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The Back Straight Podcast

The Back Straight Podcast
Belfast Marathon
Nick Griggs
European Cross Country Championships
Belfast
Irish Athletics
Precision Fuel & Hydration
Northern Ireland Athletics
Running
Belfast Irish Milers Meet
Carbohydrate Loading
Hydration Strategies
National Cross Country Championships
Training
Armagh International Road Races
Nutrition
Queen's Parkrun
Inter Counties Cross Country
Marathon Training
Callum Morgan
Dublin Marathon

A fortnightly podcast based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Join Daniel Squires and Michael McKnight along the 'Back Straight' as they discuss the running scene in the Isle of Ireland and shine a light on great stories domestically as well as abroad. We'll throw our running hats into the ring and talk gear, training and racing often in the company of studio guests. Contact us at our email address th... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes104Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RunningSports

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Artwork for The Back Straight Podcast

Latest Episodes

We are stoked to be joined by Emmett Dunleavy for an interview on the Back Straight this week. For those that aren't familiar with Emmett, he is one of Ireland's leading coaches and has a roster of athletes competing the very pinnacle of the sport. E... more

Episode 72 is absolutely bursting at the seams with race results from three diamond leagues (including a special guest that attended two of them), local road races, the NI and Ulster Senior Track and Field Championships as well as the European Off-ro... more

Hey Back Straight Family! This week we are treating you all to a great interview we recorded with North Belfast Harrier's Emily Haggard-Kearney! Emily is a 4 time Irish Senior Team representative as well as the current 10km National Champion and winn... more

It is a long auld episode this week but with the amount of results and news flying about this past couple weeks we had to cover it all! Add onto that a brilliant interview with Luke Kelly and you've got yourself a tidy episode 71! In this one we get ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Luke Kelly
Up-and-coming athlete from the Mark Kirk/Candor Training Group
Candor Training Group
Episode: Ep. 71 - Luke Kelly interview - Track Results - Dan's race recap
Judith Storm
Northern Ireland and Ulster Marathon Champion, City of Derry Spartans runner
City of Derry Spartans
Episode: Ep. 69 - Judith Storm Interview - Belfast Classic Recap - Belfast Marathon Recap
Lindsey Hunt
Senior Sports Scientist at Precision Fuel and Hydration
Precision Fuel and Hydration
Episode: Road to Belfast - Episode 9 - Race week and everything fuelling feat. Dr. Lindsey Hunt
Aaron Beggs
Notable Northern Ireland marathon runner highlighted for a media-savvy finish-line moment at the Boston Marathon
North Down AC / Northern Ireland running scene
Episode: Ep. 68 - Belfast Marathon Preview - London Recap - Superhero Aaron Beggs - The Belfast Classic ft. Eamonn Christie
Patrick McCauley
Club runner, Marathon training focus
Roadrunners (implied)
Episode: Road to Belfast - Episode 8 - Marathon regulations and pacing strategies
Connor McCann
Roving reporter and Nord Belfast Harriers source in Lille
North Belfast Harriers
Episode: Ep. 67 - A variety of athletics chats ft. Conor Curran and Connor McCann
Paddy McColl
Second guest, Marathon runner discussed London 2025 London Marathon performance
Episode: Road to Belfast - Episode 6 - Training weeks and loads of craic!
Stephen McAuley
215 marathoner and 66-minute half marathoner, representing Letterkenny AC
Letterkenny AC
Episode: Ep. 66 - Stephen Mc Auley - World Indoors - Omagh Half - Maurie Plant Meet
Tolley Moore
2024 Run Forest Run winner
Run Forest Run winner
Episode: Road to Belfast - Episode 4 - Recovery and max mileage!

Hosts

Daniel Squires
Host of The Back Straight Podcast; frequent in Belfast running scene discussions; long-running figure in NI athletics coverage.
Michael McKnight
Co-host; provides coaching, training insights, and chemistry with the host; frequent guest in episode discussions across NI running topics.
Dearbhla Cox
Co-host and guest interviewer; appears as club runner and elite-level guest sharing training and race experiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#161
United Kingdom/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#4
Ireland/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#61
Sweden/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#63
Singapore/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#111
Denmark/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#151
Ireland/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#211
South Africa/Sports/Running

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 71 - Luke Kelly interview - Track Results - Dan's race recap
Q: Can you describe your plan for the early track season and how it played out?
Luke explains that dropping into shorter events from a base built in training allowed him to chase fast times and build confidence, with a focus on peak performance later in the season.
Ep. 70 - Belfast BMC ft. Mark Kirk - Partnership announcement! - Local and International Results
Q: What can we expect from this year's Belfast BMC meeting in terms of the field and pacing?
Mark Kirk outlines a strong, albeit slightly smaller field than last year due to clashes with other meets, and emphasizes the depth in events like the mile and 800m, with a focus on sub-four-minute potential and pacing plans.
Ep. 69 - Judith Storm Interview - Belfast Classic Recap - Belfast Marathon Recap
Q: Did you go in with a specific plan for Belfast, and did the race unfold as you anticipated?
Judith aimed for consistent splits around six-minute miles, started fast downhill sections, and ultimately adjusted as the race evolved, finding momentum and capitalizing on opportunities to catch competitors with careful pacing and local knowledge of the course.
Road to Belfast - Episode 10 - The FINALE!
Q: How did your race plan unfold on the day?
Both guests describe starting fast, settling into a supportive group, and managing effort through mid-race miles, with Dearbhla aiming to enjoy and Paddy focusing on racing against local competitors, leading to a robust second half.
Road to Belfast - Episode 7 - The psychology of marathon training ft. Michael McKnight
Q: What strategies do the guests use to manage nerves and maintain motivation on race day?
They use breathing, flexible pacing plans, breaking the race into chunks, self-talk, and drawing motivation from loved ones and crowds while avoiding over-attachment to a fixed pace when conditions change.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Back Straight Podcast

What is The Back Straight Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on the running scene in Ireland, with a steady rhythm of race recaps, training blocks, gear talk, and race-day strategy. Episodes frequently feature in-depth interviews with standout athletes, coaches, and organizers, alongside practical discussions on fueling, pacing, recovery, and race logistics. A recurring strength is the way hosts connect local Belfast and NI racing with broader international action, weaving personal stories of progression, grit, and teamwork into actionable takeaways for serious hobbyists and competitive runners alike. Notable strengths include high guest diversity (elite athletes, coaches, scientists, and event organizers) and a consistent emphasis on training psychology, club culture, and the busin... more

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How many listeners does The Back Straight Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Back Straight Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Back Straight Podcast:

1. Paula's Run Club
2. Runners Diary
3. Runner's World Podcast
4. The Running Channel Podcast
5. UNTAPPED with Spencer Matthews

How many episodes of The Back Straight Podcast are there?

The Back Straight Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 104 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Back Straight Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Back Straight Podcast?

Recent guests on The Back Straight Podcast include:

1. Luke Kelly
2. Judith Storm
3. Lindsey Hunt
4. Aaron Beggs
5. Patrick McCauley
6. Connor McCann
7. Paddy McColl
8. Stephen McAuley

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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