#311 Zak Hanna: Elite Uphill Mountain Runner

In this episode of the Any Given Run Day podcast, mountain and trail runner Zak Hanna (@zakhanna on Instagram) shares his journey from cycling to becoming a competitive mountain runner at the highest level. He discusses his experiences in various international competitions, the challenges of downhill running, and the importance of mindset and training in harsh conditions. Zak reflects on his achievements, including his fifth-place finish in the World Mountain Running Championships, and emphasises the significance of enjoying the journey as an athlete. He also shares insights on training strategies, injury prevention, and his future goals.07:00 Introduction to Zak Hanna & The Journey to Trail Running11:34 Transition from Cycling to Running16:07 First Experiences in Competitive Running19:03 The Challenge of Downhill Running25:07 Mindset in Extreme Sports26:11 Training Consistency in Winter28:11 Running with a Canine Companion31:59 The Joy of Running with Dogs32:34 Training Locations: From Kenya to Italy35:16 Becoming 5th in the World in Thailand41:59 Celebrating Achievements and Future Goals46:19 Training Strategies and Injury Prevention51:20 Upcoming Races and moreYou can follow us on Instagram:@anygivenrundaypodcastALTAR 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 The Sports Recovery Kit is everything you need after training, matches, gym sessions and long active days. The full routine, ready to goShop HEREGet the AGR Ultrapure Sprint Bundle HERE 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.