The Main Man, With The Main Man.

1. What running shoes do you train in?

Asics Gel Kayano

2. How many miles did you run last week?

Only 28, unfortunately, due to a foot sprain.

3. What’s your favourite racing distance?

Currently it would be the Half-Marathon

4. Where’s you favourite place to train?

Up in the hills around lovely Moycullen or down by the river in Dangan

5. What’s your favourite race or event each year?

Connemara Half-Marathon, I only took up running last year but this is my favourite so far and was my first ever Half-Marathon. I also enjoy competing in any of the AAI events

6. What annoys you most at races?

Delays at the start

7. What race, that you haven’t yet run, would you most like to take part in?

Probably the Dublin City Marathon, I said that I wouldn’t run a marathon until I was over 30 and, having reached 120 seasons last weekend, I may be open to persuasion

8. What was your best-ever running performance?

National Half-Marathon Championships 2006

9. What was your worst-ever running performance?

Inter Counties Cross Country, Dungarvan 2006 – I’d put it down to the effects of my birthday celebrations but that’s just a lame excuse

10. What’s the strangest thing that you’ve ever seen on a training run?

170 bpm on my heart-rate monitor, 2 minutes into an easy winter training run – the cold plays havoc with it

11. Favourite piece of running gear?

This time of year it would have to be gloves

12. Who would you most enjoy beating in a sprint for the line?

Anyone whom I haven’t beaten before

13. What was the best bit of training advice you were ever given?

Train as much as you can on grass

14. In ten years time will you still be running?

Hopefully

15. If for some reason you were told you could never run again, how do you think you’d react?

Disappointed, but I’d probably get back on to Lough Corrib again, my Kayak hasn’t seen much action since I took up running last year

16. Have you ever been bitten by a dog while running?

No, but I’ve had a couple of close encounters

17. Have you ever had to stop for an emergency ‘Paula’ during a race?

Thankfully, no

18. Favourite post-race food?

Usually any pasta dish but anything tastes good after a race, hunger is a great sauce

19. Most embarrassing ever running-related moment?

Can’t think of anything running related right now but maybe I’ll be able to recount a moment to you the next time you ask

20. The greatest Irish Athlete of all time is/was?

Eamon Coughlan or Sonia O’ Sullivan