T
op 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, homi-
cides 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, single-
minded 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 lec-
tion 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 in 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 grand-
parents] 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 t his lovely g irl so I ’m spend ing
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 really have one, but
a few of my U.K. mates have heard
me saying “I’m turning the screw”
in training. I like to turn the screw
especially when I know they are
hurting during a workout. Or they
are unfit, then I turn the screw even
tighter.–CR10 Questions with
Kevin O’Connor
6 Canadian Running November & December 2016, Volume 9, Issue 710 questions