Late developer marathon woman making big strides

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

For a woman who only took up running less than four years ago – and competitively 18 months ago – it is simply incredible that 31-year-old Galway native Nicola Duncan will represent Ireland in the marathon at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich later this year.

However, Duncan, who has lived in Edinburgh for the last decade, is a remarkable person in so many ways. A breath of fresh air blowing over the sporting landscape, this late developer is an inspiration for anyone who believes age is an obstacle in sport – or life.

And not just age. Standing at 5ft 2” – and she admits that is even adding on some! – Duncan must be the smallest female marathon runner on the international circuit at present. Yet, for what she lacks in height, she more than makes up for it with a stamina that almost beggars belief.

This certainly was underlined when she ran the fastest time – 2.36.44 – by an Irish woman in 2013 at the Amsterdam Marathon last October. This was on the back of being crowned Scottish half-marathon champion in early September, finishing in a time of 76:50.

Her good form continued with a second-place finish in the Ribble Valley 10km in December before she also came in as runner-up in the BUPA Great Edinburgh 10km International in January. More recently, she ran 77:44 in the Watford Half Marathon.

What makes these feats all the more notable was that Duncan was competing against seasoned athletes, some of whom could only dream of accomplishing in a lifetime what the Galway athlete has done in the space of two years.

Speaking to Duncan, who runs out of Portbello RC in Edinburgh although she is also affiliated to Galway City Harriers, she comes across as a carefree spirit who enjoys life. She jokingly admits she is “vertically challenged” and laughs that her boyfriend often refers to her as “the midget”.

Indeed, one of her nicknames on the circuit is ‘Smurfette’, but she outlines this is a greeting she has acquired more from her love of her favourite t-shirt rather than her stature!

In any event, Duncan is quickly becoming a major name in athletics, although the best part of her life so far has been spent on the tennis circuit. Having grown up in Taylor’s Hill, Galway Lawn Tennis Club was prominent in her upbringing as she represented Galway and Connacht at various underage events.

Upon completion of her second-level studies at Domican College, she studied Financial Mathematics and Economics at NUI Galway and was conferred with a B. Sc. Honours degree in 2003. She subsequently travelled to Scotland to study a Masters.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.