The Bob Heffernan & Mary Hanley 5k took place on Tuesday 16th May in Johnstown Bridge near Enfield County Meath. Renowned for being fast and flat, it drew a huge crowd of around 750. Weather conditions were almost as perfect as you could hope for with a warm, sunny and still evening.

Being an ‘after work race’, there is always the anxiety of what condition the M50 will be in. Many WhatsApps later and some travel time contingencies, the Sportworld crew of 12 arrived in plenty of time.

I have run this race many times and having been a County Meath teammate of Mary Hanley, I was eager to toe the line again this year after her untimely passing.

The start of the race is about 2km jog from the race headquarters and so provides a great opportunity to be well warmed up.

Crona and I met up with Noreen, Maria and John set off on a 2 mile jog warm up. There seemed to be ‘elite’ runners at every turn so it was clear that a strong field would be assembled.

The warm weather meant there was no need to even consider wearing an ‘old t-shirt’ to the start. We quickly changed shoes and set off for the line.

The start of the race was fast and furious with people jostling for position from the gun. We ran about a kilometer along a main road before a sharp left onto a sheltered country road. At this stage in a 5k, the field is usually pretty strung out with plenty of room to run your own race. However, such was the depth of the field (209 participants under 18mins – of which 28 were female – and 370 under 20mins) it never really got quiet.

Myself and Noreen ran side by side for much of the race with Maria tucked in nicely directly behind us. We were passing people, being passed by others, dodging from left to right but overall I think it helped us not to overcook the first mile.

It is a great course, very flat and sheltered and definitely one where a PB is possible.

I didn’t look at my watch much during the race, mainly glancing at the mile splits as they clicked. I think that a 5k can often feel as fast as a track race yet as long as a marathon and I just tried to run as hard as possible for as long as I could. Having team mates right beside you is a great incentive to pin the ears back and ignore the thoughts of taking it easy/stopping/dropping out. If they can do it then so can I etc. I’ll admit the commitment in advance to doing this race report (thanks Michael) was an added motivation!

The last kilometer is the nicest one, with only a small bump interrupting a long slope down to the finish. I crossed the line (17.14) with Noreen (17.22) and Maria (17.27) following really closely. Maria ran a stormer, smashing the 18 minutes barrier for the first time. It is fantastic running in its own right, and even better given her injury interruptions of late. She was delighted.

With 3 to score and 3 under 17.30, we were 3rd team overall behind DSD and Tullamore Harriers.

The scoring members were strongly backed up by strong performances from Katie Nugent (20.01), Deirdre O’Connell (20.08) and Crona Clohisey (20.29). Katie has been so close to breaking 20mins on a number of occasions now, it is only a matter of time before she does it. Deirdre continues her fine running form and Crona, a former podium finisher at this race with a pb of 17.10, is getting fitter with each race following the recent birth of Eabha.

Not to be outdone by the ladies, there were great performances from the men, with Gareth the first club finisher in 16.16. This was a fantastic result so soon after his efforts at the Limerick marathon. During our group debrief, Gareth was even brave enough to point out that the majority of the ladies team were racing girls ’20 years younger’. A harsh truth!

Paul O’Connell was next home in 17.22 followed by John McGeown in 18.21. John’s extended warm up detour (!) obviously did him no harm, securing a pb. Great running.

Adam Furlong (19.13), Declan Brady (19.54) and Noel Lynham (22.14) all had strong runs to complete the Sportsworld representation.

It was a great start to the summer evening races. Well done everyone.

The Limerick Marathon weekend takes place over the May bank holiday weekend and lasts for three days. The weekend coincides with Riverfest in Limerick and is packed with various running events, including a full marathon, a half marathon, a 6 mile, and a kids’ run.

The fun kicks off with a health and fitness expo on Saturday, where participants can pick up their race numbers and browse through various vendors selling running gear, health products, and nutrition supplements. The expo is also a great opportunity for runners to meet and mingle with other participants, chat about the rain, exchange tips and stories, and get motivated for the races ahead. It takes place at UL, surely the nicest university campus in Ireland.

On Sunday, the main races take place, starting with the full marathon, which begins at 9 AM. The marathon course takes runners through the beautiful city of Limerick, passing by historic landmarks and scenic views. The half marathon and 6 mile races start shortly after the marathon, with the runners starting at 10.30 and 12.30 respectively.

I’d been convinced to sign up for the Marathon when plodding around the running challenge in Lanzarote last November. After a really bad year with multiple injuries, it was surely a great goal to get me back motivated and in decent shape.

The training went well in December and was derailed again in January with a terrible dose, but come February I found myself down in Limerick being dragged around Raheen (not against my will)  on a 20 miler. Isn’t it terrible when someone tells you we’ll do an easy 20 and halfway through tells you they run in old miles? That said, a post-run acai bowl sweetened the deal I was gleaming from ear to ear having covered 20 miles for the first time in 18 months. I had a bit of confidence back and fire in my belly that this could actually work out.

All in all, I did 7 20 milers with the longest being 36K. It wasn’t all plane sailing with some knee issues from the ramp-up in mileage. A few of these were in Limerick which really helped me get to grips with the course. A friend of the parish and Limerick man Will Greensmyth did a fine job describing the route in a previous race report. To put it nicely it’s a few minutes harder than Dublin, which in itself is not a super fast marathon.

Despite it being the largest running event outside Dublin, there are not too many taking part in the Marathon, maybe 1000.  I was chauffered to the start line by my good friend and former winner of the marathon Shona Keane (also formally of Sportsworld). There we met Tom and Sebastian doing their stretches. Limerick’s defeat to Clare on Saturday wasn’t dampening the atmosphere, with a good buzz about the place. We wished each other well and after a few nervous laughs, it was game time.

I felt really good lining up and had the plan to build into the race, breaking it down into 3 x 14K runs.  I’d run the first 3K really easy as I do in every marathon, then settle into my pace which was between 3.55 – 3.50 per kilometre. In training I’b been averaging 5 second quicker so I expected it would be fine for 30K ish.

I started chatting with a couple of lads for the first 5K and we were all happy to run 2.45. I had 2.40 in my head but wanted to feel fresh at 32K and push on, enjoying the hardest part of the race.

Marathons don’t always go to plan though, in fact, no other distance can go so wrong. Soon after the start it started to rain quite heavily and we got soaked. This was then followed by 2 hours of warm sunshine. Running up a lot of drags it felt quite hot and humid.

I started to struggle with a tight calf at 24K so I backed off the pace a bit. This didn’t really help and as I got to 28K my running was laboured and HR was gone way too high.  I tried a quick stop to stretch out the hip flexors but really to no avail as I kept seeing the seconds slip away. In hindsight, I maybe should have walked a water station here and then got going again. It’s hard not to lose the head and motivation when plans AB and C are going south. I did pass Tom and Sebastian and we gave each other some words of encouragement, all struggling it seemed.

The last 10K of the race for anyone who knows Limerick is quite tough. There’s not much support and it’s quite twisty and turny around the Gaelic grounds in particular.

My biggest blow-up in a Marathon was in Copenhagen in 2019. I was fitter then and went out at 2.30 pace for 20K without enough training in the legs.  This wasn’t quite as painful in the end but probably more frustrating. I was very confident that the pace would seem fine and that it would be a very enjoyable finish, but when running the Marathon you need to leave your ego at the door and just tough it out for as long as possible, without doing any damage.

I finished in a time of 2.50  which broke down as 81 and 89.  To run well you really want to be keeping that gap to 2-3 minutes or running faster in the second half. Not sure what went wrong but will put it down to needing a bit more training.

I waited around to see how the others had done and chatted briefly with another former Sporstworld runner Conor Keating who had done in the half in 81. Martin Doyble was next home in the half in 1.31 and told me Shona had to stop at 37K a disappointing end for her after leading the race for some time, she’ll be back to regain her crown. Sebastian was next home for the club in 3.37 (well done on his first marathon) and Tom then home in 3.51. Tom has had some injuries of late so well done to him also.

All a bit dejected after a tough day running. The support was great out on the course with people I knew from Limerick, runners doing the shorter distances and friends Maura Ginty and Will Greensmyth to name a few. It really showed off Limerick at its best.

A few pints were had in various bars around Limerick to rub our wounds and console ourselves with the race which was a bit of an anti-climax. At the end of the day, you move to the next one and go again.  The training doesn’t go to waste.

Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet and mystic, spoke about persistence in a number of his poems and writings. One of his most famous quotes on this topic is:

“Patience is the key to joy; without it, there can be no happiness. Be patient in whatever you do, and success will come to you in due time.”

Here, Rumi emphasises the importance of patience as a form of persistence. He suggests that by staying patient and steadfast in our efforts, we will eventually achieve our goals and find happiness. This requires us to stay focused and committed to our aspirations, even when progress seems slow or difficult.

Throughout the weekend, there are various entertainment events and activities for spectators and supporters, including live music performances, food vendors, and family-friendly activities. The atmosphere is lively and festive, with a great sense of community spirit and support for all the runners.

Overall, the Limerick Marathon Weekend is a fantastic event that attracts runners from all over Ireland and beyond. It offers a great opportunity to challenge oneself, experience the beauty of Limerick, and be part of a vibrant and supportive running community in Limerick.

I’ll leave you with a Limerick of sorts.

There once was a race in Limerick,
A marathon that was quite a trick,
It wound through the town,
Up hills, then back down,
They run through UL a break from the town.

The runners started out near the quay,
And headed towards Gaelic grounds, to play,
The stadium was grand,
And inspired the band,
To cheer on the runners all the way.

Then the course went up Henry Street,
Where the crowds were clapping their feet,
The runners pressed on,
Their pace is not yet gone,
Their goal was still within their reach.

Next up was Ennis Road,
The runners felt the uphill load,
But they pushed on ahead,
With hearts full of dread,
And reached the top, with spirits allowed.

Down through the suburbs, they ran,
Past houses and gardens are so grand,
The finish line loomed,
And the runners resumed,
Their pace, as they closed in on the stand.

At last, the race was complete,
The runners lay down at their feet,
They had given their all,
And now they could stall,
And rest, with a sense of great feat or defeat.

In 2018, after a big 10k effort in the Lakes, Blessington,  I swore I’d never do another 10k.  Yet, the morning of 16th April 2023 I’m  driving towards Phoenix Park National Championship with Marie and  we are asking each other who’s idea  was this anyhow?  Between yawns, she’s blaming me and I’m blaming Val, and Val’s in Bushy Park lining up for cake and not around to blame anyone.  In spite of our reluctance, we’ve done some preps;  Marie’s  moved  her weekend ‘wine night’ from Saturday to Friday and I’ve pinned the number to my singlet the night before and played Sia’s “Unstoppable” a few times round the house.

by Ann-Marie Clyne

After a Covid induced break, the Meet and Train league was back for another year.   It started with a meeting in Crusaders clubhouse in September 2022 where a number of clubs came together to agree dates, venues, hosting clubs, and a name change of the league.  Despite many suggestions, the Meet and Train name has stuck (although it is not representative of what the league is these days).  I guess it’s hard to put a good thing down, and the same can be said for all the Sportsworld ladies who competed in the league for the 22/23 season.   We had 30 of our female members sign up back in November, it is a big ask as you have to commit to at least 3 of the 4 races whilst ensuring that you have a full team scoring on any given race day.   This league is not about the individual and is a true testament to teamwork as every score counts.  The teams were selected by our coach Emily and a what’s app group was set up (did someone mention another what’s app group …ahem, ahem).

The first race in November was hosted by Dunboyne and ran on the famous cow field.  Sportsworld along with Brothers Pearse hosted the second race in January in Tymon Park at very short notice due to a late change of venue request.    Thank you to Anna Carrigan, Michael Cunningham  and Aileen Melody for helping with the paperwork to get the permit application into the Council on time and approved.   A lot of preparation went into measuring and marking out the course on the Saturday which was not without its challenges but that is a story for another day.  Thank you to all the volunteers for helping out on the Sunday.  It was a very successful race and we were commended for a well organized event.   I believe it was the first race ever where rabbit holes had to be covered over in advance!  The third race was hosted by Crusaders at Irishtown, and the final race was held on the national cross-country course at Abbottstown.   This final race was organized with the combined effort of all clubs.   (Check out the race reports for all four races in previous newsletters and thank you to the report writers for their contributions).

Sportsworld went over and above by hosting the prizegiving event at our clubhouse last Sunday 16th April.   The event started with a fun run lead by David Saunders and Val Power over a 3K route of Bushy Park.  We did hear of runners getting lost on the route, but I have a feeling they were looking for a quick way back to the fine spread that was laid on by our members for the visiting clubs.   The home bakes were exceptional, and everyone was very generous with their time and donations.   Special mention to the men who came along and helped on the day, showing we are truly an inclusive club.   Anthony Gillen provided AV equipment which made a big difference in putting the finer touch to the event.   The weather played its part too and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors for the first time this year.   

Crusaders won the overall trophy as winners of the Platinum division.   (We’ll be back next year to get our hands once more on that trophy!).  In the Gold division, Sportsworld B came third and in the Silver division, Sportsworld D also came third.   Our very own Aoife Carroll was overall individual winner, having won all her three races.   She received a yet to be named perpetual trophy.  Special mention should go to Ann Woodlock from Donore who many club members know.   She received the Paddy Craddock trophy for her loyalty to the Meet and Train leagues over the years, and also for her recent wins in the Masters Indoor World Championship in Poland where she received a gold medal in the W80 3000m and a bronze medal in the 1500m.  Congratulations to Aoife and all the prize-winning Sportsworld teams but more importantly, congratulations should go to all those who were brave enough to put their names down on the sign up sheet and compete for their team and club.    

You may ask what the standout moment was for me, they were many but I’m still laughing about the final race in Abbottstown and getting Darina to the line on time.  It involved navigating her from the M50 at 10:45 (bearing in mind the race was starting at 11:00) and sending her up a one-way road to ensure she got to the start line on time.  She barely had time to put her spikes on and away she went having one of her best races across the league.   Well done Darina but I’m bringing you to the race venues in future!  

Ann-Marie Clyne

IMRA Aughavannagh         Sunday 16 April 2023

Distance:  23.31k      Climb: 1,246m      Terrain: Fire road; Bog; Peat Hags; Rocks; 

Participant and Reporter: Tim Murphy 4hrs 38mins

This race had a lovely, ‘intimate’ feel. A band of 13 early starters gathered in the mist at Drumgoff. At registration there was a full check done to ensure compulsory kit in place – most importantly a hard copy map and compass. GPS navigational aids are not allowed for Championship races. We were then ferried by car, 4k away, to the start line at Aughavannagh  Bridge, for an 11:00 start. Strangely enough, none of us opted for the gentle warm up run to start line. The main field, of a further 27 would start an hour later, and chase us down double quick. 

First up was a 5/6k steady climb up decent fire road. I had examined a gpx file of the route from 5 years ago. I had also examined my detailed East-West map. A fork in the road brought two options. I followed the crowd, and hung right. A little later, I noticed that a guy had gone ‘off-route’. The lady behind me did likewise. It was a good decision by this pair. No huge gains for them, but enough to put me solidly in last place. The rest of this section is easy, navigation-wise, but I tried to keep someone in sight, as I knew we would soon be coming to the part of the course that I was most worried about…the approach to Lugnaquilla.

The last time I was on Lug..was at the end of a 55k hike…covering 18 peaks…it had been raining all day…I was soaked…shivering…and lost, with zero visibility…. It was getting dark and my phone got smashed when I fell. When we set off at 11:00 today, I was apprehensive, because Lug was again in clouds and the approach to Lug was off-trail. At the start of the race – “Be very careful on Lug…10m in the wrong direction and you go off a cliff”.  And I am the mountain runner who is afraid of heights…and can’t navigate.

But… as the beautiful vista of Lug opened up…so too did the mist rise, and the sun came out, in resplendent form. I started to strip off…layer by layer. I had caught up with short-cut-lady and so decided to follow her at a tricky decision point. (I think I avoided the South Prison (cliffs) as a result – phew – although this might be a shortcut for those fearless of heights ??). This was a grassy climb, on all fours. I would have been better off taking a less direct route I think. I got pretty scared as this ever-steepening and ever-lasting climb continued. My arms got a good work-out. This kilometre took me over 35 minutes. Short-cut-lady was out of sight. But wow… was the view fabulous in the Spring sunshine… snow to my left… I felt great that I was still alive; re-grouped and hit the top of Lug nearly two hours after starting.

Now for the fun bit… 😊 navigation was easy, because just as I pulled my map out, the race leaders had caught me up and showed me the way, as one by one they went flying past me. This was slightly downhill…soft terrain…mucky… and involved jumping from grass clump to mud dump. After a couple of k, the terrain became harder to negotiate, climbing up some peat hags and jumping down… resolutely at the back of the field.   By the time 14k was reached, my kamikaze efforts resulted in me regaining ground, as I caught up with a couple of runners.  This was short-lived, as short-cut-lady led another to the right,  whereas I stupidly stuck to my ‘pre-planned’ and as it turned out… much longer route. Back in last place again. 20 mins later I hit the Military Road checkpoint…and end of the ‘big loop’ that constituted the Short Course (which one person stayed at).

Oh my… the home-baked flapjacks available were the best that I have ever-tasted, Sportsworld Cake Sale excepted ! I also gorged on Haribos and banana…and refilled my water with 0.5l, my initial litre having been thankfully enjoyed. There was just myself and another lady left… so we could eat as much as we liked. We were given the option to finish, and be credited with the Short Course. We looked at each other and decided to continue…after all, this was the bit that I had recce’d.

The climb up Fananeerin Ridge was a lot tougher than I had remembered it the day before. Along the top was fairly  hill. Myself and my ‘buddy’ walked most of this. Croaghanmoira looked fabulous and distant and imposing. At the end of the ridge, it was tempting to head straight for the finish and leave out the ‘up and back’ to Croghanmoira. However, somehow, we could see people again… albeit they were coming down…and we plodded on. Getting nearer the top now and ‘short-cut-lady’, about 10 mins ahead,  says hi again…and we can even see someone else walking ahead of us. We get to the top. I know there is a lovely, nearly 2k, downhill finish. 

We ‘fly off’ and make good ground.  The gentleman ahead of us has picked up pace…and I enjoy trying to catch up with him, whilst also sticking with my ‘race buddy.  We just about catch up, but don’t get too competitive about it…to cross the ‘closed finishing gate’ in last place, of the long course finishers. We had closed the gap to ‘short-cut-lady’ to 4 minutes.

The refreshments at the end were great…the cheer we got was great… the organisation was great… the weather and views were great… the camaraderie was great…. the course route is great.  It is 10 years since this route was raced. I am sure it won’t be 10 years before it reappears. I’d highly recommend this… (with recce beforehand). This route is very doable for all Sportsworlders. Give me a shout if anyone is interested in running/ walking either the short loop …or the longer loop…or the full route…in the coming weeks / months. Happy running all…

by Eileen Rowland
This race is organised every year by Raheny Shamrocks Athletic Club and
held within the grounds of St Anne’s Park.  I have run this race for years – it was obviously cancelled during Covid and I managed to miss it in 2022 because I had Covid over Easter! It is kind of unusual to have a championship race on an Easter Monday as a lot of people are away for the long weekend and therefore the number of runners is less than you would see participating in a 10 Mile at other times of the year.
This year Easter Monday dawned wet and basically miserable ! It was drizzling and even cold as we hung around waiting for the race to start. It was 10 past 10 before the gun went as there were long queues to collect race numbers and even some late entries were registering on the day. A runner friend of mine came to watch the race and asked afterwards was it not boring running around a park?  Eh no ! It is 2 laps of a route that includes the main avenue which we
ran up and down at least 3 times and at least twice through the rose gardens. I can be particularly unobservant when running but even I know when I am not running in an industrial estate, and it was lovely to enjoy the length and breadth of St Anne’s Park as a change from the familiar Phoenix Park.
About 600 ran the Leinster 10 Mile this year. From the club we managed to field an F50 team; Lucy Darcy, Catherine Gilmore and myself. As I parked my car I realised that the big vehicle parked next to me was a private bus with the Tullamore Harriers logo on it – so I immediately reckoned we were up against it. And we were…..Blackrock won Gold in the F50 team category and Sportsworld came in 2nd, beating Tullamore by 3 points. We were delighted but didn’t hear the news until after the race when we were all gone home. None of us thought it worthwhile to go to the medal presentation so it was a text from Lucy that brought the good news. Leinster Silver Team Medals. Lucy won Bronze in the F50 individual category and I won Bronze in the F60 individual category. Our other club runner in the women’s race was Crona Clohisey, and though she ran the fastest time of the 4 of us women, she is too young for our F50 team!  Crona, we later learned, secured a gold as part of the over 35 County Dublin Team. We met Martin Doyle and I thought him to be the only male runner from the Club and then during the race I was overtaken by Gavin Finlay who I reckon must have missed the race start as he powered past us.

Gavin Finlay 1.05.26
Martin Doyle 1.08,28
Crona Clohisey 1.13.13 (Gold o35 County Teams)
Lucy Darcy 1.16.39 (silver o50 club team)
Eileen Rowland 1.22.54(silver o50 club team & bronze o60 individual)
Catherine Gilmore 1.30.26(silver o50 club team)

by Katie Nugent

Written by Kimberley Kennedy

The Tallaght AC 5km road race took place at 10am on St. Patricks Day and incorporated the Dublin Novice 5k Road Race Championships for 2023. I wasn’t planning on running in it but the week before a message went out on the ladies WhatsApp group including an image of a nice looking green running t shirt. Easily influenced I decided I’d quite like one and signed up for the race. After a very inconsistent few months of running, including a few weeks on crutches in January, maybe a race was what I needed to blow out the cobwebs…. a good hard race is after all worth a week’s training – which is handy as I’d missed training last week.

Friday morning came around quickly and off I set for Tallaght bright and early. Despite rain being forecast, it was dry enough and mild, with just a light wind. I soon bumped into lots of other Sportsworld club members all looking forward to the race. Someone mentioned a hill, but I wasn’t really paying attention. I mentioned the t shirts – “what t shirts?” was the response. It seemed no one else knew anything about them. I hurriedly went onto the website and saw the image had vanished. Had I imagined it? Dismayed, I headed to the start line. Was I going to have to run this race and not even get one of those t shirts out of it?

I didn’t have too much time to dwell on the t shirt mystery, there was a prompt start at 10am on the dot and really, I can’t think of much to write about the first few kilometres. We ran towards Tallaght Village, turned left, ran along the road, turned left again, ran along by Tymon Park for a bit. Over 3km in and it was going grand, there was good support along the way, including a few Sportsworlders shouting very welcome encouragement. I had almost forgotten about the t shirt and was quite enjoying the run, but then it happened, we made another left turn and were suddenly faced with a long painful looking climb. I tried to remember what the conversation about the hill had been, it looked never-ending. I normally don’t mind the occasional hill, but this one was truly brutal. My mood matched the dark clouds overhead. There
better be a t shirt after this I grumbled as my inconsistent training and a bruised rib after a recent tumble from my bike caught up with me. Shamefully at the top I had to resort to walking to get my breath back, I lost the group I’d ran most of the race with and watched people passing me by. Luckily, I spotted the turn for Tallaght Athletics Club in the distance and somehow talked sense into myself and got back running.

A lap of the track completed the 5k and in the last 200m I spotted them, the green t shirts in all their glory. Panic set in…what if they ran out?! Why on earth had I stopped and walked like that in the middle of a race?! I picked up the pace and kept running after the finish line to join the queue…. possibly at my fastest pace all day.

As the light rain fell on Tallaght track, I realised it had all been worth it, t shirt safety in hand, I had got what I had come for after all. Now all that was left was the race post-mortem. I found the other Sportsworld members, and we all had a moan about that hill. Despite its challenges, there were some super performances on the day, including medals for 3 rd place novice for the men’s team, a 2 nd place finish for Aoife O’Leary, and age category prizes for Anne Sweeney and Trevor Lloyd. And here we all are in those fabulous green t shirts.