An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 25 road races on the calendar because of Covid-19. Trail races could still go ahead because the volunteer element of these events. Volunteers could quickly organise local races at short notice when government guidelines allowed so. I started doing these short races around Wicklow with the intention of going back to road racing when restrictions were lifted. However, I loved the thrill and freedom of trail racing. Pace and timing are irrelevant on the trails, so head-to-head racing takes the fore. I find this much more engaging than chasing a clock. I ran my first Ultra Marathon in 2022, and qualified for the European Championships in La Palma, Canary Islands. That experience could never be matched in road running. I fully committed to Ultra Marathons since then and have had some success. I won the Irish Ultra Mountain Running Championships in 2024, and backed it up with a 12th place finish in the World SkyRunning Championships in Soria, Spain, soon after. I still enjoy road running, but Ultra Trail Marathons will be my focus for the foreseeable future. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT SO FAR IN SPORT? My proudest moment so far in sport was winning Mountain Runner of the Year in 2024. I worked hard that year and backed myself to perform at a higher level than I had before. I raced all across Europe: from the bogs of Derryvaegh National Park to the glitz of Switzerland's St.Moritz, and everywhere in between. I had a hugely successful year, which culminated in being recognised at Athletics Ireland's annual awards. I attended with my partner, close friends, and the Irish Mountain Running Association's Committee. All of whom have supported me and believed in me throughout the year and all played their own part in my success" WHAT WERE SOME CHALLENGES YOU FACED DURING AN ENDURANCE EVENT? "The biggest challenge of these endurance events is staying healthy. Sleep is impacted with early morning sessions and late-night doubles. A lot of time is spent out in the elements. There's a lot of stress on the body throughout the training blocks which is compounded by general life stressors. Overuse injuries are quite common and can lead to some time on the sidelines to recover. Colds and flus are common in the business end of training blocks because our immune systems are suppressed from the high volumes of training. Staying healthy leading up to an important race is critical, as even the smallest niggle can be detrimental over the course of the event. When the margins are so tight, these things matter. WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED? The most valuable lesson I have learned in endurance running is to build up your team. Nobody knows it all, so it is important to surround yourself with those who are leaders in their field. I work with a world class coach based in Boulder, Colorado, and have learned a lot from him. I work with an experienced neuromuscular therapist who has learned how my body works over time and can identify and remedy any incoming issues to ensure I can continue working hard. I have a great training group that I run with. We all have similar aspirations of competing at the highest level which helps keep me motivated. The sport can be lonely, but it doesn't need to be. Surrounding yourself with likeminded people is hugely beneficial. WHAT DOES A TYPICAL WEEK OF TRAINING LOOK LIKE? My training varies depending on the time of year. I recently raced the Granite Peaks 50km, which acted as a qualifying race for the Irish team going to the World Championships in Spain later this year. I spent the last 3 months preparing for that and adding specific training for the demands of the course. This race was held in the Mourne Mountains in Co. Down, so my training needed to prepare me for the steepness and technicality of the terrain. I ran 7 days per week, with double training days on the weekends. My total volume peaked at 172km of running with 8,500m of elevation gain in my final week before the race. This consisted of long runs through the Wicklow Mountains to practice fuelling, uphill treadmill workouts in the gym, and fast descending on rocky, technical terrain to practice the skill of descending and proprioception. Training remains pretty consistent throughout the year but will vary in intensity and specificity depending on what's on the horizon. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? I have my first green singlet coming up with a trip to France on the 6th of June for the Celtic Nations Cup. This a 26km trail race around Lake Guerledan in Brittany. I raced this before in 2022, where we secured team bronze. We have a strong team going this year and hope to replicate our previous results. This kicks off the international racing for the summer, with some other international outings planned for June and July. The main focus will be the World Mountain Championships held in the Spanish Pyrenees in late September. I'll be competing in a team of 4 in the "Short Trail" event. This course starts and finishes in the town of Canfranc, and travels in a loop through the Pyrenees, gaining 3,700m over 44km. This is the biggest event on the trail running calendar, so we want to perform well in a high-class field.

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