Cork City Marathon profile: A marathon hat-trick for Julie Deane

Each week we profile one of the runners taking part in the ‘Irish Examiner’ Cork City Marathon in June

Name:

Julie Deane, aged 32

Is it your first time running a marathon?

No, it’ll be my third marathon, hopefully. I did my first in 2013 in Dublin following the passing of my father. I raised over €2,500 for the Kerry Palliative Care and ran it in a reasonable time (4:33), but it was more the taking part that counted. My second one was in Tralee in March 2015.

Why are you running the marathon this year?

I’ve been living in Cork since college and feel I need to do another marathon before my body gets too sore, which is slowly happening. I joined St Finbarr’s AC in April 2015. Being part of a club is great as everyone spurs everyone on.

What’s your training/diet regime like?

I do two short runs during the week, 4-8 miles, and I do a speed session on the track with the club mid-week. I do my long run every weekend, usually with my friend Kelly. I have tried to increase my fruit and veg intake and make sure I drink plenty of water every day. I eat a lot of chicken and fish during the week and a lot of sweet potatoes or cous

cous.

Hardest part so far?

The long runs at the weekend with the wind and rain. It’s very hard to head out early in the morning with rain, sleet, and wind.

Best part so far?

Doing the Great Railway Run from Cork to Carrigaline and finishing the 25k in a PB — Kelly did the same. We were both happy with our times and met some lovely runners along the way.

One piece of advice to anyone thinking of doing it in the future?

Try and pair up with someone around the same pace as you. When the mileage increases, it’s very easy to skip a weekend. At least if there are two of you, you will probably get through it together. It’s a great sense of achievement so it’s well worth doing.