For Keith Russell, running began as a way to give his daughter Alanna a little more freedom, fun and connection with the world around her.

Alana had complex needs and required 24/7 care.

Keith had never been a runner, but set himself a goal: run the Dublin Marathon with Alanna, while raising money for a charity that supported his family.

What followed changed both of their lives.

For Alanna, running became a source of laughter, stimulation and shared experiences.

For Keith, it became a rare space where father and daughter could simply be out together.

Then, in December 2017, Alanna passed away suddenly.

In this deeply personal conversation, Keith talks about what happened to his relationship with running after that loss.

The thing that had connected him to Alanna became a way of coping with her absence — and he pushed that idea further and further, moving into ultra running, 24-hour races and backyard ultras.

He talks openly about the highs and the darker side of that journey: pushing through exhaustion, chasing ever bigger challenges, injury, guilt and the danger of using endurance to outrun grief.

We also talk about therapy, acceptance and the different way Keith approaches running today.

At the heart of this episode is a story about love, loss, endurance and memory — and the idea that grief isn't something we eventually finish with, we simply learn how to carry it differently.