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.
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!!
Definitely the girls turn next time to put up the tent
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…..
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 19th, hosted by ‘Brothers Pearse’ followed by the fourth and final race of the series in Abbotstown on February 9th.
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!
Here are some helpful tips that we would like everybody to adhere to & get safely through the winter:
Hi-viz clothing – I know you are tired of reading it & I am tired of typing it. The reflective bibs are mandatory during winter training. No excuses, no exceptions. Can anyone who has accumulated a stock of club Hi-viz bibs please return them as soon as possible – stocks are very low at present.
Pedestrians & cyclists – please remain alert at all times for pedestrians & cyclists. Do not run 3/4 abreast across a footpath, please give way.
Junction/road crossing – cross at the green man only. Please do not weave through stationary traffic. You need your breather. We all do.
Session etiquette – keep right during the session to avoid on-coming club-mates. Overtake on the left, but only when the way ahead is clear.
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!
Close up portrait of runner sneakers with mud splash
Meet and train is nearly here! There are two races before Christmas and two after:
Race 1: November 17 – Dunboyne Race 2: December 8 – Change of venue, not yet confirmed but likely to be part of Poolbeg Parkrun course (so not really a cross country!) Race 3: January 19 – Brothers Pearse (opposite Ballyboden GAA) Race 4: February 16 – Please note date change from 9th Feb @ Abbotstown
The usual set of rules applies:
Ladies only!
4 races per team, best 3 races are counted
6 runners per team, 4 to score in each race
€20 for league entry; €7 for individual race
Meet & Train is targeted at less competitive runners. Ideal if you are thinking about dipping your toes into the cross country for the first time.
Information for the first meet and train this coming Sunday – Location Dunboyne
€20 for league entry per person must now be paid
Race numbers will be collected on Sunday morning – please hold onto the race number for all four races. Please bring pins!
Race Start Time is 11 a.m.
Club vests must be worn. For any new members please contact Emily.
Don’t forget to clean the muck off the spikes from last year!
DIRECTIONS TO DUNBOYNE AC AND RACE COURSE. PLEASE NOTE RACE COURSE IS APPROX. 12 – 15 MINUTES JOG FROM DUNBOYNE AC.
Dunboyne AC clubhouse on Rooske Road, Dunboyne, Co. Meath. To get to the Dunboyne AC by car (from Dublin).
Heading Northbound on the N3 which becomes M3
Take Exit 4 – Clonee/Dunboyne
Continue through Clonee village following signs for Dunboyne.
Go through two roundabouts taking the 1st Exit (R156) both times
On the left-hand side of this road you will Clonee Sawmills
The racecourse is beside Clonee Sawmills. There are only a small number of car park spaces here.
Continue to pass the racecourse and after passing Dunboyne Train Station you will come to a set of traffic lights. Go left at these traffic lights – you are now driving on the
Rooske Road. Continue along Rooske road and pass the entrance to Dunboyne Castle on your right. A little further along the road on your right is a large car park with Dunboyne GAA club, Dunboyne AC and Scouts Hall. Dunboyne A.C. clubhouse is at the back of the car park beside the running track.
It is about 12 to 15 minutes jog to the race start from here.
Refreshments will be in Dunboyne A.C. clubhouse after the race.
You could also park at the Dunboyne Train Station but parking will cost 3 euro at the train station.
Trains are from Connolly (30 min journey)
By bus Bus 70 from Aston Quay to Dunboyne – 40 min bus journey
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 24th
Dublin
Intermediate – December 1st
National Novice – December 15th
Dublin Masters – January 5th
What a great weekend for Irish sport – Katie Taylor, the ladies hockey team qualifying for the Tokyo ’20 in the most dramatic fashion, and Maria Jones’s great solo effort in Santry Park. That said, the real sporting story of the weekend was the unveiling of the new Sportsworld Marquee.
It is oft said of great sporting teams and individuals that their opposition has already lost in their heads before taking to the field. Big Red was assembled at the entrance to the start and finish area and you could see that this shiny new architectural gem was catching the attention of the other participants; their dreams crumbling behind wide eyes.
No drought in Dublin last week as the course was replete with various water features, a stream, and marshy corners long, long before the junior races had finished. Diarmuid Gavin would’ve loved it. After jogging the route for my warm up I wondered might I need a snorkel for some parts of it. It wasn’t the worst I had witnessed. On a scale of 1 to Clarinbridge it was a 7 at worst. Still, I knew this would be an effort that would be with me for many days hence but I was optimistic as during the week I was told by a clubmate, who must remain nameless, that the course is a good bit short of the 10k and basically flat. You take all the breaks you can get.
First up to bat in the red and white was Maria Jones in the Ladies Senior 6k. There was a deep field in the ladies and Jonesy ran strongly and comfortably throughout. In the last 400m there was a surge in her group but Maria dug in and her finishing sprint down the last straight took her past her usurpers and into 12th place.
This was the first time in a number of years we had entered a mens team in this race and there were great spirits in the group as we toed the line. The race began at a ferocious pace. Our race would be 10k in length and consist of a single 1k lap followed by a half dozen 1.5k laps around the perimeter of the park, which is not hilly, but definitely not flat either.
The day itself was bright, dry, and cool. Conditions I like. I settled into a group with Conor Keating and Justin and I tried to keep my pace up as best I could. There was fabulous support around the loop from our fellow club members – it’s amazing what a shout does for your spirits.
We pushed on and picked off a few people as we went. My lack of racing and hard training over the summer this year becoming apparent to me in the last 2km of the race as I was really feeling it. I couldn’t keep up with Conor and Justin but I was happy with my effort. As I crossed the line I noticed that the course was about 200m longer than the 10k making it about 800m longer than I was led to expect from my anonymous friend. Won’t be fooled again.
Covered in mud I washed my shoes and legs down in a cold calf deep puddle before entering our tent to get changed. As we were leaving I volunteered to take the metal structure of the tent to Michael’s car for him. This turned out to be greatly heavier than I anticipated and I quickly regretted my offer. Arriving in the car park I realised I didn’t know which car was Mike’s. After much searching I spotted one with a HB ice cream flag displayed in the back window (A-ha, this has to be his!!), so I plonked it down and waited. It wasn’t. He did find me after about 15 minutes.
