Powered by WHOOP the Sonia O’Sullivan Cobh 10 squad for 2025 assembled in the GOAT’s hometown this weekend. The time for training and talking is over now. On April 6th at 10:30am, it was time for this squad of hardy souls from the four corners of the world to take on the hills of Cobh over the 10 mile distance. Join Sonia and Jarlath as they hand each member their New Balance specially designed singlet for the day. Hear the sounds, see the sights, come with us as the streets come alive with support from people of all ages. This epic episode of Irishman running Abroad captures every drop of sweat every bit of adrenaline that poured out onto the streets of Cork this past weekend. Jarlath ran the race himself and managed to capture the squad as they crossed the line. In this the final instalment of the road to Cobh series powered by WHOOP, Jarlath takes you to Sonia’s local pub for a live podcast recording and awards night like no other. Special thanks to everyone who supported the podcast, who volunteered on race day and all those who have been in touch wishing the squad well. This series would not be possible without the generous support of WHOOP and New Balance. To gain access to the Sonia O’Sullivan 10 mile, half marathon and full marathon training plans and to listen back to the entire archive of Irishman Abroad episodes come on over to patreon.com/IrishmanAbroad .

With just a week to go until Sonia O’Sullivan’s homecoming race—the Cobh 10 Mile, in association with Ballymore Cobh Athletic Club and in aid of Breakthrough Cancer Research—the Irishman Running Abroad podcast presents Week Nine of the training plan. In this episode, Sonia, the GOAT of Irish running, shares everything you need to know for race day.

Running is simple. Finding the right gear is not. Let the legend Sonia O’Sullivan help you with the essentials you’ll need to take your running up a level. From the home gym to the sock game, this episode has it all and a free training plan from the GOAT herself. It’s less than 3 weeks to Sonia’s 10 Mile Road Race in Cobh and the training is ramping up. We get the week 7 plan fully explained and hear from her handpicked squad on the subjects of injury, compression leggings, superstition, shoe rotation, gels and storage.

As the newly crowned European Indoor Champion Sarah Healy admitted this week, running is mostly a mental challenge. That’s as true for the elites battling each other at the highest level, as it is for us mortals battling to just get out the door and stick to the plan. In #week6 of the Road To Cobh Sonia O’Sullivan helps us with those nagging thoughts that prevent us from doing our best or running at all. We hear from her hand picked squad and look back on Healy’s incredible win over the weekend. Is there a way to trick our minds into running when we don’t feel like it? What should our mantra be when the going gets tough? Sonia has the answers.

Everyone remembers the notorious O’Sullivan kick. That change of speed, ace up the sleeve that Sonia’s rivals couldn’t cope with. Well today on the show, for the very first time, the GOAT talks about how we can all build that kind of endurance, speed and mental toughness. We get right into the psychology of the kick and how we can actually train our brains to believe there is a reserve battery waiting to kick in on the last lap of whatever race we find ourselves in. Only Sonia has the answers and only her hand picked squad have the questions we all need answered. In this extra large patreon exclusive episode you get the lot including her explanation of that throw away chocolate comment from last week. If you want to go fast, this is the episode for you.

Powered by the WHOOP 4.0  wearable fitness coach, Ireland’s athletics queen Sonia O’Sullivan opens up her private notebooks from years of training to discuss how best to fuel our bodies for running. From water intake to balancing pre run carbs, this episode has everything you always wanted to ask but never could. Comedian Jarlath Regan has gathered questions from Sonia’s training squad. Today she answers them. Week 4 of her comprehensive 10 mile training plan starts this Monday and it’s not too late to join in.

Training to take on and enjoy hills sounds impossible when you say it. Sonia O’Sullivan is here to tell you it is doable with some very simple principles. In this fun conversation with comedian Jarlath Regan she breaks down everything you need to know to become a stronger hill runner.

Running faster for longer requires one thing - aerobic base fitness. Irish athletics legend opens up about how to build it no matter what your running level. Her simple and straight forward, no nonsense advice is the guiding light for her hand picked training squad of listeners taking on the hills of Cobh on April 6th, 2025 in the Ballymore Cobh AC Sonia O’Sullivan 10 Mile Road Race. It’s not too late to join her wider training group. Each week her training plan will be posted with each episode and a deeper explanation can be found along with extra content on www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad

The hardest part of any training plan is week one. Sonia O’Sullivan is going to help you take that first step on the days when you don’t feel like it. The Cobh 10 takes place on April 6th 2025 and the GOAT herself is here to guide you week to week through a training plan she has devised. It’s easy to follow and it’s going to be a lot of fun - no matter what your current running capacity. Give it a go and come on the ride with us for Sonia’s homecoming race with her original athletic club Ballymore Cobh AC. Over the last few months Sonia has been pulling her hair out trying to decide which listeners should join her squad for this training block. From hundreds of entries she has made her selection and today we get to hear from them for the first time. Thanks to our sponsor Whoop Sonia will be able to keep an eye on everyone’s progress. Whoop have come on board for this limited series and provided each member of the group with a Whoop to help them track their training efforts, stress, recovery, sleep and overall fitness. The data will be invaluable in helping them stay fresh, avoid over training and injury in the next 10 weeks. If you would like to try Whoop for free on us simply go to join.whoop.com/IrishmanAbroad

Entries are open for the 2025 Ballymore Cobh AC Sonia O’Sullivan 10 Mile Road Race. In case you missed our last episode, this race will be the focus of the podcast from February 1st to April 6th. Sonia talks to me to today about the tricky process of sifting through all your entries for her squad. Since announcing the plan to pick 20 listeners to be coached by the GOAT herself for her home-coming dance race we have been inundated with your emails. It’s fantastic to see but it is taking some time to find the exact right fit for the team. Rest assured you will know if you’ve made the squad by Christmas.

Would you like to be coached by Sonia O’Sullivan? As Jarlath Regan can tell you, it is life changing. Today on the podcast Sonia and Jar sit down to reflect on the crazy 4 year journey of this podcast and the new direction it is taking with it in 2025. The podcast is focusing the series on various hand picked races throughout the year and inviting you to join a squad coached by the GOAT herself. The first of which will be Sonia’s very own race: The Cobh 10 Miler in April 2025. Now is your chance to be considered for the squad. Submit your story and entry to irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com today. Squad members will receive a tailor-made weekly program from Sonia, free entry to the race, of course the stunning Irishman Running Abroad singlet and of course, the chance to meet and run with Sonia in her home town. Listen to the episode to hear all about the big new plan for the coming year. Both Sonia and Jarlath are really excited to take the show in this direction and you can enjoy a heap of extra content including the Sonia’s previous training plans for 5km, half and full marathons by joining up on www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad Jarlath heading for Boston on Friday. Follow him on Strava or drop us a line if you’d like to join him at the Boston Parkrun there on Saturday morning.

Not too long ago Sonia was crossing the finish line to win her first ever marathon in Dublin. Now with only a couple of weeks to go to the 2024 edition of the race, the GOAT looks back and tries to bust some myths surrounding the fabled race. Having died on heartbreak hill last year Jarlath pitches in a few of his own observations and tips. When there’s too much information and even more hot takes, it can be hard to gain clarity on what absolutely needs to be done before race day. Thankfully Sonia is here to help. Click here to access Sonia’s training plans and XL episode of the podcast www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad or email us on irishmanrabroadpodcast@gmail.com

Has your progressed stalled? Are your race times flattening out? A training plateau is common and very normal even for elite athletes. Fresh off the plane from her latest trip abroad for the Sisterly retreat in Portugal, Sonia O’Sullivan advises comedian Jarlath Regan on the best way to mix things up. Changing our approach to keep our training challenging and fun is the key. Sonia has the knowledge you need to get to that PB and keep the craic in your running. An extended version of this episode is available on www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad - this week Jarlath gets Sonia’s best running book recommendations and together they bust a few masters training myths.

Sonia O’Sullivan provides her Ten Commandments for achieving your best long run with the help of comedian Jarlath Regan. The greatest Irish track athlete of all time explains the importance of a longer run and how to get the most out of it. First we hear about her travels with her athletes at the top track meets around Europe. Why not become a member this week and gain access to exclusive content and bonus episode. www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad or come see Jarlath live www.jigser.com/gigs

Motivation is not a constant. How do we grow it, regain it and survive its loss. Sonia O’Sullivan talks to comedian Jarlath Regan about the one thing your smart watch can’t measure. There’s no magical science to staying up but we can lean into certain habits when the going gets tough and the bed feels comfy.

Sonia O’Sullivan sits down with Jarlath Regan to discuss the highest highs and the lowest lows of the Paris Olympics. She was trackside to watch her daughter Sophie take part in her first games and working for RTE covering the rest of the events. Ireland broke new ground and the team captured the nation’s heart but what were her standout moments without the green tinted glasses? Jarlath heads to Galway to take part in the 38th Streets Of Galway 8km road race and we get athletics journalist Cathal Dennehy on the line to take an even closer look at this stellar 18 days of sport.

Jarlath Regan is joined by athletics writer and commentator Cathal Dennehy to get a preview of the track and field events at the Paris Olympics. He gives his predictions, medal hopes, dark horses and much much more. Sonia O’Sullivan is deep in the preparations with her daughter Sophie so Jarlath is flying solo this week. It gives him the chance to visit Darndale’s 200th Parkrun. He meets some of our listeners and tests his legs after weeks of injury setbacks.

What should every runner have in their grocery cart every week without fail? If temptation is an issue for you, having Sonia’s shopping list to keep you on the straight and narrow, it might be the difference between a diet PB and a DNF. This week she opens her cupboards and lets us see what’s inside. What foods will always work for a runner trying to fuel while on holidays or on business. Sonia has been getting this side of training right for years. Let her share her tips, tricks and dietary life hacks with you in the one of a kind episode.

Jarlath Rega and Sonia O’Sullivan look back on the biggest weekend at Morten Stadium, the rise and rise of Rashidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Mark English’s dominance, the crowds, the craic and Sophie O’Sullivan’s journey to a national championship. We also get Sonia’s top tips on how to avoid a summer holiday slump in your training, the best sessions to increase your motivation to run and her memories from Barcelona 1992.

Running your fastest 5km isn’t all about running more. As Sonia explains in today’s episode, it has just as much to do with what you do when you’re not running. Without proper recovery methods nobody gets faster. Jarlath quizzes the GOAT on what works best, drops into a Vinny Mulvey 5km Camp to get his opinion and asks Cathal Dennehy what a recovery run looked like when he visited Kipchoge’s home in Kenya. We also look back at the European championships in Rome and ahead to the Paris Olympics.