Full Name Elen Lavin
When did you join Sportsworld? 30+ years (Sportsworld was well established when I joined).
Where do you work? I run my own business specifying and supplying anti-corrosion systems for hot dip galvanising and steel.
What is your favourite club session? Fartlek (the old route along the pond).
What is your favourite race distance? It’s all an effort!
What is your favourite meal before a big race? When I was committed to racing it was chicken with rice.
My Favourite place to train? Bushy Park/Phoenix Park for long runs.
What’s your favourite race? Anything in the evening really, I hate morning races!
What is your target for next year? To keep training but not to race above 10k.
What international events have you ran? Battle of the Somme Half Marathon, Paris to Versailles 16k 2015 and 2022, Krakow Half Marathon, Lisbon Half Marathon, Porto Half Marathon, Amsterdam Half Marathon, Florence Hal Marathon, Nice Half Marathon, Salzburg 10K and San Sebastian 10K. Can I put Cork Half in here?
Where’s the most interesting place you have run? The battle fields of the Somme. After the race we visited the Thiepval Memorial which is a war memorial to 72,000+ missing servicemen who died in the battle between 1915 and 1918 with no known grave. Along with other graveyards with rows and rows of white headstones we visited the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial with preserved trenches and several memorials and cemeteries on site so it was amazing to see it and Sean with his knowledge of history was a superb guide.
Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been? I loved Nassau in the Bahamas and I recently visited Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg in Nova Scotia and found them all very interesting.
What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times) Travel, read and spend time with my adult children.
How/When did you start your adventure with running? To lose weight after my first baby. I was living in Waterford and started running from my house around the estate so I became hooked after that!
Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement? 2 mile 12.38 4 mile 26.33 5mile 34.20 5K 20.08 Mini marathon 42 mins.
What is your biggest non-running related achievement? Besides my 3 children running a business.
How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage? Tues/Thurs and a long run on Sunday. I’m currently doing 10 miles on Sunday as I got lazy and was cutting it short and I’m also training for the Dingle Half so that motivated me to get moving.
What motivates you? Running or otherwise “Life”
What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club? The discipline it gives you to form a healthy lifestyle also the clubmates, the support and the friends I made that I still see who are not in the club anymore.
What made you join a Running Club? I was running on my own when I moved up from Waterford and a person working at my house suggested a meet and train group in Bushy and the rest as they say is history.
Why is running important to you? It’s good for the endorphins and as I work from home it’s great to get out and see and speak with people and have the banter.
Is there anything you would like to see more or less of at the Club? I would like to see a 10k pace run introduced into training at least twice a month as I think it would help with racing.
Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better? Emily all the way as the club and friendships that exist would not have happened had she not started the club. I take my hat off to her, she’s amazing! I admire Myles for all his contributions and having the club at heart. I also admire Michael and Eoin for all they contribute and anyone who puts themselves forward for committee work, It’s not easy!
Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis? I’ve started S & C.
Tell us something that no one in the club knows about you!? I’m an open book!!
