DAVID O'CONNOR Doc-timus Prime

1.When did you start running

Aged 15 or so. A bit of cross country very minor. Always a small bit to keep fit. Properly 26 I think.

2. How did you end up joining the club

Dan Daly spotted me running out in the fields. I knew him through teaching. He told me to get onto Tobins. Went to the Tobins by Supervalu, was told to pop out to the castle. This was approaching summer, went back to Galway and didn't think of it again. Few years later entered port tunnel 10km race did a nice time, did the local race came 3rd. Dad advised me to join a club as I was getting fairly into it. Rest is history

3.Favourite Race ?

Headford (Galway home) 8km. Streets of Galway is actually the better race, huge sense of occasion and a massive turnout, also just the experience of being able to run the roads along the town and see it in a different way. Chose the Headford one though overall because the aim is to someday win it.

4. What do you crave after a run

CAKE

5. Pre-race meal

CAKE....??????? Nothing really if I can help it. Depends on the time of the race. If it's the morning maybe 2 apples

6. Miles or KM

Km

7. Any race superstition

I've a pair of Ellesse race shorts that I mostly wear, along with race socks (the socks are shrinking on me now though )

8. Track, road or XC?

Road

9. Why do you run ?

I run for a couple of reasons:
• Clear my nose and my eyes. I literally feel better after I do it. If I leave it 2 or 3 days I feel fierce sluggish and blocked up.
• It's a great way of venting not that I'd be particularly stressed but in the rare times that I would be it alleviates it.
• I like the sense of competition associated with it, be it friendly competition with teammates, fierce competition with other clubs , but mostly self competition- trying to improve

10. Best running memory?

Patrick Bell Bohermeen 5km
I hit my best time 16.52. Was delighted to break into the 16 minutes, had worked towards for a long time so it was great to crack it. Haven't since. Hopefully it'll come again

11. What do you miss most from a running perspective during lockdown?

Racing

12. Most memorable race that you didn’t compete in

Navan track race primary school competition. Multiple races that I entered the kids from school into. You're invested in them and want to see them getting on well and enjoying it

13. Who is your running hero

Usain Bolt. The Ali of our time. Just an unbelievable athlete and terrific showman

14. Split shorts or tight shorts

Split

15. What do you listen to during a run( music/podcast)

Got out of that habit a long time ago. It's nicer to just switch off and run