Name: Pat O’Callaghan
Years Involved in Athletics: 10 Years+
Other sports played: Adventure racing
1. What is your earliest running memory?
School sports day at Feenagh NS.
2. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
The older members of the club hopefully I can keep running for a few more years also the ultra runners likes Eoin Keith what this man can do is just awe inspiring.
3. What do you consider your biggest accomplishment in athletics ?
My big love is multi day adventure racing last year I completed the 5 day ITERA Adventure racing world series race from Westport to Killarney, this was something I have being working towards for a good few years, now that this is ticked off the bucket list it’s time to look for a new challenge.
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4. What do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
I have learned from bitter experience that you really need to stretch properly especially as you get a little older the years of abuse catch up with you if you don’t. I have started doing Pilates for the last few years and it has really helped to get me into a good stretching routine. If you want to speed up your times then Interval running sessions like the Tuesday night sessions are the only way to go
5. How many miles on average did you run per week?
Currently I’m doing around 20 miles a week but I do mix this up with a good bit of Cycling, Kayaking, Orienteering and other sports also.
6. Do you prefer road racing, track or cross country?
I’m really an accidental runner, it is usually my weakest discipline in adventure racing events. My preferred events would be IMRA and other trail running races.
7. Favourite race distance?
The longer the better and I like races that throw in a few decent off road hills so I have an excuse for being slow, it’s more about the journey and where it brings you that the race with me.
8. Favourite race location/ race event to take part in?
My big goal every year is the “ Beast of Ballyhoura “ adventure race ,this is a multi day adventure race which brings you to the wilds of at least 3 different counties in Munster and is a mix of running, mountain biking, kayaking and usually has a few special tasks thrown in also. When it comes to running I have done the Charleville Half Marathon a few times and that is a great event.
9. What is your diet like?
To be honest my Diet could be a lot better but I do try.
10. Who is your training partner or do you train solo?
My regular training gang are Fiona,James,Ger and Jonathan. We put a team together to run a relay race around the Ring of Kerry this year and this was a great as Niamh,Mary,Dymphna,Liam an Declan joined us for training runs its great to have a good crowd to shorten the long training runs.
11. What is the best advice that you were given?
Listen to your body and it isn’t all about killing yourself every time you go out for a training run sometimes less is actually more.
12. Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
13. If you could run with any person, past or present, who would it be?
A run around the Copper Canyons with Caballo Blanco from the Born to Run book or a run with Steve Prefontaine would be nice.
14. Anything else you’d like to share? Only a few of us will be serious speed merchants for the rest of us it is about the journey, meeting our own goals and making a few friends along the way. Remember it’s not all about road and track races there are loads of other events out there to explore and vary things up a bit if you want a change. The only limits to what we can achieve is in your own mind.