In our RT Snap Q&A series, we’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the world’s best runners, delving into their extraordinary journeys, celebrating their achievements, and exploring the unwavering dedication that defines their careers.
Patrick Tiernan
- Born on September 11, 1994
- Nationality: Australian
- Long-distance runner
- 24th in Paris Olympics Marathon 2024
Patrick Tiernan’s journey as an athlete began in Queensland, Australia, where he discovered his talent for distance running. He gained prominence at Villanova University, winning the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championship.
Personal Bests
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- Marathon – 2:07:45
- 10,000 Metres – 27:22.55
- Half Marathon – 1:00:55
- 1500 Metres – 3:38.64
- 10 Kilometres Road – 28:37
- 800 Metres – 1:54.34
- Mile – 3:56.82
- Distance Medley – 9:50.37
- 3000 Metres – 7:37.76
- 5000 Metres – 13:12.68
- 3000 Metres Short Track – 7:48.36
- Mile Road – 3:53.8h
- 5000 Metres Short Track – 14:00.83
- 2000 Metres – 5:30.73
- Road Race – 32:59
- 4xMile Relay – 16:18.07
RT: Reflecting on your achievements so far, what would you consider to be the highlight of your career? Why is this particular accomplishment significant to you?
Pat: It would probably have to be my run in Houston earlier this year. NCAA cross country in 2016 was a very satisfying moment, and a big victory for me, however I think the race earlier this year was the result of so much thought and hard work. I really had to back myself in a lot of the preparation for it, and take on a lot of responsibility for this race. To have it all come together on the day and set me up for another Olympic campaign was very special. I also was able to have my wife, Angel, out there with me, as well as several coaches and friends from both my current and previous training setups. It was a special day, and definitely felt like I had arrived in the event I was meant to do.
RT: Every athlete faces challenges. What has been one of the most difficult obstacles you’ve encountered in your career, and how did you overcome it?
Pat: Post-Tokyo Olympics was difficult. That race did not give me the end result I had hoped for, or that I felt like I deserved. I’d worked very hard for a long time, and made some big changes in my training setup and life to prepare for that race. To have it play out the way it did was very distressing. Honestly, I think it took me the better part of two years to fully recover from it. I ran the B.A.A. Half Marathon in November of 2023, and I remember telling my wife afterwards that it was the first time I’d felt like my old self in a race since before Tokyo.
I spoke with a psychologist through Athletics Australia starting in April of 2022, and she really helped me overcome a lot of mental barriers I hadn’t realized were there. That was a pretty long stretch of time where she helped me, the better part of a year honestly. One of the biggest things I had to remind myself of through this period was that I am a very good athlete, but also that running was simply just running. So a big part of getting back to feeling like myself by the end of 2023 was looking back at my career and looking at training and aspects of the sport that were enjoyable for me, that made sense, and then translating all of that into my current setup. It was definitely a process, but I feel like I am in a really healthy place with the sport now.
RT: As an elite athlete, you likely have a team supporting you—coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists, etc. How do you collaborate with your support team to optimize your performance?
Pat: I’m not always the best at it, but consistent communication is key. I’ve found that setting up a time to talk with each of them and communicating clearly what is going on in all my other aspects of training gives each member of this support team a clear objective as to what we are trying to achieve. Like I said, I’m still learning the ropes with it a little bit, and fitting the puzzle pieces together, but I am very confident that I have all the right pieces now and just need to make sure that I am streamlining that communication as effectively as possible.
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RT: Describe your typical training week. What does a day in the life of Pat Tiernan look like during peak training season?
Pat: A typical training week for me in the peak of marathon training will be 165-170km, and looks a little like this:
- Monday – AM Easy 60mins + Gym Session, PM Easy 30mins
- Tuesday – AM Big Track Session (~15km of work), PM Easy 30mins + Physio
- Wednesday – AM Easy 60mins, PM Easy 30mins
- Thursday – AM Light Track Session (~8km of work) + Speed Development Drills, PM Easy 30mins
- Friday – AM Easy 60mins + Gym Session, PM Easy 30mins
- Saturday – AM Long Run Session (25-30km of work), PM Massage
- Sunday – AM Easy 60mins, PM Rest
RT: Beyond competition, what role does running play in your life? How do you balance your athletic career with other aspects of your personal and professional life?
Pat: Running has given me so much. I’ve met a lot of my best mates, been given the opportunity to get two university degrees, and met my wife through this sport, just to name a few. I love the social aspect of it and have always said that once I am done competing I would enjoy a Sunday run each week with mates.
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I think the balance comes with what I mentioned above; the reality that running is just running, and that there are a lot more important things in life. I’m very fortunate that my wife is also an elite athlete in this sport, and that she understands the ins and outs of it better than most, so she is very good at reminding me of this reality and keeping me relaxed. I am lucky enough to do this professionally, so it’s not really a balancing act with another profession for me, but definitely keeping the mindset of how lucky I am to be doing something that I enjoy as a job is something I’ve found to be very useful.
RT: Looking towards the future, what are some specific goals or milestones you hope to achieve in your running career? How do you plan to work towards these goals?
Pat: I would really like to have a go at some big road races in the future, including the World Road Running Championships Half Marathon and some of the marathon majors. Another race I would like to have another stab at is the World Cross Country Championships, as I wasn’t able to prepare as well as I would’ve liked to for these most recent ones. I’ve really enjoyed my racing the last 10 months or so, and I think the roads have been a big part of that for me. To do these things though I’ve got to stay healthy, which is definitely more of a challenge as I turn 30 this year. Just staying on top of my physio program and making sure I’m not getting too carried away with certain training blocks is going to be the big challenge for my future in the sport, but I feel confident I have the right people in my corner, as well as the right mindset, to keep moving forward.
