10 questions with…..your club secretary

Next up in our series of interviews is the Club Secretatry, Geraldine O’Shea. Mum to charlotte, who is rumoured to have her own personalised number plate on the back of her mothers bike! Now that’s respect!…..Over to you Geraldine. 

1. How did you get into triathlon?

A friend was involved with Tri-to-Beat-Cancer in Mullingar and encouraged me to give it a go in 2007. I wasn’t even sure what a triathlon was or what order you did the various disciplines in. I set about raising sponsorship and ended up with pledges of over €2,500so there was no getting out of it then! I also had a bet on so my pride was at stake too. Did the swim in a mix of doggy paddle and breast stroke in a borrowed (leaky!) wetsuit and was terrified the whole cycle that I’d be stuck in my cleats but felt on top of the world when I crossed the finish line. Was hooked then and joined Piranha that winter.

2. What’s your favourite discipline and why?

I love running, but it has always been my weakest link. Running for me is pure escapism, swimming and cycling are hard work!

3. How do you balance being a mum to charlotte and training?

Not very well at the moment as she is (of course!) number one priority and takes up most of my time. But I try to make the Piranha swim session on Saturday and then get out for runs at very strange times of the day (like 9pm on a Saturday when everyone else is in the pub!)

4. Relaxing on the beach or hiking in the mountains, what’s your ideal holiday?

Definitely an active holiday. I’d love to learn to surf so maybe surfing holiday in the sun.

5. What was the last book you read and was it any good?

I just finished The Shipping News (read at a rate of about 2 pages a night..) and loved it. It’s set in Newfoundland which is a place I’d love to visit. Best running related book I’ve read is Feet in the Clouds about mountain/fell running in the U.K.

6. What has been your biggest improvement during winter training?

I got a few running PBs during the Spring as a result of some good training over the winter. I don’t think they’ll balance out the major disimprovements in my swimming and cycling though…

7. Favorite karaoke song? And who would you drag on stage with you?

I sing like a bag of cats, so would drag up anyone who can hold a tune so that they can drown me out. I don’t think there’s any shortage of karaoke-happy Piranhas to share the stage with ! Would have to have a few sherrys for Dutch courage but I’ve been know to sing Hopelessly Devoted or anything else from Grease really, really badly.

8. Which professional athlete (if any) do you admire?

I was lucky enough to meet Catherina McKiernan when she was our run coach at WWT in Italy (2008?). I was so impressed by her talent and modesty – what an awesome lady ! I loved seeing her glide by effortlessly during as the Piranha boys tried in vain to keep up with her.

9. Best & worst triathlon related moment?

Worst has to be falling off my bike the day before the European Age Group race in Athlone in 2010. I only got through the next day thanks to a great local physio who taped me up and a large packet of Nurofen. Ouch ! Lots of ‘Best’ moments to choose from but Valentia 2010 stands out as the perfect race and weekend.

10. Any advice for anyone new to triathlon?

Just to enjoy all the sport has to offer including the camaraderie in the club and the race weekends away. And keep on challenging yourself, it’s amazing what you can achieve if you don’t limit yourself.