Full Name: Sarah Gilgunn
When did you join Sportsworld? July 2024
Where do you work? I work for the HPRA (Health Products Regulatory Authority) where I lead a team assessing the Quality of biological medicines.
What is your favourite club session? Track Saturday sessions
What is your favourite race distance? I find the shorter stuff hard, but starting to enjoy it more since I joined the club as I had never really raced 1500m or 5k races before. I love the opportunities that you get in the club, I ran XC this year for the first time and loving it (even if it is a special kind of hell!). I think the half marathon is prob my favourite distance.
What is your favourite meal before a big race? Oats, half a banana and maple syrup with a black coffee!
My Favourite place to train: Bushy park! It’s my happy place, especially during the summer months!
What’s your favourite race? I love the women’s mini marathon! It is such a fun race, I have run it over 10 times and regardless of it pouring rain or sunshine and 20°C, it’s always a great atmosphere and fun day.
What is your target for the next year? I would really love 2 PBs this year – I hope to go sub 22 mins for the 5k and sub 3.50 for the marathon.
What international events have you ran? I have never raced abroad (well I have done Parkrun in the UK but that’s it). I am doing the Biarritz half with the club this year so very excited for that!
Where’s the most interesting place you have run? My friend lives upstate New York in a very small town called Blue Mountain lake and I visit her most summers – I just love getting up early and going for a run there, it’s really in the wilderness (need to keep your eyes peeled for bears!!), so fresh and beautiful.
Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been? (Doesn’t have to be running related). I’m very lucky to have travelled the world for both work and for fun! Japan, India, and Australia are probably the most stand out places I have visited.
What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times) I love yoga, reading, watching movies and in general just having fun! I love travelling with my husband Richy (fellow SW runner), we have so many fun adventures together, always bring our runners with us on holidays and love to explore new places!
How/When did you start your adventure with running? I have always been a runner, but I sort of threw my runners on and didn’t really think about what I was doing! I used running as my mode of transport to and from work and that was about it, did the mini marathon and fun races like that. Then I lived in the UK in 2015/2016 and joined a club there. I really liked it but again was a bit more sporadic with training. During Covid I consistently started running 3-4 days a week and I think that’s when I really started chasing PBs.
Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement?
5K: 22:10 (Rathfarnham 5K 2024)
5 Mile: 38:23 (Raheny 5 Mile 2025)
10K: 47:00 (Great Ireland Run (Virtual race) 2021)
Half Marathon: 1:47:53 (Bohermeen 2026)
Marathon: 3:54:55 (Cork 2022)
Without a doubt, my biggest achievement is Cork Marathon in 2022. It was my first marathon, and I put in a lot of hard work and was feeling fitter than ever. But then, 5 days before race day, the lump that I thought was nothing was actually something. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. I went into the race with zero sleep and full of anxiety about what the future held. But Richy and I ran it side-by-side (he literally dragged me over the finish line!!), it lashed rain for the whole race but we honestly had so much fun together. I was really proud of myself that day (and its still my marathon PB!). It’s amazing what you can do with sheer determination, and of course the support of my amazing husband. Thankfully, I am cancer free now, so to be able to run, be at any start line smiling and enjoying it all, is a true privilege.
What is your biggest non-running related achievement? I have a PhD in Biochemistry – I am a mad scientist at heart!
How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage? Normally 4-5 days a week, depends on what I am training for, but I average 40k per week.
What motivates you? Running or otherwise. I would say I am a very motivated person naturally; I don’t need much of a push to try my hand at anything! I am all about having fun.
What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club? The people!! Everyone in Sportsworld is so friendly. I am always raving about what a great club it is to anyone who will listen to me! There is a place for everyone, no matter how fast or ‘slow’ you are. Honestly, everyone in the club is so nice, I love the chats at every session and have made some great new friends for life!
What made you join a Running Club? After a long year of treatment in 2022 my fitness was in the bin, and I couldn’t seem to progress throughout 2023. After doing the Terenure 5 mile in 2024, we thought it seemed like a fun club and would be a great way to get my fitness back. And the improvements I have made since joining are amazing.
Why is running important to you? There is nothing I love more than just putting my runners on getting out into the fresh air. I have always used runs to destress or think through challenging days at work.
Is there anything you would like to see more of or less of at the Club? I don’t particularly like doing them but I would like more warm up drills as I know I should be doing them!
Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better? Emily and Myles are so unbelievably supportive and give such helpful advice – during every race I can hear Emily in my head saying lift your knees, swing your arms!!! For me, finding my group to fit in with at the training sessions has really helped me push myself and believe I can achieve more, together is always better.
I have loved doing Meet & Train this year too, the encouragement and support we give each other is fantastic, but the gals Team B have to get a special shout out!!!
Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis? Yoga, strength training twice a week.
