Commencing Countdown, Engines On

Boarding the plane to Berlin for Sunday’s marathon almost feels like an achievement in itself. As is often agreed between marathoners, getting through the actual training for the 42km challenge is in itself something to be proud of. 

In the afternoon of October 21st last, I sat in an Amsterdam-West hotel room recovering from a 2.48 effort around the streets of the Dutch capital. Thrilled, sore but hungry for more, I was happy reviewing a successful return to the marathon having last ran the distance in 2015 around the same course.

Debriefing with coach Emmett Dunleavy on the phone gave me every confidence that this was only the beginning of positive things to come for me and the marathon. As we both agreed, I seem to have improved further for the step up in distance as the year went on. No Derbys or Guineas for me, if I was a racehorse it would be the Eider, or if feeling really ambitious, they might throw me in The Grand National. Never sharp enough for the all out speed contests but capable of slogging it out to the last if thrown into a battle. And that’s the way I like it!

 Olympiastadion Amsterdam, 2018

As that debrief call concluded last autumn, a sense of confidence and momentum was back in the air. I had just ran an eight minute personal best over the distance that was now clearly becoming the one that suited me the best. Not one to rest on my laurels, as the conversation drew to a close I made clear to Emmett my intention for the year ahead would be to raise the bar again and pursue a sub 2.40 run. Being the level headed type he is, the wise coach made note of his admiration for my ambition and balanced it with a brief mention of the amount of work it would require. The hard work would not bother me. At this stage I was already fully committed. The dread of not achieving would drive me on when things got tough. 

Ready to roll at Ballyheigue Half On The Head 10k

When news of a successful lottery entry for the 42nd edition of the Berlin Marathon came through the following month, the train really began got rolling. Selection for the successful Cork team at December’s All-Ireland Novice Cross Country and a two minute personal best in February at the Dungarvan 10miler done combined with the fact I knew I would be racing on the fastest marathon course around come September filled me with belief. A summer of chasing some speed over shorter distances did nothing to halt this ever growing sense that more good things were around the corner. A 5k bp at John Buckley Sports flagship event and a first road race victory over 10k in Ballyheigue continued the until now seamless preparation for the main event of the year.

It was around this time that a tendon issue in my left foot began threatening to spoil the party. With the excellent care of physiotherapist Joyce Wolfe and her team on my side, we erred with caution by skipping about 10days of training as well as a London race appointment. At this stage it became clear that to physically withstand the demands of the upcoming marathon specific training block I would need to spend more time on the treatment table in Ticknock, Cobh. 

Physiotherapist, mentor and friend - thank you Joyce

Being fit, healthy and fully mobile in advance of three weeks altitude training in St Moritz was now of utmost importance. The great adventure to the Swiss Alps was looming at it wouldn’t do to be looking out at the magnificent mountain vistas while laid up with any type of limiting injury. Thankfully, as previously reported, the training camp was a great success. Departing home on the premise of it being a once in a life time trip and returning with a strong case for it becoming an annual excursion says enough. More work to do in that quarter yet though!

And so we are, landed, ready and waiting for the day that has been eleven months and more in the making. Over 3,000km clocked so far this year. The hills of Cobh, the Line Road of Ballyheigue, the Royal Parks of London and the great Engadine Valley have all been conquered along the way. An absolute pleasure to enjoy the feeling of total freedom by running in so many wonderful places. Nothing beats it.

Life reminds me that every day I run I am lucky to do so. Lucky to have my health and to be able to use it as a tool for the challenges of life. Lucky to make the friendships I do from taking to the road. Lucky to be able to make a small difference to the lives of people who are not so lucky while thinking of those very special people whose lives have been cut short because of cancer. 

Above all else, lucky that I can take to the start line this Sunday morning in the best shape of my life ready to take on my biggest challenge with the help and support of so many good people around me. 

The force is with me. The force is strong.

Donate to Mercy Hopsital Foundation Cork (Cancer Appeal)

http://bit.ly/31I3OdH

Track Trevor (from 8.15am Irish time)

 https://bit.ly/2mphMS2

@TrainWithTrevor

All or Nothing

The last two weeks here in St. Moritz have given me a taste of what it is like to live your days as a full time athlete. Train, eat, rest, repeat. It sounds great and it is, most of the time. 

To maximise the benefit of any form of exercise-induced stress on the body, adequate rest and recover time must be afforded. Fair and well, that this might be a core tenant of physiology but try convincing your better half of same when you are trying to justify why you are going to bed for a mid-afternoon siesta back in Cobh while your two small children are running up the bill at the local creche!

That’s why coming away from the external stresses of work and family life are in part what makes a period of training like this successful. Going to bed at night only having to worry about where you run in the morning, what gear you wear and who you have for company is hardly the biggest set of challenges you might have to consider before putting the head down. 

Piz Nair, 3057m above sea level

There is no shortage of running routes here high up in the Engadine Valley. In fact, a conservative estimate suggests there is 400km worth of trails and tracks to explore, be it on foot or bike. Heaven for anyone with a love of the great outdoors. Here you will find some of the most amazing scenery you are ever likely to see. Fast flowing rivers and silver topped lakes overlooked by towering mountain peaks, many of which sit at 3,000m and beyond. 

Whether trekking, running or biking around these parts, most seem to conform to the unspoken code of etiquette that allows for a brief exchange of smiles and pleasantries, which suggests to me that everyone else is enjoying themselves just as much as we are! I will have to remember to drop the ‘morgen’ and ‘grazie’ greetings on my return to the Irish roads or I might start getting funny looks!

I normally have my two British training mates Andy & Jonny for company when they are running easy. Andy has his sights set on breaking the British national marathon record for his age category (035-45) when he travels to Valencia at the start of December while Jonny is looking to secure the Olympic qualifying standard when he lines up in Berlin in five weeks time. While their humble and welcoming approach is one that makes life around them very normal, it is inspiring at the same time to spend time in the company of people who are aiming at such heights. 

Equally impressive neighbours to call your own are the Norwegian trio of Ingebrigtsen brothers. Remarkably, Henrik, Filip and Jakob have all held the title of European Champion over 1,500m in the last seven years. Coached by their father, Gjert, who is famed for his sometimes unconventional methods, the Ingerbrigtsen’s have even been the subject of a television series back in their home country. Available on youtube accompanied by English subtitles, it makes for compelling viewing. Having had the pleasure of speaking with Gjert and the boys over the last couple of weeks, I can say almost for sure that their approach is not half as outlandish as might be suggested. 

Team Ingerbigtsen

Unlike the more modest, egalitarian outlook which encourages participation first and foremost in sport, Gjert has pushed his children from a young age to be the best athletes they can be. It is certainly different from the more modern school of thinking when it comes to youth development but one that apparently is working for now, given the boys success at the very top level of athletics. When I put it to the head of the family that his ways are often said to be different from the norm, he gave me an insight into what pushes him towards pushing them. 

Born in Båtsfjord, one of the most northern and exposed parts of Norway, Gjert’s father died when he was just four years old. Growing up in such extreme conditions without a father figure forced him to work a lot of life out for himself. Nothing was handed to him on a plate as he recalled, and so neither would any of his own seven children get an easy ride in life. 

“If you want to be successful at anything in life you must work very hard, but hard work is not something everyone likes.” 

I look forward to following the progress of Team Ingerbrigtsen through the upcoming World Championships in Doha and beyond and am grateful for the opportunity to have had a brief insight into their world over the last couple of weeks. 

Hill work never looked so inviting!

While their performance levels are on an entirely different level to mine, that same principle of working hard to achieve your goals is one that I can certainly relate to as it was inspires me everyday. 

This week our two boys will go back to school. The youngest, Charlie, is joining his bigger brother, Alfie, for his first term in primary school. It is unfortunate that my time away coincides with such an occasion and I would, of course, like to be there to share the moment but these are sometimes the decisions you have to make if you are going to give everything to realise what you set out to do. All or nothing, once again. 

I am very grateful that along with my wife, Victoria, both of the boys and my parents will be able to make the trip to support me in Berlin next month. By putting everything possible into the preparation for that one day, I might in years to come have a good reference point to reflect back to when the subject of hard work and commitment needs to be encouraged among the two boys. 

If, through my actions, I can show them that endeavour and a willingness to prepare are some of the most important attributes to see us through our days, they themselves should be in a better position to succeed at whatever challenges they might face in life.

As a wise man once said, “if you want to be successful at anything in life you must work very hard, but hard work is not something everyone likes.”

Keep up to date with Trevor's journey to September's Berlin Marathon by following @TrainWithTrevor across all social media

Living the High Life

Not much more than six years ago it looked as if I was set to become the master of my own downfall, or as my wife reminds me occasionally, “you were either going to kill yourself or I might have done it for you.”

It might sound a little exaggerated but it’s closer to fact than fiction.  

How life has taken me from that low ebb to now finding myself on a three week long, high altitude training visit to the Swiss Alps is a tale that this blog probably doesn’t allow scope for. How and ever, over the course of weekly updates during my time here in St. Moritz I hope to chronicle some of the people, places and things that have helped get me this far.                           

Whether it be my involvement in football from a young age, any of my varied musical interests or indeed, my fondness for burning the midnight oil, I have approached a lot of life with an all or nothing, sometimes obsessional view. I don’t know why that is. I know that I am not the only person this could be said about. But that is me and it probably won’t change.

At least now, any intense focus is channelled down more positives avenues than before. 

Soon after ending my relationship with alcohol, I found a new love in running. Quickly, I realised that I had discovered a passion, as I do, for something that would help me replace the thrill I had hitherto tried to find though boozing and late nights. 

The nice thing about running it seemed, was the absence of any hangover. You could, within reason, run as much as you like, feel good as a result of it and not have to deal with any obvious negatives.

The more I got into it the more I enjoyed it. Unlike team sports that I had long given up on, running was, and is, very much a solo pursuit. You do the work and you normally get a good result, you slack off and it’s reflected in the outcome. There is no one else to blame if it goes wrong and when it works out you can take pride in your own effort. 

So, with about eight months running under my feet, I took on my first marathon in 2014, clocking a creditable 3.07 in Dublin. The following year I went one better, ducking in under the three hour mark with a 2.57 in Amsterdam, where I returned to last year and registered my current personal best of 2.48. 

The gradual progression of my efforts over the marathon distance is in no small part down to the guidance of my coach Emmett Dunleavy, who has programmed my training for the majority of my time running. Because of the distance between our locations we don’t see much of each other in person but regular email and phone contact helps bridge the gap.

Having secured an entry for this years Berlin Marathon through their hugely over subscribed lottery process and knowing that improvement on last years effort in the Dutch capital would require an increased effort in terms of preparation, the idea of travelling to altitude to train this summer was one that was put in front of the board (solely consisting of one member, whose identity you can probably guess!) just before Christmas. Surprisingly, the proposal was given approval. 

The plan seemed to fall into place fairly seamlessly. Flying to Zurich from Dublin last Sunday afternoon allowed me to race the Irish National Half-Marathon Championship the same morning, where I was happy to finish in the top 30 with a PB of 76mins. Following this up with three weeks training in an oxygen depleted environment would accelerate my fitness before I returned to Ireland to complete my final preparations ahead of my September 29th appointment in Germany.

And so the adventure really got under way last Monday with a spectacular train journey south to St. Moritz. Inhabited by a population of just 5,000, this luxury Alpine resort town has twice hosted the Winter Olympics and has more recently become a hugely popular destination for endurance athletes of all levels. 

Bumping into some of the most talented and best known athletes in the world before you have even left your accommodation is not a unusual thing around these parts. I’m fortunate to have a perfect view of the famous four lane track where the likes of Norway’s trio of Ingebrigtsen brothers and European half marathon record holder (59.13), Julien Wanders have been regularly working out over the last week.

Distinguished guests of Residenz am See

Recovering from last weekend’s Rock N Roll half marathon while settling into the new conditions here at altitude were first week targets that complemented each other. To adapt to the reduced oxygen at 1,800m above sea level, I would need to take a very conservative approach to the first 7-10 days training. Heavy legs from those hills in the Phoenix Park didn’t argue with that idea.

A relatively low load week in terms of intensity allowed me to settle into my new surroundings without any trouble. Striking up a connection with Team New Balance Manchester marathoners Andrew Davies (PB 2.15) and Jonny Mellor (2.12) helped ensure I wasn’t lonely for long! I’m normally happy to run on my own but maintaining those solo efforts and coming back to an empty apartment every evening can lose its appeal quicker than you might think, regardless of where you are in the world. The lads are much faster than me so I tag along for some of their easier efforts and we’ve taken a trip up to one of the great glaciers together, as well as a slightly less exciting outing to Aldi this afternoon! 

Andy & Jonny of Team NBMCR - both loyal Liverpool Reds!

Two long runs, a 15 and 17miler, spread over the last three days has helped to transition into the slightly heavier couple of weeks training that will see out my time here in the beautiful Engadine Valley. Words wouldn’t go close to describing the beauty of this place but maybe the pictures will help give some impression of the spectacular setting I am lucky to find myself in for three weeks that I could hardly have imagined not too long ago.

                                      

At this point I should raise a toast to the previously mentioned Chairperson of The Board, cheers Victoria! 

I would not be here without you.

Lej da Staz

                                  

Keep up to date with Trevor's journey to September's Berlin Marathon by following @TrainWithTrevor across all social media

Why do we run?

People often rightly find wonder in the dedication of those who take on the marathon challenge. Training day by day, week after week, in preparation for the task of running twenty six miles, three hundred and eighty five yards when the big day comes. It surely is a big undertaking but one that people only ever really get involved in if they want to. 

We run, because we can - not because we have to.

Others less fortunate, have little in terms of decision about the greatest challenge they must face in life. Sadly, cancer is something that nearly everyone of us has an unwanted connection with and our family is no different. Watching our loved one (and my father-in-law) Philip John Collins, dealing with the everyday battle of a disease that eventually took his life in July of this year has helped put a lot of things in perspective.

He, like so many of the other courageous cancer fighters, took on treatment, exercise, rest, nutrition and more because his very life depended on it. If he adhered to what the medical specialists advised then he might have a greater chance of living longer and maybe even overcoming a challenge that he probably never imagined having to deal with so soon after his fiftieth birthday. 

The mental and physical struggle that Phil and others go through to try and stay alive is not something that I can truly understand but from a distance, and only through observation, I know that fight is something that goes far beyond what I will ever face when preparing for a marathon. It is this thought that has occupied my mind a lot in the recent weeks of training for next months Amsterdam Marathon. 

Wherever the road has taken me, whatever the situation with the quality of my training or the condition of my body, I am just most grateful for the chance to run. To do something that maybe one day, sooner or later, I won’t be able to do anymore. Keeping the body and mind in tune while enjoying the beautiful world around us feels to me like the best thing I can do to make each day as fulfilled as the last. Always chasing the miles but in many ways, chasing life as well. Running everyday like it might be the last. 

Last weekends performance at the Boston Scientific Clonmel AC half-marathon (81.30) suggests that we are not too far away from top form but as Coach Emmett of perfectpacing.com rightly reminds me, we have to move up another gear if we are to find improvement on my current PB of 2.57.36 which I ran in Amsterdam back in October 2015. Regardless of your own knowledge or experience, having a good coach to point you in the right direction is key if your are focused on improving. Knowing when to hold back a little and knowing when to push on is always easier with a second set of eyes looking in on all the facts and figures.

Keeping this in mind, the last week has been mainly designed around recovery from last Sunday’s half-marathon and no better place to re-energise than in the sun-kissed Algarve region of southern Portugal. Lots of easy running around the dust trails of Parque Ambiental Vilamoura have been interspersed with longer periods of rest and recovery time spent pool-side at the wonderful Longevity Cegonha Country Club

Training and recovering in a low stress environment (yes, our two children stayed at home!) is usually reserved only for elite athletes but it certainly has benefits for all levels of sportspeople. Parenting, personal relationships, career commitments and much more are often over-looked stresses that the recreational athlete must juggle along with their training load. This is why the champions, in my eyes at least, are all around us. Taking on the challenge of life while also pushing themselves to be better in every sense. It’s also the grounds on which I will be asking my good wife for a week in The Algarve every year here after!

On returning to Ireland, the week ahead will see a slight increase in training load (as well as external stress!). Next Saturday evening presents the final suitable opportunity to toe the start line ahead of the marathon and I’m looking forward to again taking part in the John Buckley Sports 10miler organised by St. Finbarr’s Athletic Club. Following another week of post race recovery work, we then begin the final stages of preparation. The midweek sessions begin to crank up a notch in terms of intensity and volume, the weekend long runs get another few quality miles thrown on for good measure and the rubber in the training shoes starts to wear thin. We're heading for boiling point. 

You look forward to this work in anticipation and maybe sometimes a little uncertainty and then when the moment arrives, you realise….

We run, because we can - not because we have to.

I will run the 43rd edition of the Amsterdam Marathon on October 21st while raising funds for two very deserving charities. All donations will be very gratefully received by using the links below.

MERCY HOSPITAL (CORK)

www.idonate.ie/helptrevorruncanceroutoftown

NORTH LONDON HOSPICE (FINCHLEY)

http://www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/helptrevorruncanceroutoftown

The Long and Winding Road

Reverting to the tried and tested is often a wise option when faced with a familiar challenge. So, with that in mind, I return, for the next few months at least, to the habit of a regular blog, a practice that definitely added value to the mental preparations for my last marathon attempt in 2015.

Being somewhat a creature of habit, it's not just the blog that I'm calling upon to add a degree of familiarity. Sticking to what I know, in almost every sense, I'll return in late October to the pancake flat Amsterdam course seeking to improve on the 2.57 recorded there three years ago. 

The race weekend itinerary nearly looks after itself by now. Arrive on Friday, and do little aside from collecting my race number and resting before taking in a short, final run around the wonderful Vondelpark early on Saturday and then an afternoon catch up with some Dutch based friends ahead of the main event on Sunday morning. Oh, and a great big feast of an Indian meal to celebrate later that night, which will probably be enjoyed in Tandoor on Lange Leidsedwarsstraat, unless I feel very adventurous and try somewhere totally different! I wouldn't bet on a change of venue though, it's not in my nature!

If you can remove as much uncertainty from any situation, there is less likely to go wrong, or so my thinking goes anyway! Of course, you can never rule out the unexpected either so while I’m confident I have a solid game plan, I know it must be open to being flexible when the need arises.

Ask any sportsperson about confidence and nearly all will say that it comes from no greater source than your own preparation. If the work is done, boxes ticked, miles clocked, you know you are ready when the call goes up for showtime. 

With 16 weeks to go, I’m still very much in the build phase of training but there is a nice feeling of momentum gathering with seven of the last eight weeks seeing me exceed the 50mile mark. A mixture of good training partners for company and the feel good factor of this unforgettably hot summer combining nicely to add fuel to the training fire. 

Next Thursday’s Streets Of Youghal 5k offers another opportunity to update a personal best, which is more than a little overdue at this stage. Recent race efforts at John Buckley Sports 5k (17.18) and Dublin Athletics Graded League 3,000m (10.07) suggest that form is finally coming back to a similar level as 2015. While I could analyse forever more what held up my progress for the best part of three years, I’m just really happy and grateful to be feeling strong again.

I look forward to keeping you updated on my progress over the next few months and encourage anyone with marathon related questions to drop a comment below and I can hopefully respond to some of these in future blogs.

Nearly time for another run, until next time...

Back on Track

Regular followers of this blog might have noticed an absence of recent updates, so it's probably a good time for me to take a quick look back over a busy last few months before we hit the go faster button once again!

Following last years marathon in Amsterdam, I shifted focus to continuing my education and worked on attaining a European-wide recognised qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training, which I secured at the start of this year.

Weekends spent studying at The Mardyke in UCC were not always family friendly in terms of time spent away from home but short term sacrifice is often the first step to a long term gain and with a very understanding partner in Victoria, the work got done...on both sides of the fence!

Since the turn of the year, I have been adding some real world experience to the information digested from within the classroom environment. With the fast paced nature of the health and fitness industry meaning science and research are always throwing up new suggestions, you realise quickly that to stand still is to fall behind. 

Balancing the challenge of setting up your own business, fulfilling your duties in a Monday-Friday office role, making sure your own training gets done while helping others with theirs and the occasional nappy change for a highly charged one or two year old is a bit similar to the act of plate spinning that you might have seen when you last went to the circus.

The juggler at the circus has plenty of experience and it wouldn't be a good show if he failed to keep everything moving in the right direction! However, when you are new, you can often get the balance wrong and the inevitable happens. Something slips!

So, after a slow start to my own racing year, I'm really excited about getting back in the groove with a summer planned around an inaugural track season before dipping my toe in the muddy waters of the cross country world come Autumn time.

Dropping back to the shorter distances of 1,500m-5km will allow me to really work on developing speed endurance over the next year or two, while at the same time sparing the body from the higher mileage training required for the longer events.  

When the time comes to go back to the marathon, I want to be reasonably confident of a 2.45-2.50 finish to ensure a significant improvement on my current PB of 2.57.

Big goals require small steps to follow one after another. The first one is over a mile next Wednesday evening at the opening meet of the John Buckley Sports Graded League.

Let's go!

The Good, The Bad And The Bubbly

Following the recent Amsterdam Marathon, rest and recovery was well overdue and as much as the body needed a break, so too did the keyboard. To help bridge the gap, guest blogger and old friend Eric Brannigan takes over, for one blog only!


Now I’m not much of a blogger (unlike Trevor Cummins) but here goes!

My older sister Ger likes to recall every now and then how Trevor used to call to our house on West View and look innocently up at whoever answered the door and ask “is Eric comin out?” He could barely reach the knocker but reach it he did. More often than not it was my mother who answered the door. Now I was Sheila’s only boy and not everyone who called to the door for me was deemed suitable company for yours truly but shur she couldn’t say no to Trevor, innocent as could be. He had her at hello! Inevitably in those days “out” meant crossing the road to a bobbly, nettle-infested patch of grass known locally as “The Plant”. It has since become a park for tourists to listen to the Bells of the Cathedral (and now and again for local young ones & young fellas to have a few cans and have the odd shift!)

Back then we had as little interest in the young ones and cans as we did in the bells! Now, bobbly and nettle-infested The Plant may have been but for us it was literally a field of dreams. It was Anfield, Old Trafford, Colmans Park and even Selhurst Park (Cummins fancied himself as the next Vinnie Jones – he hid those qualities well from my Ma!). It was in the Plant that we lived out fantasies of FA Cup Finals, World Cups and played the most intense games of ‘nods & volleys’ imaginable…so intense in fact that one poor young lad got knocked clean out when he was on the receiving end of a particularly sweet volley…a story for another day. 

It was in those games that Trevor’s competitiveness first came to the fore. He was though a bit of a Mammy's boy (ahem…Pot/Kettle!). Trevor was a bit fond of running round the corner to Mammy Phil on Midleton Street when he was on the receiving end of a  bit of stick! None the less there was a crew of us there including myself, Trevor and Aaron Mansworth and really sport brought us together, we just loved it, despite the drama it caused! In spite of the age gap we all got on, Trevor was very enthusiastic in those days, infectiously enthusiastic, particularly about sport. I was a few years older than Trevor so we never played competitive sport together growing up but I remember well watching him play soccer with Springfield. He came up with a group of very good young players including Graham Wilshaw, Shane Brennan, Shane Cronin and Barrie Hastings. Trevor wasn’t as talented as those guys back then but he got on just fine….why? Enthusiasm, dedication and hard work…. watch this space.

As the years went on Trev  and I did our own thing but always remained friends. I remember in or around the early ‘00’s I started playing a bit of soccer with Cobh Wanderers Junior team. They were being managed by Jamie Cullimore at the time and coached by Mossie Mahony,  an excellent physical trainer with a no nonsense attitude. Mossie's sessions were tough but very enjoyable. Two things stand out for me about those sessions, the first was Trevor's attitude, he absolutely tore into it. The second is how his approach brought on my fitness levels no end, he was a great training partner. 

I remember well one session in particular, Mossie had us doing these squares… Jog, Run, Sprint, building in intensity, it was tough going but great training. At that time Derek Barret was on the Cork Senior Hurling team and he was playing a bit of ball with us in the off-season to keep fit and fit he was. Barrett's a sound man but competitive…very competitive, I learned that from playing Gaelic football with him for years. Anyway this session was going on and it was the type of stuff that would sort the fit lads from the not so fit fairly quick. Towards the end of the session I was just about holding on to the front group with Trevor and Derek setting the pace. I clearly recall coming round a corner on the last set and Derek was in between myself and Cummins. 

As I said, Derek was competitive and he gave myself and Trevor a friendly ‘nudge’ just at the corner, this was enough to knock me off my stride and that was it…I was gone, not Cummins though, not a hope. Trevor just upped the gear and caught up with Derek in time to finish neck and neck, serious going given Derek's fitness level. The grit was there along with the intensity and no fear of hard work, he was flying. Not long after Trevor was in the Wanderers Senior first team and rightly so. There were better players than him up there but very few had a better attitude, intensity, hard work and enthusiasm were his key attributes.

Eric, Trevor + Aaron - Photo by Larry Cummins, Evening Echo

Now before I get too carried away, he’s far from perfect! Trevor spent a few years where he was a bit too fond of the beer! During that time Trev developed an intense disregard for your personal space… he could scourge you….Jesus, could he scourge you! Trevor could burn your ear off, regardless of your level of interest. The subjects were as wide ranging as Chelsea, Jose Mourinho (he does a good impersonation), German Industrial Techno, David Bowie, any fuckin racehorse you care to mention, even the GAA….! I found that one the hardest, Trevor waxing lyrical to me about the GAA! 

I have to admit there were one or two nights I met Trev after a few pints when I felt a little uncomfortable. It definitely was intense and as for the hard work, well he was hard work at times I can tell you!! About two years ago or thereabouts Trevor made a decision to change his lifestyle. I’ve no doubt meeting and settling down with his partner Vicki and the arrival of their first son Alfie had a role to play but it was ultimately Trevor's decision. He decided to return to what he loved…competitive sport, not just sport, the competitive aspect is key. It has to be intense there has to be a challenge.

Trevor's commitment to his decision is quite simply inspirational. He has achieved so much in such a short space of time through sheer dedication and hard-work, needless to say he was fairly intense when it came to doing the work. The last twelve months in particular has seen Trevor rub shoulders with seasoned athletes all over Munster on both track and road. Trevor performed  admirably along the way including a near podium finish in the 5,000m county final this summer. Trevor has made many friends and attracted many admirers along the way, non more so than the great Sonia O’Sullivan who can no doubt easily recognise his work ethic and commitment to his goals. On Sunday 18th October 2015 Trevor towed the start line of the Amsterdam Marathon. 

The goal was straightforward, no ambiguity… go round the course in under 3 hrs. A little under 2 hours and 58 minutes later he crossed the line,  Job done. I know Trevor was very proud to wear the Ballymore Cobh AC colours on the day, in turn the club should be very proud of having amongst their number a man of the calibre of Trevor Cummins. Not because he runs good times but because he sticks to his goals, he doesn’t take the easy option, he does the work and backs himself on the day. Very few will run sub 3 hour marathons, anyone can work as hard as they can and commit to a goal, that’s Trevor's legacy, that’s why he’s so valuable to his club. I’m sure Trevor was a very proud man crossing the line in Amsterdam. I’d wager he was proud of his club, his family, his coaches, friends and fellow athletes for their help and support along the way.

Most of all I hope he was proud of himself. He utterly deserved his result; I know I was very proud of him. The intensity, hard work and enthusiasm Trevor displayed all those years ago over in “The Plant” stood him in good stead after all & long may it last. I know for a fact that Trevor employed a positive selfishness in his preparation for this marathon. On that note a massive mention should be given to his ever patient partner Vicki for putting up with him along the way, behind every man & all that craic….!!! I might call round to his house during the week and ask Vicki if Trevor is allowed “out” for a game of nods and volleys! I better leave him win, if I don’t he might go running round the corner to Mammy Phil and rat me out & I could just do without that grief at my age!!

Well done Trevor, onwards and upwards.