By Des Kirby That’s a question some of you may be wondering about. Sebastien Locteau launched Runireland.com in the summer of 2007 as a means of promoting running, triathlon and other sporting events across Ireland. Since then it has quickly evolved into a popular online community with its own forum and retail site for athletes. Sebastien has been involved in the Irish athletics scene since moving here from his native France in 1999. He has coached young swimmers, triathletes and runners from Galway, Castlebar, Sligo and many other clubs. He is currently coaching the Comans SC in Roscommon town, ‘a club with great potential’. He also coached an athletics team in the 2004 Olympic games and coached two triathletes in the 2008 Olympics.
Sebastien’s personal journey has taken him from the army where he worked as a UN medical officer serving in Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia in the late 1990’s. Witnessing the consequences of war first hand was an experience that gave Sebastien a real appreciation of life. Shortly after Kosovo Sebastien suffered a serious back injury while working with the relief effort in the Greece and Turkey earthquakes. The injury left his left leg paralysed and left Sebastien in a wheelchair for six months. Prior to the injury he was training to qualify for the Sydney Olympic games but it wasn’t until 2007 that he received major back surgery which was successful.
He left the army and in 1999 found himself heading to Ireland! While exploring Ireland he met his partner Aisling with whom he now has a four-year-old daughter Alicia and they settled in Athenry in county Galway, a decision he is quite happy with. “I like Athenry because of its great sporting background from GAA to athletics, they are passionate about sport.”
Sebastien continues to organise running events around Ireland, such as the famous 25.5 Triathlon Series and more recently the very successful launch of the first West of Ireland 10km Fun Run in Castlebar. “It was a very successful event and an enjoyable day,” says Sebastien who hopes the Fun Run will become a permanent feature on the athletics calendar. He is also involved with the International Connemara Marathon and many other events. In the meantime he is still as busy as ever juggling the demands of his coaching career, his family and the continued development of the Runireland website. “I want Runireland.com to become a thriving online community”, he says.
For Sebastien a 16-hour working day is the norm, and he does this seven days a week! “It’s the kind of commitment that professional coaching requires.” With such a hectic lifestyle it’s a wonder he can find the time to workout himself. “I still love training especially with my athletes. With so much to do it takes at least a 16 hour working day to manage it all.” But manage he does, and no doubt with this man’s determination his coaching career and Runireland.com will continue going from strength to strength. Sebastien has been involved in the Irish athletics scene since moving here from his native France in 1999. He has coached young swimmers, triathletes and runners from Galway, Castlebar, Sligo and many other clubs. He is currently coaching the Comans SC in Roscommon town, ‘a club with great potential’. He also coached an athletics team in the 2004 Olympic games and coached two triathletes in the 2008 Olympics.
Sebastien’s personal journey has taken him from the army where he worked as a UN medical officer serving in Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia in the late 1990’s. Witnessing the consequences of war first hand was an experience that gave Sebastien a real appreciation of life. Shortly after Kosovo Sebastien suffered a serious back injury while working with the relief effort in the Greece and Turkey earthquakes. The injury left his left leg paralysed and left Sebastien in a wheelchair for six months. Prior to the injury he was training to qualify for the Sydney Olympic games but it wasn’t until 2007 that he received major back surgery which was successful.
He left the army and in 1999 found himself heading to Ireland! While exploring Ireland he met his partner Aisling with whom he now has a four-year-old daughter Alicia and they settled in Athenry in county Galway, a decision he is quite happy with. “I like Athenry because of its great sporting background from GAA to athletics, they are passionate about sport.”
Sebastien continues to organise running events around Ireland, such as the famous 25.5 Triathlon Series and more recently the very successful launch of the first West of Ireland 10km Fun Run in Castlebar. “It was a very successful event and an enjoyable day,” says Sebastien who hopes the Fun Run will become a permanent feature on the athletics calendar. He is also involved with the International Connemara Marathon and many other events. In the meantime he is still as busy as ever juggling the demands of his coaching career, his family and the continued development of the Runireland website. “I want Runireland.com to become a thriving online community”, he says.
For Sebastien a 16-hour working day is the norm, and he does this seven days a week! “It’s the kind of commitment that professional coaching requires.” With such a hectic lifestyle it’s a wonder he can find the time to workout himself. “I still love training especially with my athletes. With so much to do it takes at least a 16 hour working day to manage it all.” But manage he does, and no doubt with this man’s determination his coaching career and Runireland.com will continue going from strength to strength.
