Another of Pam & Ben’s group. a returnee to the sport, who has competed since returning in club races and both Novice and Masters Cross Country.
Bio:I was brought up in Seapoint and went to the Christian Brothers in Monkstown . Living in Dublin 15 for the past sixteen years.
What age did you take up the sport of athletics and why? I took up running in primary school when I was about ten. I was quick in the swimming pool and mini tag rugby and my speed was noticed by the PE teacher.
When and why did you join Clonliffe Harriers? I took the plunge and joined Clonliffe Harriers in July 2017. This boiled down to a combination of factors. I was working on a contract at the time a few miles away and was aware of the clubs facilities and reputation. My mum’s side of the family are from Glasnevin and attended events in the Morton stadium over the years. I had run a couple of Dublin City Marathons for the bucket list and wanted to rekindle my love for running from my school days. I felt I needed a structured training environment with like minded individuals and found a great spirit, devoted coaches and a sense of community after joining the club.
What is your favourite training workout? A speed track session consisting of 300m x 3, 200m x 3 and 100m x 6 cycles run hard with a slow 100m jog recovery between repetitions. Great for testing your speed endurance and anaerobic threshold. Another favourite for some strange reason is the weekly pyramid session in Trinity fields where Ben and Pam have that natural knack on picking up on any breakdown in both running form and mechanics as you attempt that last dreaded pyramid.
And your least favourite? 800M interval repeats on the track.
What’s your favourite race / athletics meet? 1500m at the Weltklasse Zurich
What is your most cherished or proudest moment in athletics? (as athlete and/or coach) Leinster Schools Medals
What was your worst injury – and how did you get over it? Luckily touch wood I have not picked up any major running injuries except for a mild hamstring strain on two occassions and a moderate form of achilles tendonitis. (I didn’t do much running through my twenties and mid thirties which was probably a contributing factor). Followed recommended treatment protocols and extended out my recovery period to be on the safe side.
(For a coach or seasoned athlete) What piece of advice would you give an aspiring athlete? Probably not qualified enough but from my limited experience i’ll give it a shot anyway.` Train consistently and recover adequately in order to perform well. Mix up your running terrain to prevent injury and build power and speed.
Do you have any memorable or funny story from Clonliffe Harriers that you could share? (the censorship board may review!) I wondered why I was getting some funny looks on the track one balmy Thursday evening. In my eagerness to get my new skin tight lycra running shorts on I had put them on back to front. They didnt feel like the bee’s knees until I noticed my error when I arrived home.
What’s your favourite meal? A. For competition None in particular B. Outside competition Roast sea bass with mediterannean salad and roast potatoes.
Who is your sporting ‘hero’? (athletics or other) A. Eamon Coughlan, Stephen Roche, Gary O’Toole, Padraig Harrington B. International Steve Scott, Michael Phelps,
What’s your favourite…? A. Film Schindlers List B. Song or Album Aslan – This Is (Original version) C. Book Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage,
What’s your favourite holiday destination? Italy What’s your favourite hobby / activity outside athletics? Swimming, Climbing, Hiking, Socializing, Reading and Baking. Was always torn between running and swimming. I still cherish winning a Leinster Schools Swimming Championship Title.
If you were Seb Coe what changes would you implement to improve our sport? A complete overhaul of the testing systems. More stringent, random testing of athletes.
How would your non-athlete friends describe you? (in 3 words) Is Great Company
What is your next running / athletics goal? (whenever normality returns!) Race more and perform to my potential on the track both indoors and outdoors at masters level.
How are you motivating yourself to continue training at these difficult times? Luckily I am blessed with a big park on my doorstep which acts as a great motivator for maintaining some level of fitness. I get out for a run five evenings a week. Three easy runs along with a fartlek and an interval session performed on the dry grass. Great for revitalizing body and mind during these challenging times.
