When did you decide to train full time? 

Last Winter (2007)when I was doing my internships for my masters, I decided that I wanted to train full time for the Olympics and know I was giving my best. Many of my training partners were full-time athletes and I envied their opportunity to rest and relax in between training. I was determined to get myself in a good financial position in order to do so.My plan worked and Im training full time since last June. 

What are the difficulties facing you as a full?

At the moment I can’t really complain about much. I’m grateful that I am in the position I dreamed to be in. 

How do you support yourself financial?

Thanks to the Irish Sports Council, New Balance and prize money from races I support myself at the moment.

Over the past 8 years I have been lucky to have support. For the first four years in college, Providence College took care of everything; accommodation, food, travel to races, gear & equipment, medical assisitance, physical therapy etc etc. When my four short years were up, I had to fend for myself for a year which was a shock to the system. Luckily after that I had the A standard for World Champs, so I qualified for the grant and also had a small budget & stipend from New Balance. So for the last couple of years I partnered training at a high level with completing my masters, working at Providence College as a graduate assistant, and babysitting(and a few other odd jobs) on the side!

Thankfully this year I have a free schedule and I’m lapping it up. I’m very grateful for to the Sports Council and the AAI. I’m hoping to see them give more support to athletes while they are developing and chasing times, that’s where the help is needed most.  

Where do you train? Why did you choose this location?

I am mostly based in Providence, RI- where I rent an apartment and my coach and training partners live. Luckily we are in Florida this winter for a couple of months, chasing the warmer climate and avoiding the harsh New England winter for once. I chose to stay in Providence after I graduated because Ray is staying put there and I really liked the people around. I believe in our program. And our group has gone from strength to strength- with more top athletes wanting to be coached by Ray. It’s a great tribute to his knowledge, commitment and years of experience. I am so luckily to be in the group I am in, and wouldn’t change a thing! 

Describe previous coaches you have worked with. 

Noreen O’Reilly was my coach from when I was 8 years old until I was 18. She absolutely helped me.. I can’t say enough about the time and effort she gave me and continues to give other lucky youngsters in Wicklow Town. She never over trained us, yet we did take a serious approach in the last couple of years of secondary school. We planned out our races for the year, had goals and kept training diary’s. I enjoyed all of it. She looks for dedication, which is obviously very important. 

Who is your coach now? Is your coach full time or do you do sessions on your own?

Ray Treacy is still my coach. He coaches a group of elite women and we value his experience and knowledge. As Ray’s full-time job is coaching at PC we don’t expect him to be able to travel all over the world with us to races or training camps. Instead we communicate frequently about training and he gives us schedules to work with. 

Can you tell us about the other athletes you train with.

Yes, thankfully other athletes train with me: Go to www.runprovidence.com and check out the Athlete’s biographies. 

Mary Cullen- NCAA Champion ’06 in 5k, Irish Champ 1500m ‘06/’07, Sligo

Marie Davenport-14th Olympics ’04, NCAA Champion, 10k/Marathon, Clare 

Amy Rudolph-Carroll- US Champ ‘06 10k, USA

Kim Smith- 5th World Champs ’07, NCAA record holder/Champ, NZ Records 3k/5k/10k, New Zealand

Amy Mortimer- 4’06pb1500m, USA

Molly Huddle- US Junior 5k Record, 15’12 5k/10k, USA

Orla O’Mahoney- Irish XC international

Janelle Kraus- Olympic Trials Qualifier Marathon, USA

Sarah Jamieson- 4’00 1500m, Australia 

Can you describe the atmosphere in your training group?

We always have a good laugh, yet we get the work done and t.c.b ("take care of business ",as they say in the states). It’s great to have a group of people going through the same stuff with you. We enjoy each other’s success and we help each other when times are tough. Despite the high level of athletes in the group we are not in direct competition with each other so we don’t have to deal with that. It is definitely fun  having girls to travel with (and party with). Above all else I aspire to be as good as my training partners, I think of it as having a wonderful opportunity to train with some of the best runners in the world.  

How do the other athletes in your group help you?

I see how they train and rest; when to work hard and when to relax. If an issue arises typically one or more of us have already dealt with that issue and we can share our knowledge.  Of course they help me get through tough workouts and I feel doing sessions with these girls boosts the quality of my training. Its very nice to have people to travel all over Europe with and instead of being lonely, nervous or anxious; we help each other have fun, relax and run well! 

Can you describe a training typical day? From dawn to dusk

830am wake up/ breakfast/coffee/ internet/emails

1030am training- main run/workout/gym

1pm ice bath/ stretching

130pm lunch

230 chill/rest (nap if needed)/read

4pm miscellaneous errands/Oprah

5pm training easy run/stretching/core

630pm dinner

730pm chill 

What are your favourite sessions?

Tempo’s used to be my least favourite sessions, but I’m starting to like them more. I never mind 400’s.  

What is your least favourite session?

Any workout over 600’s I have to do alone on the track! That’s why I like having the group to train with. Even though we don’t all exactly have the same sessions we usually can work together for parts of it and that helps a tonne. I am getting tougher and learning how to concentrate better, so hopefully I wont have any least favourite sessions any longer!