Peter Mathews, Running Hero & Nutrition Division

Check out my new website:

http://petermathewsfitness.ie/

Anyone need to contact me, details are on the site, Pete

Peter Mathews Fitness | Peter Mathews Peter Mathews is a physical therapist and personal trainer and has worked within the fitness industry for the past 15 years, a successful distance runner, at national and international level, winning 9 national titles for cross country and track. He has represented Ireland on several occasions, fini…

Ambitions to Go?

"...my remaining ambitions are to keep competing at the highest level possible and possibly represent my country as Master. I would like to be remembered as an athlete who always competing fairly with respect for my opponents and who always gave his all in an attempt to win for self for club and country." spoken like a true gentleman athlete! - Irish Runner 2010

Peter's thoughts on Runners Work/Life/Running Integration ( Balance):-->

You need support, let all the family know what you are planning, your schedule. I plan most of my training around my work load too. e.g. I use time in am /pm to run into and home from work and it helps that I work in a gym also. Thankfully my wife and family are proud and share in any success I have.

Peter on Recreational Running Pre-Marathon:-->

My advice is that you have been running approx one year before you tackle the Marathon. It’s wise to get miles in the legs and build a good base and also tackle a few shorter races to familiarise yourself with the racing experience.

If you’re running your first marathon this year the best advice I can give is pacing yourself. You should have a clear understanding on what time you need to run and don’t worry if your first 13miles is slightly above your set pace. You should feel like you could go faster for the first ten miles but fight that feeling. It’s easy to get caught up in the occasion.

Peter's thoughts on Bare-Foot Running:

"....some merits in the message aka ankle mobility, proprioception etc, but I recommend RUNNERS, maybe do exercises barefoot in the gym workout only.

In comparison to athletes who *grew up* wearing no shoes or runners from a young age to western athletes who did may in my opinion cause problems. Running is hard on the joints at the best of times so I’ll still be wearing my runners for some time to come!"

Most Common Injuries Knee, Shin, Back - Peter's Advice: -->

Definitely knee, low back and shin pain/ shin splints, caused mainly by focusing on road running only and not considering cross training or including elements of strength training into their training programs.

Advice: Simple things like targeted nutrition, squats, lunge patterns and balance exercises under instructions can help a runner immensely.

New Elements to Your Training Regime?:-

Yeah...Weight/core Training!

"..I used to think everyone that lifted weights was mad and I thought it would slow me down. Now I think the total opposite. ..A good balanced program with some small amounts of strength work, core work and mobility work has served me well in recent years."

Toughest Physical Challenge/Injury Peter overcame:-->

"..over the years, I struggled with recurring back problems. But in recent years i have incorporated core and strength work into my training regime and the improvement has been remarkable. My back doesn’t really bother me anymore and I know what to do to keep me on the road."

PM's Personal Most Memorable Moments: -->

* My 1st Brittish & Irish Masters Title 2010 - race was held in Dublin, it was good to win in an Irish vest on home soil with my family watching

* Winning my first senior national cross country title in Ballinlough in dreadful underfoot conditions was a special moment.

**Won Toughest Race: National cross country championships in ALSAA in 2002 where I narrowly beat Seamus Power in a tremendous battle which could have gone either way right to the end.

*2 Brittish & Irish Masters Titles
** Winning 3 Cross Country Championships
*** 3 National Masters Championships
**** Captaining the Irish team in the world cross country championships
***** Wining a team Bronze in the European cross country championships for Ireland.

How To Build A Legend: Early Influences--> "

1988-89: "... i found i had a lot off pent up energy, I had to find a way of releasing this. I went for my first run 1988, in a pair of deck shoes, because I didn’t own any runners. I covered 2 miles and loved every bit of it. It was not long after this that the head coach of DSD club (Eddie McDonagh) spotted me out running and encouraged me to come down to train with the club and the rest is history." Dundrum South Dublin