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The Back Straight Podcast

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes112Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RunningSports

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Latest Episodes

Plenty on for episode 79 of the Back Straight! We begin with some great results from the Laganside 10k, Derry HM, Dromiskin 5k before moving to a preview of the Belfast Half marathon this weekend! Alongside these great discussions we get chatting abo... more

It's a really long format episode this week so bear with us! We had lots to go through including all of the main talking points from the local road racing action at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon as well as the Colerain Campus 5k + more! In part 2 we... more

The title says it all! In this week's episode Michael is joined by Conor Curran, friend and frequent contributor to the podcast, for a catch-up on all the action from the European Championships! The fellas go deep on all of the major highlights with ... more

The Back Straight hosts might be trotting across the globe a bit currently but that is not going to stop the show from going on! In this episode we recap Dan's 2nd place at the Fjällmaraton 100k, some local results from the Carlingford 5k and Feile 1... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Recent Guests

Jasper McDowell
Geneva-based runner with Northern Irish roots and Swiss connection; Rathmullen 5K winner
Swiss-based athlete (Geneva)
Episode: Ep. 74 - Jasper McDowell Interview - Cork City & Morton Games Results - Diamond League chats
Zak Hanna
Newcastle and District AC runner, World Trail Championship representative, NB Elite team athlete
New Balance
Episode: Zak Hanna on the Back Straight
James Gormley
Commonwealth Games-bound middle-distance athlete
Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team / Ireland athletics
Episode: Ep. 73 - James Gormley Interview - Local Results and Track Action
Emmett Dunleavy
Performance Endurance Coach for Athletics Ireland
Athletics Ireland
Episode: Emmett Dunleavy on the Back Straight
Conor McCann
Guest, track and field athlete who attended Stockholm and Oslo Diamond Leagues
Northern Ireland athletics
Episode: Ep. 72 - Diamond League Reviews (ft. special guest) - NI & Ulster Senior Track Champs - Road Races - How to run 85 miles in a day
Emily Haggard-Kearney
Northern Ireland and Irish national team representative; Irish 10K National Champion 2026; member of North Belfast Harriers
Ireland Athletics / North Belfast Harriers
Episode: Bonus Interview - Emily Haggard-Kearney
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
Mark Kirk
Local running coach and guest for the Belfast BMC preview
Episode: Ep. 70 - Belfast BMC ft. Mark Kirk - Partnership announcement! - Local and International Results
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

Hosts

Daniel Squires
Host of The Back Straight Podcast, guiding discussion and interviews
Michael McKnight
Co-host who guides conversations and provides national and local athletics context

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#122
United Kingdom/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#175
Australia/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#102
Singapore/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#124
Denmark/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#143
Ireland/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#147
Mexico/Sports/Running

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 73 - James Gormley Interview - Local Results and Track Action
Q: What is James Gormley's background and how did he come to run for Ireland?
James explained that he was born in Sheffield, has Irish roots through his father, and initially ran for GB as a youth. After experiences in Birmingham and Oregon, and considering several international opportunities, he chose to represent Ireland at the senior level to align with his roots and aspirations, seeing a clearer path to competing for Northern Ireland/Ireland at major events.
Ep. 74 - Jasper McDowell Interview - Cork City & Morton Games Results - Diamond League chats
Q: What are your goals for the next couple of years, especially with the Frankfurt Marathon on the horizon?
I'm aiming to run a strong Frankfurt, ideally with a fast time as a major PB target, while staying mindful of staying healthy. I'll be balancing high mileage with a more structured plan closer to competition, possibly targeting a Belfast or Antrim Coast Half as tune-up events if timing aligns.
Ep. 74 - Jasper McDowell Interview - Cork City & Morton Games Results - Diamond League chats
Q: There's a discussion about social media and branding; how do you view the balance between sponsorships, content creation, and training?
Brands often contact me due to reach and visibility, which helped me secure sponsorship from Seyskye and others. While I appreciate the exposure, I think teams should hire videographers/editors to handle the content so athletes can focus on training and racing. Social media has become essential in modern sponsorships, giving fans a window into the training and preparation beyond race day.
Ep. 74 - Jasper McDowell Interview - Cork City & Morton Games Results - Diamond League chats
Q: You mentioned Northern Irish roots and that you've built a Swiss-Geneva base; how did you get into running, and what was your path to marathon running?
I grew up in England and moved to Geneva when I was 16. I started running seriously after my dad trained for a local race; I began with short distances, moved up to 10K, then half marathons, and finally marathons. My journey included a peak of high mileage, a shift toward structured coaching with a Canada-based coach for Valencia, and later refining the focus around peaking for European Championships and Berlin/London-type events.
Ep. 74 - Jasper McDowell Interview - Cork City & Morton Games Results - Diamond League chats
Q: So, you were up in Rathmullen and essentially travelled by boat to the start line; can you talk us through that plan and how it fit into your calendar?
I hadn't expected Rathmullen to have a race, but once the family invited me up for the long weekend, we found a quick transport plan involving a family boat to cross the lock, which saved so much time and let me arrive with enough minutes to sign up and warm up before the starter. It was a fun, spontaneous setup that ended in a comfortable win and a great memory.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Back Straight Podcast

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

A running-focused show based in Belfast, it spotlights endurance athletes, coaches, and race culture across Ireland and beyond. Episodes frequently feature in-depth interviews with Irish and Northern Irish distance runners, trail and mountain specialists, and coaching experts, paired with race recaps, event previews, and practical insights on training, fueling, and logistics. Across recent episodes, listeners get candid discussions about European and Commonwealth championships, Diamond League appearances, and the realities of balancing elite performance with everyday life, sponsorships, and travel. A standout throughline is a strong emphasis on local NI track and road racing ecosystems, athlete development pipelines, and behind-the-scenes c... more

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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. Marathon Talk
4. Runner's World Podcast
5. Sweat Elite Podcast

How many episodes of The Back Straight Podcast are there?

The Back Straight Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 112 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Back Straight Podcast?

Recent guests on The Back Straight Podcast include:

1. Jasper McDowell
2. Zak Hanna
3. James Gormley
4. Emmett Dunleavy
5. Conor McCann
6. Emily Haggard-Kearney
7. Luke Kelly
8. Mark Kirk

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