Wednesday opened the first page of a new decade and, likewise, Liffey Valley AC opened this year’s racing calendar to 772 participants with the Tom Brennan 5k in the Phoenix Park.

Needless to say, the red and white vests of Sportsworld Running Club were there in
abundance to help mark the occasion.

The conditions for a fast and enjoyable race couldn’t have been better if you penned a begging letter to Santy himself: the course was flat as a pancake (a triangular pancake) and the weather was ideal: cool, calm and dry (I swore I heard the birds tweeting in the trees between 1k and 2k).

Like the Ghost of Races Past, I rattled onto the scene and was delighted to see some ever-familiar faces and one or two new ones. Everyone was in great spirits with hugs, handshakes and New Year best wishes rapidly making their way through the crowd, intermittently disrupted by the odd well-orchestrated photo session (fair play to ye Peter!).

One thing struck me, however: the lack of pre-race nerves. Instead, everyone seemed relaxed and at ease warming up and naturally transitioning into their strides in eager anticipation for the starter’s gun.

But, being that seasoned ‘comeback runner/racer’ that I am (someone once commented that I had more comebacks than Rocky), I could spot the little butterflies fluttering about the gang (relax lads, no names will be given) as the buzz was infused with that concentrated near- the silence of runners tiptoeing their way into position. These subtle, almost imperceptible-to-the-untrained-ear spurts of nerves manifested themselves in a few ‘starting-line confessions’, volunteered without provocation to some invisible yet omnipresent god of racing, such as: [Bless me, Father, for] I stuffed myself with 100s of Heroes in the last two weeks;[Bless me as well Father for] I was partying ‘til 2 o’clock last night; [Father, same here, I’m afraid, for] I feel like I swallowed the Turkey, his family and his cousins the Hams…

Then BANG!!! the gunshot off and took my teammates with it; I’ve never seen better impressions of Houdini performed live in the Phoenix Park: they were there and then they weren’t.

Obviously, everyone immediately slipped into their race pace as comfortably as Anthony’s lámha fuar slipped into their cosy, cotton-padded, black leather gloves with the three splayed points decorating the upper faces (hmm, if only there were a prize for the best-dressed hands…).

Somewhere around the 1k mark, young Pádraig Looby (who finished nicely with 19:02) came cruising past me so effortlessly that all my brain could register was ‘he’s a bit long in the tooth to be getting a hoverboard off Santy’.

Andrew Brett and Louise Jackman brought the club home with 16:38 and 21:11. Conor McCarty and Martin Doyle backed Andrew up with 17:13 and 17:38, respectively, while Elaine and Nichola had a close battle with only 4 seconds separating them on the line with 21:26 senior lady) and 21:30 (19th senior lady), respectively.

Maria Finnegan finished 21:56 and Gráinne Lynch was in Finnegan’s wake 31 seconds later with 22:27. Between these two, however, featured Kate Nugent with 22 minutes flat.

Eileen Rowland with 22:43, Bronwyn finished in 23:57 while Audrai O’Driscoll smiled home in 24:09.

12 hours, 24 minutes and 12 seconds after the bells ding-donged the New Year in, the ‘Thelma and Louise’ of Sportsworld Running Club ended their own ding-dong in a flat-out dash to the white line with only milliseconds and the width of a shoelace separating them: it was Anne Sweeney’s lace that brushed the line first while Valerie Power was still on its descent. Carmel Breen finished with a decent 26:03 and the great Ellen Lavin closed the ladies’ book on this race with 27:46.

The Three Wise Men (Peter Knaggs, Anthony Gillen and Noel Tobin) gifted us with a prelude to this Sunday’s main event in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny with times of 19:27, 19:34, and 19:57, respectively. Watch your backs (ish) lads as, admittedly with the help of a little Christmas miracle, yours truly floated across the line in 21:20 trailed closely by the Three Wise Seans: Donegan (21:43), Brett (23:47) and O’Byrne 27:32.

Many thanks to those encouraging voices supporting us from the sidelines (of which I heard Emily’s and Sandra Gowran’s) which lifted us at crucial points in the race.

This was a cracking start to 2020 and I have a good feeling about this year and I wish all of our members every success in their goals, be it 800s, 1,500s, 5ks or marathons, and let’s try to get some more silverware for Emily and Myles to polish.

Good luck to our Master’s lads and ladies who will no doubt do us proud on Sunday! Wishing you all a healthy, fit and fruitful 2020,
Dave.

The Ardagh 10 mile challenge took place in the scenic village of Ardagh in Co. Longford on Saturday 28th December. The weather this year was mild with only a little breeze which was perfect for running.

The course is certainly challenging with a continuous climb for about one mile from the two mile mark. This is followed by rolling hills, a stretch of relatively even roadway and some downhills. However, the climbing is not over and the final mile involves another climb which brings the runners back into the village.

I arrived just in time  to get a number and jump into the starting pack before we were off. My last two months of training was not ideal, as I was managing some niggles! I planned to do the 10 mile race as my long run for the week and try and work on getting some fitness back. I have opted for the 5k race option (that also is offered) for the past two years. 

Gareth Murran who had ran a fantastic race less than 48 hours earlier in Wicklow also took part this year and ran a fine race against a very competitive field of runners. Gareth was the race winner in Ardagh last year. This year the race was won by a very on form Barry Shiel of Longford A.C. in a course record time of 53.35. Barry had won the Longford marathon only a few months previous.

I took part in this 10 mile race in December 2016 and just managed to creep inside the 90 minute mark with a time of 1.29.22. I think I was scarred by that experience for nearly two years after it! I only attempted a 10 mile again in summer 2018 when I did the Irish Runner 10 mile race, achieving my goal of getting in just before the 80 minute balloon.

I had no massive expectations last Saturday and I was just happy that I was starting to regain some strength and fitness. I made sure to pace myself, as I expected to tire towards the finish, particularly given the testing hills. I somehow managed to bag myself a nice PB at 1.15.42 to finish a year where I got a PB in every race distance I took on. I am very grateful as I reflect at the end of the year.

As we start to ease our way into a New Year and new decade, I know a lot of you will be considering what resolutions you may wish to make. You might be planning some running goals or even just life goals, as the case may be.  I hope 2020 is a great year for all of the Sportsworld members and their families with lots of success stories, but most importantly healthy and happy runners.

Ladies Report – Edel Keenehan

According to both the Oxford and Cambridge English Dictionary , the following was noted;

Novice

/ˈnɒvɪs/

noun

a person new to and inexperienced in a job or situation.

Similar:beginner, learner, inexperienced person

After competing in last Sundays National Novice XC Championships I have realised that the running world have a COMPLETELY different understanding of novice!!! I now know that amongst XC community the following definition applies

young, strong, experienced athletes who have the tenacity and ability to manoeuvre through deep muck with agility and speed, while resiliently endure the elements of bitterly cold weather conditions!

On a crisp Sunday afternoon we set out for Dunboyne. Leaving the clubhouse we were greeted with a beautiful backdrop of snowcapped Dublin mountains as we merged onto the M50..perfect XC weather!

As we came into Dunboyne the area was thronged with people from all over the country. It really was fantastic to see so many clubs, athletes, families and supporters out in force to either compete or support! The race venue was the same field that our ladies had ran in for one of the Meet and Train races, however, the field was now unrecognisable to the memory I had from it only a few weeks prior. We were greeted with the smell of charred burgers and deep fried chips from the food van, and our eyes were drawn to the array of colourful club tents, along with flags and signs from Athletics Ireland. The field was alive with energy, radiating from an eclectic mix of sources including, cold anxious athletes yet to run, layered up proud parents, coaches and supporters shouting words of encouragement to the current runners and the elated athletes high on endorphins after completing the taxing and gruelling course!

We embarked upon our warm up lap, and soon realised that the venue name “Cow”park field was aptly chosen, as we jogged along in parts ankle deep in muck! But we were well aware now that this was going to be no run in the park!

Sportsworld had a great turn out with 10 female athletes and 11 male athletes. All runners deserve a huge buladh bos for navigating themselves safely through all that muck and finishing the race in one piece. Each and every one our athletes ran with great effort and determination, and were a great representation for Sportsworld Club. A standout performance was had by Lisa Madden , finishing in a brilliant 13th place, out of a field of 134 runners. Our two female teams placed 13th, and 18th out of a total 20 teams.

The mens 6km race had a huge field of 216 participants, with our teams placing 15th and 25th out of a total 26 teams.

A huge thank you to Emily and Myles, and all the supporters we had to cheer us along the course. The words of encouragement really do help! It was also really nice to have our own tent- muchos gracias to those who transported, assembled and disassembled it for us! As always the comradery and team spirit amomgst the Sportsworld crew was a joy to be apart of and negates the cruelty that XC is!!

Men’s report – Brian O Murchu

The afternoon races in Dunboyne were held at the warmest part of the day; 4 degrees. This was definitely cold comfort. The course was held at Cow Park in Dunboyne and the race lived up to it’s name, absolutely the muckiest race I’ve ever done. I am reliably informed it’s not the muckiest, with Clarinbridge holding that title. I don’t like running in muck, although I do seem to go well in it but I have no plans to test out others courses on the muck-able scale.

On arrival I am greeted with the sight of a very clean Sportsworld gazebo. As a new member I am sure it takes such pride that it’s regularly cleaned, and that it is much older than it looks….
I had been given some advice beforehand to sprint the first 400m to get to the first turn early so as not to get boxed in. Once the race started it seemed everyone else had this same idea, and avoiding getting boxed in was not going to happen. The first part of the race is quite surreal, it is like being pulled along on a fast flowing river. There are so many runners surrounding me, I cannot see where/what I’m stepping on, let alone the course. People move in unison veering left or right as the course goes. Once the field started to spread out, I was able to start picking my own routes through the mud. Something that makes quite a difference as I lost 10 seconds on the 3rd kilometre with a bad route choice, which was reinforced by x3 people quickly passing me out (I also have the garmin data to back this up!). 

When I did cross country races at school I use to hate the repetitiveness of laps. Now as a club runner I really appreciate the atmosphere that can be created on courses with multiple laps as the spectators see everyone pass regularly and can see who’s moving forward/backward through the field. From encouragement, to positional information, and motivational slogans, who knew laps in the muck could create such a exciting buzz? 

With the results being held by Athletics Ireland for now, I don’t have any to report. What I can say is that each lap my split times were slight slower than the previous, however I was slowing down less than most which meant I was making up a lot of places each lap. Maybe getting boxed early on in worked in my favour…..

https://www.athleticsireland.ie/competition/results

The Sportsworld ‘Meet & Train’ ladies were back in action again last Sunday, and we had a new recruit. Namely, Atiyah. When looking up this unique name, the dictionary informs me that it means ‘gift’, ‘modest’, ‘caring’, ‘beautiful in appearance’, ‘always cares for others’. Hhhmmmm, interesting. The weather forecasters had warned us that this “beautiful” stormy presence would be making herself felt during the weekend, and we ‘Meet and Train’ ladies, and all the supporters on the day, certainly felt her colder and perhaps less “caring” side! It was bitterly cold!

The ‘Meet and Train’ race series is a brilliant opportunity for all female runners to meet in a friendly, less pressured race environment. There is a light-hearted rivalry between clubs. Of course we all want to do well, and we enter each race hoping to do really well, but I think the focus really is on taking part, being part of a team and of course, getting to enjoy the chat, tea and gorgeous cakes and biscuits afterwards! The hosting club also have a raffle where all runners race numbers are randomly selected and the lucky winners receive books, running gear and all sorts of gizmos and gadgets.

So, to the race itself. All ‘Meet and Train’ races are two miles long. Sunday was the second in a series of four races. Sportsworld are currently holding second position in the club charts. Crusaders Athletic Club hosted this race. The two mile course consisted of a figure eight like route in Irishtown, with beautiful views of Sandymount beach to distract us from Atiyah’s brisk wind and cutting cold temperature! We all got off to a flying start with the winner of this race setting a very fast pace from beginning to end. We had such wonderful support throughout.

Okay, maybe not quite that many. But we did have the ever supportive and super encouraging Emily and Myles cheering us on, along with Olive, David and Padraic. Thank you!

Once we got to the finish line and cheered on all the runners as they made their way to race completion/body-numbness/near collapse……..we gathered our belongings and made our way to the ‘Star of the Sea’ National school, where a banquet of cakes, biscuits and hot teas and coffees were laid out. Atiyah was a distant memory. Well not quite. Being soaked through and wearing wet runners was a pointed reminder that our stormy friend hadn’t quite left us!

By 11.30am, the race was over and we could return home with a perk in our step having completed our second ‘Meet and Train’ race in rather testing conditions! All runners had really strong performances and Sportsworld continue to be a leading club in the ratings. It must be said that the club Christmas party was the night before in a local Indian restaurant……there is a lot to be said for a Tikka Masala pre-race!

Congrats to Sportsworld on yet another fine racing day! Our next ‘Meet and Train’ day out is on January 19^th, hosted by ‘Brothers Pearse’ followed by the fourth and final race of the series in Abbotstown on February 9^th.

We might even find a singlet for Atiyah. Judging by her strength and gritty display last weekend, she could be quite the asset on the racing circuit!

Some snaps from the day!

Conditions for the Dublin Intermediate Cross Country Championship were perfect, blues skies, temperatures in the early 20s and just a light breeze to cool the bronzed athletes down, as they made their way around lagoon

Apologies I’m getting my Sundays mixed up, that was the 10k in La Santa! A cold crisp afternoon greeted us in Tymon Park and thankfully the rain stayed away, making for an enjoyable day’s racing.

The heavy rain over the last couple of weeks meant the ground was mucky in spots, but what cross country runner doesn’t love a good mucky course, well maybe Nicola as her runner was almost claimed by the muck. The ladies’ race was 5k consisting of 2 big laps and a small one, with some sharp hills thrown into the mix. The team was lead home by the ever improving Lorna, and finished 4th in the team standings. It was a great team effort with the team all finishing close together.

In the men’s 8k race Andrew lead the charges and the team also finished 4th. Many of the team had just stepped off the plane the day before after a week of running so for many it was a challenging course.

As well as being the top Sportsworld finisher Andrew has also made it on to the Dublin team for the National Novice Cross country on December 15th

As always the support was fantastic the whole way around the course.

Full results from the race can be found on the Dublin Athletics website www.dublinathletics.com

Also if you want to look the part we have a full range of Sportsworld club gear available at the clubhouse.

Run The Line, is a fundraising event for The Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team. Although relatively new to the mountain running calendar, it has established itself as the top winter race. This year’s staging attracted 850 runners from around the country to the short (13k) and long (26k) course races. 

As a regular IMRA runner, I have to say that Run The Line is superbly organised from its base at the Glencullen Adventure Centre. I could list all the good stuff that happens to make the race success but I think what stands out overall is the effort by endless numbers of Wicklow Mountain Rescue volunteers and their families. Before, during and after the race they ensured everything went smoothly and they did it with a smile. We just had to turn up and run! And run we did, and climb and hike and scramble up and down winding fire tracks and stoney heather bordered trails, through stunning woodland with beautiful carpets of leaves underfoot, across babbling streams and of course over the grassy and sometimes muddy Dublin Mountain pastures – really just a hilly version of the Sportsworld Sunday run in the Phoenix Park!

Seven Sportsworlders made it to the starting line this year (after maxing out Martin and Peter’s car batteries huddling around their heaters until the last minute) and everyone to a man and woman had a great day out.

Eileen as the club’s sole representative in the short course race did us proud. Her time of 1h.28 saw her home 4th in her age category. Grainne excelled in her first-ever mountain race. completing the long course in 3h20. That’s a brilliant time for a novice when you think of the 840m total climb that goes with the 26k! And that’s saying nothing about the 840m descent which was a challenging mix of terrains that meant you had to be 100% focused to avoid a tumble (my post-race research revealed that Peter was the only one of us to stay on his feet for the duration!).

Andrea came home in 2h.46 for the long course which saw her claim a fantastic 6th place overall in the women’s results. I have to tip my hat to Denise who I hadn’t seen since an IMRA half marathon back at the end of March, which she tells me was her last race. 3h.23 is some brave effort in that context. Fair play.

Though we were outnumbered 4 to 3 (Martin, Peter and yours truly) the guys had adventurous outings. Martin flew around in 2h.33 using his unique technical ability to speed up on the descents (tumbling :), while us two Masters hung out up in the hills together for most of the day, coming home in 2h.47 (Peter) and 2h.51  (your reporter). We were buzzing afterwards (probably helped by the copious quantities of energy-enhancing jelly babies doled out at the drink stations) and savoured our hot soup with chocolate muffins (yes, soup and muffins, you read correctly) around the welcoming braziers at the finish line.

IMRA – https://www.imra.ie/ – is the Irish Mountain Running Association. Join up and enjoy the challenge and beauty of running the hills and mountains that are on your doorstep. Chairman Michael is a big fan and asked me to mention that it is not always cold and muddy (who is he kidding), it’s great training for cross country racing with the club and you get to be in the Sportsworld IMRA WhatsApp group (34 and growing!).

It was a cold but beautiful sunny morning in Dunboyne as runners from all over made our way to take part in the first of four meet and train cross country races. A great mix of running newbies (including myself!) and cross country veterans took part, and Sportsworld had several teams entered for the race so there was a good crowd between runners and supporters.

As I hadn’t run cross country since I was a young one in school I didn’t really know what to expect from the race but there was great support and advice from others on the team! Our warm up lap allowed us to discover the muddy part on the course (which was good to know about in advance!) and to get a feel for the lap of which we’d be doing four.

The race started at about 11am and was 3km in distance which probably sounds shorter than it felt! The grass was long and we had our bit of mud but the course was nice and flat and it was a fabulous dry day so we were winning. Everyone ran brilliantly and after doing our post-run photoshoot we went back to the Dunboyne A.C clubhouse for a well-deserved cup of tea, biscuits and chats. Between the race itself and getting a chance to meet so many new people it was a great day. A special shout out to Lorna who led the pack, running brilliantly and coming in first. Well done to all!

Over 1,500 athletes from all over Leinster travelled to Ferbane on Saturday to compete in the Leinster Cross Country Championships. Sportsworld had both a male and female team competing in this well attended event, which saw senior males run a 10K race and senior ladies run a 5K race.

We were all geared up! 11.30am was our call time to meet at Bushy Park, where two cars drove to the hallowed grounds of landowner/farmer Joe Wynne’s grounds in rural Ferbane! It was clear a lot of organisation and planning had gone into preparing the grounds. And we believe, it is these three gentlemen who we are to thank for planning such a professional and well organised race event!

Emily drove Lisa, Maria and Lorna to Ferbane, with Maura making her way from Mayo after volunteering her help at a local race! Myles drove the men’s team. The weather was very temper-mental with sporadic heavy downpours in between bright, fresh and crisp conditions. We made good time, which allowed us stop by the nearby Spar for a coffee and a light snack. All refreshed, we made our way to the course where the ladies team did a quick recce of what lay ahead! Two laps of a 2.5K course which consisted of hills and lots of twists and turns to keep things very interesting indeed! We also had a little sidestep into the aforementioned Farmer Wynne’s farm.

The ladies were off first for Sportsworld at 3.05pm. The field consisted of fifty-eight runners from clubs across Leinster.

It was an extremely high standard but Sportsworld runners held their own with strong, determined and consistent running throughout. Lisa and Maria led the team with Maura and Lorna not far behind.

There were cheers throughout the course from Emily, Myles, Naoise, Noreen, Maria’s wonderful mum and sister(!) and of course all the men’s team who generously gave us their support while warming up for their own race. We were all thrilled with our individual races and also our team-effort, finishing fifth overall as a team. Well done girls – Brilliant running by all!

Individual race times:

Lisa Madden – 20.06

Maria Jones – 20.42

Maura Ginty – 21.22

Lorna Quinn – 21.38

Next up were the men! A difficult 10K course of four 2.5K laps was in store.

Karol, Michael, Conor and Brian took to this course with great grit and cross-country spirit. All four men looked fresh, fit and very comfortable throughout the race. I can’t imagine what it must have been like! But they certainly made it look very do-able as they ran with a consistent and steady pace throughout, making up ground as they went along.

Congratulations to Karol who won a gold medal with the Dublin team. All men finished with impressive times. Congratulations yet again, on another successful cross-country race day out!

Individual race times:

Karol Cronin – 35.29

Michael Cunningham – 40.20

Conor Keating – 40.50

Brian Conway – 43.27

Our Lucy in action!

myrunresults always have race times and results out within minutes of a race finishing – Super efficient and super professional and super appreciated by all runners and clubs!

Cross country season has well and truly begun. We have many races ahead, with the Intermediate, Novice and Masters races looming, as well as the wonderful Meet & Train races. Best of luck to everyone with their training in the weeks ahead!

Upcoming Races:

National Senior – November 24^th

Dublin Intermediate – December 1^st
National Novice – December 15^th
Dublin Masters – January 5^th

Meet & Train

Dunboyne – November 17^th

Trim – December 8^th  

Brothers Pearse – January 19^th   

Abbotstown – February 9^th  

Thanks to Max Feehan Photography for the photos!