The ClockWork Junkie Podcast
The ClockWork Junkie Podcast
Mark McCormack
More Than Just A Race - Tony O'Connor - Episode 16
31 minutes Posted Aug 31, 2026 at 12:03 am.
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Show notes

In this episode of The Clockwork Junkie Podcast, I sit down with Tony O'Connor.



You Can Support The Podcast & Find All Of My Links Here:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/clockworkjunkiepodcast 👈


Tony is a Head Chef working at Shane Lowry's "The Old Warehouse" in Tullamore but this Saturday he's swapping the kitchen for something a little more extreme as he takes on the 7km Hell & Back race in tribute to his beloved nanny, who is living with vascular dementia.


And when I say extreme, I mean it.

Bogs. Mud. Cold plunges. Obstacles. And yes... people firing rubber bullets at you while you're trying to get through the course!


We talk about his training, what possessed him to sign up for Hell & Back in the first place, and what he's expecting when race day arrives.


But beneath the race day is a much more important reason for doing it. Tony opens up about his nanny and vascular dementia, and we have an honest conversation about the devastating impact dementia can have—not only on the person living with it, but also on the family and loved ones watching someone they care about slowly change.


This is an episode with plenty of laughs, but also a conversation that comes from the heart. Tony is raising money in tribute to his nanny, and I've left his "idonate link" in the description of this episode here:


Tony's idonate link:

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/anthonyoconnor750?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRzdgT5F2NwZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzU2NzA2NzM0MzM1MjQyNwABp6Zw2pFJMV6HZmrbX7KnbvvDj8Bs8pLJYmEhRjnzYL6CHMNc_k9seI_bEyDI_aem_If6OhJ8wp0u7CCoiIwcayQ


Tastewith_Tony Instagram link:

https://www.instagram.com/tastewith_tony?igsi=NXQwenRmMmdnY21i



If you'd like to support him and the cause, please consider donating—every contribution makes a difference.


A huge thank you to my Sponsors/Partners:


●Not Another Personal Trainer - NAPT Instagram Link:

https://www.instagram.com/not_another_pt_coaching?igsi=MXZzcDEya24zYmo4eQ==


●Serenity Therapy Website:

serenitytherapy.ie


Thank you for your constant support,

Mark McCormack

Creator & Host

The Clockwork Junkie Podcast

& Defiant Under Fire Podcast