THRIVE SQUAD
meet the thrive squad!
Meet the inaugural Thrive Squad for the 2026 Dublin City Council Dublin City Half Marathon, 10 everyday runners sharing their journey to the start line on O’Connell Street. This is a social first community that is celebrating real runners, real lives, and real journeys to race day.
Want honest content you can relate to and see yourself in? Check out @dublincityhalfmarathon on Instagram to see the best of our Thrive Squad’s training journey.
If you are interested in joining our Thrive Squad in 2027, see our application page here.
Conor Sweeney
County Louth
Running for a PB
“When you get that little cheer, it’s better than any gel I could ever take.”
Sharon Keogh
County Dublin
Running to ‘Find Her Spark Again’
“You just have to put one foot in front of the other. I always say to myself near the end of tough runs, the mind achieves what the body believes.”
Cormac O’Neill
County Dublin
Running in His ‘Safe Place’
“You could do the same route every day but you won’t be able to do the same pace. It might feel worse one day and amazing the next. It’s about showing up again and again.”
Aoife Borromeo
County Dublin
Running to Inspire Through Discipline
“I like the idea of inspiring people and showing what you can do when you do hard things.”
Georgia Keys
County Donegal
Running for Fun & to Build Confidence
“Those are the things you remember; not being in a pit at 12K, the person pushing you on telling you you’re nearly there.”
Kloe Storey
County Derry
Running for a Fun Race Day
“I want to be someone people can relate to starting their journey. I’m not bolting up the street or hitting sub-20 5K’s. I’m a normal every day runner.”
Ross Waters
County Kildare
Running to Motivate Others
“Don’t get bogged down by the external noise. At the end of the day you’re doing it for you. You’re the one doing the miles.”
Lauren Cashell
County Dublin
Aiming for Sub 2 Hours
“I really started from zero, so when I applied for the Thrive Squad I really wanted to show that if I can start running, anyone can.”
Molly Maher
County Wexford
Running her first Half Marathon
“You don’t need five pairs of runners and all the best bits to start running. You just need one pair and yourself”
Jordan Prescott
New to Ireland
Returning From Injury
“On race day I want a personal best, but ideally, no regrets .”