NEXT SUNDAY 27 April, Dublin and Cork will both host the 10km Samsung Night Run. We caught up with Dublin footballer Michael Dara MacAuley, who is an ambassador for this year’s event.
Hi Michael, first of all can you tell us how you become an ambassador for the Samsung Night Run?
Samsung approached me because I think they realised I needed a bit of help with my running!
I was delighted to come on board because it’s a great event and there’s a brilliant buzz around the city when it’s on. I’m really looking forward to taking part on 27 April.
Would you have run much competitively when you were younger?
I would have done some cross-country as a kid because I tried my hand at everything. I wouldn’t have the physique for it now but I did do a bit growing up. I was never the star of the show but took part in school to keep up my fitness.
I enjoy running but as a Gaelic footballer we concentrate on much shorter distances so it’s going to be an interesting challenge to see how I get on.
People might look at you and think ‘oh well he’s an intercounty footballer so he’ll easily run 10k’ but is that the case? Is it a different type of fitness?
To be honest I had that exact mentality myself in 2010 when I did a charity 10k. I went into it very cockily with the attitude that I’d be grand so I did no sort of training.
I knew all about it when I hit the course. It was a struggle and I’m not going to lie, I’m a little worried about this run… particularly because it’s on the same day as the Allianz Football League final against Derry.
Yeah, I noticed they both land on the same day. Will you be in a fit state to run it?
There’s obviously a chance I could pick up a knock or that in the match but if my body is still in working order after the game I’m going to give it a lash.
I’ve signed up 20 of my friends to do it as well as family members… half of them don’t even own a pair of runners!
I might be worrying about I’m going to get around the track but some of these are going to be struggling badly. It’s should be a fun night out.
Did you get any Dublin team-mates to get involved?
A few of them are talking a big game alright. Paddy Andrews said he might come along but I need to work on them. I think I’ll have to get them to sign a contract before the league final because I reckon they might change their minds after the match. I’m going to try drag a few of them along anyway.
On a typical training day for Dublin, what kind of running would you do with the panel?
It’d be a lot shorter in distance and narrows down as the year goes along. We’d never really run 10km or anything like that. It’s the same way that you wouldn’t see Usain Bolt running long distances.
We keep it all short and sharp. It wouldn’t be recommended to do it regularly for us but for a once off it will be fine.
Samsung Night Run will return to Dublin and take place for the first time in Cork on Sunday 27 April. The two 10K events will take place simultaneously at 9pm and each city will compete for the title of champion based on runners combined finishing times. Runners can register for both races at www.samsungnightrun.com.
