In the summer of 1858, a small group of prospectors from Georgia crossed the great plains of the Colorado Territory and made a region-changing discovery at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Gold. And although not much of the precious metal was found, the mere whisper of the word was enough to start a veritable stampede into the region. Now 159 years later every October a stampeded of a different type takes place, the Rock and Roll Denver Half Marathon.

Denver, aka the Mile High City, is located 5280 feet above sea level with many elevations even higher. I was in Denver for the week for the week of October 8th at a trade show and decided to stay and run the Rock and Roll Denver Half Marathon on October 15th.

I was excited and looking forward to the race when crawling out of bed at 5.30 AM on a crisp 19 Fahrenheit Denver morning. I’d booked a hotel right beside the start which was a big plus. Denver is a small city so easy to get around and very runnable.

Standing on the start line I had not yet made the decision to run the Dublin marathon 2 weeks later. Tired going into the race I decided to be cautious and start off at 3:45 a conservative pace by normal standards. 3 Miles down the road that was starting to feel like 10K pace. I underestimated the difficulty of running in the mile high city at any kind of pace. The guys I was running with were going for 6-minute pace and kind of taking the piss that I thought I could hold the pace having never run at altitude in a race before.

By the time I got 10K into the race I was trying to keep a 4 minute pace and getting passed out. That part of the course had lots of small climbs that felt like running in the fields of dreams. I saw  76, 78, 80 minutes slipping away from me and ended up finishing in 80.58 with a sprint finish. The experience was strange with my lungs on fire but legs feeling like it was an easy pace. Crossing the line I decided I needed to try 26.2 in Dublin in 2 weeks time to extinguish a few doubts. The search for a number begins.

Aside from the run course, the Mile High City boasts more than 4,000 acres of traditional parks and parkways, which include 2,500 urban natural acres, over 300 acres of parks designated Rivers & Trails and an additional 14,000 acres of spectacular mountain parks. The prettiest and easiest jogging paths follow Cherry Creek and the Platte River. You can go as far as you want at whatever pace you choose. Both trails are basically flat. So you don’t have to worry about taxing your heart going uphill in The Mile High City. I spent a few days in Rocky Mountain national park before the race and have never felt anything like running at 9000 feet and seeing a giant moose walk out on the road in front of you. Despite it being 2 flights away I could not recommend Denver enough for a vacation or to run.

Report by Joe Byrne

Photos by Joe, Gemma White and Gareth Murran. For full album: Click here

Where did that summer go? All those track sessions in Tallaght on Saturdays morning seemed a distant  memory as 6 ladies and 9 men from Sportsworld lined up to take part in the Novice championships which signals the start of the cross country season.

2nd place Caoimhe Daniels

Sunday was a cool blustery day at the Magazine Fort. By 1pm as the first of our athletes started their warm up the Phoenix Park had already endured a combined total of nearly 460 miles from sportsworld runners as our marathon entrants pitted themselves against the annual 4 x 5mile loop time trial under the watchful eye of Emily and Myles.

The ladies went under the gun at bang on 1.45pm as Sporstworld sought to defend their crown won 12 months previously. As usual there was lots of support from fellow club mates, too numerous to mention. Run of the day had to go to Caoimhe Daniels who claimed individual silver, growing stronger as the race went on and dropping all competitors bar the eventual winner Ashley Ryan from Civil Service.

Great race Caoimhe, in what promises to be an outstanding year for you. In support Caoimhe Costigan followed up in 17^th place, with Katherine Mulleady in 27^th and Sinead Staunton in 36^th. The four ladies combined for an overall 5^th place team in what was one of the most competitive Novice races I have seen in years.

Providing great support to the team were Katie Nugent and Val Power. Well done to everyone. This race will stand you in great stead for the remainder of the C.C season.

At 2 .15pm nearly 100 men were off, on the start of their 6k race which meant 4 full and exhausting laps. Like the ladies before, some of our men were competing in their first ever C.C race.

Honourable mention goes to Eoin Strutt from Raheny, who completely dominated from start to finish, eventually coming home a full minute ahead of the second placed athlete, remarkable over such a short distance. Certainly a name for the future.

Enda Kerin and Stephen O Donnell were never more than a couple of strides apart for the whole race with Enda eventually prevailing in 21^st place and Stephen finishing in 22^nd.

These lads were followed home by Karl Chatterton who continued his excellent form this year to finish in 29^th place while Sedanan Mcgee in 38^th made up the 4^th member of the team that was  to finish in overall 6^th place. Again like the ladies, a very credible finish in what was a talent packed field.

Not to be outdone by the young lads, Anthony Gillen flew the flag for the Masters athletes in the club finishing 74^th just ahead of young Johnny Dwyer in 76^th who seems to be getting stronger every race he does. Keep it up Johnny, you’ll be a great addition to our ranks when your time comes in a couple of years. Only 13 seconds separated Brian Conway, Conor Keating and Liam Lenehan, whose now had his appetite wetted for more C.C races.

All in all a great days C.C racing by those that took part. Get the spikes and winter woolies out folks, only 4 months before its all over.

Sportsworld Results 

Womens 4k
2nd        Caoimhe Daniels 14.51
17^th        Caoimhe Costigan  16.12
27^th         Catherine Mulleady   16.41
36^th        Sinead Staunton  17.01
62^nd       Katie Nugent 18.21
69^th        Valerie Power 18.46

Mens 6k
21^st        Enda Kerin 21.29
22^nd       Stephen O Donnell  21.30
29^th        Karl Chatterton 21.53
38^th        Sedanan McGee  22.15
74^th        Anthony Gillen 24.22
76^th            Johnny Dwyer 24.39
80^th        Brian Conway 24.54
81^st        Conor Keating   24.59
83^rd        Liam Lenehan 25.07

Report by Katie Nugent

Photos by from race Facebook page: Rathfarnham 5k

This was my first year to enter the Rathfarnham 5k. I have participated in the Dublin Race Series over the last few years but decided to take a break from longer runs this year and try and concentrate on shorter distances. I heard some reports from the Dublin Half Marathon on Saturdayand was happy that I made the right decision to choose the familiar surroundings of Terenure and Rathfarnham instead.

Race reporter Katie in action on Sunday

I am happy enough with how my training has gone this summer but I have missed a couple of weeks recently with holidays and various things. My preparation for the race today was not ideal but I had signed up and decided I would do it anyhow and get myself back on track.

I jogged down to the start line just before 10am and met up with some of the Sportsworld crew. There seemed to be a good turnout from the club and we were all anxious to get started.

The race starts on Springfield Avenue near Tesco and continues along Dodder Park Road for approximately just over 1km. It then takes a left up Rathfarnham Road to Terenure Village and then out the very long Templeogue Road. We then took a left turn at the traffic lights and back past where we started on Springfield Avenue and along to the finish line at Rathfarnham Bridge.

The race is organised by our neighbours and rivals in Rathfarnham WSAF AC and has taken place on the last Sunday in September each year since 1998. The chosen charity for this year was St. Luke’s Hospital, Rathgar which is a very worthy and deserving cause.

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There were excellent performances by all of the Sportsworld team taking part. I believe a number of runners achieved personal bests. I didn’t manage to get a PB but given my lack of training over the last couple of weeks I was happy to have finished the race and got back racing again. Special mention to the Sportsworld men’s team who were second and ran an excellent race against some tough competition.

2nd place team (missing Pablo)

One of the best things about the race today was the amount of support from club mates throughout the course. Thank you to all who came out and supported us this morning.

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68 Sportsworld members completed races this weekend between the Dublin Half Marathon and the Rathfarnham 5k which is a reflection of all of the hard work and dedication which all of the members give to this sport and their club. Special mention to Emily and Myles for having us all fit and race ready as ever.

All Sportsworld results from today are below. Apologies if I have missed anyone.

6th              Pablo ARTIME    00:15:35 (2nd place team!)
17th           Karol CRONIN    00:15:35 (2nd place team!)
23rd           Gareth MURRAN  00:15:52  (2nd place team!)
49           Stephen O’DONNELL 00:16:30
50           Phil KILGANNON 00:16:32
51           Karl CHATTERTON  00:16:33
72           Enda KERIN         00:17:02
108         Diarmuid O’SÚILLEABHÁIN   00:17:57
113         Kate KELLY          00:18:09
117         Colin BEAGAN   00:18:12
123         Seán DUFFY        00:18:20
130         Anthony GILLEN 00:18:29
131         Michael LILLIS    00:18:34
139         Conor KEATING  00:18:52
152         Declan BRADY    00:19:15
158         Jim BROWNE      00:19:25
174         Noel TOBIN        00:19:46
176         Liam LENEHAN  00:19:48
191         David RYAN        00:20:06
197         Adelie REINNBO   00:20:15
201         Catherine MULLEADY  00:20:27
206         Sinead STAUNTON    00:20:34
253         Niall FORDE         00:21:36
256         Emma BARRY     00:21:42
266         Angela KEANE   00:21:55
286         Katie NUGENT   00:22:25
300         Kate LENEHAN  00:22:41
304         Catherine GILMORE 00:22:46
305         Linda O’CONNOR  00:22:50
310         Valerie POWER 00:22:54
322         Thomas LYSTER 00:22:51
350         Bronwyn MURPHY-WHITE  00:23:52
351         Michelle CURTIN  00:23:57
356         Delourdes SEYMOUR  00:23:50
373         Maria FINNEGAN   00:24:28
403         Tara KEOGH        00:25:10
456         Maureen KELLY 00:26:36
503         Laurence DELAIR    00:27:12

Report and Photos by Michael Cunningham

Race photos on the Race Facebook page: Click here

Illegal Parking by Paul O’Connell

Saturday the 23^rd of September was the Dublin Half Marathon in a new location and course in Donabate. I think most people have heard there were severe problems with traffic to the venue and the starting area with some people being forced to turn around and go home. From my own experience running the Marathon race series over the years they are normally the best organised and planned out races but something definitely went wrong this time but it goes to show how difficult organising 9000 runners, traffic, water, 13miles of course and a few hundred stewards actually is.

Luckily I got a lift to the race with Paul O Connell and after a 6.30am start to eat breakfast (which Paul O Connell didn’t provide) we hit the road at 7.30am. I think I am the type of person who would que in line when there is traffic on the motorway but thankfully not Paul O Connell.

After first driving past the 4km of queuing cars for the Donabate exit with the hope of putting the indicators on 100 meters from exit and forcing his way into the que of cars, reality kicked in that no one is that nice and Plan B was activated to drive to the next exit and drive through the half marathon course and ditch the car in a non-approved parking area.

So by not queuing, driving on closed roads and ignoring designated parking areas we arrived in plenty of time for the race which had to be delayed until 10am.

So what do you do when your race is delayed? If you’re Aine Kelly you finish off a bag of race jelly babies without offering them to anyone else, if you’re Martin Doyle you try and avoid every drop of mud getting on your brand new marathon runners which have a 6 months waiting list, if you’re Grannie Lynch you try and find any remaining paint from your Rainbow paint run. If you’re me you try finding a sucker to write the race report that Eoin will be crying about (dam it).

So the race started at 10am and we ran out on an unfamiliar course to most people. The support was pretty good out on the course and the conditions were nearly perfect except for the wind on the second half of the course. A gradient map was provided for the course which some people had huge problems understanding? Miles 4 to 7 were going to be challenging and they were followed by a steep downhill which was good to get your speed back up but your still a long way from home and have to try and not get carried away.

The finish line venue looked nice but no nicer than Phoenix Park and I didn’t hang around to see what it was like when the larger numbers came through.  Kevin was finished and gone before any one got back putting in another strong performance and Ruth Kelly was the first girl home in her build up to the Dublin Marathon.

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I don’t think anyone was ecstatic with their times on what was a tough race build up and course. It’s hard to believe the marathon is twice that distance but I checked the maths a few times and it’s definitely twice the distance.

Sportsworld Results:

25th       Kevin     Curran  01:18:39
48th       Michael  Cunningham 01:20:10
87th       Mark Hogan   01:22:50
111        Paul O’Connell 01:24:15
116        Martin  Doyle    01:23:58
263        Derek Saville   01:20:41
291        Damien Geraghty 01:29:47
317        Jose Chapa   01:30:43
373        Ruth Kelly 01:29:26
944        Neil Purdy 01:41:42
975        Thomas Kinsella 01:42:43
1123       Noel  Lynam   01:42:35
1208       David Trimble 01:38:47
1248       Lucy D’Arcy   01:43:57
1328       Patricia Fitzmaurice  01:45:17
1424       Shane   Trimble 01:42:05
1598       Johnny Dwyer 01:37:04
1602       Grainne Lynch 01:48:44
1942       Naoise  Waldron  01:41:03
2069       John Flaherty  01:41:33
2213       Liam O’Brien 01:55:42
2348       Derrick  Long 01:49:21
2965       Rosie Mulhern 01:58:04
3124       Anne-Maria Scanlon 01:59:54
3173       Anne Belton   02:00:28
3322       Grainne  Wall 02:02:05
3537       Sean O Byrne 02:11:39
4145       Audraí   O’Driscoll  02:10:35
5440       Sean Duffy     02:21:36
5681       Caoimhe Donegan 02:21:07

Race report by Trevor Lloyd

Race photography by Judith Lloyd

Caoi,

 

Trevor

Report by Sandra Kelly

Photos by Conor Kenny

Blessington Lakes on a good day ……

Blessington Lakes on Sunday!!

I have heard many people in the club talking about the Blessington Lakes 10k race held in September and how it’s one of the nicest races to run and when the chance of a number came up last Thursday, I decided to go for it. I’m so glad I did ………

It was a pretty miserable day to start but I was looking forward to seeing what lay ahead. I haven’t raced a 10k in over a year, so decided to give it a go.

I travelled out to the race with Conor and Ray and we talked usual race strategy on the way out. As we embarked on Blessington we happened across the second half of the race route, I got to see the infamous hill at the 6km mark and it looked challenging to say the least but I was up for it.

We parked in a field opposite the lake and even at that early stage, it was mucky. We laughed as a local tractor made its way down the field with a bale of hay to dry out the entrance.

We headed down to get the race numbers (after waiting in the lashing rain while Ray changed his clothes in the back of the car) and met Bronwyn, Eileen and Gareth all getting geared up for the race ahead.

The rain was absolutely beating down by now but we needed a little warm up so jogged up towards the finish line and back to the bridge for the start and we were off.
There’s a bit of a drag for the first 5km but I didn’t find it too bad. The weather was changing rapidly throughout from heavy rain, with wind, to some shelter on the country roads and then more heavy rain and wind.

Unfortunately, by the big hill at 6km, the wind was pushing hard against us but I tried to keep going as much as I could. I was so looking forward to the downhill after that and it was there but I didn’t feel as much of an advantage from it as I expected even though I did pick up the pace.

Unusually I found the last Kilometre the hardest and kept looking at my watch thinking ‘Are we there yet, are we there yet’. It seemed like an eternity until the finish line at last came into view.

Myself, Bronwyn and Conor were neck and neck heading to the line and it was a photo finish in the end with Bronwyn 1 second ahead of us.
Everyone enjoyed it and ran super considering the conditions with Gareth coming 3rd overall.

I’ll definitely be back next year 🙂

P.S. If I had a tenner for every time Ray mentioned ‘Cow Dung’ I’d be a rich woman ……..

Sportsworld Results

3rd Gareth Murran 34.34
92 Ray Carpenter 46.08
107 Louise Jackman 48.08
115 Eileen Rowland 47.44
137 Bronwyn Murphy White 49.14
138 Conor Kenny 49.15
139 Sandra Kelly 49.15

Report by Maria Jones

Race photos by Will Greensmyth

Saturday morning had arrived. Frank Duffy was the name on every Sportsworld runners mind heading to the Phoneix Park. 10am was the start time.

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Overall Results!!

The Wind that Shakes the Barley: Kinsale Regatta 5 Mile

Friday 4th August 2017

By Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin

On a showery and sunny and then showery and sunny again evening on the Friday of the August Bank Holiday weekend a few of us find ourselves in Ireland’s food capital to build up an appetite for ourselves.

(Race route)

The rolling landscape around Kinsale and its patchwork of deep green fields of grass and ripe golden grains made for the backdrop for this hilly race. Starting at the top of the town the route works its way outward to the tidal estuary of the River Bandon and then following the river back into the town again. Scenery at the start and then the atmosphere sprinting through narrow medieval streets to the finish.

(Paul taking it out)

A gentle breeze and light rain made for reasonably good conditions. I’d struggled in the heat in the other races earlier in the summer, so the conditions were welcome. The race started at a fast pace, our own Paul O’Connell taking it out and quickly disappeared from sight. The small number of runners meant that we weren’t being dragged along by a group, and you couldn’t sit on someone’s shoulder, so one had to focus and push a bit harder than normal.

(Denis and I, what time is it?)

I’d paced myself well enough but was struggling coming to the end of the race and knew I was slowing but roughly on target. On entering the town I knew the finish was near. The shouts of encouragement from the people was great. I came across Paul on the final straight who gave a good shout and gave me a good boost. Coming to cross the line I saw the 29 on the clock and gave a shout, a long time goal finally achieved.

(Final Straight)

Denis who the week before had a great weekend of running, breaking 5 minutes for the mile and winning his first Parkrun, finished strongly as the 4^th master. After catching our breaths and taking on some water, the important business of interrogating the après race spread was undertaken with gusto. Hunger sated, glycogen stores restocked.

(Denis flying it)

It was only when attempting the warm down jog back to the car did the effects of the legs pounding themselves on the hill presented itself; ouch. Took a few days to recover from, but more than happy with the day out.

8^th         Paul O’Connell 27:42
15^th       Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin 29:50
26^th       Denis McCaul 31:08 (4^th Master)

A video of the finish was uploaded by Cork Athletics to Vimeo; https://vimeo.com/228466541.

For many first-time visitors to New York, New York equals Manhattan. But just a couple of subway stops across the river lies a whole other delicious world that deserves your exploration. So set aside a day to take a tour of Brooklyn when visiting New York. Having traveled to Brooklyn 9 times in the past year I feel like I could produce their next tourism video.

I’m no stranger to running in Brooklyn. As far back as 2010 I would stay with friends and run around the 5.92-kilometer loop in prospect park. Brooklyn’s answer to Central Park, Prospect Park contains a zoo, an Audubon center and the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Its entrance is marked by a large Memorial Arch and it is a mecca for exercise lovers who go running, cycling and to watch the world go by on a beautiful summers evening.

When in Brooklyn I always stay in the same hotel and get up at 5 am so I can catch some of the work day in Dublin before going to meet the New York clients at 9.30. At the moment I’m working on an accessible taxi program for wheelchair users in the city which means long days and tiring taxi rides to all parts of the city. Getting the run in at 5.30 AM is a necessity because it probably won’t happen in the evening due to other commitments and excessive humidity.

The morning of 19 July 2017 was no exception I did my usual 1.5 laps of the laps and back which ticks my OCD tendencies at 12K on the button. Even on a slow day I can cover 12K in an hour sometimes going up to 14 if all cylinders are firing. At 5.35 I was sitting in the client’s office thinking to myself that I may not make this race tonight. Registration closes at 6.30 and I have to go back to the hotel to change.

At 5.51 I hear the magic words “lets pick this up in the morning” I dashed out the door and hailed a ride back to the hotel. Frantically pushing the buttons on the hotel lift I was back on the street at 6.11 leaving the hotel room in an almighty mess. I had almost 19 minutes to cover the 2.3K to the registration point. New York is warm in the summer months and tonight was no exception 94 degrees and very very humid. when the locals are saying how crazy warm it is the pale Irish guy goes overlooked on the start line.

The race itself started off on the only real uphill part of the course. I made a conscious decision to go out on the first uphill mile at 10K pace and it paid off. After 1 mile I felt like I had just run 10K and 10 or guys in front of me already looked to be struggling. With a naturally long stride, I love the downhill and as the course switched from uphill to downhill I started to put the rubber to the floor and coming into the last K there were only 2 guys in front. Pausing for a few seconds to gather myself I started to pick up the pace. At the 600M to go mark, I was on the shoulder of the leading runner with his buddy on the sideline shouting “don’t let him go past you” closely followed by “stay with him”. With 400M to go, I could see the finish line and the time on the clock. I managed to put 18 seconds on the guy in second and run 16.52.

Not a time to remember in years to come but a good win none the less. It’s always satisfying to get your tactics correct and get the win. This was the 5th of 8 in a summer series so I would love to make another on a cooler day. For the most part the race felt like a 10K effort with a fast finish.

After the race it was on to Denver Colorado to visit the running mecca of Boulder and run in the mile high city. An amazingly beautiful place taht I will be sure to visit again soon. After the 4 days of altitude training (slow running) I’m  down to do the national half for the first time in 7 years.   Have that Masters bug!