He ended up in intensive care after an Ironman. But that didn’t stop him.
This week, Gary and Ben sit down with Paul Tierney – former Irish county hurler turned elite ultra-runner, coach, and record-breaker. From the sidelines of team sport to the solitude of the mountains, Paul has carved a life around endurance, coaching, and community – but not without setbacks.
Paul shares how a stint in Australia kickstarted his love for endurance sport, how a brush with death changed his perspective forever, and why a documentary about the Lake District made him pack up his life and move. Now a respected running coach with clients around the world, Paul opens up about the myths of perfect form, the dangers of one-size-fits-all coaching, and why failure has been his best teacher.
We talk coaching, movement quality, social media misinformation, injury recovery, and how to build a strong mind andbody through running – without obsessing over it.
🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
🏑 From county hurling to Ironman
🏥 Surviving hyponatremia and landing in ICU
🏔️ Discovering the Lake District and the Lakeland 100
🧭 Getting lost with no map skills and a second-hand compass
🧠 Why coaching is more about communication than correction
📱 The problem with Instagram advice
🦵 Strength work, ankle stiffness and plyometrics
🩹 Injury, rehab and athlete buy-in
😂 Humour, humility and lifelong learning
If you’ve ever questioned your training, felt overwhelmed by online advice, or struggled to come back from injury – Paul’s honest, practical approach will give you a fresh perspective. This episode is about mindset, movement, and the messy reality of progress.
👉 New episodes every Tuesday – Follow & Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & Acast!
00:00 - Intro: From hurling to endurance
07:15 - ICU and hyponatremia
14:30 - Falling in love with the Lake District
21:00 - Lakeland 100 and early mountain race mistakes
27:45 - Becoming a coach and finding purpose
34:10 - Coaching philosophy and movement over mechanics
40:20 - Social media advice and form obsession
47:00 - Strength work that actually helps
53:25 - The rehab mindset and listening to athletes
60:00 - Final thoughts and what keeps him going
🔗 Follow Paul:
Instagram: @paulmissinglink
Website: www.missinglinkcoaching.co.uk
#PaulTierney #TrailRunning #UltraRunning #RunningCoach #FellRunning #EnduranceAthlete #Lakeland100 #Wainwrights #MountainRunning #RUNcensored #RunningPodcast #StrengthAndConditioning #InjuryRecovery #Hyponatremia #Inov8
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