Approximately 35 Sportsworlders took over the city of Nice on the beautiful French Riveria for the city’s half marathon and 10KM race which took place on Sunday the 21st April. Determined to make the most of the trip I decided to travel over on the Friday and stay until Tuesday. Despite the dodgy weather forecast we were greeted on the Friday with sun and blue skies. After picking up our numbers at the expo we bar hopped around Nice – like the true athletes that we are! The following morning, feeling slightly worse for wear a group of us got the train to the stunning nearby Eze – a town on top of a hill! Not having the patience to wait on the local bus to the top of the hill we decided to do the hour long trek on foot, in the heat. It was worth it as we got the most beautiful views of the coastline. After lunch we made or way to Monaco – playground for the rich! Over coffee we contemplated our race prep – a night of drinking followed by an entire day walking in the heat. Not ideal so all notions of a PB disappeared! By the time we got back to Nice the Saturday cohort had arrived so we all met up for a nervous dinner where excuses were exchanged!

Sunday – race day – was bright and cool. Perfect running conditions which blew off that excuse. Mind you, by the time we reached the 5km point the sun had heated up so we all got pretty hot and dehydrated. One criticism of the race was the lack of water stations. With close to 9000 runners the start was pure chaos! For some this was an issue as it made for a slow, congested start. For me, the slow start stood to me and I actually enjoy running in a crowd. Gets my adrenaline pumping! We ran 5km down alongside the promenade, almost to the airport and 5KM back with lovely sea views. As the 10km racers crossed the finish line the half marathon continued up to the harbour where we were greeted by a hill – very unwelcome at this point. Just as we got up and down that hill came another. To be fair the course was otherwise flat. We looped around before arriving back on the road by the promenade. At this point we got some shout out’s from the 10km finishers. It was really hot at this stage and to be honest I found the final 5km a struggle. Finally, the finish line came into sight. First home for Sportsworld in the half was Eoin O’Brien who ran an absolute blinder. First female home was Deirdre McGing who also had a great race. The great thing abut the finish was it was beside the beach so we were able to go straight for a dip in the Med. Carmel, Bronwyn and Val, who had been for a swim the day before promised us it was glorious – like a warm bath. They lied!!! Mind you, as a winter sea swimmer myself I found it heaven. More sightseeing and then the big celebratory dinner and drinks!

Doing a race abroad is incredible. It’s less about times and PB’s and more about the experience, the trip and the company. Sportsworld do trips well!! It was a wonderful weekend with the most fun, inclusive and interesting bunch of people. Thanks to Emily, Jose, Mary and Tim for your support en route and for the great photos. It was great seeing you pop up at various stages. Big shout out to Ellen for researching the hotel which was perfect and for booking the Sunday night dinner. You are amazing!

Finally, for anyone considering a Sportsworld trip I would encourage you to come along on future ones.

The St Cocas 5k in Kilcock is well known as a PB course and Sportsworld took full advantage of the reputation on Friday night.

With surprisingly light traffic, we arrived at the Co Kildare venue 90 minutes before the race. It was clear straight away that this was going to be a well organised race, with plenty stewards directing traffic. Weather conditions were favourable and the wind that battered us on Thursday had thankfully died down

As the Sportsworld crew started to stream in, talk turned to expectations for the race. Some remained tight lipped, ‘yera I just want to get around in one piece’ ‘ah I’m a bit injured after the sports day, so I don’t think I’ll run great tonight’. Others made strong statements of intent, ‘it’s sub 18 or bust for me’, I’m aiming for a PB tonight- no excuses!’.

After a warmup around a nearby commercial park, we headed back to St Cocas club ground for strides on their 100m strip of track, before being called for the race briefing. The organisers ensured that we lined up according to expected finishing time, this ensured a fast start with minimal weaving required.

The first half of the race was downhill and fast. Fears of blowing up were real, when we hit a short drag at the half way point, before the course flattened out. With 30 Sportsworld runners in the race, it was comforting to always have teammates around, some managing grunts of encouragements- Eoin somehow managed shouts of encouragement on the home straight, can someone please bottle this man’s energy and enthusiasm?

I had been warned of a slight hill at around the 4k mark and I was glad for the heads up, as it would have been a nasty surprise. However the last 700 metres were downhill into the village, where there was plenty of support and noise. This allowed us to push hard and fast to close out the race.

At the finish line there were plenty of tired bodies, but also some very happy Sportworld faces. There were more PBs than I can recall and elusive sub 20, 19 and 18 minute barriers broken.

Lisa Madden continues to reach dizzying height, running 16.22 and finishing 3rd female. Paul Macgabhann was first in his age category and Aoife O’Leary third in hers. The Ladies Team picked up first place in the team competition.

All in all it was a great night for the club, not only because of the strong running performances, but also the comradery, craic and support between all of us. Well done everyone- it’s a pleasure suffering together!

Running the 800 meters is like being chased by a lion. You sprint for your life but must pace yourself just enough to avoid collapsing before the finish line. The world’s best 800-meter runners, like David Rudisha and Jarmila Kratochvílová (some women), have turned this gruelling two-lap race into a showcase of superhuman speed and endurance. Rudisha’s record-setting 1:40.91 from the 2012 Olympics was so fast that even cheetahs were left wondering if they should take notes. On the women’s side, Kratochvílová’s 1:53.28 has stood unbeaten since 1983, if only the IAAF could catch up with her.

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just someone trying out the distances, the 800 meters is a race that tests your limits and leaves you breathless—literally and figuratively. The fourth graded meet of the year took place on June 5th in Tallaght Stadium. The gradeds are a series of summer races held between May and July on Wednesday or Saturday evenings. Each night features a different distance, allowing those who train on the track over the summer to test their skills. The atmosphere is relaxed with a separate race for every fitness level

This week, we had the 100M dash and the middle distance 800M. First up from the club was Emma Meade. Typically a shorter distance fan, Emma had just completed a gruelling half marathon in the Mourne Mountains on Sunday, she didn’t think the mini marathon was a long enough warm-up! Starting from lane 5, Emma ran an impressive 14.81 to place second, a mark she was determined to beat later in the evening.

Next were the 800M races. Competing in the C grade was Elaine Kennedy. In just her second-ever 800M race, she ran a fantastic race and finished first with a new personal best of 2:24.04. Elaine ran a fast first lap and then took off with 200M to go, she had aimed to run under 2:30 but smashed that goal out of the park. This performance is a testament to her recent fitness gains, and she’s going from strength to strength over the distances. Watch this space—it’s her year.

The next race was another highlight, with Emma running again, this time accompanied by Michelle Burk, Shauna O’Callaghan, and Kate Burke. Determined to improve on her earlier performance, Emma took the lead alongside club friend Siobhan Nugent, with Michelle close behind. As the first lap progressed, Emma and Siobhan pulled away, battling closely to the finish. Emma clinched the win with a time of 2:37.15. Michelle was narrowly edged out for third, finishing in 2:42.53, just ahead of her sister Kate, who ran 2:53.30. Shauna showed a strong final 200M to finish in 3:10.29. The intensity of the race was evident, with all the runners lying flat on the track at the end. The Burke sisters had Veronica cheering them on from the sidelines with motivational slogans, such as”Don’t bring shame to the family!” It was a great race. All of the above had raced at the weekend so Kudos to all.

As for my race, it was my first 800M since 2018. Years of injuries and marathons have slowed my pace significantly. I didn’t give the distance the respect it deserved and went in a bit tired. The first 200M felt like an all-out sprint, and after that, I was toast but never drop out. I managed to avoid melting into the ground and finished in 2:15.46. I had expected a 2:10 to come relatively easily, so it was a wake-up call to incorporate more shorter intervals into my sessions. Onwards to a 5k this Saturday.

Timothy wrapped up the evening with a solid performance, finishing third in 2:18.99, evidence that he is on the comeback trail. Timothy is a great track runner.

Thanks to Emily, Myles, and Veronica for their support. The event had a great atmosphere and was very accessible for runners of all levels. It wasn’t the picturesque golden sunshine I imagined, but you can’t have everything. As always it was amazing to see some relativley new runners toeing the line. Hope to see more out for the next one on June 15th.

Full results and upcoming fixtures on http://live.dublinathletics.com/menu.html

Sun-cream, shades, shorts and sun
Queues, porta-loos, the crowds, the fun
It’s June Bank Holiday
It can mean only one thing
The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon
It’s in full swing!

The red and white Sportsworld ladies were out in force on Sunday June 2nd to take part in the 41st Women’s Mini Marathon. It’s an event that is coloured purple with enthusiasm, significant meaning, inspiration and all round good feelings. The runners, joggers and walkers, ranging in age from 15 to 93, took to the city streets to spread the joy on Sunday afternoon.

Our own Lisa Madden set off in thunderous speed and broke Sportsworld club records to finish 5th in the race with a time of 35.27. Incredible Lisa! Caoimhe Daniels, even with carrying an injury, managed to finish in the top twenty with a time of 39:05. Congratulations Caoimhe! It is wonderful to witness the sheer strength, fitness and speed of the elite runners at events like the mini marathon. It does not come easy. Hours of training, discipline and perseverance leads to phenomenal performances on race day. It is also wonderful to see a lot of our new members going from strength to strength in both training and races. Megan Walls, Veronica, Michelle, Kate and Claire Burke, Shauna O’Callaghan, Regina and Maeve Coppinger, Monica Redondo, Emily Rossler, Caroline O’Brien and Amy O’Neill all represented the club so well at this race and achieved many’s a PB too! Lucy Darcy, athlete extraordinaire, ran her 30+ mini marathon on Sunday last! And enjoyed every minute of it!

The club mark this annual running event with a special award ceremony for club members who participated in the race. Medals were awarded to athletes who placed 1st (Lisa Madden), 2nd (Caoimhe Daniels) and 3rd (Lorna Quinn) for the club in the mini-marathon and medals were also awarded to athletes who placed in their age category. Winners included Darina Hynes, Kimberley Kennedy, Anna Carrigan, Anne Sweeney, Sibeal Waldron and Regina Coppinger. Well done!

Thank you to Emily for the encouragement to take part and for making club runners feel the support and recognition from the club. Ever since the race began in 1983, the mini marathon will always have a special place on the Sportsworld calendar. (Read more about its significance to the club here: https://sportsworldrunningclub.com/about-us/

Thank you for all the support along the route! Those cheers (and bottles of water!) make ALL the difference!

Medals, jellies, relief and smiles

Hugs and photos, all after the six miles!

Toners for some, home for others

The post-race feeling, it joyfully smothers!

Another year over, the mini complete

Nothing to do now, but rest our dear feet!

Everything is nearly wrapped up from this years Sportsworld Terenure 5 mile. We still have the accounts to finish and the charity cheque donation to make but the main work is done. The race organisation, as people on the race committee know, starts around 6 months ago. The race charity selection is normally one of the first jobs, this year there was an easy choice with Anne Sweeney putting forward the Irish Kidney Association with her Grand Daughter getting a kidney transplant and back up support from the IKA recently.

Last year was the first race back since covid and a lot had changed in terms of getting permission for race, traffic management and race costs. Mark Heffernan (South Dublin Vets) very generously came forward this year as the race main sponsor which gave us the security of knowing we could put the race on and cover the costs.

Things flew by pretty quick and all of a sudden we were at race weekend with people coming to the clubhouse to collect their numbers and t shirts. We had a huge amount of help at the weekend giving out the numbers, talking to potential new club members and unfortunately breaking some kids hearts as the junior races sold out this year and we had to close entries.

We knew at the Saturday morning training session it was going to be hot, very hot on race day. Even at 9.30am it was over 20 degrees. First up was the 3 junior races with Sandra Armstrong, Paul Duffy, Lisa Madden and Caoimhe Daniels doing a brilliant job entertaining, controlling, encouraging a large exited group of kids before the start. The junior race seems to get bigger every year and there is nothing like getting your first medal.

On to the main race and Eoin O Brien did a brilliant job getting the finish area and start area set up for 1500 runners and a small crowd. Despite some one deciding to park and leave their car exactly on the finish line things went smoothly and Bronwyn and Maria sorted the car out after the race.

Anthony Gillen working with the traffic management company, the Gardai and the 10 head stewards ensured all the junctions and course was safe.

1350 finshers crossed the line and nearly 200 juniors and each one got an amazing goodie bag supplied, packed and boxed by a very generous Carmel Breen.

We had some amazing companies sponsoring the race giving face painting, rubbish pickup and lead car thanks to Jim Browne and Liam Lenehan.

AnnMarie Clyne did a brilliant job as MC at the start line and awards ceremony.

Michael O Grady kindly gave his time to help any injured or sore runners through out the race morning.

We had Nessa fill in for Laurence Cunningham in the school hall for all the teas and coffee and now wants to do it every year.

Cormac Garvey provided and set up the PA’s systems for free for the race and awards

Bronwyn did all the graphic designs for the race.

Elaine Kennedy, Eoin and Gareth did all the social media work for the race and chasing elite runners.

Delourdes Seymour and Ruth Kelly again came forward to go on the race committee to help with all the planning.

I am sure there are loads of people I am forgetting but the point is there is a huge amount of people needed to put the race on each year. The benefits of the race are we can help local charities, get new club members and put on a high standard club race. So if you enjoyed the race and you would like to get involved with it there is always room on the Sportsworld Terenure 5 mile race committee.

Race reporters : Lorna Quinn (Women)  & Donagh Egan (Men)
At 12pm on Saturday May 4th, those who were available to fill places on the Novice and Masters teams for the Leinster Road Championships in Gowran, turned up in their fiery Sportsworld red and white, with small back-packs containing all the essentials for the day ahead. A nice dry day with a cool breeze. No rain, which is always a plus! A nice stop off at Applegreen before arriving at our destination gave us a hint of what treats we could enjoy post-race when we would once again descend upon this Applegreen. There was talk that Emily had a nice box of chocolates also, that may make an appearance after we all raced – This for me is the best part of the race day – the post-race tea and treat. We arrived in plenty of time to get our numbers, to catch our bearings and to appreciate the fine table of sweet treats Gowran AC had in store for all those gathering for this race day.

First up were the Masters Women running 3K. Lucy Darcy, Anna Delaney and Stephanie Bergin all took to the starting line with aplomb. All runners ran so well and looked in control and fighting fit as they gave it their all for two 1.5K laps of Gowran. This race is so fast and it is over before you know it! The support was fantastic and it was well stewarded throughout also.

Lucy Darcy, athlete extraordinaire, not only managed to work and keep the show on the road with this race, she also came home with a bronze medal in her age category! Congratulations Lucy!

This race was followed by the Master Men 6K race in which Sportsworld had nine athletes running. Karol Cronin and Eoin Fitzpatrick were on the winning Dublin team, Karol and Eoin were both second in their age categories and the Male 35+ Sportsworld team, consisting of Karol Cronin, Eoin Fitzpatrick, Gavin Finlay and Karl Chatterton were awarded bronze medals. Jangling all the way home with big beaming smiles! Liam Lenehan, Anthony Gillen, Paul MacGabhann, Adam Furlong and Karl Shevlin ran out of their skin coming in with very impressive times over a very fast and competitive 6K course. Congratulations.

After a fine display of grit and determination by all Sportsworld men in the Masters 6K race, the Novice Women were next for their 3K race. Taking to the start line were Elaine Kennedy, Katie Nugent, Emma Meade and Lorna Quinn. Judging by our expressions below, I think you’d be forgiven for thinking the pre-race butterflies and questions like ‘Why do I do this to myself?’ were ever present.

But soldier on we did. Buoyed on by our cheery race starter and Lucy’s encouraging supportive words at the start line, all thirty competitors packed tight and set off for the 3K race in style.Elaine and Katie set the pace for Sportsworld and kept a consistent strong pace throughout with both Emma and I not too far behind. All four of us kept one another within our sight. We all ran as hard as we could. 3K is over so quickly! It is a great race to test speed, stamina,endurance and strength. The small bottle of water at the end was most appreciated. Within minutes of the race ending, we learned that we were fourth club and county to cross the line in this race. We’ll take that!

Finally, it was our Novice Men. Donagh Egan, Ian Comerford, Donal Brennan and Stephen O’Donnell all carried the flag for Sportsworld, with all four runners completing 6K in very impressive fast times. Sportsworld Novice Men came fourth in the Club category. Congratulations! It is not an easy run, but it is an enjoyable run. The course is varied and interesting, and the swell of support when you run through the main race hub is very encouraging.

With all races complete, post mortems concluded and cool downs achieved, we made our way to Applegreen………where the promise of post-race treats did not disappoint. A mixture of fruit salads, wraps, teas, coffees, yoghurts and burgers filled the hungry gap, along with Emily’s box of promised chocolates. The top layer went VERY quickly!Home by 7pm. Another great day out for Sportsworld. Thank you Emily and Myles for your
continued support and encouragement always, and to Gowran AC for hosting this event. We’ll be back!

Race reporter: Donagh Egan

Leinster Novice and Masters Road Race Championships
The Leinster Novice and Masters Road Race Championships took place on Saturday afternoon, April 30th, in Gowran, a quaint town 15-minute drive from Kilkenny city. Typically scheduled for the May Bank Holiday Monday, the race was moved to Saturday afternoon this year to free up the bank holiday weekend for participants. As we made our way from Bushy Park at noon, we were grateful for this change, realizing that after exerting ourselves in the race, we could relax and relish the remainder of the bank holiday weekend.
We arrived in Gowran at 1.20pm, 3 hours before the start time, giving us plenty of time to soak in all Gowran has to offer. By 1.30pm, we had achieved this, visiting all three food establishments available. Our pit stop at Molly’s bakery for a toasted ham and cheese special was a highlight—fueling us for the race ahead.
Back at the community hall, the pre-race buzz was in full swing. The most underrated, yet crucial aspect of any race—good toilet facilities—was on point in Gowran. With that sorted, all that was left to do was focus on pacing ourselves around the 4 laps (1500m each) of Gowran town.
The race kicked off with a steep downhill, transitioning into a steady flat stretch, and then a
challenging uphill climb that looped back to the starting point. This varied terrain added interest to the race but also posed a pacing challenge. My advice is to resist the urge to push too hard on the downhill, use the downhill momentum on the flat sections, and conserve energy for the uphill climb.
It’s crucial to pace yourself for the first loop. Feeling exhausted after just one lap can be mentally draining, especially when you realize there are three more to go. Run within your limits at the start to ensure you have the stamina to push at the end.
Overall, I had a great time at this race. The 6km distance, though uncommon, allowed me to push myself at a 5km pace, giving me a good gauge for potential future personal bests at that distance.
The turnout was modest, but there were enough fellow runners to provide a competitive atmosphere. Running in the men’s novice team alongside Ian Comerford, Stephen O’Donnell, and Donal Brennan added an extra layer of motivation, which was instrumental in completing the four laps around Gowran.

Race Reporter: Cróna Clohisey

As I lined up for my second marathon in Limerick on Sunday, I kept telling myself with more training this time around, I’d definitely feel better than I did in Dublin last October.  I was wrong(ish). After the first mile, the familiar feeling of I’m going to be sick plagued me, continuing right up until about halfway.

I met my husband Mick at mile 3 on his bike, and he told me he had forgotten the salt tablets and extra gels and had to head back to the hotel. The panic on his face! “No need” I said, thinking I’m not going to finish.

But the old nagging feeling of all the hard work to get to the start line, and not least leaving my two kiddies back in the wonderful care of their grandparents, who had sacrificed their whole weekend to enable me to be here (and probably hadn’t had a wink of sleep!).

So on I plodded seeing Mick again at 10 miles (after said return to the hotel!) on the banks of the river Shannon having emerged from a tour of the UL campus and over the noisiest foot bridge known to man. To his absolute disbelief, I stopped again to assess the situation – I had dropped down slightly from my target pace to stop the retching and he urged me to keep going and to try to relax. By now the 3hr 15 pacers were gone out of sight ahead of me so when I reached halfway in 1:36:58 – I was rejuvenated.

Seeing my friends and running buddies Aileen and Lisa at 13 and 14.5 miles gave me such a lift and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed every step of the second half. Back in through the city centre, merging with the half marathoners gave the race an unbelievable atmosphere. The crowds of runners and spectators were infectious. Mick seemed to be everywhere on the bike- at times I wondered how he was weaving through the crowds as runners were meeting other runners coming the other way.

Out across the River Shannon again, past the Gaelic Grounds and I knew ‘the hill’ at 24 miles was coming. It didn’t disappoint but knowing the end was near, I just tried to use the inevitable downhill to get going again. At this stage the sun had been beating down on us for a good 3 hours and it was getting hot! Such a change from the wind and rain in training. The recovered salt tablets came in very handy in the end!

The run into the finish on O’Connell St was amazing. I enjoyed every second, crossing the line in a new PB of 3.13.09, slower than I had hoped but much faster than I expected earlier on in the day. I got a good few shouts of encouragement “Go Sportsworld” but given the part of the country we were in and the similar red and white, was confused for Galway City Harriers on more than one occasion!

Well done to all the Sportsworlders who ran.

Christmas seems a long time ago now but I still remember the unexpected gift of a 10 mile entry to Cobh in April. Some research on the race found the foreboding race logo ‘ Its hilly get over it’.

A continuing injury was preventing much training but the weekend trip away to Cork and Cobh was a good incentive to do some Cross Training. The race in picturesque Cobh is championed by one of Irelands Greatest runners Sonia O Sullivan. With Jarlath Regan teaming up with Sonia on his weekly podcasts this race was going to sell out will teams of runners from all over Ireland heading to the small historic town.

There is loads to see and do when arriving in Cork and thankfully storm Kathleen passed by without too much damage. A quick shopping, eating, sight seeing tour of Cork City and Cobh left not much to think about the race ahead. There was no ignoring the hills or the possible wind in the race. Best to concentrate on the course scenery and the chance to see Sonia during the race.

Four Sportsworlders lined up in the morning for the race. The race had several pacers for the race starting at 60minutes. The race starts at a community centre at the top of the town and finishes at the Sonia O Sullivan statue at the bottom of the town. Word of warning, its a tough walk from the finish line back to the start area to get to your car.

Gearoid Crowley set the pace with myself, Lorna and Tom running our own races. There were plenty of crowds out on the course and even an Ashling Murphy tribute band at mile 4.

The race was very well organised with water stops every 3 miles or so. The sun did come out and the water was needed. The race is through quiet country roads around Cobh and your not contending with traffic or busy junctions. Even with a sell out race you have plenty of space to set your own pace.

The course I think would be described as challenging. The downhills are steep so you don’t get much benefit and there are some long up hill drags.

Despite that I would have to recommend the race. If you want a fitness test or a challenging course for an upcoming half marathon then Cobh would be a good choice. The atmosphere is very good and the finisher’s cup harks back to the Ballycotton 10 mile cups. The race sells out a couple of months before the race date so if your looking for a trip away and a good 10 mile to train for then Cobh is a good bet.