Curley set for marathon effort in Limerick
Race organiser Paddy O’Connell would like to call this a family race and that would suit the Tullamore housewife, who has been competing for Ireland at international level for the past 18 years.
While others became professional runners she continued to hold down jobs and look after the home and she insists that she would not have it any other way.
During the summer months, she won the adidas Road Series, which consisted of a 5k race, a 10k race and a half-marathon, all in the Phoenix Park.
Now she is the middle of block of training for the upcoming cross-country season.
What few people realise is that, apart from looking after the family, she works in the Tullamore Harriers Night Club every Saturday night, until at least 2.30am the following day.
She will go out later that day in compete in a major race, national championship, a mini marathon or even a half-marathon, mixing it with the likes of Sonia O’Sullivan, Maria McCambridge or Catherina McKiernan.
She has been representing Ireland in World and European championship events, Ekiden Relays in Japan and Korea and other major races since she first donned an Irish vest 18 years ago.
“I had been out of running for a long time but my sister, Anne (Carroll), got me back into it,” she said.
“We had run together in school. The following year we were together on the Irish team at the Mallusk international and, since then, I have represented Ireland every year.”
When her sister brought her along to the Harriers, she joined the club, met her husband Adrian and has never looked back.
“I think linking up with Robert Denmead was what turned my career around,” she said.
“He coached me and brought me along to a level I never expected to reach.
“I admire the girls who run professionally because I don’t think I could do it. It is just not for me. I enjoy looking after the family and doing things.
“I have just completed a three-year professional cookery course in Athlone and I am waiting on the results of those exams. I like to keep busy.
“I don’t think I could live just for running, although some might think running is my life. It is just my hobby and I enjoy it. It has never changed my life or anything like that.”
People have been pushing her to try a marathon, as she has performed so well at the half-marathon.
“I am a bit fearful of the marathon but they keep telling me I have the physique for it and I know I will try one some day.
“I would just like to go into it with no pressure on me to win it or anything like that and just enjoy it.
“You hear so much about the marathon. They say your first one can be your best but we’ll just wait and see.”
She feels that Sunday’s showpiece might be a bit short for her on account of the fact that she is in the middle of a block of mileage in preparation for the cross-country season.
The field will include Claire Gibbons, who was having her first race since Ballycotton when she finished second in the Evening Echo Cork Ladies Mini Marathon.
Rosemary Ryan, who won that race and the Limerick race two years ago, is another likely starter in a field that also includes Niamh O’Sullivan (An Riocht) and Orla Drumm (UCC).
The event, 4.9 miles, will start outside the UL track and finish on the track.
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