What happens when the path you thought you were on suddenly stops making sense?

James Brogan grew up surrounded by Dublin GAA.

The Brogan name is woven into the history of the game, and football was a huge part of James's identity from a young age.

But a serious injury at 17 was his first experience of a dream being interrupted.

Years later, after studying commerce, becoming a solicitor and following what looked like the safe and sensible career path, James found himself restless and questioning what he actually wanted from life.

A conversation with a life coach helped him understand himself in a different way, and gave him the confidence to take a completely different un-trodden path.

That decision eventually led to the creation of Legacy, a successful sports and marketing business, and later PepTalk, a workforce intelligence company.

But this conversation isn't really about football or business.

It's about identity.

About what happens when the version of yourself you've built no longer fits.

About resilience, self-awareness, and the courage to choose uncertainty over security.

James also talks openly about the injuries that shaped him, the importance of teams and camaraderie, why success isn't necessarily about the destination, and why you don't need to have your whole life figured out before you take the next step.

And perhaps most importantly, why sometimes the path you never planned can turn out to be the one that teaches you the most about yourself.

A conversation about letting go of one dream, making space for another, and learning to trust the journey.

https://legacycommunications.com

https://www.peptalk.com

If you or someone you know has a story that should be told, contact Keith at:

[email protected]

@KMFCoachingIreland

For Natalie Weston, running had always been part of life — something she enjoyed, but never something she imagined she couldn’t do.

Then, unexpectedly, she was diagnosed with appendix cancer. In an instant, life changed: her health, her family, her plans and her relationship with her own body all looked very different.

But this isn’t simply a story about cancer. It’s about what came afterwards.

As Natalie began to recover, running became something to fight her way back towards. The casual runs of the past became a goal, a source of motivation, and eventually a way of proving to herself that there were still things she could control and strive for.

We talk about the shock of her diagnosis, the challenges of recovery, the frustration of a body that wouldn't co-operate, and the temptation to rush back to the person she had been before.

We also talk about motherhood, identity, competitiveness, perspective and the powerful realisation that being able to simply wake up and choose what you want to do is something worth appreciating.

And ultimately, Natalie explains why her biggest motivation now isn't about times or medals — it's about showing her children what it means to keep challenging yourself, even when life doesn't go according to plan.

If you or someone you know has a story that should be told, contact Keith at:

[email protected]

@KMFCoachingIreland

The advice Tony Barclay MBE lives by is simple: believe in yourself, and magic will happen.

But when you hear how he went from a police career cut short by sight loss to marathons, ultramarathons, guide runner training, and becoming the first visually impaired person in Ireland to qualify as an archery coach, that mantra hits differently.

I sit down with Tony for a remarkable conversation about reinvention, resilience, and what happens when you stop accepting the limits other people place on you.

Tony shares the reality of losing his police career, living with a pituitary tumour, and facing the “little red devil” that told him for years he couldn’t do hard things - until Couch to 5K changed everything.

You’ll hear how one beginner running program became a launchpad into 10Ks, half marathons, marathons, and brutal trail ultras, including the infamous Derry Marathon and the midnight trail events Tony keeps returning to.

He breaks down how guide running actually works, why trust matters so much, and how he helps others with visual impairment get into sport through the guide runner training he delivers across Northern Ireland.

Then Tony takes that same mindset into archery, where he learns to shoot with tactile sights, coaches a young visually impaired archer, and proves again that there is always a way when you’re willing to adapt.

Along the way, he also explains how blindfolded running events helped sighted runners understand visual impairment in a completely new way, and why he sees himself as differently abled rather than disabled.

This is a story about starting late, saying yes to the right challenges, and turning setbacks into a life that helps other people rise too.

Essential listening if you need a reminder that your biggest breakthrough might begin with one brave decision.

If you or anyone you know has a story that should be told, contact Keith at:

[email protected] or,

@KMFcoachingireland

From building athletics in rural Donegal to managing Ireland at four Olympic Games, Patsy McGonagle has spent more than five decades helping athletes and communities achieve more than they thought possible.

In this episode of Your Race or Mine, Patsy reflects on his remarkable journey — from founding Finn Valley Athletic Club and developing athletics across Donegal, to managing some of Ireland’s greatest athletes on the world stage.

But this isn't simply a conversation about medals and Olympic Games.

Patsy talks about the importance of showing up, resilience, failure, leadership and the power of believing in people. He shares the lessons he has learned from working with elite athletes, but also explains why some of his proudest achievements have nothing to do with medals.

We explore what makes a great coach, how to build something from nothing, why failure is essential to success, and what decades spent around high performers have taught Patsy about life.

A conversation about sport, community, leadership and legacy — and a reminder that sometimes the greatest impact we have is measured not by what we achieve ourselves, but by what we help others achieve.

One sentence, 5 years, completely different meaning.

What does it mean to become a “real runner”? And why do so many of us still feel like imposters, even when the evidence says otherwise?

In this deeply honest and uplifting conversation, Mairead Hogan joins Your Race or Mine to talk about discovering running in her forties at a difficult moment in her life, finding confidence through community, and building a life around friendship, movement and joy.

Mairéad shares the story of nervously walking into Dunboyne Running Club for the first time, believing she wasn’t a “real runner” — before going on to win national medals across distances from 5K to marathon.

But this episode is about far more than medals or PBs.

We talk about:

• The unique suffering and beauty of cross-country racing,
• Balancing training with work and motherhood,
• Marathon mentality and post-race wheelchair requests,
• Why club running creates such powerful bonds,
• Injury fears, imposter syndrome and longevity,
• and the importance of doing something for yourself.

Mairéad speaks with huge warmth, humour and vulnerability about how running transformed not just her fitness, but her confidence, identity and happiness.

This is a conversation about learning that it’s never too late to surprise yourself, and how one sentence, spoken 5 years apart in a different context, can have such a different and powerful meaning.

If you or anyone you know has a story that should be told, email:

[email protected]

For Cross XC referenced, view from 3:34

https://youtu.be/5nHfRJVxL80

They say running can become an addiction — but sometimes it becomes the thing that saves you from far more destructive ones.

My guest Cathal Quinn knows both sides of that reality.

For much of his life, Cathal battled inner demons that eventually brought him to the very edge. This conversation is an honest and deeply personal account of addiction, vulnerability, self-destruction, and the long road back when everything felt lost.

Cathal describes himself as someone who is always “all in” — a mindset that brought success in some areas of life, but also threatened to consume him completely.

What followed was a journey of rebuilding: physically, mentally and emotionally. Running became part of that recovery, alongside a determination to confront the darkest parts of himself with honesty and courage.

This is a raw, powerful and ultimately uplifting conversation about resilience, accountability, purpose and finding hope when you think there’s none left.

If you are affected by any of the topics discussed in this episode, please reach out for support:

• Pieta — 24/7 Crisis Helpline: 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444.
• Teac Tom — Community mental health and suicide prevention support services.

If you or anyone you know has a running story that should be told, contact:

[email protected]

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Paul Robinson speaks for the first time since stepping away from elite athletics.

From running around Kilcock at just four years old, to running a mile in the South Pole, and everything in-between, Paul’s journey into running was built on passion, discipline, and consistency.

By 15, things became serious — setting him on a path toward becoming one of Ireland’s top middle-distance athletes.

In this episode, Paul reflects on what it truly takes to reach and stay at the elite level — the structure, the pressure, the sacrifices, and the relentless pursuit of performance.

He shares the highs of competing on the international stage, but also the realities that come with it.

Most importantly, this conversation goes beyond the track. Paul opens up about what it felt like to step away from elite running, the loss of identity that can come with it, and the challenge of transitioning into “normal” life after years defined by the sport.

This is a story about more than running. It’s about purpose, identity, and what comes next when the thing that shaped you changes.

If you or someone you know has a running story that should be told, contact me at:

[email protected]

@KMFCoachingIreland

We often talk about equality in sports—and rightly so. But when it comes to running, fitness, and health, men and women don't face the same challenges.

In this episode, I sit down with Laura Ward from LWF Physiotherapy for a really honest and important conversation about what that actually means in real life.

We explore the importance of pelvic health, strength training, and taking a holistic approach to lifestyle—not just for performance, but for long-term health, confidence, and quality of life. We talk about what happens when these things are overlooked and the impact that can have physically, emotionally, and mentally for women.

We also dive into the barriers women face in sport, the lack of adequate postnatal care and information, and why so many women are left trying to figure things out on their own.

But it's not all frustration; there's real positivity too. Women are becoming more vocal, more informed, and less willing to accept things "as they've always been."

We also talk about how men can better support the women in their lives and why understanding—not just equality—is key.

Most importantly, this episode is a reminder of how crucial it is to seek out the right information and to take ownership of your health in a way that works for you.

Because when it comes to fitness and running, we might be equal, but we're not the same.

www.lwfphysio.ie

If you or someone you know has a running story that should be told, contact:

[email protected]

@KMFCoachingIreland

What does it really take to stand behind the finish line?

In this episode, I sit down with Brian Conroy, co-founder of Pop Up Races, to explore the journey behind one of Ireland’s most recognisable race timing companies.

Brian shares how he went from working as a chartered accountant to building a business rooted in the running community — what that transition felt like, the risks involved, and how an idea slowly grew into something much bigger.

We talk about the reality behind race day — the early starts, the pressure, the moving parts — and what it takes to deliver events for thousands of runners across the country.

But this conversation is just as much about Brian the runner. Coming to running later in life after a background in rugby, he reflects on the races that shaped him, the progression from his first 10K to marathons and Ironman, and what the sport has given him beyond the finish line.

It’s a story about change, resilience, and perspective — and what you learn when you spend enough time watching people cross the line.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Noel McCarron reflects on a life shaped not just by running, but by the people and communities it brought him to.

At the heart of this episode is Noel’s involvement with the Special Olympics and his role in bringing the World Games to Ireland in 2003. He shares the story behind what it took to make that happen, offering a rare glimpse into the dedication, challenges, and belief that drove it forward—and it demonstrates his understanding of inclusion and connection, particularly with people with disabilities.

We also explore a different side of running through Noel’s involvement with the Brew Jogg running group and the friendships and sense of belonging it has given him in later life. As he reflects on turning 70 and marking that milestone in his own unique way, the conversation opens into something wider—about identity, purpose, and what it means to stay connected to the sport across a lifetime.

Thoughtful and deeply human, this episode is less about results and more about meaning—about the miles, the moments, and everything in between

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If you or someone you know has a story that should be told, email [email protected]