Q1.When did you start running and what got you interested in it?
Ran my first marathon in 1996 and then took a 12 year break. Just wanted to see if I could do one.
Q2. How many marathons have you run?
Seventeen including one ultra.
Q3. What’s your favourite event?
Dublin marathon as the buzz from the crowds is great.
Q4. How many miles do you run in a typical week?
At the moment building up for the Belfast 24 hour and at 60 miles/week + two circuit training classes.
Q5. What’s your best ever running performance?
Finishing the Portumna 100k in 13 hours 33 minutes. Best marathon finish is 3:51.
Q6. What running shoes do you wear and do you wear racing flats?
All kinds of ASICS. Currently using GEL 1160 to see if they help with an achilles problem. Also have a pair of Landreth 6, Gel Culumus and Lahar on the rotation.
Q7. What was your worst marathon experience?
Have had a few but the very hot year in Cork was pretty tough. I think it hit 27 degrees and I was in trouble shortly after coming out of the Jack Lynch tunnel. I finished in something like 4:33 and glad to get there.
Q8. How fast could you run a mile on a track?
Not sure but somewhere around 6:40 would be a guess.
Q9. What’s your marathon PB?
I have done 3:51 twice. Last year I tried for 3:30 in Dublin but walked from mile 15 to mile 20 before finishing at 3:51 and missing my PB by 20 seconds.
Q10. What’s the best piece of training advice you were ever given?
If you are running marathons and not getting injured then don’t change too much.
Q11. Have you ever had a serious running injury?
Not really but I can’t seem to shake an Achilles problem I have had on and off since last Summer.
Q12. What training session do you find the hardest/dislike the most and what’s your favourite session?
I find them all tough but I especially don’t like speed work. My favourite is the 9 mile walk on a Saturday morning with my wife Helen.
Q13. What is the longest race you have completed?
Portumna 100k
Q14. Do you have a Favourite quote running or otherwise?
The journey of a thousand miles beings with a single step.
Q15. Weirdest food you’ve ever eaten during a marathon?
Had a magnum ice cream during the cork marathon. Took a dozen Cadbury cream eggs to the Portumna 100k with me but only ate one or two during the event. On long training runs for the 100k had everything from Sausage rolls to 99 icecreams.
Q16. Strangest thing you’ve ever seen during a marathon?
The guy running the Dublin marathon wearing wellies was impressive.
Q17. What usually goes through your head as you cross the finish line of a marathon?
Thank God thats finished.
Q18. Do you get narky if you don’t get a run in?
Not particularly.
Q19. Have you ever considered how you’d handle it if you couldn’t run again?
I would have to stop eating.
Q20. What event have you not yet completed that you would like to do the most in the future?
Looking forward to the Belfast 24 hour and would like to do the Connemara 100 sometime and the Dingle ultra.
