Forge Stories

You know, when you're out on the road by yourself, you find out who you are, and what you can put yourself through within them times.

On screen: Dylan is running 100K in memory of his brother, Daniel.

What got you into running?

What got me into running was, well, I used to hate running, to be honest. But then going through a bit of a dark time myself, and with all the injuries in rugby I got, I just started running myself, and kind of finding who I was, to be honest. And I've loved it ever since. And just to have a little goal in mind, I booked Limerick half marathon, went down by myself, and then I bumped into you and Adam, and the rest is history.

What went through your mind when you crossed the line?

No, well, I remember you pulling me across the line, and I was very emotional. You know, like, I've never done anything like that, and I pushed my body physically that day, and mentally.

What would you like people to know about your brother?

Well, he was a lovely man. We all have our own problems, right? But he was the type of man that would always help someone as well, but he'd always put his own problems on hold. Funny. If you met him today, you'd just laugh at him. A gentle giant. He was the older brother, but he acted like the younger brother. Childish, but he was always there for me and all that. Lovely man. I just wish he was around still. Five years ago this November now, on the 11th. I'm doing the run on the 7th because that's the last time I seen him. It was my birthday.

It's kind of hard to let the guard down, though, as a man. You're kind of painted as being able to take on the world and not your own problems, and we all have suffered something. But now, lately, I just let it flow. It comes to a point where you just have to be a man and let it out, like, you know. You're not a man if you hold it in. Yeah, and it's all right to say you're not okay as well, though, because there's always help out there. A problem shared is a problem halved.

Where did the idea of the 100K come from?

I knew, because we do have a five-a-side in his name every year for my brother. And I was like thinking to myself, “I can do more.” You know, I can do more and I can help people. The run then is something deeper. It's like you can push through the darkest moments. Like my mother always used to tell me, there's always light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how deep that tunnel is, there's always light at the end of it. So you've just got to keep going.

What has support from friends and community meant to you?

Everything. My friends are behind me 100%. My family are behind me. They're very proud of me. My cousin's going to run with me as well, because, like, me, him and my brother were like the Three Musketeers, you know what I mean?

What do you hope people take away from this?

To get help if they're struggling, you know? And you won't struggle by yourself, like. I'd rather someone cry on my shoulder than me carry their coffin a couple of weeks down the line. There's always help out there for anyone. And we're all struggling, a man, woman, child. There's help. Talk. You'll feel like there's a weight lifted off your shoulders. And if not to me, talk to some randomer. It doesn't really matter who, as long as you're getting the help you need.

How can people support the run?

If you go onto my Instagram, Andrew can tag my Instagram, there is a link in my bio, and you can donate to Movember, trying to raise money for men's mental health and suicide prevention. And people can join in on the run whenever they want. It's not just about me. If people want to come out and have a chat with me on the day of the run, they can. They can run a couple of kilometres, whatever. You don't have to run. I'm easy. We can walk and talk.

Is there anything else you'd like to talk about?

No, no, that's all good. I've kind of answered everything. I feel like I've answered from the heart.

End card: Support Dylan's Movember fundraiser. movember.com/m/15529788. Instagram @dylancoyle11. For men's mental health and suicide prevention.