It wouldn’t be Paddy’s weekend without the annual MSB 5KM. Well except for last year when it had to be cancelled due to snow. No such conditions this year. The weather was perfect despite me causing mild panic on the whatsapp group that morning about it being Baltic out and causing everyone to rethink their race attire. It wasn’t, I was just being overly dramatic! The race HQ and bag drop was in the Mansion House. It was like stepping into the twilight zone with the fluorescent lighting and a lady playing the harp. I looked around for some familiar faces and spotted Peter Knaggs sitting on the floor looking like he was at a festival not about to run a race . He claimed he needed a rest after running 10 miles up the waterworks the day before (he still went out and broke 20 mins)!

It’s one of my favourite races. It’s seldom you get the chance to run around this part of the city. There were plenty of Sportsworld singlets to be seen warming up in St. Stephens Green. After the obligatory group photo we climbed over the barriers to the start line and we were off. A ripple of amusement went through the crowd of runners as the commentator announced “see you all back here in about 14 minutes” We wished!! It’s a fast, flat, course starting and finishing on St. Stephens Green North, taking in Baggot Street, Fitzwilliam Place, Leeson Street. I was nervous beforehand having been out since the new year with a hip injury. I knew I wasn’t “race fit” so just set out with no time expectations. I was pleasantly surprised with my time. I was looking at the backs of Anne Sweeney and Conor Kenny for the entire race but couldn’t quite catch them (That 1 second will haunt me forever Conor ????). There was also great support along the route from the ever present Emily and Myles. Thanks also for the shout out’s and photos from Maura, Michael, Olive, Maria and Gemma. Everyone came across the finish line smiling (except Eoin who came across crying – there’s a photo to prove it).

After the obligatory post- race analysis and photos it was off to Brasserie 66 for lunch, kindly organised by Anna Carrigan. There was a great crowd there and as always a few of the usual suspects (no names, no scandal) went on to the Long Hall for “1 more”. Soon the few people became a few more as Sportsworld began to take over the pub and the “1 more” became “1 too many more”. But, I digress. This is meant to be a race report so…..

Big Congrats to Gareth Murran who had another a great race finishing in the top ten. Congrats also to Ann Marie Clyne who bagged herself a fantastic PB knocking 1min30secs off her time! Sportsworld was very well represented as you will see from the results. Well done all!

‘ I want that lunch and my lunch’

Results:

Gareth Murran 15:53

Wesley Harrison 17:25

David Saunders 18:56

Cian Buckley 19:00

Padraig Looby 19:26

Anthony Gillen 19:33

Peter Knaggs 19:48

Johnny Dwyer 20:08

Declan Brady 20:15

Margaret Crowley 21:03

Deirdre O’Connell 21:21

Eoin O’Brien 21:30

Nevan King 21:29

Lorna Quinn 21:55

Val Lacey-Power 22:42

Ann Sweeney 23:16

Conor Kenny 23:19

Gráinne Lynch 23:20

Sibeal Waldron 23:37

Ellen Lavin 23:44

Eileen Rowland 23:40

Colm Kenny 24:20

Maria Finnegan 24:20

Bronwyn murphy-White 24:26

Anna Carrigan 25:23

Alison Mackey 26:48

Michelle Byrne 26:49

Carmel Dolan 26:54

Ann Marie Clyne 27:30

Mary Colclough 27:31

Audrai O’Driscoll 28:37

Hyun Joo Kim 54:48

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