1. How did you get into athletics ?I was always into fitness but began running consistently after the birth of my 3rd child. I had three children under 5 and was very unwell after number 3. After a 6 month recovery process I promised myself I would come out of it all a stronger, tougher person and I ran my first marathon 6 months later just as he turned 1.
2. Why do you run?
I run to feel good, to have some time to myself and to deal with the stress of a busy family and work life. It gives me balance.
3. Did you try different events or where you always a distance runner ?
I went straight for distance running, I love getting lost in my own head on long runs and the challenge of keeping your body going.
4. Can you give a brief synopsis of your running career to date ?
In Autumn 2016 I ran the Dublin marathon for the first time, Spring 2017 I ran the Maurice Mullins Ultra marathon, followed by the Innov8 Ultimate trails ultra that summer in the UK. In the past 3 1/2 years I have run 6 road marathons and 6 Ultra marathons as well as various shorter distances.
5. What would you consider to be your main highlight ?
The Art O’Neill ultra in 2018 was an amazing run, a real test of character given the extra ordinary weather conditions.
6. When did you hook up with TTracers and what was the reason for doing so?
I hooked up with TTracers in January 2019. I knew about the group for some time but to be honest had been a bit intimidated to join. A couple of friends who were members convinced me that it wasn’t just for elites and there was a place for everyone. My family commitments prevent me from joining a local club and I really felt I needed to add something different if I was ever going to see any improvements.
7. what would be in your eyes the main advantage of being part of TTracers ?
Being in the company of some really inspiring athletes is a huge advantage, as well as getting to know the lovely people I have met, but also personally the progression I have seen in my running from taking part in the sessions has been so rewarding. In 2018 I worked my socks off to get a marathon time of 3.57 – finally under 4 hours, I thought that was as good as I could be. Then I joined TTracers and in the 2019 Dublin marathon ran it in 3.27. Even if you are not the one winning all there races, being with a group that sets it’s sights so high is such a motivator to see how much you can get from yourself.
8. What’s the best running advice you’ve been given which has helped you to become a better runner?
Mix it up, doing the same thing all the time will just lead to the same results.
9. What’s your running ambition going forward?
To keep pushing myself to improve, to run further and faster as long as my body lets me and to be grateful that I can do this… and to set a marathon time that my kids are going to find really hard to beat if they start racing!
