Thomas Delaney and his wife Celine are members of Palmerstown based Waterstown Warriors. Their youngest daughter Katie joined Donore Harriers in 2018
Katie has competed in track, road and cross-country in the black and white of Donore Harriers, whilst her parents don the blue of the Warriors in distances from 5km to the marathon. Katie (U/15) has completed 63 parkruns, 59 at Waterstown – being the first woman home on 11 occasions
Thomas is a registered coach at Donore Harriers, assisting Graham Hopkins with the Long Term Athlete Development juvenile distance squad of athletes in the age range 12 to 16. Thomas provides guidance and support to the young beginners and the slower runners within the squad. And he’s great with riddles and quizzes to add some fun on the run…
Here’s what Graham has to say about Thomas the coach: ֍֍֍Thomas is the glue that keeps the LTAD squad together. He never misses a session and has seldom even been seen without a smile on his face. It is never too wet, too cold, or too hot when Thomas is around – all weather is great training weather “and sure doesn’t the rain stop when it hits the ground”? His boundless enthusiasm transmits itself throughout the squad and his patience, his gentle nature and his genuine warmth for the young people we work with really sets the tone for who our squad are and the values we are built on. To see Thomas coax a young athlete who is new to the squad complete a distance they never thought possible is to watch a master at work. Thomas is a one off and we are blessed to have him ֍֍֍
STANDARD QUESTIONS
PLACE AND YEAR OF BIRTH?
THOMAS?Dublin, (Holles Street) 1963
KATIE? Dublin, (The Coombe) 2006
WHERE DID/DO YOU ATTEND COLLEGE/SCHOOL?
THOMAS? Ballyfermot Technical School (Kylemore College)
KATIE? St Joseph’s Lucan – Going into 2nd year
THOMAS, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH?I have always been in the transport industry (over 40 years’ experience)
KATIE, IN WHAT YEAR DID YOU BOTH JOIN DONORE HARRIERS? We both joined in 2018
THOMAS, WHEN DID YOU JOIN THE WATERSTOWN WARRIORS? I joined in 2015. I joined after completing Couch to 5k.
KATIE, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE DONORE HARRIERS?I wanted to run with people my own age and to get away from running with my parents
DID/DO EITHER OF YOU PARTICIPATE IN ANY OTHER SPORTS?
THOMAS: Football in the school years
KATIE: I used to do swimming
THOMAS, WHO WERE/ARE YOUR SPORTING INSPIRATIONS/INFLUENCES? Roy Keane, Mohammed Ali, Bobbly Charlton
AND THE SAME QUESTION FOR YOU KATIE? I don’t follow sports, but my parents are an inspiration to me
SOCIAL QUESTIONS
THOMAS, WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy
KATIE, WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COMPUTER GAME?Animal crossing
THOMAS, WHAT WAS THE LAST CONCERT YOU ATTENDED? Madness in the Point Theatre Dublin
WHAT ARE YOUR 3 FAVOURITE FILMS TO WATCH AS A FAMILY?
1. Toy Story
2. Harry Potter
3. Hocus Pocus
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION THAT YOU VISITED AS A FAMILY? Disneyland or anything to do with Disney
THOMAS (& CELINE) FAVOURITE KIND OF RESTAURANT TO GO FOR A DINNER OUT?We like to go to Cape Greko in Malahide. This our favourite restaurant – beautiful Greek food and the chef is fantastic
THOMAS, WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS AWAY FROM ATHLETICS/ SPORT?Gardening, socializing, and catching up with friends
THOMAS, IF DISERT ISLAND DISCS ASKED YOU TO PLAY 3 SONGS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
1. Help by The Beatles
2. Our House by Madness
3. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (Live version)
ATHLETICS QUESTIONS
THOMAS, WHO IS YOUR COACH(ES)? I have never had a coach, only good running friends for support and advice
KATIE, WHO IS YOUR COACH(ES)?Graham (Hopkins), Gerry (Naughton), Donal (Iremonger) and my dad
THOMAS, WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST ATHLETICS ACHIEVEMENT? Finishing the 2018 Dublin City Marathon, just getting under the 4 hours
WHAT ARE BEST TIMES (PBs)?
THOMAS?
5km – 22.59
10km – 48.39
Half-marathon – 1.50.13
Marathon – 3.57.34
KATIE?
1 mile – 5.42
5km – 22.50
KATIE, WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COACHED SESSION? Paarlauf in the Park
THOMAS, DESCRIBE THE MOST DIFFICULT SESSION THAT YOU HAVE DONE? Hill training on the Knockmaroon hill
KATIE, WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST MEMORABLE RACE/RUN/CLUB OUTING THAT YOU HAVE DONE? The Howth Cliff Run with all my running club friends. It was very windy, but it was great fun
THOMAS, WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL WEEKLY TRAINING PLAN (pre-covid)? Monday 5 miles, Wednesday 10 miles, Saturday 5k Park Run, Sunday long-slow run (between 10 to 14 miles)
KATIE, DO YOU PREFER TO RACE ON TRACK, ROAD OR CROSS-COUNTRY? I prefer to run on the track as it is an easier surface to run on
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
THOMAS, HOW DID YOU GET INTO COACHING AT DONORE HARRIERS? When Katie joined the club, I used to sit on the sidelines or in the car depending on what session she was doing. I noticed Gerry (Naughton) and Donal (Iremonger) had large numbers at the training session and one evening I asked Gerry if I could tag along. I would get involved every week by running at the back of the group who were training. Every week, I would help with little tasks to aid Dónal and Gerry (making sure everyone was motivated to do their best)
<NOTE: The LTAD juvenile distance squad was previously coached by Gerry Naughton and Donal Iremonger – until July 2019>
KATIE? YOU REACHED THE MILESTONE OF 50 PARKRUNS COMPLETED; TELL US ABOUT THAT ACHIEVEMENT? It takes longer than you would imagine to complete 50 park-runs. I never thought I would ever complete that many as my first few park runs were very tough. I had to stick with it, and I am glad I did. On the day, I was happy to see my friends from the club who joined me to complete my 50th park-run. I was very happy to see that I got a lovely 50th parkrun cake
THOMAS, THE WATERSTOWN WARRIORS IS A RELATIVELY NEW COMMUNITY CLUB IN PALMERSTOWN, WHAT HAS BEEN THE KEY TO THE CLUB’S DEVELOPMENT? The key to the club is the vast majority of the club members live local. Due to this, it is easier to organize groups to run with. We are very lucky to have such a great park on our doorstep. They are a very supportive and friendly group of people. There are people of every age and different running abilities. You will always find someone to run with
KATIE, IF YOU HAD TO CONVINCE A FRIEND TO JOIN DONORE HARRIERS WHAT POSITIVE THINGS WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THE CLUB? The people in the club are very friendly and very supportive. To me, the club social gatherings are very important. They are also great fun and a way of mixing. I have made great friends
THOMAS, YOU ARE A POPULAR COACH IN THE JUVENILE DISTANCE SQUAD, PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR COACHING ROLE? That’s so funny! When it comes to coaching all, I have to do is turn up and Graham (Hopkins) has everything sorted. He has every little and big detail planned to a t. I am lucky to coach alongside Graham as he has so much experience and knowledge. I always learn something from him. It is a joy to be involved with the juvenile distance squad. They are a lovely bunch of athletes who will have so much success in their futures
AND FINALLY, A QUESTION FOR CELINE! HOW MUCH HAS RUNNING/ ATHLETICS BECOME A FOCUS WITHIN THE DELANEY HOUSEHOLD? Running is a very big part of our lives. If we are not running, we are training or cycling or out walking. From starting couch to 5k and to all the marathons, to the park runs, to the Waterstown Warriors and to meeting the Donore Harriers’ team (Gerry, Donal and Graham), it has been an adventure.
Never would I have imagined that we would end up doing runs in different countries. If you would have told me a few years ago that the Delaney family would be in Florida doing a park-run, I would not have believed you – but here we are!
AND THOMAS, TELL US ABOUT YOUR RUNNING ADVENTURE? From couch to 5k in 2015, to doing my first half marathon in the same year and from then I completed 3 Dublin City Marathons in a row. Two I ran with my wife Celine. In between park-runs and races on home soil, myself and Celine have also been doing runs when we on holidays abroad. In 2017, we completed the Disney Florida Half Marathon. Also, in 2017, I ran the marathon in Liverpool and did the half-marathon there in the following year. We have completed the Portugal half-marathon and the Budapest half-marathon. Unfortunately, I had to pull out of the Budapest half-marathon at just over 5 miles with a calf injury. I will get to complete it eventually! Last June, a week before my daughter’s wedding, my friends were taking part in the Energia24 in Belfast. This was a 24-hour team relay. One of the team was forced to drop out and I competed as a late replacement. If I was to recommend any run, I would recommend this one. It was the most enjoyable weekend of running. Also last year, while injured and unable to run, I completed the Great Dublin Bike Ride
