Most of us would struggle to drive a car for 12.5 hours without losing concentration. Caitriona Jennings ran for that long—averaging a blistering 7:34/mile pace to shatter the 100-mile World Record. In this episode, Bruce sits down with the 2012 Olympian and new ISESA board member to discuss one of the most remarkable feats in Irish endurance history. We explore how she balances her C Suite role (Vice President in Aircraft Trading) with elite ultra-running, often flying straight from a race finish line back to the office. We also revisit the heartbreak of London 2012, discussing how finishing last on a stress fracture became the foundation for the mental steel required to excel in the ultra-running world.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The World Record: Breaking down the 12:37:04 run at Tunnel Hill—pacing strategy, fueling with high-carb gels, and the mental battle of the "figure of eight" course
• The "Dual Career": How Caitriona manages 100-mile training weeks while holding down a high-pressure corporate role in aviation leasing
• Resilience: Why the trauma of London 2012 ultimately prolonged her career and prepared her for the pain cave of ultra-running
• Training Philosophy: How a mature athlete manages volume, avoids injury, and uses the weekend for "compounding" long runs
• What's Next: The hunt for the "Green Number" at the Comrades Marathon 2026.

Links & Resources:

ISESA Website

Register for our January Webinar

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We spend hours training the heart and the muscles, but what about the primary sensor that drives every decision an athlete makes? In this episode, Bruce is joined by Dr. Fraser Horn, Professor at Pacific University College of Optometry and a world-renowned expert in Sports Vision. Having worked with Nike and collegiate athletics, Fraser challenges the idea that "20/20" is the gold standard, explaining why elite athletes often operate at 20/15 or better and why 20/20 might actually mean you react slower on the pitch

We discuss the difference between "hardware" and "software," the critical role of contrast sensitivity when tracking a sliotar against a grey Irish sky, and how nutrition acts as "internal sunglasses" for performance. Fraser also breaks down concussion management, explaining why a "blown pupil" is a myth and how to use "resistance training for the brain" to improve anticipation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The 20/20 Myth: Why 20/20 is just "average" and how better visual acuity buys you reaction time
• The Sliotar in the Sky: Understanding why contrast sensitivity is key for Irish field sports
• Resistance Training for the Brain: How stroboscopic glasses force the brain to anticipate movement, and how to mimic this using simple tennis ball or bean bag drills
• Concussion & Baselines: Why every athlete needs a baseline eye exam (pupils & tracking) and the prevalence of visual symptoms post-concussion
• Travel & Screen Fatigue: Why athletes should consider "Comfort Readers" or specific contact lenses to reduce stress during travel and film review
• Nutrition: The role of carotenoid supplements (Lutein/Zeaxanthin) in improving processing speed and contrast

Links & Resources:

• Dr. Fraser Horn’s Profile
• Sports Vision Pros: https://www.sportsvisionpros.com/
• Nutritional Research Centre Ireland (NRCI)

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With the 2025 season approaching, Bruce chats with Dr. Shane Malone (TU Dublin) about all things pre-season for the team sports. We discuss Shane’s brand new research (co-authored with Martin Buchheit) which suggests we may have become too reliant on GPS, marking the return of heart rate as a critical monitoring tool. Shane reveals why the traditional aerobic slog might be working for your midfielders but failing your explosive corner-forwards due to diminishing returns. Also discussed:

• The New Rules: How the "solo-and-go" and the 2-point arc might spike high-speed running demands this year
• Sport Science 3.0: Why combining Internal Load (Heart Rate) with External Load (GPS) is the future
• The Research: A breakdown of the 2025 "Dose-Response" paper—Endurance vs. Hybrid vs. Speed profiles
• Practical Coaching: How to stop the "January Spike" in injuries and why you need to treat your speed merchants differently

References:

• Malone, S. & Buchheit, M. (2025). Dose-Response of Heart Rate Load and Performance in Gaelic Football.

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