Enda O’Sullivan

Our half marathon loving Tipp man tells us about himself.

Name : Enda O’Sullivan

Work/School/College: I went to Nenagh CBS and later UCC. Currently I’m working in Loreto in town.

How long have you been a member of Menapian’s AC : I’m not sure to be honest. I went up to hills one night and have been a member ever since. I’ve wanted to transfer to another club for years but I’m terrified of Helen’s reaction if I ever did

Interests & achievements outside athletics : I’m a big GAA fan and I’m the PRO for both Nenagh Éire Óg GAA club and the Tipperary Football Committee. By the way, does anyone know who won the All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final this year between Wexford and Tipperary? I completely forgot that match was on and missed the result. I’d be very grateful if any of you could let me know who won that game.

Events you have competed at : I’ve completed numerous races, too many to list but my highlights have been the Waterford, Dingle, Galway, Cahir and Dublin Rock n Roll half marathons as well as the Dublin marathon and Run the Line in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains.

Favourite event : It is a toss-up between the Dingle and Waterford half marathons. I really enjoy both events, the huge crowds and electric atmospheres. Maybe the scenery in Dingle swings it in their favour. The atmosphere around Dingle after the run with everyone wearing their tops is special.

Least favourite event : Two years ago I ran the Cahir half marathon one Saturday afternoon in July with the temperature averaging around 27 degrees. It was the toughest race I ever completed. I must have guzzled down a gallon of water as I galloped around the course and once I completed the race I jumped into the River Suir under the shadow of Cahir Castle and lay in it for about 30 minutes as I tried to cool down. The race itself was fantastic but the weather was just way too much for me. That evening our junior-B hurling team had only fifteen players and I’d to tog out in case someone got injured. I was terrified on the sideline in case I would be called into action, thankfully that didn’t arise but it added to the sense of unease about that day’s race.

Biggest athletics achievement : It is a difficult choice between completing my very first half marathon in Waterford a few years back and my first full marathon in Dublin this year. The sense of achievement eventually arrived a few days after the races as the pain all over my body subsided (even my hair hurt) but you can only do something for the very first time once and I was thrilled after both events.

Do you hold any records : I used to hold loads of them but eventually CDs took over and now all the music I listen to is streamed and I no longer own any records (am I showing my age here?)

Favourite track you have competed on : Not a track as such but I always enjoy running the Knockanacree Parkrun in Cloughjordan, Tipperary. It is set in a natural and native forest with tough climbs and there’s always a lovely community spirit among the participants. There were two lads from Belfast there one day that was their last Parkrun in the country to complete and they said it was definitely in the top three toughest Parkruns in Ireland. I’m always at least five-minutes slower running it than any other Parkrun but I still really enjoy it. I also enjoy running up Forth Mountain with my running buddy Lisa Shannon. The views up there are amazing. We ran up there a few years back in the snow, it was a deadly experience.

Least favourite track : Running from the lower roundabout to the upper car park on Tuesday nights when Mick is feeling mean and wants to punish us!

Who has been your inspiration both in athletics & outside athletics: Within athletics probably Lisa Shannon & Tracy Brown. They convinced me that I could run a half marathon and nagged me so much I ended up running a full marathon as well just to keep them quiet. Outside of athletics it is probably the Tipperary senior football team of 2016. The hairs still stand on the back of my neck when I think about the day they beat Galway in Croke Park. I honestly don’t think I’ve missed any of their games since in both league and championship.

Favourite food/drink : I simply adore curries, I’d eat them morning, noon and night if I could. The spicier the better. There’s nothing more disappointing than ordering a curry in a restaurant and there’s no kick off of it. Bland curries, what’s the point? As regards my favourite drink well it is probably Coke Cola in a glass piled high with ice.

Post training snack : After a long race I always have a cup of tea with a load of sugar. I never take sugar in my tea but I love it after a half marathon. I quickly begin to feel myself again.

Some unusual facts about yourself : I once walked the Camino in Spain, stood beside Matt Damon at a urinal at a U2 concert and played a drunken school teacher in Brian Friel’s play Philadelphia, Here I Come.