Middle of the Pack Podcast

Episode 46 of The Middle of the Pack features Mary Sweeney reflecting on a lifetime of running — from childhood sprints to dozens of marathons, parkrun camaraderie, and running through illness and loss. Mary shares personal stories about training, fueling, shoes, and the deep sense of community that keeps her coming back to the road.This short, honest chat highlights running as both sport and therapy, celebrating resilience, kindness, and the simple joys of post-run coffee, cakes and shared memories.

Episode 45 of the Middle of the Pack podcast features Laura Garrigan sharing her running journey — from starting at parkrun in 2023 to completing 10Ks, a sub-4hr Dublin Marathon, the Trasna relay and a 24-hour fundraiser where she runs 5K every hour for the Samaritans.
Laura discusses training, fueling, shoe rotation and community support, and listeners can follow her progress and donate via her Instagram @laws_fitness.
Email motpire@gmail.com

This episode captures the emotion and community of Cork City Marathon weekend — from the yellow tributes to Ellen Cassidy, to pacers, volunteers and runners sharing finish-line stories across the 10K, half and full. It’s a celebration of why people run: connection, support and the moments that matter more than times.
#WWECD
Email MOTPIRE@gmail.com

Episode 43 of the Middle of the Pack podcast explores the panic, superstition and strange rituals that hit runners during taper week before a race.
Padraig offers practical reassurance—trust your training, avoid over-checking injuries, stick to simple carb and hydration habits—and celebrates the courage of everyday runners. A light-hearted guide to staying calm and enjoying race day.
Email MOTPIRE@gmail.com

Episode 42 features Sean Lucey, Eagle AC's men's captain, who explains why consistent mileage and easy runs matter more than flashy track sessions. He talks through his injury recovery, marathon and half‑marathon breakthroughs, fueling and shoe choices, and how patience and strength work rebuilt his performance.
Sean also shares practical club advice for newcomers — the value of asking questions, making friends, and trusting gradual training to improve times.
Email MOTPIRE@gmail.com with any questions....

Episode 41 follows Linda McKeown’s running journey from her first parkrun to completing the Cork half marathon, guided by her coach Kieran. We discuss training structure, mileage, fueling strategies, race-day pacing, and the importance of community support.
The episode also highlights the IGBF charity fun runs in Dublin (June 6) and Cork/Mallow (June 20), with details on goody bags, medals, and two free entries for each race, to enter email with your name and mobile number motpire@gmail.com. Closing date : 3/6/26

Episode 40 features Victor Danylyuk sharing his journey from swimming to running and his build-up to the Cork City Marathon. He discusses training changes, working with a coach, and how running improved his fitness after sports-induced asthma.
The episode’s key lesson: don’t change fuel on race day. Victor explains his gel experiment (High5 vs SIS), the importance of testing fueling in training, and how to manage heavy sweating with electrolytes and hydration—practical advice for middle-of-the-pack runners.
https://www.precisionhydration.com/eu/en/ for a consultation....

Episode 39 of The Middle of the Pack podcast is a London Marathon special featuring the historic sub‑2‑hour finish, The sub 2 hour landmark performances, and Irish standout Peter Lynch’s national record. We also hear an update from Laura 'Muddy Soles' on running in wellies, the FTD brothers’ fundraising mission, and spend most of the episode with Gerry Lynch from Cork discussing his race prep, experience, and fundraising for CUH.
This episode blends elite performances, personal stories, and practical race insights for Middle of the Pack runners.
 
Lauras Link for Unique
https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/laura-stenton-slater
Jerry Lynch's Link for CUH is in his Bio on Insta 
 

Episode 38 features Owen Wright sharing his running journey—from early runs and joining Watergrass Hill to stepping back into training after family life.
He discusses coaching, a hamstring setback and physio, marathon fueling and shoe choices, and his plans for the Cork Marathon.
Owen and his wife Fay are fundraising for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, explaining why the charity matters and how listeners can support them.
https://gofund.me/5a039e67b

Episode 37 features Dennis Cronin describing how joining Watergrasshill AC after a Couch-to-5K changed his life. He talks about the social side of running, the supportive running community, and how group runs improved his mental health and friendships.
Dennis shares training habits, race experiences including his Malaga marathon, lessons learned about fueling, and why he loves distances like the 10K. The episode celebrates everyday runners and the communal joy of running. Email motpire@gmail.com with any questions or suggestions, or if you would like to come on and share your story.