This week we meet up with Ronan who has just wrapped up not one but two marathons over the past 3 weeks…this was a man who once smoked 30 a day!!! Ronan has gone from strength to strength and now has PBs of a 3.30 marathon and 19min 5k for all his efforts!
When did you join Sportsworld?
I think its about 5 years now but feels a lot longer
Where do you work?
I could tell you but I’d have to kill you.
What is your favourite club session?
Fartlek in Bushy – when you get a group working together it’s a great session
What is your favorite race distance?
Currently Half marathon , I think I have done 27/28 now but im leaning more toward Marathon now that im getting old and slow
What is your favorite meal before a big race?
Whatever I can get my hands on. I have a strong stomach so I can eat anything
My Favourite place to train/compete is?
Defo waterworks , love the views and clean air ( and I can run from home)
What is your target for the next year? –
Im strongly thinking about an ultra and possibly a Duathlon
What is your best Sportsworld memory?
The weekend that 18 of us went to Berlin to run a half Marathon proudly sporting club colours and the night on the beer that followed ( No details given – what goes on tour stays on tour )
What international events have you ran?
Half marathon in Torrevieja Spain and half Marathon in Berlin
What do you like doing when you don’t run?
Go on the beer
How/When did you start your adventure with running?
When I realised I was fat and unfit. I was 16st and smoked 30 a day , so I quit the fags and joined a gym. A year later I had lost some weight and was able to run a bit so I came down to the club with Sandra Armstrong , and the rest is history.
Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement?
PBs 3.30 Marathon , 41min 10K , 19.00 5K . Biggest achievement was last weekend when I ran the extreme trail Marathon in Newry , just a few weeks after Dublin. More climbing that I have ever done in any race , 9 miles uphill and loved every minute.
How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?
I usually run 4/5 times per week about 35miles ( unless in Marathon training)
What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club?
The friends you make and the fact that you run better in a group
What made you join a Running Club?
Damn Sandra Armstrong
What was your first day at the Club like?
– Hell. It was the Terenure lap time trial and I knew nobody so Sandra said just stick with me and don’t let me get away. At the time I had never run faster than a jog and Sandra was running very well , so it nearly killed me to stay with her. I think I might have puked afterwards.
Why is running important to you?
Work is stressful , so running helps clear my head and you generate a great circle of running buddies. Plus you get to work off all the beer calories
Is there anything you would like to see more of or less of at the Club?
More -Vary the Sunday runs , the park is like groundhog day
Less – Giving out to me for not taking enough recovery after races –HaHa.
Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?
There is not just one person that offers inspiration , Myles ,Paddy and Emily all inspire me and Emily drives me to run better with her gentle encouraging tone ( That you can hear on the other side of the Tesco lap) Kidding !
Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?
I go to the gym 4 times a week and cycle a bit when the weather in favourable ( fair weather cyclist)
