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A/Rtist in the spotlight: PaulieC

  • 10-06-2016 10:46pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,454 ✭✭✭


    Next up in the spotlight is PaulieC. Paulie is a long time contributor to the forum, has paced DCM and can generally be found in the training logs section dishing out congratulations and advice.

    You used to keep a log. What stopped you? Will you go back to it again?
    What's your sporting background?
    What are your PB's?
    Any interest in the dark side?
    What's your favourite place to run?
    Do you know many boardsie's in real life?

    I'll be back with a few more later in the week.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    Hi Paulie,

    Are you training for anything in particular at the moment ?
    Do you do any cross training ?
    Core work - yes or no ?
    Plain food or spicy ?
    Is your diet good ?
    Did you always run or did you come to it as an adult ?
    Are you a Dub ? If so, how would you fare living in rural Ireland ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,087 ✭✭✭BeepBeep67


    Who does your hair?
    You occasionally sport a beard, lazy fooker or hipster?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,549 ✭✭✭✭Krusty_Clown


    Never run again, or never take another photograph?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 93 ✭✭Ron Gomall


    Hi Paulie

    Few questions
    1. Favourite sport outside running
    2. Favourite song/ group
    3. Weight loss, just train more or eat less
    4. Top 3 Irish athletes past/current
    5. Favourite training session
    6. WMM - outdated in modern Ireland, what's the need for separation ?
    7. Ultras/ Mountain marathons - here/abroad - any planned ?
    8. Semenya - 800m - discuss
    9. Sharapova - 2 year ban - too long/ too short ?
    10. Favourite beer ?
    11. Favourite Dublin pub ?

    Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    Clearlier wrote: »
    Next up in the spotlight is PaulieC. Paulie is a long time contributor to the forum, has paced DCM and can generally be found in the training logs section dishing out congratulations and advice.


    I'll be back with a few more later in the week.

    Thanks Clearlier. I'm not sure whether I am flattered or petrified at the thoughts of doing this :pac:. I have a busy weekend coming up so I may wait until Monday to answer some of the 'challenging' questions...
    You used to keep a log. What stopped you? Will you go back to it again?
    Without looking back, I'd say the last time I was concentrating on racing, which was last summer and the Docklands 5k. I'm not sure of the value of the extra verbage in a log if it's only junk miles. I have medium term plans which will probably see the resurrection of the log, for what it's worth.
    What's your sporting background?

    As a young teenager I ran with two clubs, Lourdes AC and Boyne AC in Drogheda. I fondly remember running 5 miles three times a week during the winter with the more senior members of the club. There were also some tasty hill sessions (anyone who knows Barrack Lane in Drogheda will know). I loved cross country in those days. It was proper cross country back then, where you ran around ploughed fields and through ditches. Not like these days where CC essentially means running in a park. Then I learned about girls and drinking and the running went out the window for many years.
    I was always more interested, and still very much am, in running for running's sake. I have very little love for racing, hence the very few I have done. I do like the marathon though.
    What are your PB's?

    5k - 18.11
    10k - 41-something, I can't remember.
    Marathon - 3:15:00. The 00 is very important :D
    50k - 4:08 (I think)
    Any interest in the dark side?

    I have a bike, but no swimming togs, so no. I like running, cycling and swimming, but not together. And the gear is wrong, especially the bikes.
    What's your favourite place to run?

    Looking at my Garmin history, I'd have to say Poolbeg. I am lucky enough to have many routes and directions that I can take from where I live, so I rarely have a pre-planned route, unless it's a long run. Invariably, I head down towards Poolbeg and the lighthouse.
    Do you know many boardsie's in real life?

    Yes, quite a few. Strange bunch...


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    BeepBeep67 wrote: »
    Who does your hair?

    haw haw. Do it myself, shave my head every 2-4 days.
    You occasionally sport a beard, lazy fooker or hipster?

    I should say laziness, but probably a wannabe hipster :rolleyes:. I even have my khakis rolled up at the bottom today...and I'm not wearing socks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,825 ✭✭✭IvoryTower


    Do you run with a club now?

    Are you no longer in drogheda?

    Why the hate for racing?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    kit3 wrote: »
    Hi Paulie,

    Hi Kit...thanks for lobbing me a few easy ones to ease my way in...
    Are you training for anything in particular at the moment ?

    Yes. Kind of. I am actually pretty unfit at the moment, so I am ramping up to start training for DCM. The longer term plan is to try for a sub-3 marathon and I am pacing at DCM so the idea is to use the DCM training as a base for the sub-3 attempt, which will be a spring marathon next year. I might also do the Docklands 5k as it's my local club's race and is close by.
    Do you do any cross training ?

    Does cycling count ? I try to commute by bike as much as I can. Cross training always reminds me of those huge contraptions in gyms. I hate gyms, I really don't see the point of going to a gym to run on a treadmill.
    Core work - yes or no ?

    In fits and starts. Not so much. I climb the odd time, should do more of that as it's enjoyable.
    Plain food or spicy ?

    Spicy. My favourite food is Mexican. I love burritos and dirty rice. And Fish Tacos. OMG fish tacos....
    Is your diet good ?

    It's ok in terms of the three squares, but I have a weakness for biscuits. Plain biscuits mostly, like the cheapest Tesco digestives. Prescription biscuits as the missus calls them.
    Did you always run or did you come to it as an adult ?

    Running as an adult since the week after DCM in 2010 (I think). Came back to it, the seemingly mandatory boards story - booze and fags and fast living caught up with me...
    Are you a Dub ? If so, how would you fare living in rural Ireland ?

    God no. I'm from the Wee county. I don't think I'd liv anywhere else than where I am at the moment though. If I had to live in the countryside, it would have to be somewhere in Wicklow. I love the mountains, great for running in and generally very beautiful and impressive to look at. I have a thing for mountains :o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    Never run again, or never take another photograph?

    Wow, that's a tough one. I've been thinking about it over the weekend and still don't have a definitive answer. There is really nothing like nailing a photo and it's something that lives on way past the moment of taking or printing. Everywhere I go, whether driving, cycling, running or walking, I am always on the lookout for a view or a scene that I could photograph.

    Photography takes up a lot of time and that time is usually at odd times of the day, like getting up at 4 in the morning to be in Glendalough for sunrise, or down at the lighthouse at midnight because the weather forecast says the sky ill be clear and The Photographer's Ephemeris says the moon will be in a particular position or whatever. It's kind of like running in that sense - always looking for locations and watching the weather and being out by yourself for hours on end :o.

    There is always, however, the dreaded question. When you're going to a party/christening/wedding/event, I avoid the phone beforehand so I can claim I missed the call/didn't see the "can you your camera?" text. I have done a few wedding as a second shooter and can categorically state that that's not the career for me I wouldn't have the patience or dealing with prima donna brides and mothers ( and grooms to a lesser extent).

    So back to the question. If it's strictly a choice between no running and no photos, I would probably come down on the side of no running. I could always replace running with some other activity, but I don't think there is anything that can replace a good photo. In fact, I have been planning photo project for the last couple of years that running is getting in the way of, while at the same time facilitating as I am spotting locations while running :D.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    How are the legs today - can you see yourself taking part in more cycling events ?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    Ron Gomall wrote: »
    Hi Paulie

    Few questions
    1. Favourite sport outside running
    2. Favourite song/ group
    3. Weight loss, just train more or eat less
    4. Top 3 Irish athletes past/current
    5. Favourite training session
    6. WMM - outdated in modern Ireland, what's the need for separation ?
    7. Ultras/ Mountain marathons - here/abroad - any planned ?
    8. Semenya - 800m - discuss
    9. Sharapova - 2 year ban - too long/ too short ?
    10. Favourite beer ?
    11. Favourite Dublin pub ?

    Thanks
    1. Favourite sport outside running

    You mean to partake in ? If so, then I guess it would be cycling. It's like running, but longer. A favourite aspect of running for me was that it afforded me a way of going places that I would never have any reason to go, even if it's just parts of the city that I had never been in. Cycling is an extension of that, but the best thing is that it allows you to go further and longer. I love the Dublin/Wicklow mountains, but it's mostly a pain to have to get in the car to go running up there. With the bike, you can just cycle there. Obviously you have to stick to the roads for the most part, which is where mountain biking comes in. That is exhilarating and frightening, I love doing it. You sometimes forget that you have a wife and kids and job etc. and go hell for leather down the trails, before reality comes rushing in, forcing you to apply the brakes. I used to play (badly) a bit of ball, but that's fallen off since running as the chances of getting stupid injuries increase exponentially.

    TV wise, I like the usual - football, GAA, rugby. I love nothing better than a lazy day in an empty house lying on the couch and watching golf majors. It's so relaxing - eat biscuits and chocolate, watch some golf, kip for a while, repeat until the fam is back to spoil the peace and quiet :D
    2. Favourite song/ group

    Ha, I think this is the hardest question I have ever been asked. And I have no answer. I listen to music about 10 hours a day. I have a Spotify playlist called 'Run' that has about 400 songs. It's pretty wide ranging with artists from Dolly Parton to Public Enemy to Slayer to Joy Division to Parliament. Pretty much the only music I don't like is R&B, or rather the shoite that passes for R&B these days. I genuinely feel sorry for young people these days given the lack of choice of music they have to listen to. It's terrible that there are no real superstars of music anymore. All of the 'big' groups have been around for a long time and are really just living on their glory days.

    One thing I really regret is not being able to play a musical instrument. I have started and stopped in the past, played drums in a brass band and did a few grades etc. but for one reason or another I never stuck with it. I'd love to be able to play the banjo or mandolin. Maybe someday.

    To get back to the question - I'll say Violent Femmes for favourite group. I love Queens of the Stone Age, so I'll say Make it Wit Chu for favourite song. Favourite album is probably Lateralus by Tool.

    By the time you read this, those will all have changed :D
    3. Weight loss, just train more or eat less

    Eat less and eat well. I lost about 2 stone when I started running and that was great. It gave me a lot of confidence, even though I never though of myself as being overweight (kids have plenty of laughs now though looking at photos of me when I was 'fat'). I made the mistake of thinking I could eat whatever I wanted as I could run it off. That was a mistake. I can see that as plain as day during every Lent. I have given up biscuits and chocolate for lent for the past few years and the weight has dropped off. That's more of an exercise in self-discipline than a religious thing :D. I try to eat healthily, but at the same time, I'm not gonna deprive myself. Life is too short and I'm not qualifying for the Olympics any time soon.
    4. Top 3 Irish athletes past/current

    1. Eamonn Coughlan. Coincided (or was the cause of) my first foray into athletics. He was at the fore of what really was the golden age of Irish middle distance athletics.

    2. Sonya. Obvious reasons.

    3. Derval O'Rourke. I loved her attitude and determination. She always comes across as very articulate and she was great at what she did.
    5. Favourite training session

    I did a 5k specific plan last year, as provided by everyone's favourite boards coach. I had never done anything this specific before and there were a lot of sessions in there that I was not familiar with. I was very nicely put together and was very progressive and understandable. My favourite workout from that plan was probably the progression runs. 12-14 miles, finishing with HM pace (I think). 12 x 400 is probably the one I hated the most. In fact, I think I texted the coach right after finishing the last rep in one of those sessions to abuse him :D
    6. WMM - outdated in modern Ireland, what's the need for separation ?

    Absolutely not. I think it's a marvelous occasion. Not a marvelous race, obviously, but it's such a tradition at this stage that it would be a shame to see it changed or diluted in any way. Yes, I know that there are people that walk it, people that start it with beers and chips and fags and such, people cut corners and try to cheat, it's not a marathon etc. etc. There's an awful lot of whataboutery that goes on every year regarding this race, but I say leave it be. Not everything has to be inclusive and modern and open to everyone. We are not all the same.
    7. Ultras/ Mountain marathons - here/abroad - any planned ?

    Nothing planned at the moment, but never say never. I think probably my most favourite race, after Donadea 50k, was the Walk The Line in November (although not an ultra or marathon distance). Great route with a little bit of most things that make mountain running such a treat. I was only taking yesterday about doing part of the Wicklow Way again soon, but nothing concrete.
    8. Semenya - 800m - discuss

    I'm not sure about where I stand on this. On one hand, it's unfair on the other 100% females that compete against her, but on the other hand, is it fair to have her compete against men ? I don't think so. I would think that she has probably been exploited for SA athletics for their own ends.
    9. Sharapova - 2 year ban - too long/ too short ?

    Lifetime ban. She knowingly took performance enhancing supplements. It is up to her/her team to know what is on the banned substance list. All those found guilty of using PEDs should be banned for life. It's the only way to stop it. Obviously that's not going to happen with so much money at stake and people like Seb Coe in charge.
    10. Favourite beer ?

    Smithwicks with a Guinness head is my tipple of choice. If drinking away from licensed premises, I'd go with Founders All Day IPA.
    11. Favourite Dublin pub ?

    I used to love Whelans. Always great music, whether live or just in the bar. Staff were great and it had a great atmosphere. Extensions and newer, younger staff and different clientele has done away with all that. It's a shadow of its former self, so not a fave anymore. I like Doheny & Nesbitts and The Waterloo, but since I spend the most time in my local, I'd have to say that :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    kit3 wrote: »
    How are the legs today - can you see yourself taking part in more cycling events ?

    Legs are OK. I could do with a small recovery run this evening, but I'll be part of Jackie's Army form 5 o'clock onwards, so standing in the pub will have to suffice :D

    I'll probably do more, but it's hard to think about just at the moment when some bits are still so tender...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    PaulieC wrote: »
    Legs are OK. I could do with a small recovery run this evening, but I'll be part of Jackie's Army form 5 o'clock onwards, so standing in the pub will have to suffice :D

    I'll probably do more, but it's hard to think about just at the moment when some bits are still so tender...

    Hmm, so legs are ok but some bits are so tender ...... Ok :cool:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,087 ✭✭✭BeepBeep67


    Still using the fenix3?
    Why are you / did you look to get rid of it?
    Next watch?
    Next pair of kicks?
    Lotto win bike purchase?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    IvoryTower wrote: »
    Do you run with a club now?

    Are you no longer in drogheda?

    Why the hate for racing?

    Cheers IT.
    Do you run with a club now?

    Not at the moment. I was with Crusaders for a while, but I never renewed my membership as I was never able to make the training sessions. They were at a time that I found difficult to square away with work and young kids etc. Then I felt that if I don't train with a club, I should not represent them so I never renewed. Maybe some day I will, but one of the things I like about running is the ability to get a run in whenever is convenient, so having to be available at a certain time does not come into it.
    Are you no longer in drogheda?

    No. Moved to Dublin in 1995 for work. Have lived in various locations in Dublin and only seriously looked at moving back to Drogheda in 2002 when we bought our current house. My mother lobbied heavily for us to move, including dangling free childcare, but I couldn't face the commute (work in Leopardstown). It's a real shame how the town has declined, in the same way as many towns in the country, due to bad management and greed, but it's always home.
    Why the hate for racing?

    Not hate, I just don't really enjoy it. I don't really now why, it was ever thus. As I mentioned, though, I like the (Dublin cite) marathon and I also love the Donadea 50k. It's small and intimate and there is always a great, friendly atmosphere.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    BeepBeep67 wrote: »
    Still using the fenix3?
    Why are you / did you look to get rid of it?
    Next watch?
    Next pair of kicks?
    Lotto win bike purchase?

    Still using the fenix3?

    Yes.
    Why are you / did you look to get rid of it?

    I am keeping it (for the moment anyway). I was going to replace it for a few reasons. Firstly, I am a bit of a magpie and I love new gadgets. I've had the Fenix for a year and fancied a change. Secondly, I bought it, at least partially, to use as an everyday watch. However, it's so big, it makes my puny wrists look even more puny :D so I stopped wearing it as a daily driver. Thirdly, I was going to downgrade and use the proceeds to partially fund a cycling garmin.

    I ended up keeping it and going for a smaller Edge, which, as I found out yesterday, doesn't have great battery life. In terms of sheer functionality, the fenix is pretty much the full package. And like it again now so will hold onto it for another while. If it was only slightly smaller it would be great.
    Next watch?

    Not planning one at the moment. Maybe a Fenix 4 ?? Will be looking at upgrading the Edge though, to something that lasts more than 6 hours.
    Next pair of kicks?

    I am still crossing my fingers that Brooks will see the error of their ways and start making Green Silence again. I loved them. I hate the fact that they stopped making them and replaced them with a range of 3 different shoes that cost twice as much and were half as comfortable, but I guess that made sense for a business looking to make the few bucks out of the running boom. I regret not buying more Green Silence when they were available (although I will freely admit that the Union Jack pair were a mistake. They were donated, unworn, to a clothes bank :D).

    In the meantime, while waiting for Brooks to come to their senses, I'm wearing Puma Faas 4 and Adidas Boost, not sure which model. After a slow start, I'm really liking the Adidas, so will probably go them again.
    Lotto win bike purchase?

    I dunno. I don't know too much about bikes, but I know they can get frickin' expensive. I was in a bike shop on Saturday and I could not believe the prices of some of the models. My bike was bought 2nd hand, having been ridden twice, for 500 quid. It's fun to look at bike websites and think about carbon this and carbon that and I probably will change in the future. I like the moody look of the Canyons, painted in matt black.

    I realise that splashing out on these expensive bikes will yield very little improvement for me, so I am resisting at the moment. I was actually thinking about it yesterday during the W200. There are two big climbs pretty close together about 120k in, Slieve Maan and Shay Elliot. It was tough, but I kept at it (mainly as I was afraid to stop in case I could not unclip fast enough and have an embarrassing fall). I passed a good few blokes in expensive bikes, some were walking. I think if I had such a nice bike, I'd be too scarlet to get off and walk.

    Money no object - probably a Canyon Ultimate CF. In moody black. Plus a new shed to fit it in to.


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