Deep Roots

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:

✔️ Peace pierced: A serene Saturday derailed by a tender Achilles flare

✔️ Interval aggression: 5x400-meter runs (2,000 meters total) push pace and position

✔️ Week four wins: 8+ RQS scores, PBs in trap bar walks, and deficit deadlifts

✔️ Sleep strain: 3.5–6 hours nightly test recovery amid a brutal push

✔️ Work vs. body: Prioritizing quality training over shiny distractions like ice baths

Take Action: Want to fuel Damian’s mission to conquer Ireland’s coast? Visit https://www.instagram.com/deep_roots_podcast/ to support his journey and stay updated on this epic endeavor.

Produced by Niall Killeney Taylor of baLORE Media https://www.baloremedia.co.uk/

Chop wood, carry water

Day 184 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. Tonight, at 9:30 PM, after a long, stressful day and scant sleep, Damian hits the treadmill with a nagging Achilles stiffness that’s haunted him since returning to Australia. What starts as a cautious test—90 seconds of biting pain—turns into a 30-minute run at 9 km/h, his longest nonstop effort since cycle three’s 28-minute peak. Relief floods in: no flare-up, no setback. But shame lurks too—an inner voice sneers, “You’re celebrating 30 minutes when you can’t even run an hour?”

Three weeks of heel stiffness had stalled his running, a glaring red flag with the Mount & De Bla three months away and Ireland’s coast in 16. Patience, a virtue Damian prizes, clashed with his urge to push, but heavy eccentric work—sled pulls and calf drills—unlocked progress. Tonight’s run, born from a “fuck it” gamble after a five-out-of-10 warmup, proves his body’s adapting. Yet, that cruel inner critic, mocking his pace against Iron Mind’s 5K benchmark, fuels a deeper fight. Tune in for a raw clash of triumph and doubt, and the stubborn grit keeping him in the ring.

In This Episode:

✔️ 30-minute milestone: 9 km/h nonstop—longest run since cycle three, no Achilles flare

✔️ Heel hurdle: Three weeks of stiffness tackled with heavy eccentrics and patience

✔️ Inner critic unleashed: Shame vs. excitement—can’t hit 40 minutes or Iron Mind’s 5K

✔️ Risk and reward: Scant sleep (4.5 hours) and stress test his injury-prone edge

✔️ Fight within: Battling the “conniving fucker” of doubt to stay on the path

Take Action: Want to fuel Damian’s mission to conquer Ireland’s coast? Visit https://www.instagram.com/deep_roots_podcast/ to support his journey and stay updated on this epic endeavor.

Produced by Niall Killeney Taylor of baLORE Media https://www.baloremedia.co.uk/

Chop wood, carry water

 Nine weeks since his last recording, life’s thrown a whirlwind his way: a five-week family trip to Ireland, patchy training, a breakthrough 40-minute run, and a near-disaster coaching a team through the Galway Mountains. Picture this: Damian, hauling 29 kilos up a brutal peak, catches the group only to hear, “Have you seen Paul?” Cue the panic—Paul’s vanished, the clock’s ticking, and sunset’s closing in.

✔️ Running breakthrough: 40 minutes on Ireland’s dark roads—28 straight, then 12 more

✔️ Ireland chaos: No gym, late drives, and family-work juggling dent training quality

✔️ Mountain scare: Paul goes missing on an 8-hour loaded hike; Damian hauls 29 kilos to regroup

✔️ Back setback: Hack Squat clack halts a two-week training gap, but rehab cuts it to five days

Take Action: Want to fuel Damian’s mission to conquer Ireland’s coast? Visit https://www.instagram.com/deep_roots_podcast/ to support his journey and stay updated on this epic endeavor.

Produced by Niall Killeney Taylor of baLORE Media https://www.baloremedia.co.uk/

Chop wood, carry water

Day 100 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. This week, Damian hits a game-changer: his longest run without stopping in 100 days. Late at the gym, past 11 PM, he hops on the treadmill to “play around” and ends up floating through 12 minutes straight, then adds another 10. After weeks of breakdowns and fear, this 22-minute pain-free run—totaling 50 minutes for the week—marks a leap from cycle two’s eight-minute stints. What’s behind it? New loaded mobility drills, dialed-in core work, and a stubborn resolve to push frequency.

Damian’s testing a second running session every nine days, battling the ghosts of past injuries while chasing progress. Tonight’s unplanned breakthrough—fueled by glute ham raises, weighted Cossack squats, and banded ab exercises—unlocks his hips and steadies his stride. From feeling “great” to marveling “sweet child of mine,” Damian digs into why this works: subtle tractioning, patient positioning, and a stronger, more connected core. Tune in for a raw look at his training evolution and the mindset that turns late-night experiments into triumphs.

In This Episode:

✔️ Running milestone: 12 minutes straight, then 10 more—longest run in 100 days

✔️ Loaded mobility magic: Glute ham tractioning and 12-kilo Cossacks free up Damian’s hips

✔️ Fear in the rearview: Second run every nine days despite past breakdowns

✔️ Core connection: Banded ab wheel isometrics and max decline sit-ups anchor his stride

✔️ Volume surge: 50 minutes of running this week, up from 8 in cycle two

💡 Take Action: Want to fuel Damian’s mission to conquer Ireland’s coast? Visit https://www.instagram.com/deep_roots_podcast/ to support his journey and stay updated on this epic endeavor.

Produced by Niall Killeney Taylor of baLORE Media https://www.baloremedia.co.uk/

Chop wood, carry water:

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Day 95 of Damian Browne’s journey to conquer a 3,000-kilometer run around Ireland’s coast for the Million Euro Lap, aiming to raise €1 million for charity. Fresh off a trip to Ireland, Damian’s back in the grind—cycle three, day three—battling the aftermath of COVID, jet lag, and a nine-day training hiatus. What started as a triumphant return quickly turned into a war against fatigue, fever, and a body screaming for rest. But Damian’s not here to fold.

Day one kicked off cycle three with a bang, only for day two to deliver a brutal reality check: coughing, stiffness, and a positive COVID test. Undeterred, he hit the gym for a “light and hot” session—bear crawls and glute ham raises that torched his body and soul. Halfway through, he nearly tapped out, but clawed through the essentials. By day three, an upper body strength session scored an 8.8 RQS, and he’s feeling “a hundred times better.” This episode is a gritty testament to resilience, the healing power of sweat, and the will to keep pushing when the odds stack up.

In This Episode:

✔️ COVID comeback: How Damian turned sickness and jet lag into fuel for cycle three

✔️ Light and hot magic: Bear crawls and glute hammers with minimal rest—simple, brutal, effective

✔️ Strength unleashed: Smashing cycle two targets in just three days of cycle three

✔️ Running reset: Upping the running frequency with a cautious eye on recovery

✔️ Road ahead: Tackling gym disruptions with trips to Sydney and Ireland looming

💡 Take Action: Want to fuel Damian’s mission to conquer Ireland’s coast? Visit https://www.instagram.com/deep_roots_podcast/ to support his journey and stay updated on this epic endeavor.

Produced by Niall Killeney Taylor of baLORE Media https://www.baloremedia.co.uk/

Chop wood, carry water: