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/


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

He Couldn’t Swim 15 Feet. Now He’s Racing 140.6 Miles | Casey Watson

Born With One Arm. Couldn’t Swim 15 Feet. Now He’s Racing 140.6 Miles.

Casey Watson once jumped into a pool believing his marathon fitness would carry him through a lap. Fifteen feet later, he was standing up, out of breath, and realizing he had no idea how to swim.

That moment became the start of something much bigger.

In this episode, Casey shares how he taught himself to swim, adapted a bike he could race safely, survived the fear of open water, and went from finishing his first triathlon to standing on podiums at 70.3 races and the Boston Marathon.

Now he is preparing for the biggest challenge of his life: 140.6 miles at Challenge Roth in Germany.

This is Casey Watson on The People Run Podcast.

Chapters

00:00 From 15 Feet to a 2.4-Mile Triathlon Swim

07:59 Building a Triathlon Bike He Could Ride

13:39 Surviving the Swim, Taking Third in His First Triathlon

26:26 His First 70.3: Breaking Six Hours and Winning His Division

33:40 Why He Has to Work Twice as Hard

43:07 Training for Triathlon Without Losing Family Time

46:28 What His Kids See When He Races

48:37 Racing Boston Marathon Alone at the Front

52:50 Challenge Roth: 140.6 Miles in Germany

Follow Casey:

instagram.com/healthy_living4god/


Follow The People Run Podcast:

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

This week on The People Run, I’m joined by Olivia, a former British Army soldier, fitness presenter, runner, and HYROX athlete.

We talk about the rise of run clubs, why HYROX has exploded in popularity, and what so many people are really searching for when they sign up for races, join a community, or take on hard challenges.

Along the way we discuss Olivia’s path from the Army into fitness media, how running became more than exercise, racing around the world, the culture surrounding HYROX, social media authenticity, and why community might be the most underrated part of endurance sports.

Chapters

00:00 HYROX, Half Marathons & Why Everyone's Obsessed

08:49 The Accidental Path: Army, Media & Staying Busy

12:51 How Running Became Her Identity

19:31 Why We Fly Across The World To Run

25:36 Preparing For HYROX

31:07 HYROX: Online vs Reality

39:40 What's The Point? Social Media & Authenticity

45:41 Why We Keep Doing Hard Things

Follow Olivia:

instagram.com/oliviacoxlondon/


Follow The People Run Podcast:

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