Before I go on to document my own travails, I would like to offer a massive congratulations and well done to Diarmuid O’Suilleabhain for placing third out of over 600 runners in the Clontarf 5 mile on Saturday morning. A fantastic achievement and great reward for all Diarmuid’s improvements and hard work throughout the year – Well Done Diarmuid!
Diarmuid O’Suilleabhain
As for myself, my first year of running recreationally (or competitively depending on you look at it I guess!) was bookended with an awful 5 mile experience in the Phoenix park in June and a bit of a struggle over the same distance in Clontarf on Saturday. June saw untied shoelaces, horrific blistering from my €15 diardora runners and post-race migraines while November witnessed a real (harsh!) lesson in racing in strong winds. In my first race since my marathon debut on bank October bank holiday Monday, my aim was go sub 32 for the 5 mile. Despite not feeling so strong on Saturday morning, given all the training I had put in recent months, it was a goal which I thought was still very achievable.
The course was out and back in nature and reaching half way in about 15:30 and still feeling reasonably strong the sub 32 dream remained alive. However, when I hit 2.5miles and turned at the designated point (i.e. a traffic cone!) …..my word….the wind!! Such was the strength of it, it really felt like turning and running into the proverbial wall.
5 mile course
By circa 2.6miles the sub 32 plan was already in serious doubt and by the 3 mile mark I was eyeing up the Irish sea down to my left and considering a doggy paddle short cut across the bay to get home quicker!! I persevered on land however and struggled my way back ultimately finishing in a time of 33:33. About a minute faster than my time from that painful day in June but alas not quite as fast as I was hoping. On a personal level, the biggest positive I can take from the day was learning (the hard way!) how important it is to have some sort of pre-race strategy in place for running in the wind.
It was great to see the familiar Sposrtsworld faces of Joe Haugh and Diarmuid O’Suilleabhain at the finish line. Joe was there in a supporting capacity however Diarmuid, as I mentioned earlier, after running a cracking race had placed third in a field of over 600 runners, a truly fantastic effort. The way Diarmuid’s times have improved this year has been very impressive, and watching all his hard work pay off has been inspiring!
The race as a whole was very well organised and there was a great atmosphere throughout the morning. The scenery was fabulous and despite the pain of the 33 minutes and 33 seconds it was still a very enjoyable morning – such events really are a fun and brilliant thing to be a part off.
As for the plans for 2016 – master the 5 mile or never run the 5 mile again?! Only time will tell…. Am still none the wiser if I prefer the shorter stuff or the longer stuff. Either way though, something tells me that 2016 may well see me take on marathon number 2. The buzz of completing the 26.2 miles was a truly unforgettable experience and definitely the highlight of my short running career to date.
As always, thanks to all at Sportsworld for all their help along the way.
Sportsworld results from the Clontarf 5 mile
Diarmuid O Suilleabhain 3rd 30:51
Emmet Wardell 11th 33:33
Jim Manning 171st 44:01
Sportsworld results from the Clontarf Half Marthon
William Greensmyth 1:32:53
Noel Tobin 1:34:27
Stephen Willoughby 1:42:18
Aodh O’Connor 1:44:01
Karoline O’Sullivan 1:46:45
Ed Collins 2:00:33
Caroline Lynch 2:03:53
Louise Kearney 2:09:37
Claire Harrington 2:11:41
Pamela Doyle 2:19:05
Double header of racing for Sportsworld athletes next Sunday, 29th November
Race 1: Meet & Train Winter League starts in Swords, race starts at 11am. It is hosted by Fingallians and Paddy Lynch will be putting teams together this week.
Race 2: Dublin intermediate cross country is in Tymon Park. Women start at 14:00 followed by the men at 14:20. Teams are on the noticeboard on the backdoor of the clubhouse.
For those racing the national novice cross country on Sunday December 6th in Waterford, Tara Rathigan (with the aid of local knowledge) has kindly volunteered to organise somewhere in Dungarvan for the club to rendezvous after the race and get a bite to eat.
There are little options between Dungarvan and Dublin; the plan is to meet up after the race for a chat and some food before the drive home. Due to the large numbers on a Sunday afternoon Tara wants to book a spot in advance.
If you are racing or supporting and want to meet up with your club mates after the races; than put your name on the list in the clubhouse – it’s on the backdoor where the training plan is.
Those racing you know who you are!
If you are interested in racing and a day out, just ask Emily to put your name on the team – entries are through the club and everyone is welcome.
Novice women: 4k race starts at 14:45 Novice men: 6k race starts at 15:00
This week we meet Catherine who after only a year with the club is now a key member of the senior cross country team. After winning the award for best newcomer at the club awards this year, she has gone from strength to strength!
When did you join Sportsworld?
August 2014
Where do you work?
Glenasmole N.S., Bohernabreena.
What is your favourite club session?
That’s like asking me which form of torture is my favourite but I suppose if I had to choose I’d say fartlek.
What is your favorite race distance?
I’m not really sure but definitely the shorter distances like 5k or 5 mile.
What is your favorite meal before a big race?
It depends on what time the race is at but most races I do are in the morning so I’d usually have scrambled eggs with salmon and maybe some brown bread and a cup of green tea.
My Favourite place to train/compete is?
I’ve really started to enjoy the waterworks. It can be very tough but the scenery is so beautiful it makes it all worth while.
What is your target for the next year?
Survive the cross country season?? Seriously though, I would love to get under 20 minutes for 5k.
What is your best Sportsworld memory?
I’d have to say the weekend we went to Berlin for the half marathon. It was great to have such a big gang going abroad for a race. I enjoyed most of the race and then the post race celebrations were great craic. It’s just a pity I wasn’t able to handle to the German beer so well.:(
What international events have you ran?
Berlin Half Marathon
What do you like doing when you don’t run?
Sitting on my ass recovery from the club sessions and probably watching crap tv 🙂 I also love meeting friends and eating out.
How/When did you start your adventure with running?
Well I originally started running when I was in primary school and kept it up until I was about 16. I took about a 10 year break basically because I got lazy and none of my friends wanted to run. I started running again in my mid twenties but didn’t realise what ‘real’ training was until I joined Sportsworld. It was a shock to the system 🙂
Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement?
I don’t really have any brilliant PB’s or major achievements but here are my PB’s. My PB for 5km is 20:37 which I got at the docklands 5k, My PB for 5 mile is 35:10 which I got at the Irish Runner 5 mile this year. My Pb for 10k is 44:22 which I got at the Womens Mini Marathon and my PB for the half Marathon is 1::41
How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?
It all depends on the week in question but I try to train with the club 3 times a week and if I’m having a good week I’ll manage a 4th session.
What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club?
Definitely having other people to train with. I love the social side of it even if it’s just catching up with everyone in the clubhouse before we head out for the session. I also love the well earned cup of coffee and a chat after a long run on Sunday. Running with other people also makes you push yourself more than you would if you were just training on your own.
What made you join a Running Club?
I don’t enjoy running on my own. I find it difficult to conjure up the motivation to go out for a run on my own especially in the Winter. It’s so much easier to head down to the club and join a group for a run.
What was your first day at the Club like?
Once I got over the initial fears of not knowing anyone I actually really enjoyed my first session. There were a few other newbies who had just recently joined and I remember Seán and Conor took charge of us and showed us the ropes. I’m pretty sure it was a fartlek session and I remember leaving thinking that I’d definitely be back.
Why is running important to you?
We’re getting to the deep stuff now 🙂 I’m not really sure why it’s important to me. I guess I like the feeling of being fit and trying to better my times. It’s also a great way of clearing your head and just forgetting about any problems and it keeps me away from the aforementioned crap tv 🙂
Is there anything you would like to see more of or less of at the Club?
I’m not sure maybe some more advice on stretching after a session.
Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?
Well when Eoin starts shouting his motivating words that usually drives me to run faster and of course Emily drives me and encourages me to do better.
Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?
I’m a bit sporadic with my cross training but I try to swim and cycle a bit and I also practise pilates and hope to teach some time soon.
Monday evening the weather is somewhat poor so rather than go for the run that’s on the training plan I stay in and watch some darts. That same evening a friend from Lanesboro phones me offering an entry to Wednesday’s Run into the Dark 10k. Initially I wasn’t very enthusiastic as not only was I looking forward to Tuesday’s hills and sprint session in Rathfarnham, but I reckoned it would also be difficult timing wise to get home Wednesday and then gt into the city in time.
The Run into the Dark is an event held in over 50 cities worldwide where tens’ of thousands of runners (and walkers) join with the Mark Pollock Trust to support ongoing research to find a cure for spinal cord injury. A charity well worth supporting.
So Tuesday evening I gave hills and sprints due respect and crawled home.
Wednesday after arriving home at 6:15pm there waiting for me was an envelope with a race number, bag tag, an armband with LED sparkles on it and a page giving all the necessary event details. Race start time is 8pm and bag drop closes at 7:20pm. Hmmm, sore legs and not much time left to get there so decision made. After a quick change, off I cycle the 15km to the bag drop area.
First impression is that this looks well organised and there are a lot of marshals on hand to help.
The evening was windy, cold but at least dry. I didn’t bother with a token warm up and headed to the race start area where I met two fellow club mates Peter Knaggs and Noel Lynam.
Noel, Peter & Anthony
We chatted a bit giving advice to each other – mainly don’t start too fast. When 8pm approached we danced on the spot a bit probably copying everyone else. 15 minutes later we were still dancing and wondering whether to put long sleeve tops back on. The MC was still winding up the crowd in the background so at 8:15 long sleeve tops were back on.
The race started at 8:16 in front of the Custom House along Dublin’s north quays and headed out in the direction of the Three Arena. I was nowhere near the front, so the first 500m was spent dodging slower traffic. The next 500m was spent trying to get to my target average km pace for the first km. So first lesson learnt, I must get up to the start line for the next race. Long sleeve top is now back off. And legs feel sore already and I had to force myself to think ahead and not about the previous night.
At this point we are turning left at the Three Arena and then it’s upwards to the next roundabout to return back the way we came. The route then takes us left over the Liffey via the Samuel Beckett Bridge and after a short loop we split from the 5k runners by going down Cardiff Lane, fortunately not left down Misery Hill, but left on Pearse Street and then onwards to Ringsend. The support from locals on this stretch was fantastic. I am sure a few were wondering what madness had gotten into us given the inclement weather.
So I soldier on sound in the knowledge that I was under my target time for the distance. Around 8km I found the going a bit tough and when my watch broadcasted the latest lap time it was time to dig deep and stay on the heels of some runners trying to edge away. Onwards towards the Eastlink Toll Bridge and over the bridge to the Three Arena turning left for the home straight.
At Samuel Beckett Bridge the 5k folks join us so the possibility of a fast finish is denied and the dodging match resumes. Finally the finish line appears and a token 25m sprint ensues taking me over the line in 39:39. My first sub 40 minute 10k!
Following the organiser’s instructions I kept moving back to the CHQ building picked up a goody bag containing some candy, picked up my bag and cycled home, uphill and against the wind, with the excitement that one feels from achieving a career milestone. Hooray for someone else’s entry. Thanks Marie!
For those of you who have run a Marathon you will be familiar with the empty feeling you sometimes get once you have completed the challenge , there is something missing. You have been training hard for weeks now all of a sudden you have no goal any more. Thats exactly the way I was feeling after Dublin so I decided to get back on the horse straight away and find a bigger challenge.
First step to find an event ,then some comrades , so I roped in Shay Brady (full marathon) and Stephen Willoughby (half-marathon) and we headed off to Co Down for this challenge, see video below!
See Sportsworld Running Clubs Cross Country Titles to date here:Cross Country Titles
Cross Country I Love You. Well one of us had to say it. The Cross Country season is fast approaching and there are a lot of new runners in the club who will hopefully be embarking on their first cross country love affair this year. But before the cross country haters pervert their minds some information needs to be passed on.
Michael Cunningham Loving Cross Country
Tell someone you couldn’t do a marathon and they would train every day until they proved you wrong. Tell people cross country is tough and can be hard work and they will instantly believe and agree with you and swear an oath never to do a cross country race, ever.
Some times its hard to understand why people don’t instantly like cross country.
You don’t need a watch as unlike track or road races, time is not important. Road races can blend into a blur but Cross Country races are memorable, the hill in Avondale or the mud bath in Santry are indelible and although there are team events in road races, a Cross Country race is all about the team.
Individual medals in cross country are like hens teeth so most runners are out to get their club a team medal even if it involves passing Usain Bolt on the home straight just to get one more place.
So if teams medals interests you there are 3 regions:
Your county (people born outside Dublin have been known to run for Dublin),
Your province (Munster supporters have been known to run in Leinster cross country races) and finally
The Nationals, the big time.
Within each region you have 3 levels (which are not always as they seem):
Novice
Intermediate
Senior
So simply 9 races: the three regions, each with three levels. See fixtures below.
There are also Masters races in each regions – these are races for those over 35 years old. But you can still race in the other levels. (i.e. compete in both the Dublin Novice and Masters races)
In theory Dublin novice is your starting point and National Senior is your end point with 7 races in between. Dublin novice is a fast 6Km for men and 4Km for Women and National Senior is 12Km endurance for Men and 10Km for Women. Some people prefer the faster shorter races where as others like the longer distance races.
The terrain is never predictable. As the weather, the number of previous races and the Gods decide if there are hills, firm ground or hot showers.
There is a move to get more people into cross country running with the Dublin Novice teams (October 4th 2015) needing minimum 6 runners to make a team with the top 4 scoring. So you need minimum 6 runners for your club to count, if you have 5 you have no team so that is why it can be so important for people to commit to doing races as the rest of the team depends on you showing up.
The scoring is the simple adding up of the positions of everyone on the team, and the top 3 teams are the ones with the lowest team score (1st, 13rd, 25th, 39th would have team score of 78).
Even if you don’t make it on to a the team your position could be ahead of a scoring runner on another team making their team score worse so every team members place counts not just the top 4.
By scoring on a gold winning county team or getting an individual 1st, 2nd or 3rd means you are no longer welcome at that race next year as you are now just too good. You need a Phd to work out what medals rule you out of what races so its best just to concentrate on getting the medals first.
We are going to try and advertise cross country race dates as soon as we have them and get people focused on having full men and womens teams in each of the 9 races. The first race of the season is the Dublin Novice on October 7th 2018 and we will let people know the rest of the dates as soon as we have them which should be at least a month before each race.
You don’t need any special equipment for Cross Country just a pair of spikes and a club singlet. As soon as the closing ceremony takes place at the Tallaght track we will be moving the Saturday morning training to Phoenix park or the ‘Field of dreams’ in Kiltipper.
The training is no tougher then the Saturday track training and some people may even enjoy it more. So if you have any questions about cross country racing the best thing is to try the Saturday morning training and as the Graded track relay race proved the training and races are more enjoyable the more people from the club that take part.
The 2018/19 cross country season could be a seriously successful year for both the men and womens Senior and Masters teams so make sure your name is down on the team list.
The Championship Season
(inc Masters Level*)
National Senior (The Inter Clubs)
National Intermediate
National Novice
National Masters
Leinster Senior
Leinster Intermediate
Leinster Novice
Leinster Masters
Dublin Senior
Dublin Intermediate
Dublin Novice
Dublin Masters
Other races:
Inter-Counties Cross Country (Athletes selected by their county board).
Autumn Open Cross Country (The Autumn Open was formally the Gerry Farnan XC. It’s a season opener that anyone can enter – all the other races above are only open to Athletics Ireland club runners and teams are entered via your club secretary.
* Masters Level is over 35 years old. But you can still race in the other levels.
(i.e. compete in both the Dublin Novice and Masters races)
See Sportsworld Running Clubs Cross Country Titles to date here: Cross Country Titles
A short note from the 30th Anniversary Ball organisers Paddy and Shona along with a gallery of photos is available here: Sportsworld 30th Anniversary
Celebrating 30 Years ~ special thanks to the author Conor Kenny
On Saturday night, September 21st, some 150 Sportsworld members, family and friends gathered to celebrate 30 years a growing.
A balmy Indian evening rounded off the most perfect summer in years. It was a fitting end to a new beginning.
Big smiles in tuxedos greeted beautiful women in ball gowns. One by one, the night air was filled with laughter, friendship and fun. It was unusual to see runners at their best when we are used to each other at our worst. Men were dapper and handsome in traditional black and white. But, our girls stole the show looking beautiful, fit and fabulous. If ever there was an advert for health and fitness, the slow parade into the ball room proved the point.
Almost accidentally, ‘trees’ became the theme of the night and, as it happened, an appropriate metaphor for growth, roots and legacy.
But, you see, these nights don’t just happen. Behind every successful event that ‘looks’ seamless, there’s a few quiet people who do Trojan work. The Ring Master was Shona Keane who sparkled her way through the night. Since March, she quietly kept her eye on the finish line and could not be distracted. Paddy Lynch was the visionary and recruited his team perfectly. Just like our first ever Bushy Park Meet & Train race, Paddy has an outstanding record of delivering his dreams. This was another.
Michael Cunningham is our very own ‘Quiet Man’ but don’t let that fool you. He’s built of everlasting steel and has a work ethic to prove it. It’s no coincidence that Michael recently took home a National Half Marathon Silver Medal. Tirelessly, behind the scenes, Michael just drove on until the night was ready.
We went to our tables and the red and white balloons bobbed happily along with ourselves. Just like the mood on a training Tuesday, the mood was good.
On a big screen some images started to play. Before long we were mesmerized by the framed photos hanging on a tree. “Oh look there’s …..” It was clever, compelling and the ‘tree’ was holding court once more.
On our tables, a branded disk. I couldn’t help thinking how symbolic it was of today, the future and how far we’d come from our leafy first steps. All of this would have done an international conference proud but, on this occasion, it was the long hours, ingenuity and dedication of Gareth Murran. That guided us through a time tunnel of memories.
With so many awards, time came to acknowledge the very special people who have been instrumental in building our club, our values, our brand and our purpose. The tree was to pop up again and again.
Yours truly had the honour of opening the awards and giving a little insight into how we gain much more from a club than the ability to run faster.
Mick Dowling followed and reminded us of very humble beginnings, the importance of our clubs culture and the bag full of medals too.
Us grey members were very eager to look into, and preserve the future. Who better to represent that other than Shona Keane? It was no surprise that she sparkled again and it was very much a case of old wisdom being reborn with a new generation.
It was time to present the awards.
They ran up and walked back, each proud and almost all surprised. The awards were a superb mix of achievement and athleticism and the constant theme of selfless endeavour and a commitment to our values reminded me of Warren Buffett’s quote;
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago”.
The supporting act to the main event was the acknowledgement of our best athletes over the last year. To mere mortals (like me) their prowess continues to astound. Paul Duffy’s unbelievable 2:29 marathon, Caitriona Higgins’s rise from runner to serious racer. Orla’s Iron Man, Ann Higgins’s Half Marathon PB, the list went on.
If you are ever asked to make the keynote speech, there are a few little benefits to soothe the butterflies. Mine was to sit beside Emily who exudes the wonder of youth and life. It was almost time for the spotlight to shine brightly on her.
In 2000, I was a 3 year veteran of Sportsworld. A girl joined our ranks and wore big baggy football shorts. Like me, she wasn’t in peak condition. An immediate bond formed 13 years ago but sadly, our running paths did not run parallel. Sandra Gowran epitomizes everything that is good about Sportsworld and what makes us tick. From baggy shorts to Bristol (and an Irish singlet) it was absolutely fitting Sandra introduced Emily for her ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ as Sandra reeled off the medals, marathons and high achievement, Emily groaned with constant “Oh No, No …. “ You see, real achievers are often humble and avoid bright lights. Not tonight.
The tree was making another comeback. As Sandra pointed out, it was a fitting metaphor for growth, roots and branches. It was also where our club began.
For the older generation, ‘the tree’ is symbolic in many ways. It captures the soul of Sportsworld. To mark the occasion, Ciara Foster, artist, captured the tree. It is a beautiful painting that will evoke so much in the Dowling’s household in years to come.
With the formal presentations over, it was time to relax. Our very own (and superb) Paparazzi captured the glitz, the glamour and the fun. Eoin and Anna should take a bow.
The music started and Ray Carpenter made an entrance to the dance floor that would have trumped James Bond. Beautiful women clamored to accompany his every move…. at least that’s what Ray told me later!
Ellen Lavin took to the floor and a posse quickly followed.
Val Lacey, Queen of the dance floor, was rousing the resting troops. The promise of a fluorescent stick “if you dance” seemed to inspire a generation.
Friends chatted and new friendships formed. Slowly, the night wound down until little groups quietly left just as they’d come.
When it was all over, I reflected on one particular line. It was a line from Paddy Lynch. Just before the Ball began he told us that “he’d seen the future of the club. He knew it was in safe hands”
Isn’t that what leaders do?
Isn’t that why they see what the rest of us don’t see?
Isn’t that the role of a leader?
His prophetic words brought me back to Ronald Regan’s famous line. It’s not a bad compass for the future. Here’s to the next 30 years….and beyond.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same”.
The great motivator! A magazine cover and article featuring Sportsworld head coach Emily Dowling in 1984 and who has been continuously coaching Sportsworld athletes for 35 years now!
1997 Leinster Novice in Gowran Kilkenny. From right: Joe Byrne in the white Sportsworld tshirt who was on the winning Sportsworld team. Beside him one Myles Nugent (704) along with Tommy O’Neill, Jack Tyrell and Brendan O’Connor. Myles and the lads won masters gold wearing those blue Dublin vests.
We are back with Sportsworld coaches Emily Dowling and Myles Nugent at the World Masters Championships in 1999!
Thanks to Sandra Gowran for these photos from the club trip to Lanzarote in 2004! See you on the plane on Saturday!
One week to go! Rachael Morgan racing in Lanzarote back in 2008!
The 2013 Leinster Intermediate Cross-Country Champions! From left: Gavin Finlay (thanks for the photo!), Gareth Murran, Karol Cronin (who won the race) and Paul Duffy (who along with Gav raced 13 days after the Dublin marathon!).
For the week thats in it, Paul Duffy on his way to capturing the Sportsworld marathon record by finishing in 20th place at the 2012 Dublin marathon in a time of 2 hours 29 min and 48 seconds!
Best of luck to all those running the marathon this Sunday! I hope you are all looking as relaxed and fresh after 23 miles as Anna Delaney and Brenda Egan did in 2013!
Club Social night in Birchalls of Ranalgh Sunday evening from 7.30pm!
Throwback Thursday: Coach Myles Nugent beating Packie Enright at his own game in Lanzarote in 2007! For all those going to La Santa next month you need to register yourselves in advance for the races here: Click here
Two of Sportsworlds fastest ever men, Paul Duffy (2.31 marathon time – like his race number!) and Phil Kilgannon (2.33 marathon time) racing in the 2009 Autumn Open Cross Country (then called the Gerry Farnan CC).
The 2016 Autumn Open starts at 2pm this Sunday at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown.
Thanks to Lucy D’Arcy for finding this. Sportsworld head coach Emily Dowling on Ireland duty in Brisbane!!!
The 2013 Dublin Novice Cross Country team getting their strides in pre-race! The 2016 Dublin Novice is on this Sunday 2nd October in the Phoenix Park. Sportsworld have two full teams competing, ladies 4k race at 2.15 and the mens 6k race at 2.45. Get out and support your clubmates!
Mick and Emily Dowling with Sportsworlds team warm weather training in Portugal in 2007. Photo bomb by Dermot Bates!
Throwback Thursday: The 2010 Dublin Novice Cross Country teams, who will be in the 2016 photo in 3 weeks time!
Cross country training this Saturday in the Phoenix Park!
We are going all the way back…..to 2 weeks ago as the Brouder sisters where featured in the Limerick Leader after their recent cross country success! Well done again ladies and thanks to our Munster correspondent Packie for the photo!
With the upcoming cross country season we have Paul O’Connell and Myles out on the Phoenix Park course at the 2009 Dublin Novice. See you all there in October!
Head Coach Emily Dowling showing the secret to her success!
Harry Gorman, who is currently in Rio at his 15th Olympics in a row, is waiting at the finish line for the winner of the Terenure 5 mile race in the mid-2000’s along side spritely looking Sportsworld runners Martin Keenan and Joe Byrne!
Thanks to Packie Enright for digging out this great photo of the 2005 Streets of Galway crew!
Back row L-R: Ray Carpenter, Dave Clarke, Nichola Bennett, Dermot Bates, Ilaria Sasscini, Noel Keenan, John McCormack, Eileen Walsh, Eimear Power (nee Martin), Amy Fitz, ?, Lisa Singleton, Seán Singleton, Nick Greaves, Tony McGann.
Front row L-R: Michael O’Grady, Lucy D’arcy, ?, Ruth McGann, Emily Dowling
Club chair Sandra Gowran and Lucy D’Arcy getting in some warm weather training in Monte Gordo, Portugal back in 2007!
The 2009 Sportsworld Burren Half marathon team taking in the sights of Co. Clare #culturevultures
With the success of her daughter Carla at the U20 World Championships yesterday; this week we have Ann Sweeney showing her how its done on the home straight at the 2011 Mini Marathon!
For the day thats in it, Paul O’Connell on his way to winning the old Docklands 8k in 2009! 35 Sportsworld runners will be taking on the newer 5k course tonight! Post race refreshments in the Ferryman after, see you all tonight!
Sportsworlds Helen White in action at the European Mountain Running Championships held in Austria in 2009!
Photos by by Gerry Brady imra.ie
The 2010 Sportsworld 5 Mile Classic (now Terenure 5) winning teams being watched over by Mick Dowling! Clockwise from top left: Aoife Brady, Lucy D’Arcy, Crona Brady, Jean Wilson, Trevor Sweeney, Phil Kilgannon, Paul Duffy, Paul O’Connell
Throwback Thursday: The winning 4x400m relay team at last years club championship! This years race is THIS SATURDAY at 9am in Tallaght. Help is required so if you can’t run come along to give a hand. Tea, coffee and food will be put on by the club during the prize giving afterwards. Post race drinks in the The Odeon on Harcourt Street in town from 8pm. See you all Saturday!
The Dublin Intermediate Cross Country team who got silver medals on October 15th 2000 in Tymon Park! Thanks Paddy Lynch for digging this one out!
What else people, what else did you expect? The final sprint to the finish line by the BHAA Division D 1200m Champ back in 2015. Such a monumental moment the BHAA actually retired the 1200m distance for 2016.
As graceful as a gazelle sprinting across the plains of the Serengeti one international commentator was overheard saying. A terrible beauty is born said another. The 2016 BHAA Trinity College Track Races are NEXT WEDNESDAY at 7pm on the grass track out front of the Pavilion Bar. See you there!
This week we have Myles Nugent finishing the 1987 Belfast marathon in 2hrs 39min! He returned in 1988 to run 2:36 and finish 17th!
This week we have new Sportsworld committee members Killian McMorrow (94) and Aileen Melody (5) racing in Wexfords Kilmore Quay 10k road trip back in 2008! Running along side Killian is Susan McDonnell (19).
After sending in his first race report in 7 years yesterday from Jamaica we will stick with Trevor Sweeney. After running a PB in the 2009 Dublin marathon of 2 hours 48min, Trevor won a hair straightener for his efforts at the cake sale the following month! Trevor is back for a holiday in June to tell you ALL about it.
Some previous winners of the Terenure 5/5 Mile Classic! In 1993 we had the World 5000m Champion Ismael Kiriui run 22:07 for the distance, a world record at the time. And in 1994 Irelands own Catherina McKiernan ran 25:43!
Other great winners where:
1986 Ailish Smyth 26:50,
1988 Jill Hunter 25:24,
1989 Jerry Kiernan 23:06,
1991 Eamon Martin 22:17,
1994 John Treacy 23:06,
2000 Magdalen Chemjor 26:13.
We are only going back a year this week to the 2015 Terenure 5! This will give you some impression of the crowds that will descend on Terenure in 10 days! Don’t miss out this year, enter the 2016 edition here: Click here
With Novembers plane to Lanzarote filling up it had to be a La Santa photo this week! The Sportsworld Team photo after completing the International Running Challenge in the early 2000’s!
Throwback Thursday: Phil Kilgannon after finishing his leg at the National Road Relays in 2009! Phil will be racing in the same event THIS Sunday afternoon in Rahney! Photo by David Bradshaw.
Myles Nugent appears on YouTube on his way to finishing 6th in the Sunday World New Years Day 10k in 1990 in the Phoenix Park! Great to hear the comments at the end about how tough the Kyber pass was back then too! Below are screenshots of Myles and RTE coverage of the race with commentary by George Hamilton!
Myles appears in a yellow singlet at 1:00 to 1:17 sec and again at 2:40 to 2:49.
Throwback Thursday: For some inspiration for returning to track training this Saturday; this week we have two more of the clubs most successful athletes, Aoife & Crona Brady (running a PB that day), in 1500m action at the National Senior Track & Field Championships in Santry in 2009!
Totally forgot to post last week and we had this great photo picked of Sportsworlds Lucy D’Arcy and Helen White in St Patricks Day green, racing the 2012 British & Irish Masters CC! Better late than never!
As we leave the cross country season behind we have a picture this week of Dave Clarke and Pat at the National Half Marathon circa 2004!
We have another Sportsworld legend this week with Jean Wilson in cross country action! Thanks to Sandra Gowran for sending it in!
Jean features in a number of places on the clubs records listings here: Records
Two of the fastest people to wear the Sportsworld vest. Eimear Martin (494) who holds the clubs women’s 5k record of 16:58 and Bernadette White (492) who holds the 400m record in 63:02!
With the week that’s in it, with Sean O’Byrne writing the club history (click here), here is a picture of Sean, Mick Dowling, Paddy Lynch and Dave Clarke in 2005 standing outside the brand new clubhouse!
After a brief hiatus last week (i.e. I forgot) we are back with another classic Sportsworld picture. This week we have Sean O’Byrne and Paddy Lynch down the track with what appears to be a stop watch and a pint of Guinness!!!
Sportsworld legend and long serving member Shelia Champion in T&F action and with Emily at last months cake sale!
The Sportsworld Clubhouse from 1983 – 2005 until our current home was built!
Sportsworld President Mick Dowling boxing Cuban Orlando Martinez at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico city and the two men sparing again in Havana, Cuba in 2015!
Head Coach Emily Dowling eyeing up the competition back in the 1980s!
Dave making his new years resolution back in 2009! Ok its really the post race party after the Sportsworld mens senior team won the Dunshaughlin 10k in 2009. Happy New Year!
The Sportsworld crew out for their St Stephens Day run in 2001!
We weren’t having such mild weather this time back in 2010!
Lucy D’Arcy tearing it up at the 2008 Mini Marathon!
Sportsworld crew at the log where we start training in Bushy Park back in 1992
Thanks to Will Greensmyth for digging out this photo showing some youthful looking club members from the 2007 Lanzarote trip!
Sportsworld 1984!
Lucy Darcy, Helen White, Eimear Martin & Sandra Gowran with coach Emily Dowling at the 2004 European Clubs 15km Road Race, Italy
Paddy Lynch & Mary Whelan racing for Sportsworld in the 1988 Dublin Marathon
Sportsworld Head Coach Emily Dowling on her way to winning the 1981 Dublin Marathon
This time three years ago Packie Enright (the only person with his own name on his singlet), was commissioned to write a short report on the graded track and field events that happen over the summer, and answer any common questions that people might have about them. He may have thought he was getting paid by the word, but the final result is a very complete explanation of these events. Its a great piece that’s relevant for any year.
Dublin Athletic County Board Graded T&F Meets.
What?
This presents a unique opportunity for club runners young and old with only a passing interest in the sport to test themselves against other club members of their own ability from around Ireland, but predominantly from Dublin clubs.
Who can compete?
Absolutely anyone of any age, race, colour or religion with any interest in athletics can compete.
Is there an entry fee?
The Dublin Athletic County Board has to live on something so yes there is an entry fee. You can pay separately on the night for one night (I think €8) where you get a temporary number. Better still you can register for the series at a reduced rate per evening (I think €45), hereby getting one number which you must bring with you to each subsequent evening.
Are there medals/cash prizes?
With the exception of the Dublin County Championship (Sat June 20th), these are non – competitive events. All you will gain is valuable experience. And a time/distance/height that is universally accepted and comparable to an athlete in Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong or Denmark. You can’t make such assertions with road or cross country events as the distances are approximate and terrains differ. However there are ‘Development’ races incorporated into some evenings. These are designed to improve the standard of Irish athletics and there are cash prizes for these.
Who will I be pitted against?
You will be against competitors at your level as each event is ‘graded’. Grades range from grade A to grade D. Yes grade A or development races can contain some of Ireland’s greatest current competitors, but the other grades certainly do not. Grade D typically contains Master (over 40) athletes. Each grade has an approximate standard allocated to it for each event. For example senior mens 3000m – 9:00.00 is the grade A standard (72s all the way around). If you feel that you are this fit, then this is your race. Otherwise you can go into grade B (which maybe 10 mins or whatever), or the next grade down (which could be 11 mins). This prevents any mismatches. You’ll know from your sessions or road races what shape you’re in. Provided you are in the correct race based on these guidelines, you won’t be out of your dept. It is important that you’re in the correct race. Too high a grade and you’ll get isolated and be racing against the clock (which you could do in training on your own). Too low a grade and you’ll win too easily, gain nothing from the evening; and this is disrespectful to your fellow competitors in that race. If you’re in the correct grade, you will perform to the best of your current ability.
What sort of events have they?
On each evening there are typically 3 track events and 3 field ones. Not all of the 19 T&F events are catered for time reasons, there’s only so much that you can get done in 2 hours. So no decathlon! Hurdles or steeplechase events are rarely laid out either. Remember the organisers are amateur people like you or I who work a day job and are giving up their free time (just like BHAA); and while some may come across as being rude and short tempered they’re grand if you comply with them. For track there is one sprint, middle distance and long distance event each evening, in that order and with 4 grades in each for both sexes. For field there are generally one or two jump/vaults and one or two throwing events per evening.
Where & when?
There are 8 meets in total, typically every 2 wks. The fixtures are listed below. There is also the Dublin County Championship (held on a separate Saturday evening), so 9 meets really. Each meet is held of a Wednesday evening from 19.00 to 21.00 at 2 different venues alternating between Morton Stadium, Santry; and Irishtown Stadium, Ringsend. Note: Tallaght track on the Greenhills road was used in 2015 while Irishtown Stadium was being upgraded (see map at bottom).
Transport?
Morton Stadium is on the way out to the airport, so the 16A, 33s, 746 or any of the Swords or Rush busses (41s) will do from the city centre or southside. Irishtown is a bit trickier to find as it’s hidden off the main Ringsend – Sandymout Rd, but it’s 800m from Ringsend Dublin Bus terminus where the 77, 50 and 56A end (most busses end there); but the 2 and 3 leave you outside.
Why?
Mainly for 2 reasons – experience and personal pride. You can learn more on one evening than you ever would watching the Olympics. Especially if you enter a few events on the one evening, this is advisable. If you try many events you may get to discover your niche. While we are a distance running club mainly for road and cross country events (so are most of Irelands clubs), this may not be everyone’s forte for a number of reasons. For example, Paul Hession joined Athenry AC as a teenager and often wondered why he languished at the back of the field of over 150 at the Connaught Underage Cross Country Championships. Now he is certainly in the top 8 200m runners in Europe; black, white or whatever race. Upon finding an event that you like, you can see if can you improve on it year after year. No one can ever take a performance away from you and you’ll always have that to be proud of. Some of the events for the Dublin County Championship are poorly attended, so the chances of winning a medal can be quite high.
How will I get on?
Do not get intimidated about the surface or the atmosphere surrounding a track or field event. While we at Sportsworld don’t have the luxury that other clubs have in owning our own track/stadium, we train just as hard and are as good as any other club when it comes to distance running.
How are the running events timed?
There is no human error involved in the timing of track events. As soon as the gun goes off, this is linked by a cable to the timer (so no need to manually start the clock). As soon as your torso crosses the laser beam at the finish line, this is your finish time. Photo finish facilities are also provided.
Training?
You might ask how can we compete against people who train on the track all the time, when we train in a park or on roads. Well that’ll change for the summer. Because instead of cross country practice at Phoenix on a Saturday morning; for the summer’s Saturday mornings we practice on a track. It’s usually 9am at Tallaght stadium, we warm up in the park beside it. The idea of these sessions is not about hammering or racing your own club mates. It’s more about staying within yourself, control, and familiarising yourself with the atmosphere, layout and markings of a track.
The message is to get involved. You are good enough!
Since this is an AAI club event you are expected to wear your club singlet.
Sportsworld Track training is at Tallaght AC on Saturday mornings during the Spring/Summer.
This is for all club members and abilities.
Sessions are coached just like Tuesday or Thursday evenings.
Great for improving fitness or if you miss a weekday training session.
No cost – club pay the track fees for all members.
Coffee and cake after!
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