Report By Ronan Murray

Early morning on Saturday 11.07.14 and 4 Sportsworld musketeers headed off to Leighlinbridge in Carlow to take part in a little known event called the stone mad Half Marathon. It only took an hour to get there and before we knew it we were ready for action and full of enthusiasm.

After registration, a short race brief , & a coach ride , we were at the start line .The route took us from Leighlinbridge in Carlow along the beautiful scenic banks of the river barrow to Graiguenamanagh in Kilkenny. Everybody was excited and the whole crowd were discussing the race route and what if we get lost, etc. Along comes the race director with final race instructions “ Go that way and keep the river on your right. If its on your left, your going the wrong way…..3,2,1 Go”. And we were off…..

50mts to the finish

The route was flat and the miles just ticked by, before we knew it we were around the 10mile mark and feeling good and it was then that we started to think about where we might place in the race as nobody had passed us since the start. In the distance we could see a few other runners, so we upped the pace and started the chase. Over the next few miles we caught and passed 3 or 4 people and before we knew it we were coming up to 13ml , but no finish line in sight. 13.1 passed , 13.2 , 13.3 and finally we see the finish on the other side of the river , we had to cross a bridge and come back down the other side and finish at 13.5ml !!!

Finally it was over , time for a cool down and celebration!

With the race finished we all settled in for a feast of soup , sandwiches , tea & cake.

Defo on the calendar for next year!

Sportsworld Times:
Madeline Byrne 6^th female home
Emma Barry 8^th female home
Stephen Willoughby 12^th Male home
Ronan murray 12^th Male home ( identical time)

Full results: Stone Mad Half

Report by Joe Byrne

Thanks to Conor, Dave and Martin for all the race photos: Gallery

The phrase “The loneliness of the long distance runner” was always something I associated with long training runs particularly around the Waterworks in Bohernabreena. That was until the experience of running the final 12.5 miles of the Portarlington Half Marathon on Saturday past.

With Eoin O Brien I set off down the M7 for an 11.15am race start. On the way into the gym at Portarlington GAA club for registration we were greeted by Lucy Darcy representing Precision Timing and solely responsible for recording results and times for over 300 runners doing 3 races, 10k, Half and Full Marathon.

After a few warm up laps of the GAA pitch and Strides we were called to the start line, not before meeting Leitrim’s Finest in Ann Marie Keenan who had also travelled down for the race.

13.1m, lots of wind, subtle climbs, 10 spectators, numerous MOO Cows and 25 course stewards later we crossed under the finish line after an enjoyable trek. Thanks to supporters Dave, Martin, Conor, Luke and Julia (who made up half the spectators) for travelling down and providing some much needed encouragement on the final run in just as the bodies were breaking up.

Of course the mandatory coffee, coke, cream cakes and iced donuts were indulged in on the way home to replenish our lost sugars and we relived our races run.

Perhaps the experience wasn’t so lonely after all!!!!!!!

Final Positions
4th Joe Byrne 1.24.52
32nd Eoin O Brien 1.38.03
92nd Ann Marie Keenan 1.57.18

Full Results: Precision Timing

Report By Stephen Willoughby

Slightly different race report than normal for Clontarf Half Marathon which took place 04th July as I was on official pacing duty for the 2 Hour Group. Was my 4th half pacing which started with Rock & Roll Half last year as originally a one off and Connemarra, Wexford and now Clontarf still going. .

Although advertised as flattest half marathon course around it sure was the windiest and add in the humidity as well as approx. 5k on the beach pacing was going to be difficult.

I obviously looked like a highly trained athlete as I was asked before race was I pacing the 5 mile 2 hour group !!.

Start had to be changed from previous years on Clontarf road which meant as out and back course turnaround point was further up the promenade towards Sutton.

Myself and my fellow pacer initially had plan to run even pace which would be slightly under 5.40 a k but that went out the window due to wind changing direction completely so we agreed to try and make up time once wind behind us.

Always try and calm nerves at start by joking with those around which included Bernie White, former club member who was trying a half for first time and wanted to break 2 hours so now pressure on us then.

First couple of k were difficult as very narrow footpaths so we spread out to try and keep as large a group as we could together and stop people being hit on the head with our balloons for as long as possible as we knew beach part would spread out group.

Nice part of out and back course is you can encourage your fellow Sportsworld  runners on way back so was good to see Karl Chatterton in top 10, Sadanard Magee, Jonathan Walker, Noel Tobin, Ronan Murray, Jim Manning and Ed Collins running so well.

Amazing how when you running with wind behind you never notice it as was a shock to turn around and wind hit us. From a pacing point of view we had built up a couple of minutes which we knew we would need for beach phase and wind into us so our motivational skills were needed a bit earlier than normal to try and get groups to form and work harder than normal with still 4 miles to go.

Once we reached wooden bridge we only had two miles to go so instruction was given for anybody that felt strong to push on but even if they couldn’t group knew that if they stayed ahead of us they were under 2 hours which gave them a lift.

Unfortunately finish not easiest to see as a lot of turns as you don’t see finish until you about 50 metres away so I had to deal with some coarse language when I was trying to explain finish just around corner and nobody could see it .

We had the nice luxury of having built up about a minute and a half with 400 metres to go so could encourage as many as possible with knowledge that they were all under 2 hours including Bernie White who looked really strong finishing.

Aim is to finish about 30 seconds under your time but we had brought in as many as we could so we finished in 1.59.44.

Is always lovely to see reaction from other runners, some in tears, having helped them achieve something that they have never achieved before and we as runners take for granted.

Stephan encouraging runners to finish sub 2 hours (clock time is gun time not chip!)

Thanks also to Joe Haugh for support from the sidelines as we were finishing.

There was also a 5 mile option on the day which included a large phase on the beach so well done to Conor Kenny, Emma Barry, Anna Carrigan and Audrai O’Driscoll on their good runs in very difficult conditions.

Apologies for any members I have left out , following are results :-

Half.

Karl Chatterton 1.26.25
Sadanard Magee 1.27.54
Noel Tobin 1.32.28
Jonathan Walker 1.38.21
Ronan Murray 1.45.25
Stephen Willoughby 1.59.44
Jim Manning 2.01.30
Ed Collins 2.11.01

5 Mile

Conor Kenny 39.47
Emma Barry 41.17
Anna Carrigan 41.19
Audrai O’Driscoll 41.44.