10 Questions

Kevin O’Connor

Top Canadian masters runner Kevin O’Connor grew up in a small town in Cambridgeshire, England. After leaving school, he worked in a forensic science lab and then became a scenes-of-crime officer in England, investigating road accidents, plane crashes, sexual offences, homicides and everything in between. He started his career in the same office just as they were solving the first-ever murder with dna evidence. O’Connor met a Vancouverite while they were both in Greece and followed her back to Canada in 1996. He joined Kajaks and ran for the Hershey Harriers. Since 2007, he’s been a member of Vancouver Falcons, coached by his friend John Hill. The 49-year-old, who will be aiming to run under 1:10 for a half-marathon, is cheered on by his grown son, daughter and three grandchildren. April 2017, O’Connor turns 50 and will make an attempt to take down some Canadian age group records.

1 What would you say are your defining characteristics as a runner?

I’m determined, competitive, singleminded and prepared to do my fair share of the work when racing or training. In a newspaper article at 13 years old I was described as a tenacious runner and I think that is a fair ref lection of my character.

2 What do you admire most in a runner?

The ability to concentrate on their own performance and not worry about what others do. Too many runners forget about their own training and racing because they are too worried about their competitors.

3 What is your idea of happiness?

Right now it’s spending time with a new girl I’ve recently met. Happiness for me can be found in many simple things like reading, music, eating Cadbury chocolate, drinking copious amounts of tea. Or, a large glass of Baileys with ice late at night sitting on my deck looking at the skyline ref lecting on where I will be down the road.

4 Who are your athletic heroes?

I grew up in the U.K. in the ’80s, so Steve Ovett, Tim Hutchings, Julian Goater and of course Steve Jones. I admired my old training partners Dave Buzza and Jon Richards at Cornwall AC not just for their ability but for what they put back into the club. In my teenage years during runs I would play out commentary i n my head and Mr. Jones always got caught in the last 400 m of his marathons by some unknown 13-year-old kid from a small town. My Cornwall coach Alan Rowlings deserves a mention for his amazing dedication, which was once endorsed by the Queen in her New Year’s honours list.

5 Other than where you are now, where would you like to live?

New York. I have a bit of an obsession with the city. I’ve just returned from a trip. Every corner you turn there is something new to do and different to see. I especially like Brooklyn. I was always looking to marry a New York girl on every side street so I could move there.

6 What is your greatest running-related regret?

I have no regrets, I was never going to be a world-class runner so my working career was more important. However, if I had remained living in the U.K. I’m sure I would have achieved some England or Ireland [through my grandparents] international masters vest as the scene is big in the U.K.

7 What is your greatest fear?

Never being able to run or hear music. My sister Tracey was born with spina bifida and never walked. I run for both of us. I also have this bizarre fear of someone sticking a machette into my shin. I don’t know where it came from but it constantly enters my head.

8 If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

To let more people into my life. I’m very non-sociable outside of running. I know lots of people but only have a handful of close friends who I adore and love hanging out with. People may think I spend lots of time with others but in truth outside of running, I spend lots of time with my cat Eddie and my music. I have a bad habit of just not showing up to things. However, I’ve just met this lovely girl so I’m spending lots of time with her right now.

9 What’s one thing you can’t live without?

Instantly, I would have said my kids and grandkids but they all live in the U.K. and they know full well I love them. My music; Eddie, my cat. I couldn’t live without the memory of my sister Tracey who, 15 years after her death, still drives me forward. We were like twins despite our three-year age gap and she knew me better than anyone. She was an extremely brave person.

10 What is your motto?

I don’t rea lly have one, but a few of my U. K . mates have heard me saying “I’m t urning t he screw” in training. I like to t urn t he sc rew espec ia lly when I k now t hey a re hurt ing during a workout . Or t hey are unf it , t hen I t urn t he sc rew even t ighter.– CR