Our next guest on the Any Given Runday podcast is international ultra runner and running coach, John O'Regan (@johnoregan777 on Instagram). John has represented Ireland on the European and world stage, including in the Anglo Celtic plate, 100km Championships and World Trail Championships. He's a multiple time Irish 24 hour running champion and has also run a marathon on seven continents running in every type of climate and terrain imaginable. He is on the advisory panel with Athletics Ireland for ultrarunning, and is the host of the No Finish Line Podcast.

In this episode, John shares his insights on ultra running, recounts his experiences in extreme marathons, and offers valuable tips for improving endurance and performance. Learn about his journey, from running 24-hour championships to tackling seven marathons on seven continents, and discover how he uses his experiences to inspire and coach others. We also do a deep dive into the Anglo Celtic Plate coming up this weekend, names to look out for, history of the event, tactics and more

08:36 John's Ultra Running Goals
12:06 Training and Preparation for Ultra Marathons
14:14 Challenges and Experiences in Extreme Marathons
35:14 Altitude Training and Preparation
39:54 Choosing the Right Race and Crew
41:37 Journey into Coaching
51:50 The Evolution of Ultra Running in Ireland
55:52 Challenges and Strategies in Ultra Running
58:14 Team Dynamics and Preparation for the Anglo Celtic Plate

Be sure to check in on the Irish Team to see how they are getting on this weekend by following @ultrarunningireland on Instagram

In the intro to this week's podcast episode, we also talked about Ger Copeland's documentary, which you can watch in full by clicking the link below:

https://youtu.be/5MIvsK2FbBc?si=UOLEpYPmju9yFynO

You can follow us on Instagram:
@anygivenrundaypodcast

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

You can now get 25% off all Perform Nutrition products using the code 'AGR' at checkout

PerformNutrition.com

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Jason Williamson (@jasonwilliamsonultra on Instagram). Jason is a pilot turned endurance runner and aviation entrepreneur who has podiumed in numerous races, including the Kerry Way Ultra and the Double Mountain Trail Running Festival. He has the fastest known time for running the length of Ireland and is gearing up for his biggest challenge yet: 4,000 kilometres across Australia starting this August.

In this episode, Jason shares his transformation from a 5K runner to tackling ultra-marathons, the motivation behind his demanding races, and his upcoming adventure Down Under. Tune in to hear about Jason's journey, training, the mental and physical demands of ultra-endurance events, and the charities he's supporting through his endeavours.

00:00 Introduction to Jason Williamson

01:10 Jason's Early Life and Introduction to Running

02:26 Transition to Long-Distance Running

03:56 The Turning Point: Embracing Ultra Running

05:54 First Ultra Marathon Experience

06:49 Balancing Life Between Australia and Ireland

13:12 Training and Coaching Insights

18:56 The Length of Ireland Challenge

35:22 Choosing Between Different Challenges

37:14 The Importance of Crew and Support

48:28 Balancing Family and Extreme Running

51:04 Raising Awareness for Mental Health

55:44 Preparing for the Ultimate Challenge

You can follow us on Instagram:
@anygivenrundaypodcast

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

You can now get 25% off all Perform Nutrition products using the code 'AGR' at checkout

PerformNutrition.com

This week on Any Given Runday podcast we have Ironman World Champion, Becky Woods (@beckswoods on Instagram) . Becky has gone from representing Ireland on a European stage and cross country to dominating the world stage in Ironman 70.3 with multiple AG wins, including the European Championships in Estonia 2023 and the World Championships in New Zealand in 2024.

Becky discusses her journey from swimming, gymnastics, and basketball to her current dominance in Ironman 70.3 events. She shares anecdotes about her transition to triathlons, overcoming injuries, and training during the pandemic. Becky also reveals the mental and physical challenges of preparing for and competing in world championship events, including her recent triumph at the World Championships in New Zealand. Join us for an inspiring conversation with this world champion as she reflects on her past achievements and contemplates her future goals.

06:34 Introduction to Becky Woods

07:26 Early Sports Journey

10:39 Competitive Basketball Years

14:22 Switch to Running

29:40 Injury and Introduction to Triathlon

34:04 First Triathlon Experiences

35:47 COVID-19 Training and Long-Distance Triathlon Training

53:21 Racing at the World Championships in Finland

57:23 Improving Transitions for Better Performance

58:34 Challenges and Lessons from Domestic Races

62:01 The Toughest Race: The Lost Sheep

68:43 Mental Strategies and Race Psychology

72:07 Training and Preparation for the World Championships

76:44 Race Day in New Zealand: Overcoming Doubts

86:22 The Final Push: Winning the World Championship

93:20 Future Goals and Aspirations

98:31 Closing Thoughts and Farewell

You can follow us on Instagram:
@anygivenrundaypodcast

And check out our NEW website:
https://www.anygivenrunday.com/

You can listen to this week’s episode of the Any Given Runday Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts from

This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior.

You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:

Ultrapurelabs.ie

You can now get 25% off all Perform Nutrition products using the code 'AGR' at checkout

PerformNutrition.com