Report By Will Greensmyth

Photo sourced at Irish Runner Magazine, visit here for more details and full gallery: Irish Runner

The first Irish Runner paced mile event took place on Wednesday, 27 January on the Alsaa track beside Dublin Airport. The next event is on 24th February followed by 23 March with plans for further paced mile events to follow throughout the year. Having taken part last week, I would recommend it if you can make it.

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The opportunity to clock a time over one mile, the benefit of which is twofold – firstly to track your mile pace at regular intervals throughout the year and secondly, to obtain a “base pace” from which to draw out your range of training and racing paces.

There were pacers from sub 13 to sub 5. The event was very well coordinated and there were pre-run talks from David Carrie, Catherina McKiernan (Irish ladies marathon record holder in 2.22!!!) and Gareth Turnbull (Irish Olympian and sub 4 minute miler). The pacers were all right on the mark and guided, cajoled and encouraged the runners around the four laps and nine metres. As David said beforehand “Think pace, not race”.

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For the measly entry fee of €5, you got electronic timing by myrunresults.com, an experienced pacer, a goodie bag and a free copy of the Irish Runner. Sure, what else would you be doing of a Wednesday evening. If nothing else, it will get the buzz of the track back into the bones, ahead of our return to the Saturday morning sessions on the Tallaght track, and arguably more importantly prepare you for the Sportsworld Club Relays (especially if you get picked on Gareth Murran’s team J) and the jewel in the crown that is the Trinity Track BHAA 1200m D grade race…

Next events:

Wednesday 24th February

Wednesday 23rd March

Enter here: AAI

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