Facebook Twitter
17.2 C
Dublin
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Home Blog Page 43

2018 Rome Marathon

The flight home race report and photos by Eoin O’Brien

The one great thing about running is that, more often then not, you get back what you put in.

The 2018 Rome marathon was to mark the 10th anniversary of my first ever marathon in Rome back in 2007. Don’t ask.

Between work, the big snow and a realisation that I’m not really into really long distance runs anymore, I managed to get all my training done in the week of the 25th to 31st of March.

Boarding the plane I only then told my equally unprepared buddy that I got the years mixed up and that this actually wasn’t any special anniversary race for me. Disembarking the plane with a dead leg for my honesty we dropped the bags off and headed to get the numbers.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail as the mantra goes. I discovered failed to pack my gels, my sunglasses and my sun cream.

The marathon expo is a bit out of town but easily accessible on the metro. Arriving Friday morning meant the place was empty so picking up the numbers etc was painless. It was a great looking tshirt too which you’d expect from the Italians. Here a screen shot because I just put mine in the wash:

It was my 4th time in Rome and I’m still not bored with it. It’s a ridiculous place. There are no if and buts, it all went down here 2000 years ago. From the sheer size of the Colosseum, the architectural wonder of the Pantheon, the beauty of Trajans Column to the popes gaf, people have been visiting this stuff for millennia for good reason.

Thanks a million for all the words and encouragement leading up to the race. Special mention to Michael Cunningham for sending me this nugget the night before:

Race day was Sunday and with temperatures expected to reach 23-24 degrees I had no notions other then to try and finish this thing within 4 hours and get out without getting injured. My mate was starting in a different wave 5min behind me and announced at dinner the night before he was going to catch me. I’d never hear the end of this. Its amazing what motivates ones self.

The start and finish was on the road from the Colosseum to the Altare della Patria which is quite the backdrop. The race is well organised, no stress putting bags in or getting into the wave. Plenty of jacks too.

The marathon is pretty much flat all the way. People ask about the cobbled streets, there are plenty but I didn’t find them an issue although I wasn’t in racing flats and it was dry. Very, very dry. They aren’t like cobblestones in Temple Bar. They are flat topped with tarmac in between. If it was like Temple Bar someone would have put washing powder in the Trevi Fountain by now.

The 8.40am start took us away from the colosseum, around circus maximus and south of the city into the boonies. I’ve run Berlin, Munch and Barcelona and all these races take you out to their equivalent of Castleknock, Crumlin and Clonskeagh to get the miles in.

Do you know the way when you are fit and running well the kilometres just fly by and you tick them off. Well that didn’t happen.

First 10k was rough, I felt much better in the 2nd 10k as we headed north along the leafy and shaded banks of the Tiber River to pass castle d’angelo and St Peters square at 18k; where mass with the pope was kicking off at 10.30 am. I was too early to catch a glimpse of himself but the crowds gathered where singing some motivational hymns to keep us going.

Leaving Vatican City behind we continued north along the river. The trees seemed to be receding and the second half of the race seemed to be more exposed to the sun. Lucky I had a good base tan from the Irish Spring.

Passing the Olyplmic stadium north of the city, where we saw Roma beaten 2-0 by Florentina the night before (a bad omen), we turned around and headed south.

I was working hard but actually felt reasonably comfortable and was only 90sec out of hitting my target of 20 miles in 3 hours which I thought would get me home sub 4. That was about as good as the day got.

The course was well serviced with refuelling stations every 5k and sponge stations every 2.5k in between them.

The sun was ramping up the pressure though and the poor old lad who handed me sponges at 32.5k  got more then he bargained for when I stopped and gave myself a full body run down beside him.

Clean as whistle off I went again. Past the Spanish steps the streets where thronged with tourists. The course has a cruel twist of faith (and streets) as it runs you close to the finish line only to turn you away to do a final 4K loop in shadeless streets with the sun blazing down at his highest point.

I finished 4.01, a last sprint couldn’t save me and get me under 4 but I was a VERY happy man to see the finish line at the Altare della Patria and get in the shade of the Colosseum. I take some solace in holding the Sportsworld record for the fastest time at the 2018 Rome marathon.

My mate dived for the finish line and ran 3.59. And yes he caught me.

I’d recommend everyone should visit Rome. It’s a glorious place. Whether you want to run a marathon is up to you. It is a flat course but I felt without the tourists there wouldn’t be much support. That being said racing abroad is great criac and something everyone should experience and enjoy.

Weather can be a bit unpredictable as we had torrential rain all day Monday. And I mean torrential and all day.

All in all it was a tough day at the office but it’s done and apart from an outrageous farmers tan I’m no worse off.

It’s a super base fitness to have which I plan on taking into a summer of 5ks and 10ks. I got a great buzz after the BHAA K-club 10k last month so I’m sticking with shorter stuff now and looking forward to enjoying a summer of training, road and adventure races ahead.

Well done to Emmet and Adeile in the Paris marathon and also Andrea and Margaret who smashed the Madrid half all last Sunday too! Best of luck to Damien and Tom heading over to London soon. I’m looking forward to Toms report. Big Kudos to Shay Brady who is working his way across the Sahara Desert as we speak. I’ll stop giving out about my hot race now.

Never say never I suppose. I might go back to Rome and run the 20th anniversary of my first marathon in 2029.

California Running

Having recently returned from a 2-month work stint in the great state of California, and sorted all my photos I thought I’d write up a race report of sorts. Hopefully inspiring some Wanderlust and channeling my inner Gavin Finlay tour guide persona. Races in the US are expensive and charge for the photos so I don’t have much evidence of running outside Strava posts and a bigger box of medals.

When working abroad you work pretty hard, but with time off, this can seem like the greatest job in the world. I yearn for the beautiful scenery, the unknown, and the mysterious. Being able to simply tie on your running shoes and head out the door is one of the best things about running. No fancy gear or pricey gym memberships required! This ease also makes running the perfect exercise to do when you’re traveling, shoes are easy to pack, and you get an up-close view of all the cool things this new place has to offer.

Redondo Beach, California, the seaside town that introduced surfing to the United States in 1907 was where I spent the past 2 months. It’s one of the 88 towns that make up the Los Angelas metropolitan area. California is huge and varied with distinct geographical regions, from coast and desert to mountain. Pretty much, this is the perfect state to explore, with great roads, cheap gas and hundreds of gorgeous destinations, including over a dozen national parks to choose from.  You’re never going to run short of things to do in California!

The Pacific Coast Highway is well known as one of the most scenic drives in the world. I was lucky that my hotel was situated on the road as it passes through Redondo beach. 10 minutes from the hotel I had the choice of a 21-mile beachfront cycle path or the rolling hills of Palos Verdes Estates. It was quite the choice and I spent quite a few mornings getting lost on 6 AM runs in the hills. I also found a local track for a few fast 400’s at the end of some evening runs but it would usually involve dodging locals walking in lane 1.


It wasn’t until the end of week 2 that I realized I was going to need to look for some races to stay fit and to meet some other runners. This was also due to Delta Airlines losing my bag and I only had one pair of runners.

I found a site ‘Charlie Alewine Racing’ that organizes informal runs from 5K to full marathon every Saturday and Sunday morning. On Saturday the 24th of February I woke at 5 AM to drive to 5200 E. Eliot Street, Long Beach, California. After collecting my number I lined up for the 7 AM start. The half marathon distance was out and back two times. I like mixed races as you never know if the runner in front of you is taking part in the same race or is doing a shorter distance. On the morning,  one guy took off at sub 3.30KM pace which is about my limit for the half marathon so I had to let him go. It turned out he was only running 5K and ran a 17.30.  Realising that there was nobody else around for half a mile I decided to settle into a 3.45KM pace and go for a decent pace run. I finished in a time of 78 minutes just as it was starting to heat up. I now understood why they do this 7 AM start thing. 

LA is a city with incredible energy. Surrounded by vast mountain ranges, valleys and forests, the glamour of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip and the famous beaches have added to Los Angeles’s reputation as a Californian paradise. It’s nice to get away from the city and cruise down the PCH highway. The next day I drove North to Santa Barbara and went for a run. The scenery is unforgettable, with loads of trails for all levels.

We are what we repeatedly do. The next weekend I was back in Long Beach to run another half marathon. This time we were running into a much stronger headwind along the beach and had some bits on the sand so the times were slower. I came home 1st in a slower 81 minutes. A fun race along the full length of Long Beach. The photo below probably says more than I could describe. It’s a very built-up area of Los Angelas but they have some nice cycle and walking paths. Like much of the US the running surfaces are concrete so this area would not be good for the joints to run there every day.

Sunday I headed for Palm Springs to do a run and some climbing. With 360 days of sun-kissed weather and drop-dead gorgeous scenery, Palm Springs is like no place else and is making a comeback as Hollywood’s playground with a growing nightlife, burgeoning art scene, and edgy vibe. San Jacinto Peak is the highest peak of the San Jacinto Mountains. After a quick ride up on the Aerial Tram, I could spend the afternoon hiking and do a short run on the trails at 8000 feet. I didn’t make it to the top due to there being too much snow but the views of the desert below were spectacular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next weekend I wanted to go a bit further afield and try something different. I found a 30k trail run on laraces.com. Trail running is a continually challenging adventure triggering all your senses. The crisp clean air swirling into your lungs, the mud squishing under your feet, finding the proper foot placement, balancing on top of rocks, the water crossings, the views, the smells, the sounds. It sounds a bit like cross country but luckily for me, this was California and not Ireland so the mud was replaced with wet desert sand. More sticky than slippy. I invested in a pair of cheap brooks trail shoes as my Adios weren’t going to keep me alive on those downhills. Experience has taught me how important it is to just keep going, focusing on running fast and relaxed. Eventually pain passes and the flow returns. It’s part of racing. Get going … walk if you have to, but finish the damned race.

Completely out of my comfort zone here. The race took place in two of the most beautiful parks in Orange County. Irvine Regional Park, Orange County’s oldest park, offers runners a less technical course beneath canopies of oaks and sycamore trees. Runners then headed out onto the natural California flora lined trails. Santiago Oaks treated runners to an assortment of wide and rocky, to single-track trails with steep climbs and descents. The race continued on the Anaheim Weir loop then hook back onto the earlier course loop. Both parks were intersected by Santiago scenic Creek and shared acres of natural charm, an abundance of wildlife, and mountain vistas. The watch out for rattlesnakes and bear signs added to the atmosphere. The race was like running a marathon, luckily it was overcast on the morning. I had to walk on a couple of the uphill sections. Despite going the wrong way a few times I ended up coming 3rd and capping a very enjoyable morning with a new pair of Hokas. I stayed around for the prize giving and chatted to some of the local runners. A definite bucket list race this one.

After a sickly 4th place finishes at the local 5K in Redondo Beach on Paddy’s day Las Vegas was a nice diversion for Paddy’s day weekend. Las Vegas draws some 40 million visitors annually, including millions of conventioneers filling its 150,000 hotel rooms. The vast majority of visitors stay somewhere along the 4.2 mile Strip, which runs from Sahara Ave. to Russell Rd. Running in Las Vegas is a study in contrasts. The ‘Strip’ is certainly one of the more unique runs in the world, but if you can rent a car and get just outside the city, there are some great running destinations. I ran in Sunset Park near Las Vegas but on Sunday drove to the recently completed river mountain trail system, a 34-mile trail in the Las Vegas Valley surrounding the River Mountains. This trail connects Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Hoover Dam, Henderson, and Boulder City. The hilly, paved path is a great opportunity to run off-road and enjoy some spectacular views. Running across the Hoover Dam was spectacular.

The next weekend despite dying with a cold I went to Malibu with the good old days blasting from the stereo. Appreciative mood music if you will!  The Great Race is a self-proclaimed celebration of running that features six races including two half marathons: the incredibly scenic Chesebro Half Marathon mostly trail race and the gorgeous Pacific Half Marathon road race. There’s a race for everyone at the Great Race with the Deena Kastor 5K, Old Agoura 10K, Kids 1 Mile run and Camp Kinneret Family Fun Run. Try the 2-Person Team Marathon Challenge. I decided to do the Pacific Half Marathon which has won Best Half Marathon in the Nation by Active.com a number of times.

The race starts off in Paramount Ranch. The 1950s, Western Town was created for television shows, such as The Cisco Kid. The race also passed along the famous Mulholland drive and scenic Agoura Hills. I did not look at the course profile before the race started. The hills killed me. Two-thirds of the way in I was passed by about 5 runners, including the first woman and my pace slowed to a 4.00KM crawl. My pride was saved by finding out later that the leading lady came 3rd in the recent LA marathon. I battled home the last 10K and finished in 1:23. Another bucket list race through some of the most beautiful scenery in Southern California. I realized after this race that LA is a car city as there are so many hills. It’s the 10%+ that will put hair on your chest.

At this point, I’d seen nearly everything I could think of but San Diego. Whilst doing a bit of research on things to do I realized that the Carlsbad 5000, advertised to as the worlds fastest 5k was on tomorrow. For the second day in a row, I was up at 5 AM, driving two hours down the road to the small city of Carlsbad to take place in the Rock and Roll 5K there. The course records of 12:59.5 minutes for men (set by Sammy Kipketer in 2000) and 14:46 minutes for women (set by Meseret Defar in 2006) are the fastest times ever recorded for the 5 km road distance. These are recognized as world bests by the IAAF, and world road records by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians. I ran in the 30-39 masters section. It’s probably the most competitive US race I have ever run in with 4000 taking place in the race with 50 men running under 17 minutes. This is such a well-known race. I was delighted to get the chance to run but it was a massive struggle after the day before. I could barely walk getting out of the car and struggled to run 16:50. I couldn’t recommend it enough as a race to base your California vacation on. The atmosphere and organization at these Rock and Roll races are always fantastic.

On a picture-perfect spring morning for racing along the oceanfront streets of downtown Carlsbad, Great Britain’s Emilia Gorecka edged out American Sarah Brown to win by one second at the 33rd running of Carlsbad 5000 today in a time of 16 minutes, 4 seconds. A European champion was also crowned in the men’s race. Sweden’s Kalle Berglund made his first 5k a memorable one, outlasting Ethiopian Gebre Abadi to win the final sprint to the finish line in a time of 13:15.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 half marathons, 30K and a 2 5K’s. I don’t have any intervals done for the upcoming track season but have a solid base. I had one more week to run around Palos Verdes, The Hollywood Hills and Redondo and then it was on to Chicago for 6 nights to run under Michigan Avenue and along the lakefront. The temperatures were a bit of a shock to the system at -5 degrees having come from 20 degrees but the setup for running in Chicago is excellent along with the lake. A highlight was running past the starting point of Historic Route 66. Two weeks earlier I had driven on Route 66 through the Mojave Desert, before returning back to LA through Santa Monica – the other end of Route 66. My next running adventure may well be the drive to Clontarf for the national road relays in April.

Ros Run 10k and Longford 5k

Report by Katie Nugent

I decided to head west for the Easter break and had a look at what races might be on in the area over the long weekend. The Ros Run was taking place in Roscommon town on the 31st March so I decided to sign up for the 10k race. The Longford AC 5k/10k road race was due to take place on the 1st weekend in March but was postponed due to the snow. It was rescheduled for Easter Monday so I decided I would take part in one of the races.

The Ros Run 10k

This was the second year of the Ros Run and it offered participants an opportunity to take part in a 10k, half marathon or full marathon. I know that I am biased when I say this but the race offered participants an opportunity to see all that Roscommon has to offer from our castle, park, forest, lakes and beautiful views.

The race headquarters was in Hannon’s Hotel Roscommon who provided excellent facilities including parking, showers and hot meals for all participants after the race. All participants received a t-shirt and medal.

The race committee did an excellent job in organising the three races and making sure that everything went to plan. My sister was amongst the volunteers who helped out with stewarding, water stations and number collection.

As I mentioned, I took part in the 10k race and was the 4th lady home and 15th overall in an official time of 46.14. I was pretty happy with this time and hope to continue knocking seconds off it as the year continues.

All donations from participants were matched by the race directors with the proceeds going to Pieta House.

The Ros Run have another new event coming to Roscommon on the 28th and 29th July which offers a 10k, half marathon, full marathon and ultra marathon option for participants and is certainly worth a look.

Longford AC 5k

My legs were a little tired after the run on Saturday but I decided I would go and take part in the Longford AC race on Easter Monday as I like to support local races when I can.

I signed up for the 5k race and did a little warm up around the Mall Sports Complex which is where the local Parkrun takes place each Saturday.

The 5k race started just up the road from the Mall Sports Complex and we turned at the roundabout down the Sligo road. At the next roundabout, we turned back towards the town and back to the Mall.

The 5k route ran into the back of the 10k route so it started to get crowded in parts but it was a nice flat course.

I completed the 5k in 22.32 and was the 5th lady and 14th overall.

Olympian Mick Clohisey of Raheny presented the prizes to the winners and made running a 10k look easy completing the course in 30.45.

I found the race to be very well organised, a nice course and there were plenty of treats for participants on their arrival back following the race.

I was pretty happy with my weekend of running which kept me out of mischief and made me feel better about eating all the chocolate! I would have no difficulty recommending either race as I found there was a great atmosphere at both, a very friendly environment and they both offered a nice course.

Eamon Moloney 10k 2018

Race report by Packie Enright

Over the Easter break, there were two Sportsworld representatives (hailing from the Mid-West anyway) in Ennis Co Clare at the Eamon Moloney 10k. Now in its fifth year, it is part of the four race Run Clare 2018 series, with couch to 5k type intentions, aimed at getting people who may have never run much to complete four races over four months this Spring. Participants’ ultimate challenge will be to complete a 10 Mile run in Tuamgraney on Sunday week, and that is their challenge completed, having completed a 5k at the end of January.

Massive numbers attended it (around 1000), with around 35 of them breaking 40 mins. There was a pace setter for every five minute increment from 40-60 mins or beyond. Limerick’s Colm Turner won the race by over a minute in ~33 mins, while the women’s race was won by Iveragh AC’s Grace Lynch in ~36 mins. Our own Will Greensmyth gave a good account of himself too in 14th running 37 mins, while I (Packie Enright) snuck inside the top one hundred.

Overall it was a very enjoyable day out on Easter Saturday morning, and a good way of setting up for the Church Holiday Weekend. Results are below, and full results are here.

 

Position Name Time Category Gender Club
14 William Greensmyth 0:37:51 Senior Male Sportsworld
100 Packie Enright 0:45:20 Senior Male Sportsworld

Deirdre O’Connell

Name

Deirdre Mai O’Connell, Milltown, Dublin.

When did you join Sportsworld?

Officially, January 2017, though I’d a few sessions under my belt the previous October and November. I got away without paying until January, but I won’t tell anyone that.

Where do you work?

I work for a golf management agency, Carr Golf, amongst many golf related things we manage golf clubs. I do the marketing. I’ve done sports marketing and PR for all my years. If anyone owns a golf club that needs managing, please call me.

What is your favourite club session?

Easily, Hills and Sprints, though it’s not easy at all. I like how quickly it goes, and I like seeing everyone doing their thing from the top of the hill. To the passer-by, we must look like some strange army of ants.

What is your favorite race distance?

I can’t quite decide. I like 10ks. I like 5ks. I think I might like half marathons. Having done one marathon, I don’t think I like them but something in me says I might do another.

What is your favourite meal before a big race?

I never get this right. Once, before a Docklands 10K, I had spaghetti hoops on toast! This race did not go well. Nor did someone’s poor doorway.

My Favourite place to train is?

I have travelled a bit and I run everywhere I go. It’s a great way of exploring. Don’t run around the mountains of Kerry late afternoon without knowing you’ll be back before dark. I got caught out one day and had a dodgy enough route home. Though I live in Dublin, I’m from Naas and I like getting out when I’m home. There’s a lovely canal run in Naas, where we used to drink, as teenagers, al fresco with cans and naggins of vod. “Down the ‘nal”, it was called. We’d have to sprint when the cops came. The start of the athletics eh! Good times.

What’s your favourite race?

Probably a 10K or a half. I got shoved onto a cross country team lately. That is not my favourite race.

What is your target for the next year?

A 42 minute 10K and a 90m half. Still haven’t signed up to the half mind.

What is your best Sportsworld memory?

My mother and I very much enjoyed stewarding the Tenenure 5 Mile last year with Noel. Thankfully, the police were at our station with us. We watched them nearly get into fisticuffs with some passers-by, irate of a Sunday morning that they couldn’t take the left turn. It was fun!

What international events have you ran?

The marathon in Rotterdam in 2016. Signed up Christmas Day, and ran it 12 weeks later. It was torture. Why is a race route the figure of eight so you cross the finish line when you’re only half way around? Plus it was a lovely sunny April day and the Rotterdamsters were all out having BBQs, drinking bubbley, and chucking pieces of orange straight at my face. Eh, thanks!. Oh I was also in La Santa last November. That 13k trail run with the sun, wind, dust, sand and hills was unforgettable, the stuff of nightmares.

How/When did you start your adventure with running?

I’ve always run a bit on my own and I enjoy it immensely. My brother Paul O’Connell (pictured above in the Dublin Rock n Roll, where it’s very obvious I’m beating him) is a very keen, very good runner and he was always banging on about Sportsworld. I thought it was a clothes shop. I moved back to Dublin Summer 2016 and he told me to join. His wife Aoife Quigley, also a very keen, brilliant runner is a Crusaders Club Member. She told me to join there as they are all very good looking. I stuck with Sportsworld as it suited me location-wise for work and home. I can say now Sportworld members are all very attractive and they are a bunch I am happy to be associated with.

How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?

3/4/5 times a week. Maybe 30k/45k a week depending. If I’m doing my club tasks as member of the ‘Email Support’ team I would run 0k that week.

What was your first day at the Club like?

I was very nervous the first day, first month, first year! No sign of my brother Paul for support, and sure even if he was there he’d be too busy chatting up/ to other ladies. I remained relatively unknown until Emily Dowling found out I was Paul O’Connell’s sister and apparently that made me some kind of “ledg.” I was very proud to learn of Paul’s list of club records. He also holds various family records for drinking pints!  I joined in Winter when everyone was wrapped up in Winter woollies, so it was really hard to recognise anyone. I went to the Christmas Party, on my own like a total spare, to see all the runners in their finest. Suddenly I realised runners look just like other people, normal, and in fact are very good looking! I sat with John F and Mark the Vet, oh and Jose, and it was fun. I have enjoyed getting to know my friend Olive Fogarty, who like to say she’s injured when she isn’t.

Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?

Yoga weekly. Couldn’t live without it. Ideally I’d do a gym session a week too, but I rarely fit it in.

Is there anything you would like to see more of or less of at the Club?

Is there any way of finding out who else is signed up to races? Is there any way I can leave the ‘Email Support’ taskforce?

Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?

Eoin O’Brien is very funny on the email and the social “medja”. And Michael is a wonderful person too. It goes without saying, Emily and Myles too. Even when I’m out running on my own, I can hear Myles shouting, Come On Deirdre!

2018 Leinster 10 Mile Championship

Race report and photos by Joe Byrne

Did somebody say the cross country season was over? With some of us still attending therapy from our exploits in Clarinbridge 7 weeks ago it was time for the now annual Battle of Clontarf Easter Monday 10m race(incorporating the Leinster Championships)  in St Annes Park Raheny.

 [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end]

A quick trawl through my hard drive showed I had also done the race report for this one last year. Tempted as I was to do a quick cut and paste job I decided this wouldn’t do justice to the rough weather conditions endured by all the runners who competed.

[ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end]

Monday was forecast to be the wettest, most miserable day of the weekend, and boy did they get it right. 5 Female and 13 Male Sportsworld athletes (an overall increase of 3 from last year) made the trek to Raheny for the 10am start.

[ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end]

Excellent performances from Sinead Tangey, Eileen Rowland and Karol Cronin yielded individual medals in their respective categories. Our overall strength in depth however resulted in 3 separate teams winning medals.

The course itself was a mix of tarmac footpaths, grass, mud and water all within the St Annes Park itself. A 2 mile loop was followed by 2 x 4 mile treks which included a real battle into the wind along the boundary parallel to the coast rd. As always Karol was to the fore in the mens race, finishing 3rd overall and claiming bronze. Not to be outdone Sinead was to claim 3rd overall place in the Ladies race. Eileen was to complete the triple crown of individual medals with a 2nd place finish in the o55 category.

[ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end]

Never was a hot beverage more welcome by all after a race when we adjourned to the Red Stables. Race quickly re-ran it was back out to the cold and soaking wet finish line to claim our haul of medals, toasters and hair dryers in the presentation ceremony.

Well done to one and all who ran this race. You deserve all the plaudits you get!!!

Team Medals were as follows

Female o50 Bronze
Eileen Rowland, Audrai O Driscoll, Ellen Lavin.

Male Senior Silver
Karol Cronin, Phil Kilgannon, Karl Chatterton.

Male o50s Bronze
Noel Tobin, Joe Byrne, Anthony Gillen

Individual Placings

Female
3rd  Sinead Tangey                      63.41
36th Deirdre O Connell             77.53
38th Eileen Rowland                  78.51
85th Audrai O Driscoll               88.35
86th Ellen Lavin                           88.40

Male
3rd Karol Cronin                           55.37
15th Phil Kilgannon                    58.45
25th Karl Chatterton                  59.46
38th Martin Doyle                       61.45
42nd Sadanand Magee               62.29
51st Oliver Hedborg                   64.05
63rd Ronan Masterson              66.00
70th Noel Tobin                            66.55
76th Joe Byrne                               68.52
87th Padraig Looby                     69.41
103rd John Flaherty                   70.53
107th Anthony Gillen                71.39
111st Peter Knaggs                    71.58

BHAA 2018 K-Club 10k

Race report and photos by Neil Purdy

 

Bread rolls, sausages, black/white pudding, coleslaw, pasta salad, cookies, brownies, chocolate éclairs, applie custard tarts, hot cross buns, scones, macaroons, tea , coffee……

Oh sorry race report!!

The annual BHAA K-club 10k. (The k stands for Kildare, Eoin) was held on the 31st March around the quiet back roads of the K-club in Straffan.

I was on site nice and early to pick up the race number and catch up with a few other sportworders. Andrew was quick off the mark to stitch me up with the race report duties with Eoin in ear shot.. ah yeah good man.

Race reporter Neil in action on Saturday

We were all keen to get going and get back for the food which was well built up at this stage by members who had raced previous years. I had a good look at the course map to see if there was any shortcuts back to the finish because no way Andrew, Mark, Diarmuid and anyone sub 40 were going to leave much food behind. Main goal now was to limit time between their finish and mine.

There was a few hellos exchanged with other club members before setting out for a small warm up before heading back to the start line to say bye to the better half and Diarmuids cat (Ask him about that!)

There was a brief race talk which we couldn’t hear, a quick 3,2,1 and off we went for 10k. Course led us outside the K-club grounds passing Conor McGregors house. Bit annoyed he couldn’t come out to his balcony and cheer me on, ill remember that for his next fight.

We then started in on two 4k laps before heading back to the K-club. I was tipping along and hoping to stay within sight of Adrian who quick enough disappeared, ah here!

Keeping a steady enough pace through the kms and was nearing the second pass of the water station when trying to grab a cup of water I managed to lose grip and basically throw it across my face. Quick look around and no one saw, win!

Last little push on the 1500 back towards the club, quick look to see if McGregor was out, nope..

Turning into the golf course for the last little down hill to the finish line, wait what’s this we are being turned off the road right, i didn’t prepare for this! After a small detour to take in the sights of a back car park we are directed back out to the finish line. Time to turn on the sprint for the crowd and the wife who will be at the finish line encouraging me in.. no one, nothing. She was inside tucking into the race food, unbelievable!

Not the worst time but not a PB today. Meeting up with Adrian and Eoin the cool down run was quickly dismissed. Change of clothes and time to smash the buffet. Maybe there will be a PB today after all.

[ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end]

Catching up between bites everyone was happy with the race and organisation, including the cat who was happy out with her day out!

Sportsworld Results

Apologies if anyone is missed – we can’t search BHAA results by club

Andrew Brett 35.51
Mark Hogan 37.10
Diarmuid O’Suilleabhain 37.13
Michael Cunningham 37.48
Wesley Harrison 38.26
Ciara Brady 39.39 PB!
Adrian Lanigan 42.10
Sean Donegan 42.56
Neil Purdy 43.10
Eoin O’Brien 46.36
Paul Cassidy 47.58
Ray Carpenter 48.02
Lucy Darcy 48.19
Val Power 48.55
Maria Finnegan 50.04
Conor kenny 50.29
Sandra Kelly 50.29
Bronwyn murphy White 51.45
Trevor Lloyd 52.31
Sean O’Byrne 55.45

 

 

Dunboyne 4 mile

DUNBOYNE 4 MILE, SUNDAY 25TH MARCH 2018

COUNTY MEATH ROCKS!

Last Sunday, I was back on familiar grounds, as my husband Stephen and I arrived in Dunboyne to take part in the Dunboyne 4 Mile. Yep, I shuddered as we passed by the dreaded Cow Park, the scene of many a muddy battle against the elements during the cross-country season. But yesterday, we were greeted by a lovely blue sky and some heart-warming sunshineWould you believe that this was the 49th edition of this race? The organization is superb: plenty of car park spaces, toilets at the registration hall and the start of the race (it’s all in the little details), a nice t-shirt, pacers and last but not least a tub of flaxseeds/chia seeds for everyone in the audience – I know, right? And the atmosphere is very friendly and uplifting.

Having retrieved my number, I noticed that I was just ahead of Peter Somba from Dunboyne AC at the T-shirt table! For a fleeting moment, I did think that this could be a sign of great things for me on the day… However, it has to be said that after that, he was pretty much ahead of me all the way to the finish line.

About 600 runners toed the line for the 3 pm start. The course is really varied and interesting, and part of it winds its way through the countryside. It has roughly the shape of an 8, and we got to pass by the heart of the village twice, where small crowds were encouraging us all.

Not only did Peter Somba manage to stay ahead of me, but he actually won the race… He was followed by Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock AC), William Maunsell (Clonmel AC) and Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham WSAF AC). It must have been a very exciting finish as there was only a couple of seconds between the first 3.

As we were making our way back to the registration hall surrounded by runners and supporters in high spirits, we heard some traditional Irish music through the PA system, and as we stepped in, there was an actual trad band playing away, while tea/coffee and lots of homemade goodies were served… We were truly impressed.

We’ll be back for the 50th edition.

PS: A word of warning to all of you wearing your singlets at a race… You may be lulled into a false sense of security, but beware, the rule seems to have changed, at least that’s what “Shady Mikey” has led me to believe… Nobody is safe from writing a race report… OK, I had no photographic evidence, but I swear I was wearing my singlet… (written by Niamh Cunningham)

                                          Niamh Cunningham (may not be a recent photo)

Results

Noel Tobin 24’35’’, second in his age category!

Helen Brouder 24’48’’

Laurence Delair 35’26’’

Tralee International Marathon, Half Marathon, 10Km, 5Km 2018

The Tralee International Marathon took place in Tralee in Co. Kerry on Paddy’s Weekend. The series of races including a 5k, 10k, half marathon and full marathon. Over the 4 races there was approximately 700 runners. It was a last minute decision by me to enter the race but decided to enter to keep myself out of trouble for some of the weekend.

Just when we thought the cold weather was gone the wind and the ice showers came back just on time for the weekend. The weather and cold is the only thing I can really complain about for this race. It took a lot to motivate myself to get out of the car but was greeted by a great surprise at the race registration. I was never so happy to see three familiar faces, my three Lanzarote roomies, Shona, Maura and Pete. The three had stopped off to do the race on their journey to Brennan’s.

Shona and Maura took part in the half marathon while Pete and I did the 10km. At the start line we also met a familiar face, Aidan Curran, who was also taking part in the half marathon.

The marathon and half marathon took off together at 9:30 and the 5k and 10k began at 10:00. The 10k consisted of two 5km loops. The course was relatively flat with one hill at the start which the 10k route plodded up twice. Other than the hill, the first half of the 5km loop was quick however when you turned to come back it was a different story with 2km of a strong head wind. The race looped around the Tralee Wetlands, passing Windmill and the aqua dome. I came across the line with a time of 39:10 which I was delighted with taking the wind into account. Shona crossed the line to finished first in the half marathon with Maura following shortly after in 5th position. Pete and Aidan also finished strong and ran great races. Results below.

The Race was well organised and for anyone venturing down around Kerry in March 2019 I would recommend stopping off in Tralee and giving the race a go. It is a nice course, chip timed, nice t shirt and medal and there is a lovely café at the start / finish J

 

10km Results

1st Sinead Tangney 39:10

49th Pete Galvin 53:28

 

Half Marathon

1st Shona Keane 01:25:37

5th Maura Ginty 01:31:05

74th Aidan Curran 01:39:45

Damien Geraghty

Full Name 

Damien Geraghty

When did you join Sportsworld? 

January 2016 – New year, New resolution

Where do you work? 

Deputy Store Manager for Tesco – currently based in Dun Laoghaire

What is your favourite club session? 

Strangely its hills and sprints – your body knows you’ve done a serious workout after it

What is your favourite race distance? 

Yet to figure out – will decide after this year ha

What is your favourite meal before a big race? 

Chicken pesto pasta dish

What’s your favourite race? 

Has to be Dublin Marathon – Done 4 times now – no better feeling/experience

What is your target for the next year? 

Two main aims for this year

  1. London Marathon in April – aiming to get as close to 3 hours as possible. Running in aid of Temple Street (with Thomas Kinsella) and we need all the help we can get so if anyone is feeling generous here is the fundraising page – https://www.gofundme.com/temple-street-foundation
  2. Win some sort of race – I’ve had a few third-placefinishes, so if anyone knows of a handy race or parkrun please let me know.

What is your best Sportsworld memory? 

Dublin Marathon 2017 – meeting up with training mates (in McGettigans) just after completing Marathon to hear we all achieved PB’s was a fantastic feeling as we had all put in a lot of work.  The night out that follow was also memorial.

What international events have you ran? 

Completed a 10km over in Suffield, Connecticut last year while on holidays. Rather embarrassing story came from it.  I finished in 5th place and in the awards ceremony after I was called out as 1st male between 30-39 and 1st male from the local town (friend had entered me as a resident of the town).  After winning too handy sports vouchers worth a nice chunk of money and taking part in the winners’ photograph I was then called up and was told there had been a mistake – the person in 4th place was called Jesse but had been entered into the race as a female when in fact he was a male – so I had to hand over my prizes to him.  My first ever win taken from me!

Where’s the most interesting place you have run? 

Lake Garda – simply stunning

Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been?(Doesn’t have to be running related)   

Spent 18 months in Australia in my younger days – loved every minute of it.  Heading to Sir Lanka and Maldives later in year (honeymoon) so that will be pretty interesting.

What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times) 

When not running I like to enjoy quality time with my fiancée, friends and my family. I’m originally from Armagh and come from a large family of 8 children (no tv’s back in the day)  Getting married in September to a Cork lassie so safe to say I will be kept busy this year with stag, wedding and honeymoon.

How/When did you start your adventure with running? 

Started in 2013 – had a cousin that passed away from SADS (Sudden Adult Death Sydrome) so I decided to run Dublin Marathon to raise funds for SADS. Looking back I don’t know how I done it (most people go from 5km to Marathons but I went from a marathon to doing 5km) I had never raced before and put myself into a marathon with no training plan or structure.  Managed to complete it in 3.47 and raised 3000 euro for SADS.

Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement? 

5km – 18.24

5 mile – 30.06

10km – 38.24

½ marathon – 85.06

Marathon – 3.16

Determined to better all these within next few months. No Pressure!!!

How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage? 

According to Strava this year I’m running on average 82km a week – what Strava doesn’t tell you is that is 82km a week of running in horrible winter conditions.

What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club? 

Meeting people from all over.  Have formed some great friendships with a great bunch of lads in the club.  (no details of Whatsapp conversations will be shared)

What made you join a Running Club? 

Failure in Dublin Marathon 2015 – horrible horrible day in which I can only look back and laugh

What was your first day at the Club like? 

Met TK (Thomas Kinsella) on first night – he didn’t come back then for 6 weeks.  Also met Sean Duffy and Emmet Wardle in first week and pleased to call the 3 them good friends now

Why is running important to you? 

Healthy mind and healthy body

Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better? 

Since I’ve been in club 2 men have stood out for constantly improving. Diarmuid O Sullivan and Martin Doyle.  Both lads broke 3 hours last year and got PB’s in all races entered. Hope to follow in their footsteps.  Really shows hard work does pay off. GRIND!!!!

Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis? 

Have taken up Yoga in last year – it definitely helps.  Hope to get more into it over next year.

Tell us something that no one in the club knows about you!? 

I’ve a big appetite – once ate 12 double cheeseburgers on a night out (McDonalds). There may have also been a  Mc chicken Sandwich and nuggets involved…

 

1...424344...115Page 43 of 115
Sportsworld Running Club
Sportsworld Running Club Bushy Park Dublin 6
Contact us: info@sportsworldrunningclub.com
Facebook Twitter

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© Sportsworld 2019