Cavan’s Catherina McKiernan is widely recognised as one of the world’s best ever cross country runners.
The 44-year-old, originally from Cornafean in Cavan but now based in Castleknock in Dublin, has not only had a hugely successful running career, but is now also a ChiRunning instructor, helping thousands of people around the country to get out and run.
Catherina has numerous achievements to her name. She won silver in the World Cross Country championships four years in-a-row between 1992 and 1995. During this time, the talented athlete finished top of the order of merit grand prix table and also scooped the inaugural European Cross Country title in 1994.
Her achievements did not end there though, as Catherina has also represented Ireland twice at the Olympic Games – the first time in 1992 and then again in 1996. In 1997, Catherina then moved up to marathon running where she ran the fastest debut ever by a woman up to that date when she set a new Irish record at the Berlin Marathon, running home in a time of 2.23.44.
Catherina continued to dominate the long-distance running scene, and became the first Irish person to win the London marathon in April 1998. Later that year she then went on to break her own Irish record, winning the Amsterdam marathon in 2.22.23.
Catherina participating in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta (Pic: INPHO)
On a national level, Catherina has also won several titles both in track and cross country before eventually retiring from competition in 2004. Now, the talented athlete, author, passionate businesswoman, mother-of-two and all round inspiration, looks back on a fascinating and thoroughly interesting life.
“My interest in running began from a very young age. I always liked to run and ran around the fields on the farm at home. In my last year at secondary school an athletic club was formed so I joined them and went on to win the All-Ireland schools cross country which is when I realized I had a talent for running.
“The club I started out with – Cornafea Athletic Club – is no longer in existence. I am now a member of Analee Athletic club in Cavan. My sister and brother-in-law are involved in the club and I also have some nephews and nieces running with this club. As I said, I just loved running and training and I began to win more and more races. It was all a gradual progression.
“I began to realize that I liked the longer distances – anything from 10k to marathon. Over time though, probably my favourite distance was 10 miles or half marathon.
“Overall, I won four silver medals in the World Cross Country championships. I was the European Cross Country champion and then went on to win the London, Berlin and Amsterdam marathons. I got great pleasure and a sense of achievement from all the races that I won,” she continued, adding that she is now mother to Deirbhile (12) and Patrick (8).
Catherina running in the Great Ireland Run in 2004 (Pic: INPHO)
“Although I’ve retired, I still like to run the odd low key race over 5k and 10k. It’s nice to mix and meet the other runners. I really love to run and running was, and still is, very important to me. On a few occasions during my professional career I got injured and was unable to run. As a result, I wanted to learn a way to run that had less impact on my body.
“That’s how the business came about. I just kind of fell into it from my own career. I set up ChiRunning ten years ago and it’s all about helping people know the right mechanics for their own body. There is a boom going on with running at the moment. People who have never ran before are getting out there and enjoying themselves – it’s fantastic to see. With ChiRunning I also teach people how to prevent and clear up running related injuries so that they can experience the joy and freedom that running gives.
“Thankfully, it is going very well for me. More and more people are running and know the importance of keeping healthy and fit. I get great satisfaction in helping people and knowing that what I teach them will give them many years of enjoyable running. It also helps people to be more centred and be in the moment and calmer in every day life.
“The mind plays a big part in people’s lives and we have to learn to direct it in the right way, so that we can live happy and fulfilled lives. This is something I am very interested in and plan to learn more about over the next couple of years.
“I get to meet all types of people. You have long-term runners who want to improve their techniques. Then you have people who maybe did something like a ‘Couch to 5k’ and are now looking to progress on. There has also been a huge shift towards people doing triathlons, half marathons and full marathons so that’s great to see too.”
Catherina running in this year’s Flora Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin (Pic: INPHO)
“My work is really varied to be honest and as I said, I get to meet lots of different people from all different walks of life. There is huge job satisfaction too, you really get to help people. Running is so addictive, and it’s fantastic to have been able to turn my passion for the sport into a long-term career.
“I find it easy and really enjoyable. I think it’s my passion for the sport that helps me. Once you realize that you can help people there is a great sense of achievement in that. I hold workshops which can have anything from eight to ten people taking part in it and they are really interesting. Most of the group are usually of the same mind-set and are really engaged in what is being done.
“Some people come to me saying they never thought they’d run again, be it that life got in the way or an injury got in the way. Then they get back in touch with me after they’ve run a marathon and they tell me it didn’t even feel like 26 miles to them, thanks to the help and tips I had given them – that’s so rewarding. It’s that type of feedback that keeps me going and keeps me doing what I love.
“People can be afraid of change. I aim to help them get over that fear. There’s nothing to be afraid of.
“The highlights? Running for my country, coming second four times in the World Cross Country Championships and being the European World Cross Country Champion. On top of that, I took part in two Olympic Games and I’ve won marathons.
“After I retired I wrote a book Running for My Life. I felt I had a good story, and certainly at some stage I would like to write another book. I have learned a lot in the past ten years from doing my ChiRunning workshops and I have also learned a lot about life since my last book. I would like to help and share my experiences with other people.”
