Claire Mulligan is a relatively new member of Donore Harriers, having only joined in 2018. She has been a scoring member on Donore Harriers teams that medalled in National and Dublin road and cross-country championships. In this enlightening interview Claire talks about training with Donore Harriers for the first time and the benefits of training in a structured squad…
PLACE AND YEAR OF BIRTH? Kilcock, Co. Kildare 1977
WHERE WERE YOU EDUCATED? Local secondary school and U.C.D
WHAT IS YOUR CAREER PATH? I have worked in Healthcare settings for the past number of years and currently support adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Stewart’s Care, Palmerstown
IN WHAT YEAR DID YOU JOIN DONORE HARRIERS? October 2018
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE DONORE HARRIERS? I regarded the club as having a great reputation, and it came recommended by Alan Farrell who I knew through Dublin Runners
WERE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY OTHER CLUB BEFORE JOINING DONORE HARRIERS? St. Coca’s A.C. as a juvenile
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN ANY OTHER SPORT? Basketball competitively at second and third level
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOUTIRE ATHLETICS EVENTS? To watch the 1500m because of the kick that often comes into play on the final bend. To run cross country because of the team aspect and purity of it.
WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT ROLE AT THE CLUB? Athlete
WHO ARE YOUR SPORTING INSPIRATIONS/INFLUENCES? For inspiration, fellow club-member Ann Woodlock because of her tenacity and competitive streak. For influence, my parents who introduced me to club running from a young age and gave me an appreciation of all things athletics-related
ATHLETICS QUESTIONS
WHO IS YOUR COACH? Willie Smith, gentleman and coach
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BET ATHLETICS ACHIEVEMENT? A few months after joining Donore, I was lucky enough to pick up two team medals when we won O-35 National 10k and Senior 10 mile
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST TIMES (PBs)?
5k: 20.03
5-mile: 32.40
10-mile: 71.22
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COACHED SESSION? Anything around the Magazine Fort in the wintertime
DESCRIBE THE MOST DIFFICULT SESSION THAT YOU HAVE DONE? Khyber Hills session, 10 x 400m
WHAT IS A TYPICAL WEEKLY TRAINING PLAN?
Mon – rest
Tues – intervals session
Wed – easy run
Thurs – steady run
Fri – rest
Sat – session (maybe fartlek)
Sun – 10 miles easy
WHAT ONE CHANGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AT DONORE HARRIERS? More club races throughout the year would be welcome
WHO ARE YOUR TOP 3 IRISH SPORTSPERSONS OF ALL TIME (ALL SPORTS)?
1. Fionnuala McCormack
2. Sonia O’ Sullivan
3. Katie Taylor
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
DO YOU REGRET NOT TAKING UP RUNNING EARLIER IN LIFE? I ran competitively from an early age then drifted into team sports and just got back into running in my late thirties. The BHAA (Business Houses AA) races were a good way to ease back into competition, as the standard is good, and all abilities are welcome
IT CAN BE DAUNTING FOR A RELATIVELY NEW RUNNER TO TURN UP AT A ‘HARRIERS’ CLUB FOR THE FIRST TIME! WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS WHEN YOU JOINED DONORE HARRIERS? It was daunting and I was fortunate that Alan (Farrell) was there to introduce me to everybody at those first few sessions. Florrie, as women’s captain was also very welcoming and encouraging. I was impressed by the wealth of experience everybody had and how modest all of these good runners were. A week after joining, it was baptism by fire running in a Donore Harriers singlet for the first time at the Dublin Novice XC Champs, and a humbling experience at that.
The thing that daunted me most were the weekly race reports and the fact that there was no hiding once you lined up. When you are running solo, you can go incognito in comparison! I tried to use it as an added incentive to improve
WHAT IN YOUR OPINION ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS OF TRAINING IN AN ORGANISED GROUP, SUCH A WILLIE SMITH’S SQUAD AT DONORE HARRIERS?
You can see improvements quickly when you’re part of a good training group. Willie has time for everyone and is always on hand with sound advice. The pre and post-race training sessions are a big help in reducing the chance of picking up an injury.
When you train with people of a similar (and faster) pace to yourself, you’re striving to keep up with them and they incentivise you to put the work in and be consistent.
It’s also great to have people you train with around on race day, as they’re always a good yard stick as to how you’re doing, and often you’ll work off each other as you would in a training session
CROSS-COUNTRY OR ROAD RACES? Cross-Country
YOU WERE A PART OF THE DONORE HARRIERS TEAM THAT WON THE DUBLIN INTERMEDIATE CROSS-COUNTRY IN DECEMBER 2019, WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THAT DAY? We gave it our all that day because to have a full team was a bonus. The previous year, we didn’t have a full squad to score. I think this made us all the more determined to try and medal. It was definitely a team effort with Ariana (Ball) turning up and running when still sick
HAVE YOU EVER RUN A MARATHON? AND DO YOU CONTEMPLACE DOING A MARATHON IN THE FUTURE? No. No real plans to run one, but enough time spent around the Sunday morning group from the club and I might be lured into one someday!
