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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
Diamond League
Armagh International Road Races
Nutrition
Queen's Parkrun
Inter Counties Cross Country
Marathon Training
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes107Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsRunning

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Artwork for The Back Straight Podcast

Latest Episodes

Big old episode this week with a tonne of results from Cork City Sports, Morton Games, Watford BMC, Prefontaine Classic and the Monaco Diamond League! We round out part 1 with some speculations of what might happen in the London Diamond League. In pa... more

This week's interview features one of Ireland's leading mountain runners, Zak Hanna. Zak hails from the edge of Slieve Croob, is a Newcastle AC athlete, and sponsored runner for New Balance and Precision Fuel and Hydration. Zak talks us through how h... more

Another great interview on the Back Straight! This week we have James Gormley from Carmen Runners to chat about his career in running which has led to his selection for the mile at the Commonwealth Games. James breaks down his journey through the spo... more

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

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

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
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
Dearbhla Cox
Club runner, Anadale Striders (Anadale Ladies' team member)
Anadale Striders
Episode: Road to Belfast - Episode 8 - Marathon regulations and pacing strategies

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
#66
United Kingdom/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#188
Australia/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#3
Ireland/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#50
Singapore/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#154
Ireland/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#188
Denmark/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#209
Sweden/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#232
South Africa/Sports/Running

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Emmett Dunleavy on the Back Straight
Q: What does the pathway look like for Ireland at LA 2028?
The aim is to place athletes in finals and win medals, with a broader goal of having multiple athletes compete at the highest level and a culture shift toward performance parity with European peers.
Emmett Dunleavy on the Back Straight
Q: What role does altitude training play and how should athletes approach acclimatization?
Altitude work is valuable but requires careful acclimatization in the first week to ten days; athletes should be monitored with physiology testing and not push too hard early on to avoid fatigue.
Emmett Dunleavy on the Back Straight
Q: How important is lactate threshold testing in training?
Lactate testing is a cornerstone; it informs session intensity, helps tailor threshold work, and allows ongoing adjustments to training blocks based on real-time data and perceived effort.
Emmett Dunleavy on the Back Straight
Q: What are the core coaching principles when working with athletes across club and elite levels?
Key ideas include coachability and alignment of goals between coach and athlete, building a long-term plan, baselining physiology, monitoring with lactate testing, and ensuring consistent, incremental progress.
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.

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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Which podcasts are similar to The Back Straight Podcast?

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

1. Sweat Elite Podcast
2. Paula's Run Club
3. Runners Diary
4. Marathon Talk
5. The Runna Podcast

How many episodes of The Back Straight Podcast are there?

The Back Straight Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 107 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. Emmett Dunleavy
2. Conor McCann
3. Emily Haggard-Kearney
4. Luke Kelly
5. Mark Kirk
6. Judith Storm
7. Lindsey Hunt
8. Aaron Beggs

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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