1. What running shoes do you train in?

Asics Cumulus (am going to try some Saucony shortly – bored! Any neutral shoe works). I love my Inov8’s for trails.

2. How many miles did you run last week?

24 – Ironman training is nearly killing me, and it’s not the running!

3. What’s your favourite racing distance?

The marathon for the excitement, the sense of a Big Race and the excuse to start out slowish – I’m with Mick Rice on boiling frogs slowly. I’d rather go to the dentist than race a 5km in earnest.

4. Where’s your favourite place to train?

I have lovely memories of the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis last year for road training – you can’t beat twenty miles of unbroken trail around lakes and trees for great running.

5. What’s your favourite event or race each year?

I’ve done an autumn marathon (different venues) the last three years, and it’s been amazing every time. I love the distance and the occasion of the big road race, and because of the distance, it’s always a celebration no matter how the race goes.

6. What annoys you most at races?

People hedging their bets at the marathon and ‘upgrading’ themselves into a faster race start pen in the hope that somehow they will shave forty minutes off their race time.

7. What race, that you haven't yet run, would you most like to take part in?

The London Marathon – I have my eye on the club championship starts – requires a sub 3:15 so 7 mins. to shave – a little work required in 2012 to qualify for a 2013 start! Snail-like Ironman pace isn’t going to work.

8. What was your best-ever running performance?

It’s all relative! Probably Dublin Marathon 2009 – I ran that last six miles like a train and came in about 13 seconds under my planned time.

9. What was your worst-ever running performance?

I crippled myself running the Burren trail half marathon in 2009 and hobbled around the Loughrea leg of the Galway 5 km series in a mortifying time (my ankle was slightly sprained but everything hurt so much I didn’t realise) the following Tuesday, because I badly wanted that series t-shirt.

10. What's the strangest thing that you've ever seen on a training run?

I do a lot of my training runs when I’m away for the weekend – you probably couldn’t beat catching the changing of the guards at Buckingham palace while I was away in London for on-the-run entertainment.

11. Favourite piece of running gear?

It has to be my practical yet fashion-beating Lululemon pink-and-green check running skort.

12. Who would you most enjoy beating in a sprint for the line?

Frank Burke. Obviously. While wearing a skort (me, not Frank).

13. What was the best bit of training advice you were ever given?

Run less. Run faster.

14. In ten years time will you still be running?

I’ve been running (at various speeds) for the last fifteen, so almost certainly. Knees are holding out so far.

15. If for some reason you were told you could never run again, how do you think you'd react?

I’d be devastated but would probably have to find another sporting outlet like cycling. Anything but long distance swimming.

16. Have you ever been bitten by a dog while running?

Never. I grew up around farm dogs and have a firm handle on the dog situation. Dropping your voice an octave (assume Kilinaskully accent) and saying ‘Gwanoutadatyabouldtinggwanhome’ works always. Try it.

17. Have you ever had to stop for an emergency 'Paula' during a race?

Yes –memorably in a corn field in France; the local boulangere in the nearby town declined the use of her facilities (despite my near impeccable French). Lesson learnt: a breakfast comporting a pint of coffee, fresh figs and ham baguette doesn’t digest well thirty minutes before a twenty mile run.

18. Favourite post-race food?

Ham sandwiches. Food of kings! I normally dive for anything which isn’t sweet, sticky or sugar coated, especially after a marathon. Trail races are great for savoury post-race food – spicy chilli and burritos are also pretty fine (but thin on the ground in the West of Ireland).

19. Most embarrassing ever running-related moment?

Slightly shamed at being lapped at the club cross country championships in Kilbeggan by women coming in at half my body weight.

20. The greatest Irish Athlete of all time is/was?

John Treacy. I clearly remember the wondrous moment (I was nine) when he won the silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics. The Pride of Waterford.