The Brick Q and A Session – Marie Moran

  1. FULL NAME
    Marie Moran
  2. BIRTHPLACE: And name other places you have lived
    I’m from Multyfarnham in Westmeath, a little village that made national news in 2013 because Johnny Depp and Cillian Murphy came to lunch in the local pub. It’s also famous for being the home of the Children of Lir legend, which is why you’ll often find me around the Claddagh checking if the swans have mythical qualities. So far, I haven’t found any.I’ve also lived in sunny Spain, upside-down Australia and many years in the metropolis of Dublin before finally escaping west five years ago.
  3. WHEN DID YOU JOIN GTC AND WHY?
    I joined towards the end of 2021 when I first moved to Galway, as I had zero friends as a newbie Galwegian blow-in and wanted to keep up a bit of triathlon. I was previously in Piranha TC in Dublin, so figured I’d find a few sound people at GTC too. Sure, I wasn’t wrong. Aren’t ye all lovely?And fast forward almost five years, I now have friends. So it worked. Phew!
  4. OCCUPATION
    I work remotely as a website programme manager at a web agency that develops and maintains websites, social media and all other internet things. So I just use the Chandler Bing expression and say I help fix “the fallangy” of websites. Or, if that gets a confused side eye, I just say I make the internet.
  5. PREVIOUS SPORTS
    GAA as a teenager. I wasn’t the strongest player on the team, so I needed to learn the power of a strong shoulder or a sneaky elbow when the referee wasn’t looking. I didn’t have the Speedy Gonzales-ness of my brothers, so I perfected the more obscure athletic specialties such as the egg and spoon, backwards running, or three-legged race in order to pick up some medals at local sports days.Like most teenagers, I fell out of sport when I left for college and then started running in my twenties with the goal of completing a 10K. Then I picked up cycling and became a massive fan of sportives. While doing that, I was bullied, or strongly encouraged, into signing up for a half Ironman. I couldn’t really swim at that point, and some say I still can’t, but I got stuck in and have enjoyed the journey. I also occasionally take out the paddleboard or surf, and of course walk Peigí the pooch daily.
  6. SWIM / BIKE / RUN: Which do you prefer and why?
    Probably cycling, although I don’t do too much of it in Galway because of the sideways rain and wind.I love that you can pack up all your belongings on your bike and head off for a few hours or days, just powered by your legs. I’ve done a few touring trips over the years in Ireland and France, and it’s a lovely way to see the world around you. I only got a car six years ago and my lack of cycling coincided with me getting a car, so maybe it’s time to ditch the car and get pedal-powered again.
  7. FAVOURITE EVENT OR FAVOURITE PLACE TO TRAIN
    Of course, Tribesman is the best, but I might be biased on that one. Aside from that, Cobh is a gem. The swim from Spike Island is pretty epic and the craic afterwards adds to the race.I’ve gotten into the Heskin League more this year, lured by the promise of a creamy Guinness and a bag of Tayto in the “K-Klub”, aka Killorans.

    The Connacht Western Yards Backyard Ultra is a great day out. Where else is there a sport where you can have sandwiches, chats and make new friends, all while jogging along sorting out the world’s problems, and nobody is putting you under pressure to run fast?

    I also love the joy of a sportive with their funeral-style sandwiches, strong tea and chats halfway through, and a celebratory pinteen across the finish line.

  8. SPORTING CLAIM TO FAME: Name any sporting achievement you are most proud of
    Ironman Barcelona in 2018. Hours of work, self-doubt followed by self-belief, and oodles of “you’ll be grand”. I signed up for it to prove, mainly to myself, that anyone can do an Ironman if you put in the work. When you’re in the middle of the race, you truly see that. All ages, shapes, sizes and nationalities, all plodding around and supporting each other.I managed to play for Westmeath in GAA at U14 level. It was only for five minutes, but Daddy Moran is very proud of that, as my brothers haven’t achieved that one. Gooo me!
  9. THREE MUSIC TRACKS THAT POWER YOUR TRAINING SESSIONS
    Covers Spotify playlist and hides behind a hedge in shame, expecting serious judgement.And no, I’m not going to give you just three tracks. I’ll give around ten!

    For a LSR: Meute. Any of their albums are great for a run as it’s nice boppy brass. Actually, any boppy brass is lovely. Same goes for most songs on Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness.

    Later on in a LSR: Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen. It takes you on a musical journey for three minutes that makes you forget your achy legs.

    For a nostalgic day: Sweet Caroline, with its banging opener, or Frankie Valli’s The Night. Bah, bah, bah, bah.

    To leave the house: One Day by Bakermat. It has samples from Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, with lots of builds and massive drops to put the power on. This is more of a GERRUP OUTTA BED AND MOVE type song. Baianá is also a banger.

    When you need a push: Move Your Ass by Scooter, Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes and Along Came Polly by Rebuke.

  10. YOUR ALL-TIME SPORTING HEROES AND WHY?
    Sonia O’Sullivan. So many years of watching her on TV winning so much throughout the 90s.Dervla Murphy. Technically a journalist, but she has many great cycling adventure stories that would motivate anyone to pick up a bike. Definitely check out one of her books when you get a chance. Every time I read one, I get the urge to pack the panniers and head out on the road with the bike.
  11. YOUR GTC HERO, AND WHY?
    I can’t pick one hero as there are so many people doing incredible things and encouraging people to achieve more. So, everyone who suggested a run even in the dark in January in the rain, told me the sea was balmy before Heskin, raved about ice creams in Spiddal so we had to cycle there, ate breakfast or buns with me in Blackrock Cottage, or listened and encouraged me to GET UP OUTTA BED for the LSR because WE WILL HAVE BREKKIE AFTER IT. Legends. The lot of you.For anyone who is starting triathlon training from scratch, you know what, it’s fierce hard and can be overwhelming to begin with. You don’t know what half the equipment is for. Everyone seems to know what they’re doing except you, they don’t, and somehow you eventually find yourself willingly getting into the sea, running, or cycling at 7am with a shower of absolute loonies!

    And a mention for the committee too. There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes every week to keep the club flowing along like clockwork, so thanks for keeping us all organised!