It is appropriate that in the week following the death of Jerry Kiernan that we feature an athlete coached by the legendary Olympian. Maura Kearns has been a member of Donore Harriers since 2008. Although primarily a track runner she has represented the club in road and cross-country championships, being a key scorer on several successful club teams, including the winning National Novice XC team in 2011. Maura has also represented the club in National T&F League and National Road Relay championships. She was the women’s club XC champion in 2018, becoming the 2nd holder of the Jim McNamara Cup.
Maura says of her Donore Harriers experience: “I feel lucky and privileged to be part of a great club that has produced some of Ireland’s finest athletes. When you go to an athletics race or championship you always see familiar friendly faces. And if a race doesn’t go your way you can always count on your teammates to build you back up. Donore Harriers is where you make friends for life”.
Her coach Jerry Kiernan died on 21st January 2021 aged just 67. Kiernan famously finished 9th in the 1984 Olympic Marathon in LA <<see video link later in text>>. He won the Dublin Marathon in 1982 and 1992 and the National XC title in 1984. He ran a sub-4-minute mile and at one time held the Irish 3,000m record. As well as being a popular RTE pundit, Kerry native Kiernan was also a renowned coach. His training group contained several Donore Harriers athletes, including John Travers <<see Interview No. 32>>.
STANDARD QUESTIONS
PLACE AND YEAR OF BIRTH? I was born in Falcarragh Co. Donegal in 1982.
WHERE WERE YOU EDUCATED? I was educated in my beloved Donegal. I went to St. Patrick’s College Drumcondra and obtained my primary teacher training degree.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH? I work as a primary school teacher in Clondalkin. I have worked in the same school for the past 17 years.
IN WHAT YEAR DID YOU JOIN DONORE HARRIERS? I joined Donore Harriers in 2008.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE DONORE HARRIERS? I ran the Mini-Marathon in the Summer of 2008. Being a very competitive person, I was not happy with the time I did for the 10km. I decided I wanted to get back running competitively and compete with the best girls. I scrolled through the Evening Herald to see the results and I noticed some very impressive times run by Donore Harriers athletes so that became the club I would join. The late great Jim Mc Namara was the ladies’ coach at the time. Jim was an incredible person and made me feel so welcome.
WERE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY OTHER CLUB BEFORE JOINING DONORE HARRIERS? I ran at Junior level in Donegal. I ran for my local club St. Finian’s A.C. and I later joined Cranford A.C. for a while. I competed in the Community Games many times. My proudest moment was reaching the final of the women’s U 17 100m training solo sans coach.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN ANY OTHER SPORT? I played a bit of basketball for a while during school, but it was never for me. There was always only one sport and that was running.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ATHLETICS EVENT? I do enjoy competing in all events road, track and cross-country. I would not be a natural long-distance runner. I am definitely better at shorter distances. You really cannot beat the atmosphere at a popular road race.
WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT ROLE(S) AT THE CLUB? Athlete
WHO WERE/ARE YOUR SPORTING INSPIRATIONS/INFLUENCES? Growing up in the 90’s you couldn’t escape the greatness of Sonia O’ Sullivan and Catriona McKiernan. I used to love watching international athletics and still do. I used to run around the fields jumping over bales of hale imagining I was on the big stage!
SOCIAL QUESTIONS
WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? I read a lot of newspaper articles. I like to stay abreast of what’s happening. The last book I read that I thoroughly enjoyed was ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens.
WHAT WAS THE LAST CONCERT YOU ATTENDED? Seems like a lifetime ago, but the last concert I attended was Fleetwood Mac at the RDS.
WHAT ARE YOUR 3 FAVOURITE FILMS?
1. Home Alone
2. The Notebook
3. Ghost
FAVOURITE COUNTRY VISITED? I have been lucky to have been to many different countries. I took a year out from teaching to travel the world. A hard question to answer but both Vietnam and New Zealand are incredible for the backdrop and scenery.
WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS AWAY FROM ATHLETICS/SPORT? I like to read newspapers and I also try to meditate regularly too.
IF DISERT ISLAND DISCS ASKED YOU TO PLAY 3 SONGS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE? Hard question to answer as I love a wide range of music but here goes:
1. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
2. Radio Head – Street Spirit
3. The Rolling Stones – Miss You
ATHLETICS QUESTIONS
WHO IS/ARE YOUR COACH(ES)? Well up until last week it was the great Jerry Kiernan. The news of his death sent shockwaves throughout the country and, amongst the athletics community of Ireland. I will never forget the moment I got the call that Jerry had died. Jerry invited me down to join his training group a few years ago. I was both delighted and honoured. I loved the training, and I came on a lot under his wing and in turn I got a PB of 18.19 for 5km. Jerry coached a lot of athletes, from elites to casual runners and had time and respect for everyone. He will be missed terribly.
DID JERRY EVEN TALK TO YOU ABOUT HIS RUNNING EXPERIENCES AND ACHIEVEMENTS? Jerry only spoke about his own achievements if you asked him. I remember listening to him talking about the searing heat in LA before the marathon commenced. He poured a bottle of water over himself and felt ready to battle. He knew he was going to race well that day. I do regret not asking him more questions about his fine achievements. I have learned so much about Jerry’s running prowess since his passing. It is always the way though. I could say the same for Jim Mc too.
<<here is a link to Jerry Kiernan competing in the 1984 Olympic Marathon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2rkaqrW7mg&t=1396s It’s taken from a US TV station (ABC maybe), and there is some background chat going during commercials. As the commentators focus on Alberto Salazar around the 18-mile mark Kiernan catches up to join the leading group – @4.30 until @14.45 on video. He placed 9th in 2.12.20, ahead of world marathon stars such as Rod Dixon (NZ), Hugh Jones (GB), Toshihiko Seko (Japan), Salazar (USA), Karel Lismont (Belgium), and others). John Treacy took silver in 2.09.56. Two Irishmen in the top 10 of the Olympic Marathon made it one of the greatest ever Irish sporting achievements. RIP Jerry Kiernan. >>
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST ATHLETICS ACHIEVEMENT? This is a hard one to answer but any time you run a PB is wonderful.
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST TIMES (PBs)?
800m – 2.20
1-Mile – 5.10
5km – 18.19
4-Mile – 24.06
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COACHED SESSION? Doing tempos around UCD with the JK Harriers. Killer sessions but key for strength and endurance.
DESCRIBE THE MOST DIFFICULT SESSION THAT YOU HAVE DONE? Running up Tri- Rock with JK Harriers on Saturday mornings are killer sessions. There are days you would literally be walking up!
WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL WEEKLY TRAINING PLAN?
Sunday – Long easy run 12-14 miles
Monday – Easy run 8 miles
Tuesday – Tempo session UCD 20 – 30 mins
Wednesday – Easy run 8 miles
Thursday – Easy run 8 miles
Friday – Rest day or 30 mins easy
Saturday – Either speedwork at UCD or session up Tri Rock
DO YOU HAVE A FUNNY STORY RELATED TO ATHLETICS/THE CLUB? I remember when I first started running out at UCD, the session was scheduled for Marlay Park Playground. I ended up at Marlay house not having a clue how to get to the Playground. I remember ringing Jerry and being scolded harshly. I was really upset and thought maybe I will quit now but I told one of the lads and he said that it is not a normal day at training if Jerry doesn’t scold me! We had a good laugh about it and Jerry never scolded me after that, but I did witness him scolding others regularly. It was just his way and he never meant any harm.
WHO ARE YOUR TOP 3 IRISH SPORTSPERSONS OF ALL TIME?
I admire many sports people. There is a wealth of athletes in Ireland who have achieved so much in sport through both talent and sheer hard work. I get inspiration from athletes around me who train extremely hard whilst combining work and motherhood. There are many examples of this. Annette Kealy and Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill are just two people who spring to mind.
I also have huge admiration for athletes who have survived incredible hardship in their lives too. Jim Mc Namara would be a prime example of this. He suffered so much trauma and tragedy throughout his life yet trained incredibly hard and qualified for the Olympics at the age of 37!
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
WHERE DID YOUR INTEREST IN ATHLETICS STEM FROM? We had a local carpenter in our house growing up and I remember him encouraging me to join the local athletics club. He used to show me some exercises and he begged me not to tell my father this! This was around the time Sonia O’ Sullivan was gracing our screens.
DID YOU EVER COMPETE AS A JUVENILE OR JUNIOR OR IN SCHOOLS COMPETITION? Yes! I ran in many competitions as a youngster.
HAVE YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH ANY LONG-TERM INJURY? I have been very fortunate not to have suffered any long-term injury. I think the key is to get a monthly massage, foam roll regularly and do a little core work weekly.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER AS YOUR BEST ATHLETICS ACHIEVEMENT? Hard question to answer but probably winning the national novice team gold back in 2011 at the Curragh. I remember being bitterly disappointed with my own personal performance that day but in hindsight finishing 19th out of approximately 150 athletes wasn’t so bad! We packed tightly that day and it was great to be part of a gold medal winning team. Jim was chuffed to bits to get the team gold.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE AWAY TRIP RELATED TO ATHLETICS? Any trip away with the club on a bus with the late great Jim Mc Namara were great days. We would always have good craic and laughs along the way.
WHAT’S YOUR PREFERENCE, TRACK, CROSS-COUNTRY or ROAD? I enjoy running all events. I am definitely more suited to races where speed is key so I cannot ever see myself running a marathon.
HOW HAVE YOU COPED WITH TRAINING DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS? Unless I can get to the group sessions, I just run easy. With no races to aim for, I try to get in as many easy runs as I can.
WHAT ARE YOUR BIG TARGETS FOR THE FUTURE? I would love to break 18 minutes for 5km and 40 minutes for 10km. I think that with consistent training, these targets are very achievable for me. I have not run a 10km in a long time and I hope to do so post Covid-19.
DO YOU HAVE AMBITIONS OF COMPETING IN THE EUROPEAN AND WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS? To represent your country at that level would be the ultimate dream. I so think that it takes a special kind of talent to reach that level but who knows. Never say never and keep pushing forward.
Second fastest and first M50 in a remarkable time of 4:19 was Shane Healy of Metro St Brigid’s AC – a new world best. Third was triathlete Niall Cornyn of Dunboyne AC in 4.24. First junior with a time of 4:35 was Callum Simpson. Fastest of the women was Ciara Wilson, another triathlete and member of DMP AC, in 4:45. Emma O’Brien of Sli Cualann AC clocked 4:55 for second with Clonliffe’s Eleanor Alexander third fastest in 5:06. First W35 was Maura Kearns of Donore Harriers in 5:10.