Outsider Magazine People of the Year 2013

It’s that time of the year when Ireland’s Outsider Magazine puts together its People of the Year list. It’s their chance to celebrate those that have done incredible things on the Irish outdoor scene in 2013.

This year has an incredible line-up:

Calvin Torrans (71) who continues to push the boundaries of Irish climbing – despite having smashed both his ankles in a fall two years ago.

Galway girl Katie McAnena (26), who became the first woman to surf the Jaws, the infamously gargantuan wave in Hawaii.

Henry Tindal (29) who cycled 28,800km solo from Ireland to Australia. He crossed Europe, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Southeast Asia, seven Indonesian islands and East Timor on the way.

Liam Delahunty (35) who was diagnosed with MS eight years ago and in 2013 set himself the challenge of completing 24 adventure races in 18 months.

And then there’s little old me…

It’s always nice to be recognized. But I find it amusing that I’m getting nominated for ignoring doctor’s orders! But seriously, hopefully my story will inspire other women to keep active whilst pregnant and once the little one has arrived.

The awards take place tomorrow, Friday 20 December. And here’s a bit of blurb about what I got up to in 2013:

Well-known adventure racer Moire O’Sullivan was competing in the 24-hour Raid races in late 2012 when she first thought she might be pregnant. Her thoughts were correct but instead of hanging up her runners after confirming the happy news, the charity worker not only continued to cycle, swim and run but won podium places in adventure races both while she was pregnant and shortly after giving birth.

An inspiration to other female athletes and mothers-to-be, Moire cycled until she was 28 weeks pregnant, ran up until the 30-week point and continued swimming up until the day before she gave birth to son Aran.

At five months pregnant, she was first woman home in the Shore to Summit race. Her race consisted of a 13km run, 15km cycle, a run up and down Sliabh Sneacht, a 25km cycle and a final 2km run. “I took a time penalty to not complete the 1.5km kayak section,” she says. “I was finding it difficult getting on and off the sofa so I reckoned getting in and out of a kayak might prove even more difficult,” she recalls.

Moire was back on her bike two weeks after having Aran and in early November, just four months after giving birth, she came third in the Sea to Summit race in Westport.

“I did the race at a slightly slower pace than normal,” she says “and was surprised and delighted to find myself on the podium.

“It’s very difficult for pregnant women who are into sport. They’re given a lot of mixed messages. The best advice anyone can take is to listen to your body. If you’re already into sport, you can keep doing stuff. Once you feel okay, you can go for that run or cycle.

“I would recommend anyone to read Susie Mitchell’s book ‘Pregnancy to Podium’. She found a good gynecologist who told her; ‘Listen to your body and don’t do kick-boxing.’ Four or five months after giving birth, she won the World Track Championships in Manchester.

“When you have your baby, your life changes but you don’t have to lose the person you are. I’m far happier when I can get out on the bike for an hour or two and get some space for myself. I think that’s what makes me a better Mum”.

The full list of nominees can be found here.