When did you join Sportsworld?

Just over 2 years ago in May 2016 after the Terenure 5. I’d like to think Myles was talent spotting when he recruited me but Eoin told me later they needed a few more over 50’s to make up a team!

Where do you work?

I am a chartered surveyor and myself and my wife have a small property renovation and investment business.

What is your favourite club session?

I love any session on the grass in Bushy, the track on a Saturday morning is great and Sundays in the Park are ideal for spiritual nourishment! Definitely hills and sprints is my winter favourite.

What is your favourite race distance?

If I had to put a road distance on it I would say from 10k up to half marathon and maybe a bit longer. But to be honest for me it is more about the challenge presented whatever the distance. For example I love the masters cross country races which are only 6 to 8k generally but are always gut busting. Same goes for the IMRA races which might only be 8 to 10k but have a 500m climb and rough terrain.

What is your favourite meal before a big race?

A small glass of fresh orange juice, a good sized bowl of my own home made bircher muesli with natural yoghurt  and blueberries, and of course an expresso, ideally two hours before the start.

My Favourite place to train is?

The only training I really do outside the club is for my hill running so I love trailing in the Wicklow Hills and on the quiet roads and farm lanes around Thomastown and Inistiogue in Kilkenny where I am from. There is a beautiful hurling pitch and grounds  right on the banks of The Nore in Instigoue. I sometines head down there early on sunny summer mornings and run laps before my first coffee of the day.

What’s your favourite race?

As you will already have gathered from my recent race report, The Marathon du Mont Blanc Cross race In Chamonix is special. Myles will verify that my hometown Leinster Masters Road race in Gowran brings out the competitor in me. I wont disagree with him.

What is your target for the next year?

I wont hide the fact that I enter a superior masters category next year so an auld medal or two would be great craic. But honestly, as my fellow masters will testify, being able to participate fully in all the club sessions and staying injury free will be good enough.

What is your best Sportsworld memory?

Hard to match the  camaraderie and craic on the Masters cross country and road race teams. To be pat of The Wicklow Way Relay team this year was special. I enjoy helping with and seeing the success of The Terenure 5.

What international events have you ran? 

The Marathon du Mont Blanc Cross and The Paris Half Marathon.

Where’s the most interesting place you have run?

There is a gorgeous 400m running track in Chamonix town. You can literally walk on to it from the street. Going down the back straight you are looking directly up at the peak of Mont Blanc.

What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times)

I am generally sports mad so love spectating and watching rugby, soccer and hurling. I get to a few Kilkenny matches. Otherwise I relax playing and listening to music and reading. I am useless at it but enjoy a bit of DIY and gardening.

How/When did you start your adventure with running?

I used to run cross country in school but then did no competitive running again until 5 years ago. I always kept in shape as I got older though with jogging and five-a-side soccer. Golf was my main pastime  through the years but funnily I don’t play at all now.

Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement?

Before I joined the club my best 5k Park Run in Marlay was 21.30.  Now I break 20 minute most times. 42.30 is my best 10k so maybe I can improve that soon. Same goes for my best half which stands at 1.38. I got a great kick out of winning a bronze medal in the over 55’s Leinster Road Race championships in Gowran in June. Being competitive in the IMRA and other trail races is an achievement for me.

How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?

I rarely manage the four club sessions in any week so Tuesday, Thursday and either Saturday or Sunday would be typical. In the summer if I am doing the IMRA races on a Wednesday or a hill run at the weekend I might drop a club session or otherwise my legs/knees would give up.

What motivates you? Running or otherwise

Getting the best out of myself and my abilities is good for my physical and mental health which in turn benefits my family and friends and everyone I encounter in my daily life.

What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club?

Hard to put just one in words but the best things are the moments like:

• Standing in the clubhouse before we head out to train. The tingle of excitement and anticipation. I am part of something with 50/60/70 other humans, we have the coachs instructions, we are going to run.
• High fiving with my group at the end of a hard session. I feel so alive and invigorated even though I am out on my feet.
• Hills and Sprints on a cold, wet night. I am straining to reach the top of the hill but I know Myles will shout my name and I will get there.
• The session is over. I have showered and had the banter with the likely lads in the changing rooms. Knackered, I head for home happy.

What made you join a Running Club?

I simply needed someone to run with. I have my brother to run with in Kilkenny but my contemporaries who exercise go to gyms or for a cycle on Sunday mornings, neither of which do it for me.

Why is running important to you?

It makes me feel great, all the time

Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?

I feel Myles and Emily look out for me and Myles encourages me and makes me feel like I can do more next week and next year. You can imagine the positive feeling that gives you when you are heading for ….

I am continually inspired and motivated by my fellow over 50’s (and a few approaching that landmark) runners and now friends. They weren’t in my life or even on my radar two years ago and I don’t need to name them here but they are super guys to be around. But you know, everyone in the club, guys and girls, young and older, without exception, are great to train and chat with In the clubhouse and out on the roads and at races whether running with me or supporting.

Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?

For the last year I have been doing TRX classes and I think they have contributed big time to making me stronger and helping me take the knocks and niggles that running throws at you. I am on my bike most days and cycle to work and training but they are 10 minutes each way! Summer sees me kayaking on the Nore and the Barrow.

When did you join Sportsworld?

Ten years ago although i did abscond to the triathlon gang for a year or so, always knew I’d be back to my running.

Where do you work?

I’m a swim teacher, and  gym instructor, so various leisure centres around Dublin. am also a qualified massage therapist.

What is your favourite club session?

Long long runs and the winter hills and sprints.

What is your favourite race distance?

Marathon and 50ks, I love endurance events, did my fist 100k ultra this year.

What is your favourite meal before a big race?

I’m old school night before, steak and spuds or a chicken pasta dish.  I love me grub so can eat pretty much anything. Morning before runs and races porridge on water add chi seed or nuts with berries or strawberries manuka honey and of course bananas.

My Favourite place to train is?

Any forest trails,  and  parks or quite country roads anywhere away from noisy big cities and traffic.

What’s your favourite race?

I did a 39mile ultra in Connemara in 2015 and the scenery was breathtaking and race well organised also Lanzarote is brilliant.

What is your target for the next year?

Definitely planned another few marathons and another ultra hopefully the 24h in Belfast sounds good.

What is your best Sportsworld memory?

My fist marathon in Dublin 2009, proudly wearing my club singlet, never believed I would do another one, but will always remember the feeling at the finish, its the same now after each event no matter what the distance.

What international events have you ran?  

Lanzarote running challenge, Berlin marathon, Ironman in France and Holland, Prague half.

Where’s the most interesting place you have run?

Ha, Liverpool marathon because I was sick told not to run but did anyway after staying out boozing the night before ,was a lovely course,  and have the best football team. Pity they only ran it that one year.

Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been?   (Doesn’t have to be running related)   

Croatia, Amsterdam come to mind, Canada is amazing have family so been in winter and summer, lake Garda in Italy is lovely place to tour camping and of course we love France.

What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/pastimes)

Well apart from swimming and cycling, I like to cook, and I play snooker and pool helps me to chill. I would have loved to take up boxing when i was younger but girls weren’t allowed , my dad was a Dublin champion in the 1940s and my 2 brothers boxed.

How/When did you start your adventure with running?

I was always into all sports ran a little played basketball at school but  loved football. I played soccer  and even won a FAI cup medal until I tore my cruciate ligament in my mid thirties  and gave up for a while, got into bad habits and before i knew it was overweight,  then decided to change things, lost a stone before my 40th birthday started running and I haven’t looked back.

Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement? 

I’m not a slave to the clock prefer to just run with freedom. I’m built  for endurance so 100k 12.47,  Marathon pb 3.47, half 1.43, 50k around 4.44 finished 2 iron man distance triathlons 4k swims 180k bike and 42 k runs.

What is your biggest non-running related achievement?

As above , also having my children.

How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?

Would run every day if i can and usually do sometimes twice depends what I’m training for anything from 15 to 60 miles.

What motivates you? Running or otherwise

I run a lot on my own then I talk my self into what I can achieve, so I set another challenge.  I’ve a no limits . I go off the beaten track to small local races and meeting new people , hearing there stories is amazing. I know people who would love to be able to get out but can’t I  so feel so lucky every time I put on the runners.

What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club?

It’s great crack we have runners from every level some serious some not so, there is a group for everyone. And now there’re more nights out.

What made you join a Running Club?

I was jogging in Bushy when i spotted the club house went and joined straight away to improve and to meet like minded people, I’ve been working in swimming pools and gyms but really wanted to be outdoors. Was exactly what I needed.

What was your first day at the Club like?

I was bit nervous didn’t know what to expect, i met Anne Sweeney we joined around the same time, have been training together ever since chatting away on many long runs, then spent a memorable week in Lanzarorte in 2012.

Why is running important to you?

It relives stress for me I’m not happy until I get my run in.

Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?

Claire Harrigton has been a great help with the ultra training she is a brilliant endurance athlete, also Shay and Ronan with their amazing events. I ran a 50k with them in Donade forest a few years back, top lads.

Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?

Swimming, pilates, few light weights.

Tell us something that no one in the club knows about you!?

I have no sense of direction which is why everyone  in the club has give me lifts at some point thanks all of you and how in the iron man cycle in Amsterdam i took a wrong turn and ended up doing an extra 20k.

When did you join?

Around September 2016.  I was preparing for a sprint duathlon in Westport that November and my training had consisted of cycling to work all summer.    I hoped a few weeks in a running club would magically improve my running speed.  I thought I’d only stay for a few weeks but I was hooked right away.

Where do you work?

I’m an accountant in the IFSC. It’s some craic.

What is your favourite club session?

I briefly loved hills and sprints – nothing like throwing your all into the hill – but I quickly realised that Deirdre O’ Connell’s 80% effort was about equal to my 120%  so I came up with an obscure injury to save face and I can’t really do those sessions anymore.   I finally did my first “long” run in the phoenix park about 2 months ago and that’s my new favourite.  It was beautiful, muck and all.  I love that you get to have great chats or just companionable (if gaspy) silences on the longer runs.

What is your favourite race distance?

I haven’t really done enough races to know but maybe 5km.  Prior to joining I did a few sprint duathlons around Westport and definitely prefer being out in the wilds surrounded by nature than the noise and fuss of road races.  I did some 10k events before joining but now 10k feels like a long time for me to be on my feet and rushing.

What is your favourite meal before a race?

When I ran the Raheny 5 mile it was my first race with the club and I was quite nervous for some reason.  I think it went something like…Egg sandwich at 8pm, granola at 3am, slice of cheese at 5 am, porridge at 8am, protein bar on the way….I’ve matured a lot since then and in my second 5 mile race with the club last weekend I just had half a bowl of porridge.

What is your target for next year?

I’d just like to find a formula for coping with my knee problems that would allow me to run consistently.  If I find that formula I guess I’d aim for a sub 50 10k and a sub 24 minute 5k, and I might try a 10 miler just to see if I can stay going for that long.  Sometime, before I’m 80, I’d like to do a sprint triathlon, time irrelevant.

What is your best sportsworld memory?

I kind of enjoy every session so it’s hard to pick a best memory.  A recent last place finish in the 1500 metres in Tallaght was great fun on a Wednesday night.  My performance on track is fairly tragic but nonetheless any visit out there seems to make me mildly delirious.   This year I’ve had some lovely longer spring runs and even longer brunches this year with a certain group of rather easy going runners.

What international events have you done?

None.  I once played an impromptu soccer match in a village school on Lake Titicaca.  I don’t think that is in any way relevant but I wanted to say it anyhow to sound like I’ve done stuff.

What is the most interesting place you have run?

While on a year out around Australia jogging was great way of exploring every new city.   My favourite place to run was  along the shore of St. Kilda, Melbourne every evening and watching sunsets before hitting the cake shops of Acland Street.

What do you do when you don’t run?

I like hiking, cycling and any kind of moderately active holiday if it’s not too hot.  A lot of that has been  off limits for the last 15 months so now so I’m trying to reinvent my splash- and- panic swim technique and studying computing.  I also discovered an alarmingly premature love of digging the garden a few years ago.

Oh and I’m on whatsapp a lot.  Any day now I’m going to tackle that social media addiction.

When did you start your adventure with running?

When I was 19 I came back from an Erasmus college experience in France about two stone overweight from living on frites and mayonnaise sandwiches and decided I needed to take the situation in hand.  I’m not competitively minded but finding running ( “ jogging” as it was called in those days), just heading out on the roads or fields by myself and clearing the head was a real gift.

What is your PB/achievement?

In the two years I’ve been with the club I’ve run just 3 races.

I did the Raheny 5 mile 2017 in 39 minutes (38:54 ish, I think, roughly) which is the fastest I’ve ever run over distance.  And I think that was largely thanks to Grainne Lynch pacing me around the course as I’m still new to the concept of pacing.

My best 5 k was a 24.03 in a Marlay parkrun. It was gutting to run over 27 minutes in the same distance this new year’s day in the Tom Brennan.

My happiest race was a sprint duathlon in Westport in November 2016 (20 K cycle, 10K run, hike half way up Croagh Patrick) where I knocked 10 minutes of my time of the previous attempt to get home in 2hours 33 minutes.

How often do you run?

At the moment 5-10k a week over one or two sessions a week if the body holds up.  Every few weeks I try to push it a bit and do different sessions or faster sessions.  One week I think I hit the grand total of 30km but then I needed 3 weeks off.

What is the best thing about being in a running club?

There’s loads I love about the club and hardly any of them are to do with running.  To list a few…Eoin O’ Brien’s warm and funny and inclusive emails (before he retired), the shouts of encouragement you get from Emily, Myles and everyone else if you’re only panting up a hill on a Tuesday evening, Michael Cunningham’s selfless workrate.  The general kindness and inclusiveness of the club.   When I got injured Grainne Lynch showed the patience of the saint (who’d a thunk it!?) to keep me in touch with what was going on in the club and nudge me into non-running ways of staying involved such as stewarding (cheap labour I was) and nights out.   At the Christmas party 2017 I by chance ended up sitting with, then stranger, Alison Mackey who kindly co-opted me into the easy-going runners gang.    It’s been a gift to be able to drop in and out of training and brunch with this group and not (as yet) get left behind.  Conor Kenny and Ellen Lavin have both, separately and in different ways, been great sources of advice and encouragement. The email support group are great (even Deirdre O’Connell, though she bullies me a lot cos I don’t run as well as the others).

What was your first day like in the club?

I don’t remember exactly.  I think we might have been doing 200 metres over by the edge of bushy park.  I’d never sprinted before so it was a great opportunity to release the inner child. Woohoo!

Why is running important to you?

It’s simple and liberating, it costs almost nothing and you can do it anywhere.  Good times or bad, running is a release and a joy and I don’t like to contemplate life without it.

Who inspires you to run better?

Usain Bolt and Irene O’Connor.  Admittedly, I don’t know Usain all that well but, speed aside, I’m inspired by how he really seems/ed to cherish the joy of running.  For similar reasons, I love how Irene just decides to do a marathon on a whim during any given week, on the way to an Ultra at the weekend.  If I had the energy and the strength I think that’s a great way to interact with the earth.

Tell us one thing that no one knows about you?

I was so shy when I was younger I was afraid of telephones. (Now I keep one strapped to me always as a reminder of the battle and the journey).

When did you join Sportsworld?

A few years back after meeting club Member Helen Dixon (who is now my wife!). I was looking out for an athletics club to join at the time, so the choice became easy.

Where do you work?

I work in the I.T. department of the R.C.S.I.

What is your favourite club session?

Very long speed intervals on the grass at bushy park on a lovely summers evening. Just the right mix of enjoyment and pain (no pain, no gain).

What is your favorite race distance?

Favourite is a tricky question to answer. My most successful event is probably 6 day racing (A fixed time event rather than fixed distance), but the event intimidates me like no other. My favourite races would be the likes of Tor De Geants, The Spine Race, or the Barkley marathons… and those really aren’t about a particular distance per se. So the broad answer would be multi-day non-stop off-road races.

What is your favourite meal before a big race?

Rib eye steak, Sweet potatoes and plenty of vegetables.

My Favourite place to train is?

The hills/mountains in sunny heat. Location doesn’t matter too much, and variety is good.

What’s your favourite race?

Until this year I would have said the Tor De Geants, but the Barkley Marathons really is something special so it probably wins at the moment.

What is your target for the next year?

I don’t usually plan much beyond the current year, and there are one or two event still left (such as UTMB).

What international events have you ran?                                 

A lot! I usually race abroad a few times every year… that’s how most of my holiday time gets used up. As well as interesting races I target for my own enjoyment I have also represented Ireland in a few European and World championship events around the world.

Where’s the most interesting place you have run?

Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee (Home of the Barkley Marathons), The course of Primal Quest Utah (Multi-sports, including running).

Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been?  (Doesn’t have to be running related)                                              

Probably the same answer as above, with the addition of a few more adventure race courses (British Columbia, Badlands of South Dakota, The Maritime Alps. Also hanging onto the side of a few mountains, such as the Matterhorn, in my mountaineering days.

What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times)

Cycling, Adventure racing. Catching up on current affairs. Eating!

How/When did you start your adventure with running?

I fell in with a bad crowd in my hillwalking / mountaineering days! A few of them were planning to run the DCM, so I decided I would join in, as I had a suspicion I would be better at endurance running than sprinting. I realised on my last long training run before the marathon that I was going well, so adjusted my targets. A resultant 2:57 let me know that I could actually run quite well, much to my surprise.

Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement?

I’d count breaking the record for running Mizen head to Malin head as my biggest achievement (3 days, 3 hours, 47 minutes). It was like the culmination of all my years of training. I never expected to be so relaxed and pain free whilst running fluidly to the finish.

It’s always a big honour to put on an Irish vest and run for my country. Putting in a strong performance in the national colours, especially as part of an Irish team is hugely rewarding.

My shortest PB is for 5 miles (27:30, I think), which I only one ran once in Raheny years ago (After running a hill race earlier in the morning). Next up would be 55:30 for 10 miles at Ballycotton.

1:17 for half marathon at Omagh (I tend not to run half anything and that was the only half I ever ran, but that was back in foot and mouth times when racing shut down in the Republic, so we had to venture north to get any fun)

2:41 for Marathon in Dublin in 2002. But I count 2:52 in the Snowdon Marathon as my best marathon performance, given the nature of the course.

My good PBs are all at ultra distances (There’s a surprise!).

100km – 7:45 (I think). 24 hours – 248.4km (Irish record).  6 days – 816 km (Irish record)

Also a few other notable records such as:

Wicklow Way record (12:25)

Spine Race record (95 hours or so)

Fastest Irish UTMB time (24:44)

What is your biggest non-running related achievement?

Marrying Helen!

How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?

By default I run every day. The breaks find themselves due to life. I try to mix in a cycle day here in there as well for all sorts of reasons. Most weekday evenings I’d run 2 to 3 hours (obviously less if it’s a speed session with Sportworld). Most weekends I’d run 5-7 hours back to back long runs (or occasionally equivalent timed cycles).

What motivates you? Running or otherwise

If I didn’t intrinsically enjoy running I wouldn’t do it. I’m always motivated to see how well I can do, be it racing for position or running against the clock. The escape from the urban jungle into the freedom of the hills when training and racing is something I always value.

What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club?

Having fun with like minded people. Training as a group raising the standards of everyone collectively and individually.

What made you join a Running Club?

The narrow answer would be that I wanted to do structured speed training with runners who were a little faster than me.

Why is running important to you?

At this stage I’d regard as a lifestyle! The benefits are literally life altering in multiple positive ways.

Is there anything you would like to see more of or less of at the Club?

I’d like to see myself turn up more consistently… specific race preparations and a few broken bones have gotten in the way in the last while. I think the club engages in a great range of activities, both running and social.

Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?

I always love to hear about older runners not letting age be an excuse, who continue to train and race competitively. It’s also great to see people take on new challenges and excel.

Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?

Cycling (commute that way), but I should do more. I used to kayak a fair bit too, but that has fallen away (can’t do everything!).  I’m always planning to do more S&C work some day soon!

Tell us something that no one in the club knows about you!?

Given that my wife is in the club that’s a pretty big ask!