Padraig hosts a Taper Week special on Middle of the Pack, exploring ‘maranoia’—the nervous, restless anxiety many runners feel before a marathon. Previous Guests share personal tips, packing lists, race-day advice and how they’re managing rest, nutrition and nerves ahead of the Dublin City Marathon.

Short, practical guidance and warm encouragement for first-timers and veterans alike, with reminders to trust the training( the Hay is in the Barn), enjoy the race and celebrate getting to the start line.

On this episode of The Middle of the Pack Podcast Dave Buckley talks about his running journey from school cross-country and soccer to road races and marathons. He shares memorable races (Cork and Dublin), training highs and setbacks, pacing stories, shoe choices, fueling strategies and brutal hamstring cramps that nearly stopped him at the finish.

Dave also describes the addictive PB feeling, why he prefers 10-mile races, and his plans and hopes for future marathons. Expect candid race stories, practical tips and plenty of passion for the sport ( and a bit of a laugh).

In this episode Sinead Power, an oncology and palliative care nurse, talks about balancing compassionate work with her life as a back-of-the-pack runner. She shares how the running community, club life and parkrun kept her connected and motivated.

Sinead discusses starting with couch-to-5K, marathon training and fueling strategies, coping with grief while running, and why running is about wellbeing and belonging rather than pace or podiums.

On this episode of Middle of the Pack, Karen Twomey recounts her journey from junior success and repeated stress fractures to rediscovering running in 2023, training for marathons, and the injury that forced her to withdraw from Dublin.

Karen shares the diagnosis of a stress fracture, her recovery plan, a renewed focus on 10Ks and half marathons, and honest reflections on nutrition and supporting young athletes—ending the episode with a positive, practical plan for coming back stronger.

Join Padraig & Karen for a chat about all things Running ( Highs & Lows)

Laura Fleming, a runner and emergency nurse, recounts her experiences working in the medical tents at races and will be at the Dublin marathon 2025. She describes how hot weather, under-fuelling and dehydration can quickly make runners very ill, and why half-marathons sometimes produce more medical cases than full marathons.

This episode covers common race issues—heatstroke, low blood sugar, muscle breakdown, falls from discarded bottles—and practical precautions: hydrate, take electrolytes, fuel properly, write emergency contacts on your bib, and be mindful of shoe choice and training in warmer conditions.

Laura also shares personal running habits (morning runs, shoe rotation, recovery stretches) and the emotional side of helping runners at the finish line, offering empathy-driven advice for safer racing.

Host Padraig and guest Gareth Franklin talk candidly about his running journey — from lockdown walks and Couch to 5K, through parkruns and marathons, to the goal of breaking five hours. They cover training, pacing, fueling strategies, race day atmospheres, and the mental challenges of middle-of-the-pack running.

Gareth shares tips on hydration, gels, shoe choices, and club running, plus his upcoming races and personal targets.

Episode 6 features Karen Twomey — teacher, personal trainer, TikToker and devoted runner — sharing her return to the sport, race experiences (Blarney, Charleville) and how running shaped her life and career choices.

She discusses founding an inclusive run club with interval sessions, gear and shoe preferences, the benefits running has for mental health, and the supportive running community that keeps her motivated.

Join Padraig & Karen as they Chat all things running....

Padraig interviews Clodagh O'Neill, who ran her very first race as the Cork City Marathon. They discuss her training journey, shoe choice, fuel strategy, diagnosis of exercise-induced asthma, and the crucial support of pacers and running groups that helped her finish.

Clodagh shares practical takeaways for new and middle-of-the-pack runners—listen for honest tips about pacing, training progression, race-day fueling, and the simple advice to "take the next step."

And we will get her to run a Park run soon....