I started running about 3 years ago when my brother asked me did I want to do
the BUPA 10K fun run in aid of a charity and I wanted to see how good I would do.
I did it without any training or without even doing any serious sports for the past
3 years. I managed to get a respectable time of 47 minutes but, unfortunately, I was
not able to continue for the next 3 months as I had seriously injured myself from
my lack of training. So I started running with my brother 3 times a week. So when
I went to the race again I managed to take 7 minutes off my time. After I finished
this race I wanted to do bigger races so I decided to put my name down for a
slightly bigger race - the Addidas half marathon. But, as I went on with my training,
my brother who was still training with me got a really serious injury and could not
run any more. Without anybody to run with, my training stopped. With two
weeks to the race the biggest distance I had managed to do was 10 miles and I
found it really hard. I got very worried and started training 5 days a week and was
delighted when it came to the big race day. I had managed to come first in the
under-19 section and got a prize for itAfter I did this my family, who were really proud of me, started pushing me to
join a running team. So I joined a nearby running team called the Lucan Harriers.
When I first started training with them they were not sure at what level I was at. So
they eased me into it and I am glad they did as they were training 6 days a week.
But the more I ran with them, the easier it felt. So I then started doing the same
distances as the people who were my age but had been running their whole lives.
Lately I have done a national 6-mile cross country race and came 38th out of 100
and then I came 3rd in a 1500m national indoor race in Nenagh, County Tipperary.
When I heard in 5th year there was running in the school, I went to Mr O'Reilly
straight away and put my name down as I knew it would be good to do extra
training. In my first race I came 40th in West Leinster cross country and was really
happy with my performance as I had just started running and it was my first
schools' race. . But, by next year, I was really looking forward to the races and
hoping to be finishing closer to the top. This I did when I came 6th in the West
Leinsters which put me through to races in D.C.U. I had to make my own way out
as no teacher in the school could bring me out. This race was a lot harder and
I didn't feel well before it. I finished 21st.I am hoping that when I go to college I will be able to run for the college I chose to
go to and get a scholarship. I will also be going to England to be doing some
races over there. I am really looking forward to this summer when I will not be
thinking about my Leaving Cert and worrying about should I be studying when
I am running. But I think running has helped me with my Leaving Cert because
it gives me a break from studying and I always get a better sleep after doing
some training and feel a lot more refreshed and ready for the next day in school.
