Fiona Bourke

Background

Years involved in Athletics: Running close to 20 years with a 7 year sabbatical to produce future taxpayers.

Other sports participated in: Tried very hard at tennis but was rubbish.

Q: What is your earliest running memory? I have the women’s mini marathon to thank for introducing me to running. A few of us decided to take part for the craic after finishing our exams. I ran as well as the other girls who ran for the college so it took off from there.

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from? I get my inspiration from athletes such as Carmel MacDomhnaill who is still going strong and also from Catherina McKiernan who continues to give no nonsense advice.

Q: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment in athletics? Possibly my biggest achievement was placing 20th in the National Intermediate XC in a blustery Killenaule. Getting a PB for 10k in the Plassey 10k is also up there. Right now though, helping the club get a podium place in XC events is important to me.

Q: How many miles on average did you run per week? I aim for 30 miles a week. Monday its weights, Tuesday is a session with the club, Wednesday is 6/8 miles steady, Thursday its Kilmeedy with the Dawn to Duskers!! Friday rest, Saturday long and Sunday I run out the legs after the long one with approx 4 miles.

Q: Do you prefer road racing, track or cross country? Favourite surface is definitely XC.

Q: Favourite race distance? Favourite race distance is probably 5k on grass.

Q: Favourite race location/ race event to take part in? My favourite race course is probably the race course in Patrickswell.

Q: What is/was your diet like? As far as diet is concerned, I follow the 70:30 rule. Clean for 70% and break out 30%. I aim to drink 2 litres of water a day, limit coffee to 2 cups a day and try to give chocolate a wide berth.

Q: Who was/is your training partner or did/do you train solo? At the moment, the training partners are mainly Pat, James, Ger, Jonathan, Kevin, Marcella and Jane, Mary, Timmy and Liam. Its all about Dawn to Dusk at the minute.

Q: What is the best advice that you were given? Bill Logan gave me the best advice: train fast, race fast. In other words, if you want to pull it out of the bag on race day you need to put in the fast sessions.

Q: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by? My motto: Carpe Diem – seize the day.

Q: If you could run with any person, past or present, who would it be? The person I most want to run with is without doubt Catherina McKiernan – I hope to do so when she comes to Newcastle West to give her Chi running workshop. I just hope I don’t trip.