goals that actually stick, and even strengthening something called the anterior mid cingulate cortex, the part of the brain responsible for doing hard things when you don’t feel like it.

So if you’re ready to stop drifting…
If you’re ready to stop negotiating with your potential…
And if 2026 is the year you decide to show up differently…

This episode is for you.

📩 Email: [email protected]

📷 Instagram: @aidoalan

📊 Strava: Adrian on Strava

📘 Facebook: Adrian on Facebook

Now just felt like the right time to try and speak about the last 5 months since my mom Catherine Allen has passed away in July after a year long battle with cancer. A tough topic but this is life.

Over the past while life changed in a way I never really knew how to prepare for my mom passing away. In between life has been hectic and im trying to find stability once again.

I didn’t want to record this straight away, and I also didn’t want to avoid it completely. So this isn’t a polished episode or one with answers. It’s just me being honest about what the last few months and what moms final weeks with us were like for everyone , what I’ve leaned on, what’s helped a in the "emotional moments" that have happened since.

If you’re listening and you’ve been through loss or you’re in it right now this isn’t advice. It’s simply my lived experience, shared in real time to a certain extent.

And if you haven’t experienced something like this yet, maybe this is just a reminder to slow down, check in, and appreciate the people you still get to call today.

So yeah… this is me, talking about one of the hardest topics ill ever have to share but maybe it helps me and everyone else going through tough times.

🎙 Episode 55 – Why I Started, What I’ve Learned, and Where It’s Going

From recording solo in my bedroom to chatting with ultrarunners, mindset coaches, triathletes and everyday legends — this podcast has taken me on a journey.

In this milestone episode, I’m reflecting on the 10 biggest lessons I’ve learned across 50 episodes. From awkward beginnings to honest conversations, it’s all shaped the GymCraic podcast into what it is today.

No studio. No editing. No script. Just a mic, a message, and the belief that if one person gets value, it’s worth it.

Whether you’ve been here since episode 1 or just jumped in along the way, Here's to growth, gratitude, and showing up — even when it’s messy.

📩 Email: [email protected]

📷 Instagram: @aidoalan

📊 Strava: Adrian on Strava

📘 Facebook: Adrian on Facebook

In this episode, I sit down with Gráinne—an Ironman athlete, proud Donegal native, and all-round legend whose endurance journey has taken her from the GAA fields of Ireland to the finish line at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

We chat about life before triathlon, growing up in rural Ireland, the move to Australia, and how she found her way into the world of Ironman. Gráinne opens up about the early fears of swim-bike-run, the power of community through Districts GAA in Perth, and how she balances full-time work with full-time training.

From mistakes made on race day to her recent injury setback, to training as a female athlete in a male-dominated space—this is a raw, real, and incredibly inspiring conversation about resilience, identity, and chasing big goals no matter where you start.

Whether you're a seasoned triathlete or just curious about what drives someone to race an Ironman, Gráinne’s story will leave you feeling energised and uplifted.

Find Grainne here:

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbyrneit?igsh=dWQ2dHZkdDBqdTBp

https://www.instagram.com/diaryofanironwoman?igsh=MWd3d3l4OWg2d3R3Ng==

📘 Facebook:

📩 Email: [email protected]

📷 Instagram: @aidoalan

📊 Strava: Adrian on Strava

📘 Facebook: Adrian on Facebook

Finally i got the gang together you've heard from Danny OSullivan & Denis Mc before their back again to share some more knowledge but now i get to introduce you to the man who planted the seed in all of our heads and that man is David Spring and his journey to becoming a 4 time ironman.

In this episode of The GymCraic Podcast, I’m joined by three legends from home in Kerry — each with unique backgrounds, busy lives, and a shared goal: to hear the words, "You are an Ironman." We dive into what inspired them to sign up, how their goals evolved, and what they learned along the way.

We talk motivation, mindset, and the real challenges behind the training — from balancing work and family to dealing with setbacks. You'll hear honest stories of mistakes, breakthroughs, and what it actually feels like to toe the start line of one of the toughest endurance events in the world.

From race day highs and nutrition wins to emotional finish lines and valuable lessons, this episode is packed with insights for anyone thinking about doing an Ironman — or just curious about what it takes.

Plus, we wrap up with a look ahead to their next big goal: a charity project close to their hearts.

In Episode 52 of The Gym-Craic Podcast I’m absolutely delighted to finally be joined by Aaron O’Loughlin. 

A name you’ll hear more of in both the running and Hyrox scenes.

I first met Aaron at Fitstop over two years ago, and since then, he’s been smashing goals in every direction 

In this episode, we dive deep into his journey:

• From sub-3 heartbreak to redemption in the Busso marathon 1 year apart
• Tackling Herdy’s Backyard Ultra and what 24 hours of loops does to your body and mind
• How Hyrox entered the picture and changed the training game
• Finding his doubles partner Annie Busiko and building trust, teamwork, and pacing strategy
• The art of balancing fatherhood, full-time work, and elite-level training
• His training crew at Dubbell Run Group and the role of community in training
• What motivates him to get out the door at 4am, and how he keeps the fire lit

Aaron is proof that with hard work, a solidroutine, and good people around you, anything’s possible. Whether you're chasing PBs, thinking about your first Hyrox, or curious what it takes to train like a absolute beast while being a full-time legend  this one’s for you.

Follow Aaron On Strava

https://strava.app.link/UYUGxgRQDSb

📩 Email: [email protected]

📷 Instagram: @aidoalan

📊 Strava: Adrian on Strava

📘 Facebook: Adrian on Facebook

🎙️ Episode 51- Returning to Perth – Rebuilding Routine & Returning to NormalityAfter 10 weeks in Ireland, I’m back in Perth—and in this episode of The GymCraic Podcast, I chat about the transition back into life, re-establishing routine, and how it feels coming home after a meaningful time away. It was a tough decision to come back and life unfortunately was never said to be easy. Topics I cover:The emotional shift of leaving IrelandGetting back into training, coaching, and work at the minesWhat I’m bringing back from Ireland—routines, habits, and perspectiveThe mental adjustment to a different pace of lifeHow I’m approaching the next block of training, coaching, and contentIf you’ve ever returned from a trip that changed your rhythm, this episode might hit home. It’s about more than just coming back—it’s about reintegration, balance, and using the experience to grow, not regress.
Email: [email protected]

📷 Instagram: @aidoalan

📊 Strava: Adrian on Strava

📘 Facebook: Adrian on Facebook