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

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instagram.com/david.mullarkey/


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instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
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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

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instagram.com/healthy_living4god/


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instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
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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

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instagram.com/oliviacoxlondon/


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instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
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At 13 years old, Sean Casey was told he may never walk again.

After being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, Sean went from playing football with his friends to spending 94 days in the hospital, learning how to walk, use his hands, and rebuild his life from the ground up. Just as he recovered, he faced another serious illness that put him back in the hospital.

Today, Sean is running marathons, chasing a sub-3, and taking on one of the toughest races in the world: Leadville 100.

In this episode, Sean shares his journey through paralysis, recovery, identity, endurance sports, and why movement is something he'll never take for granted again.

Chapters

00:00 From Football to Paralysis

06:38 The Recovery Nobody Sees

17:09 How Running Changed Everything

22:09 Why Leadville Became the Dream

27:47 100 Miles of Chosen Suffering

31:41 Tokyo, Failure & The Sub-3 Chase

41:25 What Makes Someone Strong?

42:28 Defining Strength: Consistency Through Adversity

42:58 Preparing for Leadville: Lessons Learned

44:21 The Leadville Dream and Community Impact

47:38 Authenticity in Running: Staying True to Oneself

Follow Sean:

instagram.com/takethestairs1/


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instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
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Stefanie Corgel is a runner, strength coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Good Pain LA. In this conversation, we discuss her journey from college strength coach to online fitness entrepreneur, what marathon training has taught her about longevity, and why getting faster sometimes means staying healthy rather than pushing harder.

We dive into injuries, marathon majors, Boston and New York, chasing ambitious goals without losing yourself in the process, and the lessons learned from nearly blacking out during the London Marathon. Stef also shares her approach to strength training for runners, balancing performance with long term health, and how running has evolved from a personal pursuit into an opportunity to lead and build community.

Chapters

00:00 College Strength Coach to Online Fitness Entrepreneur

04:02 Training for Life at 70

12:19 Getting Faster: Injuries, Tokyo & Marathon Goals

22:00 Why Boston Is Running's Super Bowl

32:09 Why New York Will Always Be Special

34:32 How Far Can We Push Our Potential?

42:59 Chasing Sub-3s Without Losing Yourself

47:04 Strength Training for Runners

53:55 Building Good Pain LA & Becoming a Leader

59:18 Evolving as a Leader in the Running Community

Follow Stef:

instagram.com/stefcorgel/


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

Malik J, better known as The Running Gamer, found a way to combine two passions that don't often overlap: running and video games.

In this episode, Malik shares how a simple challenge led him into the sport, why he nearly walked away from running after college, and how Detroit's running community helped bring him back. We talk about building a unique identity online, racing two 5Ks in less than 12 hours, traveling to Spain for the Seville Marathon with ASICS, and the lessons he's learned chasing faster times.

Most importantly, Malik explains why runners get into trouble when they start comparing themselves to everyone else and why trusting your own process matters more than copying the pros.

Whether you're training for your first race, chasing a marathon PR, or trying to find your place in the running community, this conversation is a reminder that there is more than one path to success.

Chapters

00:00 Back to Back 5Ks & Chasing Sub 17
06:25 The Running Gamer: Combining Gaming & Running
11:10 How Running Changed His Life
15:51 From Spartan Races to a 2:37 Marathon
20:56 Don't Train Like Everyone Else
26:23 Experiencing the Seville Marathon
32:56 NYC Half Marathon Experience
42:12 Berlin, Bigger Goals & What's Next
46:25 The Detroit Running Community

Follow Malik:

instagram.com/mjordan5.0/


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

Olympic Trials qualifier.

Elite 15 Hyrox athlete.

Most athletes spend their entire careers chasing excellence in one sport. Alyssa McElheny is doing it in two.

In this episode, Alyssa shares her journey from spending more than a decade chasing an Olympic Trials qualifier to becoming one of the fastest Hyrox athletes in the world. We talk about finding the sport she was built for, balancing elite marathoning and hybrid racing, and why success often comes from leaning into your strengths rather than forcing a path that isn't meant for you.

We also dive into racing across Europe, dealing with pressure when everything is on the line, the lessons learned from years of marathon training, and how a two-minute penalty ended up changing the course of her season.

It's a conversation about patience, resilience, self-belief, and what can happen when preparation finally meets opportunity.

If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another runner.

Chapters

00:00 What Is The Secret? OTQ + Elite 15 Hyrox
03:13 The Accidental Path Into Hyrox
07:37 10 Years Chasing An Olympic Trials Qualifier
15:20 The Advantage Of Being The Underdog
24:17 Can You Be Great At Both?
32:12 The Threshold Effect: High Rocks Training Benefits
33:15 Comparing Endurance Sports: High Rocks vs. Marathon
37:11 Training Challenges: Overcoming Weaknesses in High Rocks
38:18 The Art of Photography: Capturing Athletic Momentselite
39:07 Culinary Adventures: Food and Travel in Competition
41:18 Traveling with Purpose: Balancing Competition and Exploration
44:22 The People Behind The Performance
52:07 All Eyes On Hyrox Worlds

Follow Alyssa:

Instagram: instagram.com/alyssamcelheny/


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Instagram: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/

Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube: The People Run Podcast

Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

In this episode of The People Run Podcast, I sit down with Zach Bitter, one of the fastest 100 mile runners in history, to talk about training, longevity, recovery, and what it really takes to improve over the long term.

We dive into why Zach has incorporated cycling into his training, how he thinks about consistency versus hero workouts, and why many runners may be overemphasizing mileage at the expense of quality. Zach also shares his thoughts on recovery, gut training, super shoes, the evolution of endurance sports, and what he’s learned after years of competing and coaching at the highest level.

Whether you’re training for your first 5K, a marathon, an ultra, or simply trying to stay healthy and consistent, this conversation is packed with practical insights that apply far beyond running.

Chapters

00:00 Why Zach Bitter Replaced Miles With the Bike
05:23 Super Shoes, Gut Training, and the New Era of Training
13:05 How Fast Can a Human Run 100 Miles?
17:37 Why Zach Loves Running in Circles
20:40 The Risk of Chasing Personal Bests
26:50 When Do Runners Actually Peak?
28:44 Why Fitness Is Built in Layers
33:14 The Only Workouts Zach Cares About
38:15 Balancing Training, Work & Family
41:19 The Problem With Chasing Volume
49:20 Why Running Advice Gets Lost Online
54:16 Where Is Running Technology Headed Next?
01:05:38 Has Zach Solved the Puzzle Yet?

Follow Zach:

Instagram: instagram.com/zachbitter/


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Instagram: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/

Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube: The People Run Podcast

Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/