Show Notes
I’ve spoken enough about my personal efforts and experience ~ the story is told.
However one story that hasn’t been told on this channel is this -
We were a team of 16. For 9 months we toiled and strove for more from ourselves to prepare bodies and minds for the amazing challenge of the @mdslegendary. All 16 crossed the finish line. A incredible result for @ironmindinstitute
To put this in context, when I did the race in 2016 only 50% of my tent finished the race. The race’s standard DNF rate is 15 - 20%.
Much more importantly, we shared an extraordinary experience together. This is what it is all about really - stepping into the void and fighting, struggling and suffering to achieve something remarkably difficult together.
I’ve been on a lot of expeditions and this was a special group to share an experience with. Connections made for life.
Next stop - just the little matter of attempting to run around the island of Ireland.
Much to be done…. Chop Wood, Carry Water. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Deep Roots
If I had to choose a word to describe the stage it would be - Uncomfortable.
It's important to me that I am honest with myself. For years I wasn't.
The question that had to be answered: “Is my foot really stopping me running and pushing myself more, or is it a convenient excuse not to try?”
As I lined up to start my second Marathon des Sables, I wasn’t sure on how I would start. In previous days, my, until that point, clear intent had been disturbed due to some achilles tendon issues.
Day 194 of Damian Browne’s prep for the Million Euro Lap—a 3,000-kilometer run around Ireland’s coast to raise €1 million for charity. It’s Saturday, January 18, 11:34 AM, and Damian’s savoring a rare, peaceful morning—two coffees deep, kids at the zoo with his fiancée, work simmering. Then, snap: a stiff, throbbing Achilles crashes the calm. Week four of cycle four, a push phase, has been stellar—8+ RQS scores across four sessions, new strength PBs, and a gutsy 2,000-meter interval run last night. But that aggression’s cost creeps in: a heel flare-up that’s now threatening tomorrow’s heavy sled pulls. Fresh off a 30-minute treadmill high last week, Damian’s chasing consistency despite sleep deficits (three to six hours nightly) and a body still unconditioned for running’s grind. Last night’s late gym stint—five 400-meter intervals at rising pace—felt triumphant until the Achilles stiffened post-rep five. Now, he’s weighing heavy eccentric fixes today against the sanctity of a rest day, all while battling work overwhelm and a noisy gym debate. Tune in for a raw wrestle with pain, patience, and the relentless focus on what moves the needle: quality work. In This Episode: