David Mullarkey left the Isle of Man to chase a dream that most people thought was impossible. After moving across the world to compete in the NCAA, spending months without a sponsor, and burning through his savings with only one month of rent left, he finally got the email that changed everything—Under Armour was signing him as a professional runner.

In this conversation, David shares what it was really like leaving home, adapting to life in America, competing in the NCAA, coaching himself after college, racing for Great Britain, and why patience has been the biggest advantage throughout his career.

We also talk about high-mileage training, altitude in Flagstaff, becoming part of Mission Run Dark Sky, why championship racing means more than fast times, and the mindset behind the word “Relentless”—the tattoo he carries as a reminder to keep moving forward no matter what.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to become a professional runner, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and David's background
01:24 Growing up in Isle of Man and early dreams
04:14 Signing with Under Armour and turning pro
06:50 Transitioning from NCAA to professional athletics
11:55 Training at altitude and its effects
18:54 Representing Great Britain and major competitions
22:50 The importance of patience and long-term goals
30:01 Daily training routine and managing workload
40:06 Mental resilience and overcoming setbacks
45:01 Future goals and upcoming races

Follow David:

instagram.com/david.mullarkey/


Follow The People Run Podcast:

instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/