Irish Runner Phoenix Park Paced Mile

Report by Naoise Waldron

Photos by Lucy D’Arcy.

Irish Runner Magazine Gallery: Click here – Finisher Videos by My Run Results: Click here

“It’s not a race Naoise”…the wise words spoken by Karl Chatterton as we waited for the Irish Runner paced mile to begin this morning. Considering that I had roped Eoin in to incorporating it in to our 12 mile run, I knew that my 6 mile warm up might slow me down slightly.

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Close to 70 people took part in the paced mile in the Phoenix Park. We were greeted at registration by the ever smiling Lucy Darcy and fellow My Run Results colleagues. The route was a down and back route, starting past the Furze Road turn off and heading toward the Aras and then back up again. After collecting our numbers, Eoin, Karl and I, continued with a warm up, before heading back towards the start line to meet fellow Sportsworld members Conor Keating and Declan Brady.

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Another short run and we were back for the pre mile stretches and then the first groups were off. Stephen Willoughby was pacing the 8 mile group and he had the company of Catherine Gilmore, Madeline Byrne and Emma Barry. The three ladies had fantastic runs and were in well under the 8 minute mark, with Catherine being the second across the line in in the 8 minute pace group in 7.13.

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Then it was time for the 7, 6 and 5 minute pace miles. I had signed up for the 6 minute pace, however was feeling less than fresh so I knew I would be lucky to keep the pacer in my sights. I was on track for the first 800m but then with the slow turn around and the drag on Chesterfield Avenue, my pacer Ronan was soon well out of my reach. Maybe next time! Karl finished 2nd overall in 5.03, with Conor close behind in 5:11. Declan has shown that the track training is really paying off and completed in 5.41.

Well done to everyone who took part, full Sportsworld results as follows:

2 Karl CHATTERTON 00:05:03
6 Conor KEATING 00:05:11
10 Declan BRADY 00:05:41
14 Eoin O’BRIEN 00:05:55
22 Naoise WALDRON 00:06:24
41 Catherine GILMORE 00:07:13
44 Emma BARRY 00:07:18
47 Madeline BYRNE 00:07:29

The next free event is Sunday August 21st. To enter: Click here

Clonee 10k 2016

Race report by Karol Cronin

Photos by Anna Delaney and MyRunResults.

The second ever Clonee 10k race took place last Thursday evening with over 360 competitors. This Royal satellite town of Dublin will fast become a popular summer road race with it’s flat course and a less than 30 minutes drive to it.

The course itself starts 10 minutes from the village from where motorway ends and country road begins. Before the race got underway, the P.A. announced to be careful as a tractor had just pulled out of a field leaving behind a trail of muck on the road.

The winner of the race was pretty much decided upon when Kenyan born Peter Somba representing Dunboyne lined the field. People may have become familiar with Peter by now as he’s competing in every road race that Athletics Ireland can license and is winning them all. With him accompanying this race was his very own camera man recording his every move. He must be making a documentary about how he’s conquering all the road races throughout Ireland.

As always there was a small but strong Sportsworld crew present. Myself, Ruth, Ciara, Padraig, Mandeleine, Emma and Catherine all lined up as well as Anna who was out to give us support. With an 8pm start, the sun managed to break through making it a pleasant but slighty blustery race especially the second half.

I let the Kenyan fly off and compete for a second place finish. The course meandered alongside country fields and after about 1k, Somba had established a firm lead. At the same time I had managed to make a gap with third place and knew if I kept working hard I’d maintain second place. There was occasional local support along the quiet roads offering water and much needed cheers.

Because of the windy conditions, I knew a pb wasn’t for the taking. I came home in second place finish with a comfortable gap to third place to Shane O’Neill from Rathfarnham A.C. Ruth and Ciara both ran brilliant races coming in 5^th and 6^th followed by Catherine and were unlucky not to win a team prize as they finished in third position. Next up was Emma, Madeleine and Catherine all finishing together followed by Padraig who all ran great.

Each participant received a giant golden medal after the race and back in the village in the Grasshopper pub, we were all treated to free pizza from Domino’s which should attract more runners next year. Ruth also learned that she had placed first in her age category and won an extra large Ireland coloured short shorts which I think Ruth will have more benefit of bringing to Lansdowne Road and waving on the boys in green.

It was a really great race to do with a nice atmosphere and fun back in the Grasshopper pub. Thanks to Dunboyne A.C. for organzing it and for Ruth providing the lift out and to Anna for all encouragement and support. On a final note, I can say it took a Kenyan to beat me.

Sportsword results:

2^nd Karol Cronin 32:35
5^th Ruth Kelly 40:43
6^th Ciara Foster 40:47
32^nd Emma Barry 48:39
33^rd Madeleine Byrne 48:54
37^th Catherine Gilmore 49:28
228^th Padraig Moorehouse 53:30

BHAA Runlogic Phoenix Park 5k Trail

Report and photos by Sandra Gowran

Full Sportsworld results below.

Earlier this week a small number of Sportsworld Athletes swapped the usual Tuesday evening training session in Bushy Park for a BHAA 5km trail run in the Phoenix Park sponsored by Runlogic.

Race reporter and Sportsword Chair Sandra on the home straight!

For yours truly it was the final chance to get an official race completed in June to keep my ‘at least a race a month’ commitment to myself this year (thanks Jose for the gentle reminder that I was cutting it fine to get a race in for June!). My motivation has really been tested over the past month and so as I cycled over to race HQ I thought to myself that Nike’s Just Do It slogan was particularly apt for where I was at – I just needed to do it and not think about it too much.

On arrival I met Emma Barry and Peter Knaggs who were also there to race, along with Stephen Willoughby, Madeline Byrne, Kathleen Horgan, Audrai O’Driscoll and former Sporstworld member Joe Haugh who were all there to steward. At the end of the race I met Crona Brady who ran with her ‘new to running’ housemate.

As I stood in the short queue to collect my number I spotted a glorious rainbow in the sky, the sun was shining and everyone was in good summer spirits. After a decent warm-up we gathered at the start of the 2 lap course, with minutes to go the sky darkened and it became obvious that there was going to be a bit of rain.

Olympian and Raheny athlete Mick Clohisey was there to officially start the race and just as he sounded the siren the skies opened and monsoon like rain and hailstones showered us for the first 1-2km. The ground that had been lovely and firm and befitting of the title ‘trail’ quickly became waterlogged and within a matter of minutes we were racing our first XC race of the season mid-summer!

Rio Olympain Mick Clohisey being shown the ropes by our own Stephen Willoughby (holding the rope tightly)

The first lap was tough as a result, the rain was cold, the ground unsure, there were lots of squeals and utterances of disbelief from the runners around me, I just put my head down and welcomed the distraction. I felt my legs were still a bit tired from the track championships on Saturday but still it felt good to be racing on a Tuesday evening in one of the best parks in the world.

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The course was as flat as a pancake and despite the wet underfoot conditions there was only one corner that was particularly treacherous. As I neared the end of the first lap I noted that Mick Clohisey was also ringing the bell to herald the final lap – pretty cool to have an Olympian supporting an average Tuesday evening race.

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I had a good final lap, I decided that seeing as I was there I might as well push myself as hard as I could and so I pushed hard for the rest of the race managing to pick a number of runners off ahead of me. I had a great sprint finish with another runner who out sprinted me in the end.

The sun was back out, June race challenge was complete and all that remained was the tea and ‘man sandwiches’ over the race post-mortem in HQ.

Sportsworld Results:

12 Paul O’connell 00:19:05
41 Peter Knaggs 00:21:18
57 Kathleen Horgan 00:22:04
85 Sandra Gowran 00:23:53
100 Emma Barry 00:24:37
112 Ashley Pearson 00:26:03 (Cronas new to running housemate)
113 Crona Brady 00:26:03
127 Audrai O’Driscoll 00:27:30

Marathon (23 K Cross) du Mont Blanc

Report and photos by Liam Lenehan

Chamonix, France – 25th June 2016

Eoin asked me to write a few words on my recent mountain race in Chamonix which I am delighted to do. I’ll keep it short and let the photos tell most of the story but now that I have the forum …

Race reporter Liam with hois wife Orla!

… If you said to me a couple of years ago ago (when a weekly five-a-side and maybe a jog or two were my staples), that having turned 56, I would be track running in Tallaght and trail racing in the Alps, I would have said you needed your head examined. But here I am, not a wet week in IMRA and Sportsworld, and my world has changed.

Bursting my lungs in Bushy Park and pumping my legs up and down the Wicklow Hills have filled my spring and summer weeks and rejuvenated mind and body. The best part of it all has been the discovery that running with others beats the socks off running solo and I have Eoin to thank who, with Myles help, sold me on the benefits (better race times and great craic he said!) of joining Sportsworld when I was collecting my number at the clubhouse for the Terenure 5 back in May. 6 weeks later I can vouch for the fantastic camaraderie in the club and I am sure I could not have run so well in Chamonix without being dragged and pushed around fartlek sessions like last nights!

To the race – many of you probably know of the UTMB which happens in August in Chamonix but the iconic Alps town also has the Marathon du Mont Blanc weekend of trail running every June. The centre piece is of course the Marathon (42k with 3,000 metres of ascent) but there is also an 80k/6,700 metres, the Cross (my race) with 1,600 metres, a 10k/350 metres and the notorious Vertical KM! (1k straight up 3.8k of switchbacks from the town centre to the Brevent ski station – winners timw was 36mins).

7,500 runners (I counted about 20 Irish or so in the entry lists) invade Cham for the weekend and 1,500 took on the Cross at 8am on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning.

Starting from the Chamonix paragliding landing field (already 1035m up) our route climbed steadily towards the upper Chamonix valley, progressively passing through the hamlets of Les Bois and Lavancher before reaching Argentière (1250m). We passed the ski stations for Grand Montets and Le Tour and reached the half way point and feeding station (distance not time as the steepest climbs were still to come) in the hamlet of Tré le Champ, a pretty village based right before the Col des Montets, from where we hit the Balcon Sud (south balcony trail with amazing views of the valley and Mont Blanc).

At Flegere ski station (1850m), thunderstorms were imminent so we were diverted (first time this has happened in 38 years of staging) from the usual higher finish at Brevent ski station (2,000m) to a finish back in Chamonix. The net result was was the same overall meterage of ascent but an extra 3k added to bring the distance to 26k, and a non stop very technical descent of 800 metres over 8k (had my only tumble on this section and it was spectacular – still have the bruises and cuts to show for it!).

The reward for the route diversion was a raucous finish in front of the crowds (runners from the other races, supporters, locals and bemused tourists!) in Chamonix town square – won’t ever forget the atmosphere!

Photo from Mont Blanc Marathon Website

Winning time was 1h:59 and first woman home was 14th in 2h:25 (both were Salomon sponsored runners). For the record I finished in 3 hours 23 minutes which earned me position 293 out of 1527 runners and 25th out of 157 in the V2h category (men over 50!). Thrilled with the time as I was targeting 3h:30 and variable weather and route change mitigated against good times.

Cant wait for next year (maybe the marathon??). By the way if you are interested in participating next year, such is the demand that there is a lottery for places – registration for 2017 is late September 2016 with the draw results a week later so if you do get lucky you have plenty of time to prep!

Sportsworld Club Championship 2016

Report By Declan Brady

Photos by Conor Kenny, Joe Byrne, Valerie Power & Eoin O’Brien

For full photo album of Womens 1500m: Click here
For full photo album of Mens 1500m: Click here
For full photo album of Mixed 4×400 relay: Click here

Full results and times on the clubhouse notice board!

Dragging yourself out of well deserved weekend slumber for 9am track starts on a Saturday can be “challenging” at times, though it’s always worth it in the end. But last Saturday provided added incentive and I was really looking forward to the Championships, my first since joining Sportsworld just over three months ago.

Race reporter Declan leading out a gang in the 1500m on Saturday!

The atmosphere was great on arrival at the Tallaght track and you could sense the excitement and expectation in the air with Emily and Myles working on organizing everyone and reminding us to do our stretches and warm-ups. The morning was a little over-cast and cool but no wind or rain thankfully so the omens were good from the off.

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The Womens 1500m kicked off and the pace seemed leisurely enough for the first lap and a half almost like it was a morning jog, but things can be deceptive and before long the expected front-runners started to pick it up and the field started to get strung out in a long line as the pace quickened.

The Brouder sisters were turning the screw over the last lap and a half and it was a tight battle in the final 200m with Helen just prevailing over Noreen, and Ruth coming in a strong third.

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The Mens 1500m started very quick with the front-runners taking off like rockets it seemed to me and it felt a bit like an elongated sprint over that first lap or so. I took off probably a bit too fast myself over that first 600 and so decided to take it back a bit over the next lap or so.

The real race was taking place a little ahead of me as Karol, Gareth, Conor, Wesley, Derek and a few others fought it out for position and the final garlands. I could feel the pitter-patter of quick steps on my shoulder for a good lap and a half and I knew it had to be Jim though I did’nt dare look round. And so it was, and where Jim goes Noel is never too far away.

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Coming into the final lap I thought maybe my early pace was going to cost me as Jim, Justin and Noel moved past quickly and motored on. But in the last 250 the double dose of Al-Bran and Red Bull that morning seemed to kick in and I found a burst of speed to overtake them again, and go on to discover later to my delight that I’d been first in the O50’s.

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In the real race up ahead Gareth prevailed as winner followed closely by Karol and Conor. But overall a great race and some brilliant individual performances across all the categories – congrats to all.

The relays were great fun and I had a flashback to Community Games relays that I’d ran in the “very distant” past, except there was’nt a baton in sight – to drop. It was exciting to see the placings change for the various teams over the different legs and the support from the side-lines was a great motivator.

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The teams were obviously well picked and seemed fairly evenly balanced with some great individual and team battles. I had the honour of captioning the winning team L as we managed to do the business. Helen gave us a great opening leg handing over in 3^rd place to me.

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I had a good leg and made up some ground and handed over to Naoise who felt the earlier 1500 a bit in her legs but held on well and Dermot ran a stormer of a final leg to break the tape first chased all the way by Noreen on team M.

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All in all a great morning for me on a personal level and a thoroughly enjoyable one for all I think. The prize-giving upstairs was great afterwards and the food laid on was fantastic : what a spread. Many thanks and a big hand to all who helped organize such a successful Event.

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Overall winners – full results and times on the clubhouse noticeboard

1500m Women

1st Helen Brouder 5:18

2nd Noreen Brouder 5:20

3rd Ruth Kelly 5:23

1500m Men

1st Gareth Murren 4:18

2nd Karol Cronin 4:25

3rd Conor McCarthy 4:32

Relay Teams

1st Declan Brady, Naoise Waldron, Dermot O’Sullivan, Helen Brouder 4:39

2nd Niamh Flaherty, Eoin O’Brien, Noreen Brouder, Paul Mitchel 4:42

3rd Rebeca Nolan, Jim Browne, Val Power, Derek Saville 4:44

Graded Meet 5 Tallaght

Report by Catherine Mulleady

Photos by Catherine and Nigel Elliott. Full Sportsworld results below.

Wednesday night saw the running of the 5th graded meet of the season. It was held on the Tallaght AC track (home turf for us). It seemed like a considerably quieter meet than usual (apparently there was some big match on??). Conditions were perfect for running even if it did threaten to lash a couple of times.

‘Apparently there was some big match on’

All races were running slightly ahead of schedule so everyone’s warm-up was cut a bit short (everyone was trying to get home early for some reason???)

Race reporter Catherine getting in the zone

I ran in the 800m B grade. There was a good turnout for the race despite the match. The race started very fast and I tried to be conservative on the first lap but despite my best efforts, I went though the first 400m in 73 seconds (this is too fast for me). It was just a matter of holding on for dear life on the second lap and trying not to let anyone come past me. I finished in 2:36 which is 1 second faster than my last outing so I was happy enough with that.

Gareth was up next in the 800m. It was a tough field but Gareth held on well to finish in 2:08. I think he was keeping something in the tank for the 3000m.

The award for track race of the night went to the Men’s 3000m C race. 4 Sportsworld men lined up for this one. Despite Emily’s words of advice Stephen decided to set the pace from the start and he opened up a nice lead on the rest of the pack.

With about 600m to go we could see that Gareth was trying to reel him in. By the final bend Gareth had caught up to Stephen and we knew we were in for a good finish. With 100m to go Gareth made his move but Stephen responded accordingly and held him off to take the win. Diarmuid ran a strong race and came home in 10:39. Noel ran well also in his first outing at a Graded Meet to finish in a great time of 11:28.

Justin went in the B grade, which was combined with the A. It was a very strong field and the pace was fast from the start. He put in a very good performance to finish in 10:14.

It was a great night of racing by all and we even made it home in plenty of time to see the fantastic Brady goal.

Sportsworld Results

800m Grade B
5 Murran Gareth 2.08.74
10 Mulleady Catherine 2.36.69

3000m Grade B
16 Mckeever Justin Sportsworld 10.14.30

3000m Grade C
1 O’Donnell Stephen 9.39.97
2 Murran Gareth 9.40.52
9 Ó Súilleabháin Diarmuid 10.39.08
10 Tobin Noel 11.28.96

Sportsworlds Terenure 5 donates €6000 to ISCC!

From left: Sportsworld Chairperson Sandra Gowran, Lisney Divisional Director Louise Kenny, ISCC Chairperson Bruno Lucas, Sportsworlds ISCC Ambassadors Crona & Aoife Brady, Spar’s Orla Jordan and Terenure 5 Race Director Michael Cunningham

Sportsworld Running Club along with title sponsors Lisney Estate Agents & Spar are delighted to make a €6000 donation to charity partner of 2016 Terenure 5 Mile race, The Irish Society for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease (ISCC)!

Sportsworld Chairperson Sandra Gowran writing the cheque!

The Irish Society for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease (ISCC) is a patient support group for people who are living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD). They offer telephone support, information leaflets, and organise meetings and events around the country. The ISCC Youth Group is the youth arm of the ISCC and organises informal events and activities aimed at younger people who are living with IBD. They also lobby on behalf of people with IBD for improved services and greater awareness of the impact of living with IBD. For more info click here: ISCC

Well done to all Sportsworld members who helped make the sold out 2016 race such a success this year. It wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts and hard work of the 2016 Race Director Michael Cunningham and his 2016 committee of Crona Brady, Conor Kenny, Sandra Gowran, Mick Dowling, Lucia Prihodova, Jose Chapa, Claire Rowley, Maria Finnegan & Phil Kilgannon. Well done folks, take a bow!

A Special word of thanks to the Sportsworld Senior Ladies team of Noreen Brouder, Helen Brouder, Ruth Kelly and Kate Kelly who donated their team 1st prize to the ISCC!

Thanks again to our very supportive title Sponsors Lisney & Spar!

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And of course many thanks to all those who participated, see you again next year!

Dunshaughlin 10k 2016

Race report and photos by Joe Byrne

Full Sportsworld results below.

Having endured the double agony of our soccer team been put to the sword by Belgium and our rugby team snatching defeat from the jaws of certain victory against South Africa it was time to make the annual pilgrimage on the 3rd Saturday evening of June to Dunshaughlin for what the organisers call the oldest 10k in the country.

Paul O’Connell and Race Reporter Joe

Whatever about been the oldest it is certainly one of the most competitive, attracting as strong a field of athletes as any race on the circuit.

Eighteen Sportsworld vests lined up at the start with Brenda and Dave on the sidelines to shout words of encouragement. My abiding association with this race is the organisers always manage to insure a fine summer’s evening for the race. However this year like the football team it was not to be as rain drops began to fall as we went to the start line at 7.30. Albeit a warm balmy evening.

Thirty two minutes and 10secs later our own Karol Cronin crossed the line in a new PB to claim 5th place overall. Super run Karol. Our men’s team of Karol, Gareth, Paul & Karl were narrowly pipped by 4 points by Raheny for the leading team. Well done guys. Top marks also for the refreshments after.

One very happy out spot prize winner

This event continues to be one of the highlights of the running calendar for me. Take a bow organisers!!!

Sportsworld results

Results with sincere apologies to anyone I missed.

Karol Cronin. 32.10 – PB!
Gareth Murran. 34.42
Paul o Connell. 34.56
Karl Chatterton. 35.35
Kevin Curran. 35.46 – PB!
Diarmuid O’Suilleabhan 37.41
Joe Byrne. 38.38
Jim Browne. 39.41
Peter Knaggs. 40.52
Jose Chapa. 41.47
Sean Donegan. 41.52
Philip Kerr. 42.48
Stephen Willoughby. 43.39
Adrian Lanigan. 46.25
Emma Barry. 48.36
Catherine Gilmore. 49.29
Madeline Byrne. 49.55
Rosie Mulhern. 51.15

Trinity Track 2016

Race report by Jim ‘I shot Bambi’ Browne

Photos by Peter Knaggs and Eoin O’Brien.

Full Sportsworld results below.

Kraftwerk: Race Reporter Jim and Denis McCaul (already giving Jim the cold shoulder)

It was with eager anticipation that I made my way to the Trinity College Grass Track on Wednesday night to compete in the BHAA organised 1000 yard and 2000m races. But to be frank from a Sportsworld perspective these two races and especially the 1000 yards were about one thing and that was Eoin (Modest) O’Brien coronation as a track god for another 12 months. However Mr Modest hadn’t planned on the vagaries on the BHAA grading system.

At the registration table BHAA couldn’t find my details and entered me as a grade 10 runner (I’m normally ranked a 9 or 10). Well this was not to the liking of Mr O Brien who had been categorised as a grade 11 or to the liking of Mr McCaul who was categorised as a grade 9. The grading meant that Eoin and I would be in the C race and Denis would be in the B Race. Let’s just say Eoin was not gracious about my ranking and effectively accused me of cheating in an attempt to block him retaining his track crown. What McCaul said to me remains unprintable.

I protested my innocence but it was to no avail and for the hour before the race I faced constant accusations of sharp practices by O Brien and McCaul. O’Brien even took to Facebook before the race started likening my entry into the C Race to somebody taking a gun to Bambi.

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An unimpressed Eoin O’Brien

Anyway enough about the prerace bullying I suffered at the hands of my club ‘team mates’’ and into the actual races.

1000 yards race.

Obviously 1000 yards is an unusual distance and was chosen by BHAA to mark the world record set in the park by Alfred Courtney in 1873 of 2 minutes 23.4 secs. First up from Sportsworld were the McMorrow brothers in the Grade E race and both ran very well.

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The McMorrow Bros

Soon Bambi and I were on the line and ready to go in the Grade C race and for some reason The Saw Doctors song ‘To Win Just Once’ was whirling around in my head. Maybe I really wanted to win this one???

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The jostling, pushing and speed of the first 100 yards came as a bit of a shock. (Yes I did elbow Bambi out of the way but hey this is a Grade C BHAA Track race and not Kindergarten). After about 150m the race settled and I found myself in 4^th about 10 yards adrift of the leading group. Now it was time to focus , work to catch the leading group, win the race , get the commerative T Shirts printed (Editor: I would like it on the record that I didn’t actually print those t-shirts myself…but they are great…and still available) and bask in the glory of my win for a full year (aka like a certain other Sportsworld person did last year).

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Jim Browne waits for no man. Particularly if that man is Eoin O’Brien. Emily commented she’d never seen Jim so focused in a race

Unfortunately the leading three had other ideas as did the other couple of runners that passed me as I completely imploded at about the 600 yard mark. Worse still I could sense Bambi on my back and it took every ounce of my energy in the home straight to hold him off. My only consolation was that the accusations of sharp practices by me in entering the C race were proved totally unfounded. (Finishing 7th suggest that I was correctly graded).

Straight up after us in the B race were Conor Keating, Martin Keenan, Diarmuid O’Sullivan and Denis ’they graded me wrongly’ McCaul . It was a cracking race and the standout performance of the night was Conor Keating who sprinted up the home straight and was just piped for first. Martin Keenan on the comeback trail after his hamstring injury also had a great run as did Diarmuid. I can also confirm that Denis was wrongly graded.

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2000m Race.

My first reaction after the 1000 yard race was I wasn’t doing the 2000m. 10 minutes later I was warming up for the 2000m and having a shot at redemption.

Killian McMorrow ran in the E race and gave it a good lash. Much to the consternation of Bambi, it was decided to run the B & C race together. So not only did he have to run against me but he also had to run against Conor, Martin, Diarmuid and Denis. ‘Welcome to the big leagues Bambi’.

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‘Bambi’ is so not impressed with those two Cheshire Cats in his 2k race

Heeding Martin’s advice to run my own race, I tucked in at the back of the field and allowed myself some time to settle into the race. Fortunately I got my timing right on this one and picked off several runners during the course of the race and just lost out on a sprint finish for I think 9^th place.

Diarmuid Sullivan had a great race and finished third and Martin consolidated his good run in the 1000 yards with a solid performance. Denis, Eoin and I were more than happy with our runs.

After a quick warm down, it was into the Pavilion Bar for a cold beer and some sandwiches and a bit of banter with my Sportworld team mates.

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I would recommend these races to any club runner. The races are well organised and graded and the atmosphere is relaxed with great camaraderie between the runners. And where else would you get the opportunity to run on a grass track at a famous university campus on a warm sunny June evening?

Many thanks to Emily, Phil Daly and Peter Knaggs for coming out and cheering on their clubmates while sinking a few beers in the sun!

Team Bambi Supporters

Sportsworld Results

1000 Yards A Race (Std 1-7)
2 Conor Keating 2:39.3
5 Paul O’Connell 2:47.5

1000 Yards B Race (Std 8-9)
2 Martin Keenan Lyreco 2:49.4
3 Diarmuid O’Suilleabhain 2:54.5
7 Denis McCaul 3:15.5

1000 Yards C Race (Std 10-11)
7 Jim Browne 3:05.5
10 Eoin O’Brien 3:07.2

1000 Yards E Race (Std 14-16)
17 Patrick Killian McMorrow 3:53.8

2000m A Race (Std 1-7)
4 Paul O’Connell 6:48.9

2000m B Race (Std 8-9)
3 Diarmuid O’Suilleabhain 6:59.5
5 Martin Keenan 7:14.6
6 Denis McCaul 7:48.5

2000m C Race (Std 10-11)
4 Jim Browne 7:33.2
5 Eoin O’Brien 7:35.3

2000m E Race (Std 14-16)
14 Patrick Killian McMorrow 9:02.9

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Thats all till next year folks!

Portumna 50K

Report by Ronan Murray

Photos by Anna Delaney.

This time last year myself and Stephen Willoughby travelled to Portumna forrest park to take on the half Marathon. It was one of those races that I really enjoyed and promised myself that I would return another year. 12 Months later at 4.00am and I was on the road back to Galway , this time I decided to try the 50K option ( just for the craic).

The race started at 7am and I was met on the start line by a couple of club mates Clare and Louise. We chatted for a few nervous minutes and then we were off.

Race reporter Ronan and Steph – before the race

The race is 10 x 5km laps which means that you don’t need to carry anything as you will be back at your bag drop in 30min or so to eat and drink your own supplies. I like to count 5k laps down in park runs – “ only 9 park runs left” etc. The first few went ok , I felt strong and comfortable but as time went on it got hotter and hotter.

There was no sun but it was really humid and about 20 degrees. Because it is laps and there are three distances going at the same time , you never know if you are in first or last ( more than likely last) so you have to just run as you feel. I went through half marathon distance in 1.47 and still felt good so I tried to maintain that pace for as long as I could.

About 2 hours into my race the half marathon started and all of a sudden there were plenty of runners around me . Sportsworld only had one representative in the half – Stephanie Bergin .

I caught the odd glimpse of Steph flying by me on the return leg and she eventually came home as 6^th female – Great running. We also had one spectator – Anna Delaney , Anna was our cheer leader/ photographer / motivator and supplier of energy shots.

Louise and Claire

A few hours later and I was coming up on Marathon distance , by this time I was suffering the heat quite badly ( even though Anna kept shouting that I was looking good – Liar) , Marathon distance time was 3.41 and I only had 5 miles to go. The minor climbs from the earlier laps were like mountains by now and every step was hurting. Finally I had gone up the last hill and had 1.5 miles left.

I looked at my watch and in a tired stupor I worked out that if I ran my legs off I might get in under 4.30 , so off I set. I had been running about 8.50 pace for the last few mile but I needed to run sub 8s to hit my time. The last mile is slightly downhill , so I could pick it up a bit and managed to get down to 7.30 pace to get me home in 4.29.31 which took over 22 minutes off my previous 50K. To say I was elated is an understatement and to top it off , the next day the results were posted and I found out that I placed 8^th overall. Best race finish position ever- Wohoo.

All in all it has to be one of the beat race experiences I have had so far although today ( Monday) I still cant really walk but it was worth it.

Sportsworld Results

50k

Murray Ronan 4:29:31 – PB & 8th place!
Kearney Louise 6:26:09
Harrington Claire 6:26:09

Half marathon

Bergin Stephanie 1:41:01

Ronan, Louise and Claire have all been added to the Sportsworld Records for their performances: Click here

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Portumna 50K

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