Dundalk's flying runner Seán Hill makes strides online and off

For Seán Hill, running was never far from home. Long before any social media followers, Aer Lingus flights, or medals, it started with something much simpler, watching his Dad race.

When sharing his running journey with the Dundalk Democrat, Seán said: “It’s always sort of been in my life thanks to my Dad, always watching him get ready after work to hit high miles and supporting him on his races.”

READ NEXT: Muirhevnamor FC rename pitch Gill's Park

Although running was always there in the background, it wasn’t until two years ago that the Dundalk native made the switch from observer to committed runner.

“The real beginning of my journey was around two years ago when I decided to quit football - a decision I’ll always be grateful I made!”

The real push to tackle the marathon distance came not from within but from the buzz of the London Marathon crowd and the drive to be part of it all.

“It had to be from watching my Dad do the London Marathon - that buzz from the crowd and FOMO really gave me the energy to want to tackle it myself.”

(Seán attends the Paris Olympics 2024. Picture by Seán Hill)

Training

Balancing long-haul flights with long-distance running might sound like a challenge, but Seán takes it all in his stride.

“As I’ve always been athletic, training has just sort of always been part of my life. I don’t feel like I’m forcefully doing exercise - I just do it. 

“It’s like taking in oxygen - we just naturally do that, and that’s how I feel with training.”

Setbacks

Of course, the road hasn’t been without a few bumps. Like many runners, Seán has had to deal with injuries, including one that could have derailed his progress.

“I’ve had many little injuries. The worst being only last November - I had injured my IT band, which can be a tricky one to come back from.

“For some, it could take up to six months, but luckily I stuck with a plan and was back running 100% after three months.”

Fuel to finish

With higher mileage came a new focus on recovery and nutrition. Seán quickly learned that performance starts off the track as much as on it.

“I’ve focused a lot more on carbohydrate intake along with hydration. I’ve been working with some really cool companies that have given me a great education on both, and fueling hasn’t been an issue since.”

(Seán takes part in the Lisbon Marathon. He completed his first marathon in 2:58:28)

Home stretch

Those last few miles of a marathon are famous for breaking even the strongest runners, but also delivering moments they’ll never forget.

“It’s honestly the best and worst feeling in the world. You want to crawl into a ball and never speak or be seen by anyone ever again, but you also just get this wave of emotion knowing you’re going to cross that line.

“It’s such a beautiful moment that you get to have with yourself, and I don’t think any other sport can give you that independent feeling.”

Positive influence

Seán’s journey hasn’t just been about personal growth, he’s shared it with over 116,000 followers on TikTok and 55,000 on Instagram. And the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s honestly been incredible. You always hear of the online trolls and some really nasty comments from people, but I think I’ve been so lucky – my engagement is extremely positive 99% of the time.

“I’m lucky enough with how I was brought up that it takes so much to get to me, so nasty comments online are something I just laugh at.

“But I always try to stay positive and shed some light with exercise and life in general – so there’s only so much hate you could get from that.”

(Seán running through the streets of London)

A moment to remember

Among all the medals and memories, one moment stands out above the rest for Seán, and it’s one that plenty of seasoned runners will envy.

“It has to be completing my first marathon in under three hours. Only recently I’ve understood what an achievement it is.

“I’ve had many people tell me they’ve tried for years to break it, and it’s just not happened - so to do it on my first one was so special.”

Dream race

With one dream ticked off the list, Seán is already looking ahead. And it all circles back to where his marathon journey began.

“London is definitely the bucket list one, as it was the one that gave me the spark in the first place. But I’ve my eyes set on a few others like New York and Chicago - they’d be pretty cool.”

Advice for beginners

For those starting their own running journey, Sean has words of encouragement grounded in experience - and a good dose of humour.

“Forget about everyone else, stop comparing yourself to these people online who run a marathon every two weeks - it’s not normal and these are people who train like nut jobs, including myself.

“Focus on your own journey and always remember it’s all a bit of fun. Grab yourself some funky shoes and run as slow as possible for as long as possible - and at first, if that’s only 300 metres, make the next one 400 metres.

“Listen to your body and if you can, try to run at a pace where you feel like you can have a conversation with someone - that sets the body up for success.”

Next

Seán’s future looks just as exciting as his past two years have been. And while he’s not revealing all the details just yet, we know there’s more to come.

“I’ve got some huge announcements coming relating to two marathons this year and maybe a third - but for the moment, I’ve got a few 5k races I’d like to give a good shot at and London 10k in July - so all is looking very exciting for sure!”

Follow Seán's running journey on his social media channels: TikTok and Instagram