Richard Owens

Richard Owens

Joined the club at age 8, stayed for a year or two then had a 5 year exodus leading to a comeback at age 13 when he and his sister joined back up. This month will be his 9^th year back in the club, and he has loved every minute of it. He has taken part in a huge number of events at county, provincial and national level for the club. Over the years he has won numerous under age titles but in more recent times has won the Wicklow Novice and Intermediate Cross Country titles and came a close 3^rd in the Wicklow Senior last year at his first attempt. As a junior he won both Road and Cross Country Wicklow titles.

Over the past few years since giving up rugby to run full time he has devoted himself to the shorter distances of the tartan track running 800 and 1500meters.

Current Pb’s are:

800m: 1.55, 1500m: 3.58.33, 400: 51.2

Richard helped Tuesday night coaching for a number of years before university commitments mounted. But still today actively helps up and coming young Sli Cualann athletes giving advice down the track and training with them whenever he gets the chance.

“Over the years I have so many memory’s and have seen so many people come and go. Some of my most vivid are running up and down the eagle nest steps on Saturday mornings with Martin Corcoran’s group. Over the years I must of run up and down the prom a few hundred times in the rain on cold dark Tuesday nights. Roaming across Bray head over the years has 100% lead to my talent to run up steep hills fast.”

Still actively running and training hard Richard currently trains under James Nolan in UCD up to 7days a week.

His Typical week currently goes something like:

Monday:              am 30mins                         pm gym + 40mins

Tuesday:                              Session 12x60sec hills

Wednesday:      am 30mins                          pm 40mins

Thursday:                            5x1mile

Friday:                                  Gym plus 40mins

Saturday:                             2x12min tempos

Sunday:                                                10miles

Upcoming plans are possibly a Cross Country Season, University Road Relays and probably another training trip to South Africa to get ready for next summer’s track season.

“quod in omni vita facimus in aeternum resonat"