Name: Kevin O’Donoghue
Years Involved in Athletics: It started properly with the Adare 10k in 2013, so 3 years.
Any other sports played:
I was never very skillful but I would say I was always determined. I played soccer, gaelic football and rugby. I was pretty much a constant sub in soccer and gaelic but enjoyed the fun with my friends. I loved playing rugby. My tackling technique was once described to me as like watching a car crash. It was effective though.
1. What is your earliest running memory? My earliest running memory would be Monagea National School. We used to run laps of the field out the back of the school. Being repeatedly lapped by Patrick McCartan wasn’t great for the morale but then again I didn’t realise at the time how talented he was.
2. Where do you draw your inspiration from? I tend to find inspiration in lots of things. I wouldn’t be running without having Mike O Brien as a friend and Ger Guina as a coach. In the beginning the whole running world was alien to me. MOB was the reason I started and Ger made sure I didn’t stop. Seeing people making the most of their ability regardless of whatever level they are at inspires me. On the flip side I hate to see talent wasted no matter what the sport. On a more personal level I find huge inspiration from my parents. They never give up or give in to any challenge they come across.
3. What do you consider your biggest accomplishment in athletics ? Being relatively new to athletics, I’d only now consider myself a runner after 3 years. I think my biggest accomplishment to date was the Dublin marathon in 2013. Looking back I was no where near ready to take it on but I had my mind made up to do it and I struggled in after about 4 hours 36 minutes.
4. What do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success? With the word success being relative I think that you can not beat consistency in training. A weekly speed session, some recovery miles and where possible doing two long runs at the weekend to build endurance.
5. How many miles on average did you run per week? When I am not being consistent about 20 – 30 miles . Lately with marathon training I would be around 50 miles most weeks. There will be the odd blip week where everything seems to fall apart though.
6. Do you prefer road racing, track or cross country?
I have never done track but hopefully that will change once the development of the Athletics Hub goes ahead in Newcastle West in the coming years. I like road racing most as with the smaller numbers in the cross country it is easy to get isolated at the back of the pack. Saying that the challenge and standard of the cross country racing raises your own standards also.
7. Favourite race distance? I think 10k. Tomorrow it could be half marathon though. Something long enough to get settled into and enjoy. I feel 5ks are just over too fast.
8. Favourite race location/ race event to take part in? Adare 10k. It was my first road race and has significance to me because of that. It is a great club day out and a good challenging race.
9. What is your diet like? I am not great diet wise I think. I like my white bread, alot. I am not a big sweet person but if there are crisps in the house I will find them and eat them. Once you have everything in moderation I think you will be fine. I definitely don’t drink pints as much as I used to so that helps.
10. Who is your training partner or do you train solo?
I’ll run whenever I can. With work and a young family it can be hard to get out. At times I like solo runs but after an hour or 90 minutes its nice to have someone to talk to. Id run regularly with Paula Corbett, Fiona Bourke, Kevin Kelly, Dec Guina among others. Club training is nearly my social night out at this stage and I get to meet up with everyone (between the intervals of course 🙂 )
11. What is the best advice that you were given? Listen to your body. If you need to take a day off your body will tell you.
12. Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by? Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. (This doesn’t apply to jobs around the house)
13. If you could run with any person, past or present, who would it be? I was lucky enough to run with Catherina McKiernan recently so I would say Sonia O Sullivan. Other than that I am very happy meeting up with the West Limerick crew for my training.
14. Anything else you’d like to share? The best thing I did was join a club, not just a club but a great club in West Limerick AC. I was sitting having a pint with Ger Guina in Collins Bar in 2013 after Adare 10k when he said it to me. Little did I know at the time that the group of people that I knew would expand hugely to include so many great new friends. Running is an addiction, a good one but I am also very lucky to have a very understanding wife in Joan.
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