Runner Profile: Seamus

How did you get into running? 

Many years ago I used to run when I was a student in Belfast but gave it up when I started to work, got married and became preoccupied with the responsibilities of life. As the years rolled by, I always considered myself to be fairly active however I discovered every time I bought a pair of trousers that I had to go for a larger waist size and the weighing scales began to read higher.

So I decided to take affirmative action and get out running again. I bought a pair of trainers and took to the roads around home – on my own for the most part of a year. At the beginning I struggled to run a slow mile but gradually built up to a fairly comfortable 5k.

Then a significant development happened – a really good neighbour invited my wife Marie to join the Run for Enda group in Omagh. Every time my wife returned home from the group, she was bouncing with enthusiasm. She had met Peter Dolan and his family, along with his band of running coaches. Marie kept on telling me I should also come along as I would really enjoy the experience. So like all good husbands, I listened to my wife. One evening I took the plunge and went along to see what she was talking about.

The rest is history! I am now running 3 or 4 times a week, sometimes clocking up 20k or more and I regularly participate in the Omagh parkrun. I ran my third Half Marathon in Omagh in April and I have registered for my first full Marathon in Dublin in October – along with some great friends.

I am really enjoying my running. Most of all I have made some fantastic new friends and rekindled a number of old friendships. We all encourage and inspire each other to keep going especially on the tough days. It’s not all about the running either – we celebrate significant achievements in each others’ lives, we go out socially and occasionally we fundraise for those less well off than ourselves. We are very fortunate in the Omagh district to have Peter and his outstanding Run for Enda Foundation.