The 2006 season was really your breakthrough year. You took a massive 13 seconds off your pb from 9:45.60 to 9:32.04. What were your expectations or goals going into the 2007 season?

Although I was disappointed with my performance in Helsinki in 2005, I ended up being ranked 9th by IAAF that year. That was encouraging. Anyways I got back to work and trained hard that winter. I think the 13 second improvement was really 2 years coming as I was expecting to break 940 in 2005. Going into 2007 my main goal was to perform in Osaka. Top rankings and times weren’t good enough. I wanted to get my timing right and perform where it matters. I felt as if I belonged in the final there, and I was very determined to make it.

In May and early July 2007 you were running times in between 9:48 and 9:56, a bit slower than your Pb. Were you disappointed with these times? 

Yes early in the year my times weren’t too impressive. I didn’t panic because each of my first 3 steeples were easily explained and training had been going well. I opened up in Brazil and had my fastest first steeple. Steepling has such a different rhythm to flat races, so I don’t really count the first one. I was pleased with how easy I felt in Brazil and my legs felt great, I knew my training was on track. My second race was in Oslo in early June. I was jet-lagged and the race was very fast from the gun. It was a good taste of what was to come in Osaka, and it was still very early. Then my third steeple was at the Europa Cup; I felt amazing in that race and thought I could win until I clipped a barrier with 700m to go and was sprawled all over the track. Luckily I wasn’t injured and I got up and finished second. Although my time was slow, it was one of my proudest moments, as the team badly needed the points I won to stay in the first division. I still have a nasty scar from that one! Anyways, I didn’t panic and I knew it didn’t matter about the early races, and that the only race people judge your season from is the World Champs.

You then went to KBC-Nacht meet in Heusden and smashed your pb and Irish record to 9:28.29. Did you expect to run that time? 

Yes, I was expecting to run well in Heusden. I love that meet. Training was going great and I was beginning to feel really good in my sessions. 

Describe the lead up to that KBC meet.

I was staying in Leuven, Belgium for the month of July. We stayed with a lot of other athletes. Many of the athletes were going to Heusden, as its one of the bigger meets of the summer over there. Anyways the meet organized a bus to take us to Heusden. I chilled out with some friends, enjoyed a coffee.. the usual. The weather was perfect and I was ready to run well. I knew we had a good pace maker and I was looking forward to getting out there. The race just went great and I felt really easy. 

In 2006 you also set your pervious pb and national record at the same meet. What’s so special about this meet? Is it the fans, time of year, the competition?

If you ever get the chance to go to this meet do it. It has a great atmosphere, the competition is good, and the track is short!( or so people say!). It’s a really nice track where lots of people run well. I think its because its smack in the middle of the season and I’ve gotten into good race shape by the time it comes around.  

After the KBC-Nacht meet, you did not run another race till the world Championships in Osaka. Did you go back to America to train? What did you do in this period?

Yes, I went back to Providence to train. I wanted to do some quality training sessions and take a little break from racing. It also gave me some extra time in the heat. It was very beneficial. 

After running 9.28.29 what were your expectations going into the worlds?

I fully expected to make the final, which was the first goal. After some disappointments I really had to believe I could do it.  

When did you set off for Osaka? Did you go to a camp to acclimatise? 

I was in Japan for 12 days or so before my race. We acclimatised in Matsue at a camp there. It was a great spot. My training wasn’t anything too spectacular leading up to my race. I actually went back to some strength work and did some tempo type sessions. 

What was the atmosphere like in Osaka? 

The atmosphere is Japan in general was fantastic. The welcoming the Irish team received was unbelievable.

The heats were on day 1 of the competition program? Were u glad to get the race out of the way instead of waiting around? 

I knew from a long time out that I was on day one. I got my head around it, and was ready. I must admit it was great fun after my race just going to the track to watch the rest of the championships.  

You finished 4th in the heat and qualified comfortably, leading through the 1000m, and 200m mark. What were your race tactics going into the heat?

The Belgian steeplechaser asked me before the race to share the work with her and make the race fast. I laughed because I had no intention of leading. However the way the race progressed I found myself up at the front. Instead of pushing it I ran within myself and felt very comfortable. I wouldn’t really consider myself a frontrunner, but now I know I can run at the front if I need to.

 After the race, how did you feel? 

It was the biggest relief ever. I had visualized myself making the final in an automatic spot, so it was brilliant to have it happen. 

Did the weather affect you? 

No. Our race is under 10mins, so its not long enough to really get too hot. Plus we had made precautions and had acclimatized. 

How did your body hold up over the next two days till the final?

My body felt good. I had some ice baths, physiotherapy and massage, with some easy running. 

Were you nervous going into the final. What were your expectations?

I had "good" nerves. I just kept reminding myself that this is what I’ve trained for and this is where I want to be.  

What were your race tactics going into the final?

If the race was fast I was to run with the girls I knew had the same times as me, the Spaniard, the Moroccan. I was to beat them over the final laps and finish close to the top 6. 

Describe how the race went, important moments, tactics of other athletes.

The race went out so fast! I think the leaders were about 64 seconds for the first 400m. It was impossible to judge pace because each lap was 420metres and so normal splits meant nothing! I wasn’t far off the chasing pack, and I felt great following the Polish girl. Unfortunately she dropped out after a 1.5k and I was kind of in no-mans land. The last k was hard and the girls I should have been passing began passing me!  

You finished in 10th place a massive improvement on your pervious world championships in 2005, how did you feel after the race?

Ray had told me I could finish between 6th and 10th. I was a bit over eager in the first couple of laps and I didn’t stick to my race plan, so I was a little disappointed. More accurately, I wasn’t satisfied because I knew I had made mistakes. Obviously it was an improvement, but I wasn't content- which is good because I’m hungry to do better. 

9:20 won bronze, an improvement of 8 seconds on your pb. Do you believe you can win a medal in Beijing? 

My ultimate goal is have my best race in the final; what I mean by that is run smart and get a personal best. What I am looking for in Beijing is to be ready, fit and competitive. I’d love to be running with the leaders in the last lap and that what I’m thinking and dreaming about. 

After Osaka you ran in Rieti and then on to the World athletics final in Stuggart. How were you mentally and physically after Osaka?

I didn’t get nervous for Reiti or Stuttgart. My body went into automatic mode when the time came to race. It was weird because I was so relaxed (maybe too relaxed!). I think the year of training and racing was just paying off. I had done the work and the hay was in the barn, so I just kept using it! Its funny because the start of the season I spend time trying not to get too nervous, and by the end of the season I was trying to make myself nervous! 

Describe the race in Stuggart.

In Reiti I had let the Russians go at the start because I heard they were going for a world record. However they didn’t come near to it and I was annoyed because I was chasing them down in that race but couldn’t close the gap I gave them at the start. Anyways I knew everyone was tired and that I felt fine. I was determined to stay up the front. The race felt so comfortable as we were running 945 pace for the first 2k. The last k dropped down to 305 and I had the legs left to go with the leaders. Soon enough there were only three of us. It was exciting to be up there with only one lap to go.

Was there a time in the race when you thought u could win this.

To be honest, I was almost content being third. I was hoping to be in the top 3, so I was satisfied. Then with 200 to go I thought, "I’m not done", and I sprinted to the line and got 2nd. 

After finishing an amazing second, how did you feel?

It was brilliant. I think its funny that good races feel so easy. Later that night I just thought to myself "Yes!"

Has your mentality changed? Do you now believe that you can compete and beat the best in the world?

So you finished the season with the 13th fastest time in the world and ranked 8th in TrackandField news. How happy are you with that! What were the highs and lows of the season?

I am happy with that. It’s nice because three of us in our group are ranked in the top 10 in different events. It gives me confidence and it helps me justify being a full-time athlete now. The lows of the season came whenever I allowed doubts and negative thoughts affect  my training and racing. I’ve learned to handle disappointments, and I think its made me so much stronger and happier. 

So what are your goals for 2008.

Keep things rolling; have fun and dream big!