#336 Matthew McConnell 2x Irish Mountain Running Champion

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Matthew McConnell ( @mrmattmcc on Instagram). Matthew is 2 time and current Irish mountain running champion, with countless podium finishes in trail and IMRA races around the country over the years, as well as representing Ireland on the World stage and recently represented Ireland in European 50k Trail Championship. He discusses training strategies, overcoming injuries, the role of community, and insights into performance optimisation for trail and road racing as well as his goals for the 2026 Dublin Marathon 12:10 Introduction to Mountain Running and Matthew McConnell 14:51 The Journey into Mountain Running 17:48 Progression and Competition in Trail Running 20:51 Healthy Competition and Training Partners 23:55 Getting Started in Mountain Running 26:58 Consistency and Coaching in Training 29:48 Experiences at the European Championships 32:52 The Role of Videography in Running 35:59 Transitioning to Road Running 38:56 Trials and Tribulations in Training 44:27 Recovery and Cross-Training Strategies 52:27 The Role of Cycling in Running Performance 57:34 Sauna Benefits and Heat Training 64:44 Experiencing High-Level Competition 70:47 Balancing Training with Life and Business You can follow us on Instagram @anygivenrundaypodcast Ultrapure Sports Recovery Kit is the perfect answer for post marathon training recovery. Check out Ultrapure.ie or shop here Get the AGR Ultrapure Sprint Bundle HERE with the exclusive AGR Bobble Hat!! If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your race nutrition wrong. Health Matters replaces guesswork with data. With over 15 years of experience, they're one of Europe's most experienced performance testing providers. Find out more or book your test at myhealthmatters.ie . ALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles). altarfuel.com