If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again. This seems to be key in any great sporting triumph.

Sports coaches are some of my favourite people to spend time with. The great ones are motivated by pure passion and joy for what they do.

THERE is a brilliant exchange in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland when the Mad Hatter asks "Have I gone mad?" and Alice answers, "I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are."

Yesterday I announced my retirement from competitive athletics. In this column I want to expand on my decision. It’s still quite raw and I’m a little emotional, but here goes my attempt to articulate it.

My hobbies are pretty tame, indeed some might even say boring.

There’s one day in the athletics calendar that reminds those of us who love the sport of all the reasons we love it — the All-Ireland Schools’ Championships.

Most kids have an idea about what they’d like to be when they grow up and like most, my career plans reflected my interests as a child.

Twitter is an addictive little application on my iPhone, but it’s more than just an app.

The competitor in me loves watching horse racing, there are so many elements that make it enthralling.

My love for the marathon has grown in the past couple of weeks.