Summary

ASF Chairman and Volunteer Vince Passione's Dublin Marathon Q&A

Three runners, Vince Passione, Lindsay Anders and Dell Miller, will be representing and raising money for the Adaptive Sports Foundation by participating in the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday, October 25. We caught up with ASF Chairman of the Board of Trustees Vince Passione to get to know him a little better and learn what inspires him to take part in this incredible journey. Please consider donating to Vince’s fundraising page by clicking here.

ASF: Running a marathon is no easy feat. What inspires you to participate in the BMW Berlin Marathon?

VP: I ran the New York City Marathon for ASF five years ago, and it was an incredible experience! I ended up exceeding my fundraising goal of $26,218.80 for the Foundation. Since then, watching people like Connor DiGiacomo who ran the 2025 NYC Marathon with his team, push through every kind of challenge and finish the course, and every weekend watching our athletes at ASF overcome all kinds of challenges to ski and ride, is a constant reminder that we should all be getting out there and doing hard things ourselves. That’s really what pulled me back in for Dublin.

ASF: What has been the most challenging part of your marathon training?

VP: Simply getting the miles in while avoiding injury. It’s a balancing act, you need the volume to be ready, but pushing too hard too fast is how training blocks get derailed.

ASF: What do you think the best time of day is for a run?

VP: Early morning, right as the sun is coming up. It’s quiet, there’s no traffic to deal with, and I know I’ve got the whole day still ahead of me. It’s the best way to start the day calm and centered.

ASF: What do you listen to while you run? Are you a podcast or a playlist person?

VP: I’m a playlist person, definitely music over podcasts on the run. I’m into Americana – bands like The Devil Makes Three, The Avett Brothers, Mt. Joy, The Head and the Heart, and CAAMP. Something about that sound fits perfectly with early morning miles.

ASF: If your marathon training was a movie, what would the title be?

VP: “Mile by Mile.”

ASF: If you could run anywhere in the world, where would it be?

VP: The Dolomites in Italy. It’s definitely on my bucket list, there’s something about running through terrain that keeps shifting under you, climbing through alpine meadows and around jagged peaks, with a scenic payoff at every turn. I love being out in nature on a run, and I can only imagine the Dolomites deliver that in spades.

ASF: You wake up the morning of the marathon. What are you doing?

VP: Up early with a light meal, then reviewing the course and getting a feel for where the hills are so there are no surprises. I’ll stretch, get my gear laid out, and finish with a bit of meditation, basically trying to talk my monkey brain into calming down and just enjoying the ride.

ASF: What are you looking forward to the most on race day?

VP: Enjoying being out there with the other runners, seeing the city, meeting the rest of the ASF team runners, and most importantly, finishing the race in front of my family and friends. Some oysters and a Guinness will be an added end-of-race treat!

ASF: Have you ever been to Dublin? If so, what is your favorite part of the city?

VP: Yes, I’ve been before. We actually have family there, so it’s really special to be back and get the chance to visit with them while I’m racing. 

ASF: What does running for the Adaptive Sports Foundation mean to you, personally?

VP: ASF means so much to me and my family. Our mission of “empowering lives through adaptive sports” extends beyond our athletes and their families, though that’s such an important part of what we do. It also empowers everyone involved to get out there and challenge themselves to do hard things for great causes. This year, ASF is a charity partner for five marathons, including three of the Majors – Berlin, NYC, and Tokyo, along with Dublin and Honolulu. It’s a fantastic program that’s inspired so many people to lace up and run for ASF, myself included, and I couldn’t be prouder to be one of them this year.

Good Luck Vince, and thank you for choosing to run with Team ASF int the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon!