To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week in May, we invited Conor O'Keeffe, an Ultra Marathon Runner from Cork, to speak about his mental health fight.
The inside refers to the internal mental health battle Conor will speak of, the out relates to nature and the environment and the impact both have had on Conor's journey in recent years. His story brings those two worlds of the Internal Self and the Outer World together as a journey.
Who is Conor O'Keeffe?
Conor is a 29-year-old Ultra Marathon Runner from Cork.
Running Ultra Marathons has given Conor the time and fodder for thought that has allowed him to delve deeply into his mind. Throughout his journey in Ultra-endurance, from winning the Enduroman 200-mile Ultra Marathon or running a loop of his patio for 24 hours straight, Conor has always sought to understand more about himself as a person. He attributes his steadfast mindset to learning how to transfer what he has learned on the road into day-to-day life. Managing the internal when the external of life is not going to plan. Conor calls this "Everyday Endurance."
Conor has utilised a love of nature and incorporated it into his daily life, finding time to remove himself from the workday and discover adventure on his doorstep. He has also used this time to learn more about ecology and get out into nature safely and responsibly.
Conor also has a unique standpoint on the topic of motivation. He does not want to motivate you. He hopes that he can give us an insight into how we can develop personal discipline by identifying our core values. When life changes, so too does motivation. But by identifying and leaning on our core values, we can live a life according to them, fostering our daily structure and sense of well-being.