This month’s runner spotlight is PVI senior Patrick Kiernan. Patrick is part of the cross country and track and field team at PVI and is no stranger to the world of running. Patrick has been surrounded by the running community since as long as he can remember. Both his mom and dad are local high school running coaches so it’s no surprise that Patrick found himself logging miles at a young age. Throughout high school Patrick chipped away at his PRs and continued to make improvements in running. This March, he set out to log more miles than ever before and continues to train and make gains in the sport of running proving that hard work and dedication can go a long way. Just this October, he competed at the =PR= Youth Track Club meet in the 1600. He ran a 10 second personal record and was just a second away from breaking 5:00, running a 5:01. Patrick is determined to go sub 5 the next chance he gets.
Patrick is not only an avid runner he is a member of the =PR= Race Team volunteering, working, and helping with a number of races. He can often be found at the finish line helping with timing, setup, and shut down or helping out with packet pick-up. Just days before this article was published, Patrick ran the Gold vs. Black Panther XC race with a smoking fast time of 17:35 and a 1st place finish. This was a special day for all the Panthers as it was the first race of the season on their new campus and home course.
Q U I C K Q U E S T I O N S
Runner/Employee Full Name: Patrick Kiernan
Age Category: Senior – 17
Favorite XC Meet: WCAC Championship at Bull Run
Favorite PR Race: Firecracker 5k
Favorite Race of All Time: VTCA Winter Classic
First Race Ever: PR Kick Off Invite 2017
Best Race Memory: Last year VISAA championship, our entire state team gathered at the start line before our races and did some team chants. It felt great to be able to get our entire team excited before the race, especially because we had never done anything like that before.
How did you get started running or walking? When I was in elementary school, I would go to the youth program South Lakes had on Sundays, but I never ran outside of that. However, when I was in middle school I went to the Capon XC camp, and I began to love running.
Favorite Running Event/Distance? 3200m
What is/was your favorite part about running/racing?
Running: It is a great way to clear my mind when I am having a bad day. I don’t have to focus on what is making me upset, the only thing that is important in the moment is running.
Racing: It is the best opportunity to see how much I’ve improved.
Who is your biggest cheerleader/supporter? My teammates and family.
What is your spirit animal? Why? A horse because I have high endurance.
What is your life’s motto? Words to live by? “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” –Steve Prefontaine
Best Piece of Advice You Received from a Coach/Teammate/Etc.: The best piece of advice I received was from my coach. “Don’t focus on the other people racing, all that matters is how you run.”
T H I S O R T H A T
Distance – Long or Short
Post Race Snack – Banana or Bagel
Running Company – Alone or Together
For longer runs I prefer to do them alone, but I prefer to do interval workouts and recovery runs with a group. I also haven’t gotten to run in a group much recently, so it feels even better when I get a chance to run with my team.
Time of Day – Rise and Grind (Morning) or Night Time is the Right Time (Evening)
It makes me feel more productive when I get my run in the morning. It also feels nice to be out and about when almost no one else is out.
Location – Road Runner or Trail Crusher
Run – Workout or Long Run
Top Shoes/Spikes Picks:
1) Nike Pegasus
Top 3 Items:
2) Stretching Rope
3) Roller/Stick
Top 3 fun facts. Tell us something about yourself!
1) One time I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I decided to go on my run.
2) My great uncle published an encyclopedia on the Baltimore Orioles
3) I have 2 sisters and a brother
Favorite place to run or train:
1) Wakefield Park
2) Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail
3) Burke Lake
Three words to describe my teammates:
1) Lively
2) Determined
3) Hard working
Racing is . . . exciting
Running is . . . relaxing and fun
My last run was a . . . 4 mile tempo run
My favorite thing about running . . . the friendly and welcoming community in NOVA
If I wasn’t running I’d be . . . swimming
The thing I’ll miss the most about XC/TF when I graduate from PVI . . . the culture our team has built. We work hard when we need to, but also know when to have fun.
