#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 Marathon12:10 Introduction to Mountain Running and Matthew McConnell14:51 The Journey into Mountain Running17:48 Progression and Competition in Trail Running20:51 Healthy Competition and Training Partners23:55 Getting Started in Mountain Running26:58 Consistency and Coaching in Training29:48 Experiences at the European Championships32:52 The Role of Videography in Running35:59 Transitioning to Road Running38:56 Trials and Tribulations in Training44:27 Recovery and Cross-Training Strategies52:27 The Role of Cycling in Running Performance57:34 Sauna Benefits and Heat Training64:44 Experiencing High-Level Competition70:47 Balancing Training with Life and BusinessYou 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.