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:

YourRaceOrMineIreland@gmail.com

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:

YourRaceOrMineIreland@gmail.com

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:

YourRaceOrMineIreland@gmail.com

@KMFCoachingIreland