Running Matters One:2:One with Ben Brunton

By Martin Lyons - martinlyons87@gmail.com

This week’s runner is a young man who is making rapid progress in the world of athletics. Ben Brunton started running seriously a few years ago and soon clocked a sub-15 minute in Castlepollard, when winning the annual North Westmeath AC 5k event.

He has his eyes on even bigger targets, including a potential masters scholarship to the America and if his advice to anyone starting running is anything to go by, it’s clear he an old head on young shoulders, and a bright running future.

Name: Ben Brunton

Date of birth: August 26, 1999

When did you start running and what motivated you take it up?

I started running with St Brigid’s Athletic Club when I was in primary school, to keep active during the winter time, when there was no football on. I didn’t really take it seriously then until I was about 17, when I started to train more intensely and began competing.

There was something about racing and training that I enjoyed so that’s what really got me hooked on the sport, as well as getting to meet new people at the various events, and club training was an aspect which I really enjoyed.

The ambitions to run new PBs on the track and on the road make me stay in the sport.

What is your favourite and least favourite type of training and your favourite race distance?

My favourite training session would probably be 1k intervals. Usually during the winter season I would do 6-8 x 1k. That session is especially enjoyable when there are a few people doing the training.

I wouldn’t have a least favourite type of training session at this stage.

My favourite race distance is the 5k. I feel this is a distance I can make most progress in over the next few years and hopefully win more medals.

Mullaghmeen forest, just outside Castlepollard, is a great place to train and always serves as a good challenge.

What running achievements are you most proud of and why?

My biggest running achievement to date would be the national 5k final this year. This was a big step, for various reasons. Firstly, It was my first appearance in a national final, so that made it extra special.

Also to be in a race with Olympic hopefuls showed that my running was heading in the right direction! To produce a PB in that race, along with it being broadcast on national television, made it one to remember.

List your current PBs for the following distances.

1500m: 3.55 Mary Peters Track, Belfast, July 2021

3k: 8.37, Morton Stadium, June 2021

5k: 14.58, Castlepollard 5k, 2021

Hopefully more new distances and PBs to add, in the years to come.

How have the Covid-19 restrictions affected your training or racing plans?

When the pandemic was declared last March, I used it as an opportunity to get a good block of training in as it looked like there wasn’t going to be races for a long time.

That worked out well for me, and in consultation with my coach we decided that this summer we would race as often as possible following such a quiet season on the racing scene the previous year.

The hard work in training during the lockdowns paid dividends in the form of personal bests across many distances. There was a plan to go on training camps in early January and races in England during the summer, but unfortunately, with the restrictions this could not happen.

What advice or training tips would you give to anyone who is now looking to take up running?

Easing gently into running – do short distances at a steady pace – for me, that is a key tip during your early days.

For the first few months, just do the basics and gradually build up training and mileage.

Then you have to motivate yourself to keep tying the laces and getting out after both good and bad days in the vest. That’s a difficult task, but an important characteristic of any good runner.

Finding someone to run with is also a big help, especially on days when you don’t want to run!

What are your lifetime goals and/or PBs?

My main goal is to try get a masters scholarship to the States and make progress over there. We’ll see how that pans out, but fingers crossed, the progress keeps up at the rate it has. I’ll continue to work hard and hopefully make that goal.

As far as distance is concerned, for now I’ll think of 1500m 3:50, 3k: 8:10 and 5k: 14:20.

They would be nice solid times to aim towards for the immediate future.

What is your favourite post race meal?

Usually I go for something like a pizza or Chinese, especially If coming off a hard race, or running a personal best time.

It’s good to reward yourself now and again!