When did you join Sportsworld?
I think it was April 2015 when I finally gathered the courage to walk up to the park to give it a try. It was a Fartlek session, something totally new to me. I remember Emily telling me to sit at the back but I thought I could handle it just fine… then the session started and reality quickly put me in my place. I barely managed two laps but by the end of it I was hooked.
Where do you work?
I work as IT manager for Brennan & Co, we distribute technological equipment to the Scientific, Medical and Industrial markets.
What is your favourite club session?
I prefer sessions were we don’t start/stop but rather keep running throughout the session. So, the Sunday long run would be my favourite one, especially if we go up to the Waterworks. I also like the Thursday fartlek sessions and to my surprise, the Saturday morning track sessions. It took me quite a while to give them a try, and now I love them. So, I would encourage everyone to try it out and do not feel intimidated by it.
What is your favourite race distance?
I don’t have a favourite distance, I certainly prefer longer races, but since joining the club I have gained an appreciation for the shorter ones as well.
What is your favourite meal before a big race?
I normally have the same as any other morning, granola with fruit, yogurt and a spoon of linseed. If I have some, I throw in few walnuts or similar.
My Favourite place to train is?
As mentioned earlier, I really like the Waterworks, although I only go there with the club. For my runs outside the club sessions I tend to stay around Bushy. If I’m doing a midweek long run I normally go from my place up to Marlay Park and back.
What’s your favourite race?
I must admit that the Dublin City Marathon has a special place in my heart, although I don’t think is something I’ll do every year.
What is your target for the next year?
I just want to stay injury free and keep enjoying my runs for as long as possible. Although, [whispering…] I’d love to get a new pb in the marathon, but I am painfully aware that way too many things have to be right on race day and not all of them are under my control…
What is your best Sportsworld memory?
I have lots of very good memories; it’d be hard to choose the best, but I’m just back from a weekend away with Mark Heffernan and John Dwyer racing in Bere Island in West Cork and it really was fabulous. That last swim at 8am in the rain is something I’ll remember for years to come.
What international events have you ran?
A part from Lanzarote and a few other races in Spain I haven’t really raced abroad.
Where’s the most interesting place you have run?
Back in 2003 – 2005, a friend of mine talked me into entering La Marató i Mitja del Penyagolosa which translates as Penyagolosa’s Marathon and a Half, a race of endurance requiring semi self-sufficiency, which starts at sea level from the city of Castellón (Spain) and finishes at Sant Joan de Penyagolosa mountain. Racers must complete 62 km in a maximum time of 14 hours, finishing at 1,280 meters above sea level. We were grossly unprepared, so needless to say we didn’t finish, but we managed to make it to the last aid station around the 42Km mark and we were so pleased with ourselves, you would’ve thought we had won the race. It was great craic, I might go back at some point and finish what I started…
What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times)
At summer time you can find me most evenings in Bushy walking my dog.
How/When did you start your adventure with running?
I’ve run on and off most of my live, but always on my own, never in a club until a join Sportsworld. Something I should’ve done much, much earlier…
Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement?
All my pbs are from last year, 19:21 5K, 39:54 10K, 1:30:41 Half Marathon and 3:11:22 for the full Marathon. I haven’t had much luck this year, a couple of minor injuries and a little nasty virus has kept me from running well, but hopefully the tide is turning now…
How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?
I normally run 5 days a week and around 50Km, but with the Marathon training having started now I’m aiming for 6 days and around 80Km/week.
What motivates you? Running or otherwise
I like the challenge…
What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club?
For me the best thing is the people in the club.
It’s truly amazing all the support and encouragement that you get from everyone in the club, whether you are flying in a race, setting up new pbs or struggling on the 2nd lap of a 4 lap cross country race, your club mates are there to cheer your name and help you through it.
Also, being part of the club challenges me to do things I wouldn’t normally do like cross country, or shorter races like 5km.
And finally, you can learn a lot by being around people who are much better runners than yourself.
What made you join a Running Club?
I often saw Cruzaders training around the Sean Moore Park while walking my dog or going for a run myself. So, I kept on thinking about joining but never did. Then I moved to Rathgar and same thing happened with Sportsworld, so after lots of procrastination (I’m very good at that) I approached Emily and Myles one winter evening in the Dodder, then I procrastinated for a bit longer and finally decided to join that spring.
Why is running important to you?
It’s hard to put into words… I just know is good for me. I also really enjoy the social aspect of it.
Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?
Too many to name, suffice to say that I find very inspiring both our coaches for their commitment and dedication, all the people doing lots of work in the background for their generosity giving their time to the club, the younger members for their energy and enthusiasm, and those not so young for their motivation and discipline.
Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?
I’m terrible for cross training, stretching and any of the other things I know I should do to improve my running. I made a point earlier this year of going to the core strengthening sessions on a Wednesday but at the moment that’s gone out of the window…
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