Our All Star doesn’t shy away from a challeng:  running, cycling, swimming – she puts 100% into everything. Meet Kate!

When did you start running?
I started running in 2009 – very enthusiastically, joining the club after doing my first 10k at the start of the year, then talked into Ards Half marathon in June and Dublin marathon that October… swore I would never run a marathon again & didn’t until 2012 when I caught the bug!

Kate (with Heather & Bernie) in the lineup for Lanzarote!

Why did you start running?
I’ve always been into sport but wasn’t a big fan of running at school. I liked the idea of it but found solo runs tough and I didn’t start to love it until I started running in a group. I enjoy the freedom of it, especially trail runs.

Kate knows how to celebrate after a marathon!

What is a typical training week for you?
I like to mix up cross training with running so a typical week would be:

• Monday’s – swim session
• Tuesday – club run (interval training)
• Wed – cycle
• Thursday – club tempo run
• Sat – long cycle or longer run
• Sun – Sunday social run or cycle

Plus a few strength training/yoga sessions thrown in also!

What is your favourite Dub training session?
My favourite Dub session definitely has to be the Sunday run – I love the route, across Lagan meadows and into Belvoir forest and always feel great afterwards! Also, the social element of it and the fact that there’s no pressure.

Rathlin Run a favourite of Kate’s!

What has been your favourite race(s) to take part in?
My favourite race has to have been London marathon, I’ve been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to run it twice and the crowd, noise and atmosphere have been amazing as well as quite emotional. A marathon is so hard to predict and the excitement of lining up at the start compared to the absolute exhaustion of wanting to give up and mentally keeping going is overwhelming and it’s a challenge like no other! Other races that I’ve loved have been Portsmouth marathon, our own Belfast marathon & Glasgow Half as well as Dub days out at Dundrum and Rathlin Island.

What are you running goals?
I’d like to pair my passion for running and cycling and do a full Ironman next year (swimming dependent!) and I’d love (I think!) to take on the challenge of an Ultra Marathon at some stage.. preferably a trail type one with plenty of options to walk/stop for food on the way!

Kate and sister Shirley-Anne after London Marathon!

Tell us something random about yourself that people might not know!
I have a secret love of jigsaws shared only by one other club member – but my lips are sealed! We have a jigsaw exchange going on and talk very passionately about the benefits of jigsaws and how life completing they are – so surprised other people aren’t catching on!!