Any Given Runday

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Brian Swaby (@swabysessionscoaching on Instagram), a Level 2 Athletics Ireland coach with over 22 years of experience in coaching, as well as the Health Matters 20 Weeks to a Better Marathon Coach.
For anyone starting their running journey towards the Dublin Marathon this year, this is a must listen. As well as his own background, Brian talks about how to structure your training weeks, the biggest mistakes he sees in people's training,  managing intensity, why VO2 max testing is great but not for the VO2 number specifically, how people's zone 2 can look drastically different on a heart rate monitor, balancing life with marathon training and much more

16:00 We welcome Brian Swaby 
18:42 The Transition from Steeplechase to Road Racing
21:54 The Evolution of Marathon Running
24:41 The Importance of 5K and 10K Races
27:40 Coaching Philosophy and Adaptation
30:29 Training for the Marathon: Key Strategies
33:27 Navigating Marathon Training and Coaching
36:23 Understanding VO2 Max and Thresholds
39:18 The Role of Anaerobic Threshold in Training
47:22 Understanding Heart Rate and Training Zones
48:50 Maximising Marathon Performance through Testing
52:35 Balancing Life and Marathon Training
54:52 Building a Sustainable Training Plan
58:05 Navigating Club Training and Coaching
62:23 Establishing Training Habits for Beginners
67:41 Navigating Technical Challenges in Remote Recording
68:11 Coaching Strategies for Mixed Abilities
71:46 Building Confidence Through Small Victories
73:44 Common Misconceptions in Marathon Training
74:52 Connecting with a Coach for Marathon Success
You can follow us on Instagram:
@anygivenrundaypodcast
And be sure to check out previous "16 weeks to Dublin Marathon" epsiodes as well the return of our Road To Dublin season 2 which will premier next Monday

and apply professional running coach advice to your own routine

joins the Any Given Runday podcast to break down the marathon training plan.
If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your race nutrition wrong.
Health Matters replaces guesswork with data. With over 15 years of experience, they're one of Europe's most experienced performance testing providers.
Find out more or book your test at myhealthmatters.ie.
Stay consistent with your training routine using the Ultrapure HYROX Recovery Bundle. Featuring Magnesium Oil Spray (150ml), Epsom Salts (1kg), Epsom Salts Gel (200ml) and Ice-Cold Menthol Gel cooling gel (100ml), 
Shop HERE

In this episode, Sam O'Hara (@samohfitness on Instagram shares his journey from online content creation and physique development to marathon running, breaking the sub-40-minute 10k barrier and pushing further into running goals in such a short space of time. Sam highlights the importance of consistency, mental health, and proper fuelling with gym training and increased running. 
15:00 We welcome Sam O'Hara
18:05 From Soccer to Running: The Transition
21:01 The Impact of Coaching and Physicality in Sports
23:44 The Shift from Football to Fitness Coaching
26:50 The Challenge of Photo Shoot Prep and Its Lessons
29:48 Preparing for the Double Marathon: A New Goal
32:49 Nutrition and Performance: Balancing Body Composition
35:51 The Role of a Coach in Running
38:49 Mental Health Awareness and Fundraising for Pieta House
44:22 Navigating Judgment in Content Creation
45:23 The Evolution of Vlogging Acceptance
46:52 Balancing Personal Life and Online Presence
48:29 The Art of Documenting vs. Creating Content
51:29 Experiencing the Marathon Journey
54:12 Consistency and Progress in Running
56:25 Finding Love in Running
59:33 Knicks in Five
63:06 Preparing for the Next Marathon Challenge

You can follow us on Instagram:
@anygivenrundaypodcast

If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your race nutrition wrong.
Health Matters replaces guesswork with data. With over 15 years of experience, they're one of Europe's most experienced performance testing providers.
Find out more or book your test at myhealthmatters.ie.
Stay consistent with your training routine using the Ultrapure HYROX Recovery Bundle. Featuring Magnesium Oil Spray (150ml), Epsom Salts (1kg), Epsom Salts Gel (200ml) and Ice-Cold Menthol Gel cooling gel (100ml), 
Shop HERE

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Matthew McConnell (@mrmattmcc on Instagram). Matthew is 2 time and current Irish mountain running champion, with countless podium finishes in trail and IMRA races around the country over the years, as well as representing Ireland on the World stage and recently represented Ireland in European 50k Trail Championship. He discusses training strategies, overcoming injuries, the role of community, and insights into performance optimisation for trail and road racing as well as his goals for the 2026 Dublin Marathon

12:10 Introduction to Mountain Running and Matthew McConnell
14:51 The Journey into Mountain Running
17:48 Progression and Competition in Trail Running
20:51 Healthy Competition and Training Partners
23:55 Getting Started in Mountain Running
26:58 Consistency and Coaching in Training
29:48 Experiences at the European Championships
32:52 The Role of Videography in Running
35:59 Transitioning to Road Running
38:56 Trials and Tribulations in Training
44:27 Recovery and Cross-Training Strategies
52:27 The Role of Cycling in Running Performance
57:34 Sauna Benefits and Heat Training
64:44 Experiencing High-Level Competition
70:47 Balancing Training with Life and Business

You can follow us on Instagram
@anygivenrundaypodcast

If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your race nutrition wrong.
Health Matters replaces guesswork with data. With over 15 years of experience, they're one of Europe's most experienced performance testing providers.
Find out more or book your test at myhealthmatters.ie.
Stay consistent with your training routine using the Ultrapure HYROX Recovery Bundle. Featuring Magnesium Oil Spray (150ml), Epsom Salts (1kg), Epsom Salts Gel (200ml) and Ice-Cold Menthol Gel cooling gel (100ml), 
Shop HERE

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Kayti Simonson (@kaytisimonson on Instagram). Kayti shares her incredible athletic journey from track and field to semi-pro soccer to Hyrox World Championships, representing Team Canada twice in the relay, all while balancing a law career and much more.  We explore her experiences balancing sport, career, and personal growth, along with insights on training, mental health, and chasing dreams.

00:00 From Track to Trials: Katie's Athletic Journey
04:01 Balancing Law and Athletics: A Dual Pursuit
08:52 Identity and Athletics: Beyond the Finish Line
12:05 Transitioning Sports: From Track to Soccer
14:14 The Sacrifices of an Athlete: A Life of Dedication
15:27 Finding Balance: Navigating Life as an Athlete
19:54 Discovering Hyrox: A New Challenge
24:35 The Community of Hyrox: What Keeps Athletes Coming Back
28:40 Preparing for World Championships: The Next Steps
30:52 Balancing Running and Strength Training
32:42 Recognising Overtraining and Its Effects
35:34 The Shift from Individual to Team Competitions
38:57 Navigating Identity and Social Media in Sports
42:48 The Emotional Weight of Competitive Sports
47:03 Embracing a Holistic Approach to Athleticism
48:46 Exploring New Athletic Avenues: Flag Football
56:09 Pursuing Passion Over Prestige

You can follow us on Instagram
@anygivenrundaypodcast
If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your race nutrition wrong.
Health Matters replaces guesswork with data. With over 15 years of experience, they're one of Europe's most experienced performance testing providers.
Find out more or book your test at myhealthmatters.ie.
Stay consistent with your training routine using the Ultrapure HYROX Recovery Bundle. Featuring Magnesium Oil Spray (150ml), Epsom Salts (1kg), Epsom Salts Gel (200ml) and Ice-Cold Menthol Gel cooling gel (100ml), 
Shop HERE

Seán shares his detailed experience of participating in his first Spartan race, the 21k Beast Challenge in Edinburgh, Scotland, over the weekend. Covering obstacles, training insights (and mistakes!), as well as the terrain, Sean talks to Eric about how he got on throughout the course and the lessons he learned

Is he more or less looking forward to the 5k version in Limerick in August, and what does this mean for his Dublin marathon training this year?
You can follow us on Instagram:
@anygivenrundaypodcast

If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your race nutrition wrong.
Health Matters replaces guesswork with data. With over 15 years of experience, they're one of Europe's most experienced performance testing providers.
Find out more or book your test at myhealthmatters.ie.
Stay consistent with your training routine using the Ultrapure HYROX Recovery Bundle. Featuring Magnesium Oil Spray (150ml), Epsom Salts (1kg), Epsom Salts Gel (200ml) and Ice-Cold Menthol Gel cooling gel (100ml), 
Shop HERE