Facebook Twitter
20.3 C
Dublin
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Home Blog Page 8

Florence Half Marathon

Florence Half Marathon 2023 was the destination for over 30 Sportworlders and as it was my 1st running trip abroad with the gang, I put myself forward for the Report before we even left our little green Island!!

For me, running on holibops wouldn’t be something I would normally do and I never pack the running runners but with all the feedback from Salzburg I said I would give it a bash.

A group of us flew over on Saturday morning and sure you can never go out to the airport without some kinda drama or glitches, especially with us lot.

We were very lucky that Anne Sweeney made the start line as anything and everything that could go wrong in preparation for a race did for poor Sweeney! It all started when she checked in to the wrong flight,arrived with her kitchen sink and her ironing board – Think she was trying to do a De – Clutter of the Gaff!!! She then went on to sleep it out on race day and forgot her number at the start of the race followed by forgetting the code for the hotel!! I was sure she would just give up and go back to bed – She was living everyone’s worse nightmare, but the tough little cookie sucked it up and got herself back to the start with 15 mins to go and ran a blinder of a race so fair play Sweeney – Next trip I’m putting a tag on you and wrapping you in bubble wrap!!!

We arrived in Florence and walked straight to The Expo to collect our numbers – Poor Kimberly was getting very frustrated with our lack of sense of direction and the snail’s pace we were going at due to the fact Anne was lugging her kitchen sink down the road!! We arrived to the expo and got our numbers and T-shirts and Val was wondering why her number was F60 and name was Joma (who were the sponsors of the event). I was starting to think I was away with some people that were just allowed out for the weekend – we were like the blind leading the blind and I just knew there was more shambolicness to come from this bunch of headless chickens.

Myself, Val, Anne, Emily, Julie Ann, Maria, Bronwyn and Grainne had booked into a little Boutique B & B just 5 mins from the start and finish of the race which was perfect and we had full reign of the landing areas – It was like having a slumber party in a hotel with your Besters, but can’t give you any insight to the shenanigans that went on as we we were all sworn to secrecy! ‘Twas to be an early night due to the race start being so early at 9am so we just had a bit of food at our local and two sneaky drinkies – sure would be rude not to on your holibops.

Up early for the race and nerves were grand and sure all I wanted was to finish without stopping and beat my BFF Trevor!! As we lined up the atmosphere and buzz was electric and just before the gun went off Val taps me and asks how many kilometers a half marathon was – Talk about going into a race completely blind! Val had done zero long runs but all of the club sessions and I think her max distance was around 10k but Val had her Bionic body in her favour and her sheer determination that she was gonna have it all wrapped up within two hours – I was loving her positivity but also wanted to trip her up when she bounced by me like tigger at 2km, I was sure she was gonna opt for the 10k but no Val was never opting out and had a great race.

The race itself was two laps and fairly flat with just some cobbled roads but after one lap was when you could decide if you had more or less to give as you knew what was ahead. At 13 kms in I started getting notions that I could work harder but I soon got put back in my box at 16kms when my legs starting tiring though I knew at that stage I would get under the 2 hours and wouldn’t need to stop so the buzz in my head helped me push on with 2kms to go. Maria Finnegan came up beside me with 1km to go and we worked hard together and came across the line looking like two orangutans, but it was all so worth it. Maria has been carrying a knee injury for some time now and also like myself just wanted to enjoy the race and get around under the 2 hours so to both our surprises we did 1hr54 and the emotions of the whole event, I’m not gonna lie I had a wee little cry as this was a PB for me and to cross the line with Finnegan who is one of my close friends made it very special.

We all gathered around the finish area where everyone was congratulating each other and feeling really buzzed that we had all finished the race.

Deirdre McGing was the 1st Sportsworlder home, she had an absolute stormer of a race and still looked fresh at the end.

Deirdre also played a blinder booking a last-minute spot for us to eat in on Monday night, so Thank you Deirdre.

Julie Ann was our next girl home and had a super race although coach mammy Emily still thinks she can work harder – Imagine having to live up to the expectations in that family!!

Ellen who is probably the leader of our little pack and is a member of the long run crew on a Sunday had a great run and really enjoyed the race.

Kimberly who had been struggling with an injury also came in with a smile, delighted to have finished the race.

Ann-Marie (Meet and Train Ann-Marie!), One of the loveliest humans with legs that go on forever – Stumpy here ain’t one bit jealous!! She was never going to allow her recent fall stop her enjoying walking the route and sucking up the atmosphere. Well Done Ann-Marie you’re a team player for sure!

Anne Sweeney just delighted she made it to the start line in one piece and exhausted from carrying her Mary Poppins bags, was over the moon with her run and enjoyed the views on route.

Aoife, who walked the 10k with Ann-Marie, came in looking as Beautiful and Irish as ever.

Audrai- Smiley Audrai – I think she sleeps smiling, really had a great run and always great to be around at the end of a race with her positive energy.

Bronwyn, sure what can I say I’m super proud to call her one of my close friends and was so proud of her as she has worked so hard to get back to the long runs which she is best at, had an outstanding run and loved every minute of it. Such a breath of fresh air.

Grainne, who I have now found out likes to talk to her watch on her runs when she thinks it’s lying about the speed she is doing, loved the race even if she nearly flung her watch into the river Arno!! Can’t imagine anyone thought you were weird on the route chatting to your watch – I’m still cackling!!

Maria Finnegan as I’ve said had a great race and has a special place in my heart for getting me across that line – If I was to build a friend it would be this one!

Olive, this quiet little hooligan, don’t be fooled by her or she will tape u, really enjoyed the race and experience – Maybe more so after than during! I think if we told her the race was cancelled she would have just shrugged – She is only there for the craic.

Ruth did the 10k that was actually 12k loved the race and had a great run – Well Done Ruth!

Fran who whizzed past me at 10km when we were being lapped by the leaders was in great form and we are going to miss her and her Sexy Lululemon accent. Wishing you all the best in your new adventure in Italia! I know you won’t forget us.

Bell, who before we went told me when I was moaning about the long-distance training that ‘I promise you you will want to sign up for another one’ and she was right. I did love it so thank you so much and well done.

Marie Varley who did the 10k or 12k, loved the day and is such a great girl to be around – I think you need to move back to Dublin – just saying!!

Padraic had a great run and was delighted to have it all wrapped up at the finish.

Mary had a belter of a race, was raring to go and in flying form for the rest of the weekend- AGM Aperol Spritzers all the way woohoo!!

Ed unfortunately had to pull out of the race due to a trip on a step but that didn’t stop him coming out for dinner with us – Love the priorities of this group!! Hope your back running soon Ed.

Eileen was so pleased crossing the line and thoroughly enjoyed the event.

Fiona, now this little one is one to watch – I think she was doing secret training, she had a great run and I’ve no doubt you have many more great half marathons up your sleeve. Well Done.

Siobhan, undoubtedly the lady of the group, always so appreciative had a great run.

Tim flew by me at 17kms shouting ‘you’re having a great run!’ – Thanks Tim, it actually did help! Tim had a great run – Well Done.

Val Pocket Power how the hell she flipping does it I really don’t know, had a brilliant run and is an inspiration to us all. Although Emily wouldn’t agree with no training for a half marathon but sure, if it works don’t change it! Not knowing the distance? Not training for the distance? I still don’t know how you do it. You’re amazing Sister from another mister straight up.

Trevor, AKA BFF, save the best until last! Sure what can I say, your sheer determination and competitiveness is undeniably the reason I like hanging out with you. You’re an inspiration to us all to keep pushing yourself no matter what. Well Done on a great race you did the training and worked hard so you deserved the great time you did.

I really hope I didn’t miss anyone.

After the race we headed for a quick Spritzer in The Michael Collins- I tell yeh Michael was laughing down at us trying to pay the bill – we were a shambles and the poor waitress was sweating, but sure we got there in the end!

We had a fabulous Authentic Italian meal all together that evening which was a lovely way to get to chat with everyone and relax after all of our great runs.

I can’t forget about Emily who was high all weekend on Coffee and Cake and was great craic to be around- Thanks Emily.

Will I go on another running trip? Most definitely yes!

Overall, it was such an enjoyable adventure with you lot so Thank You all for contributing to the fun and laughter throughout the trip.

I’m sitting here thinking – how did I end up going on this trip? And I believe that I invited myself so anyone who would like to go on our 2024 trip in March/April it’s an open invite – just make yourself known and also any suggestions are much appreciated.

Meet The Runner Conor Cavanagh

Full Name: Conor Cavanagh

When did you join Sportsworld?

I joined in summer of 2019 for a couple of months before heading back to play football again. I rejoined again in the summer of 2021 and have stuck around this time.

What is your favourite club session?

Saturday morning track sessions. They’re always a tough workout but over quickly. A great start to the weekend.

What is your favourite race distance?

I think I’m more suited to quicker stuff. I’m trying to race more and find out what suits me really. I’ve enjoyed the 5k, 5 mile and 10k races I’ve ran for the club.

What is your favourite meal before a big race?

Black coffee, a few pints of water and a toasted bagel with peanut butter, banana and honey.

My Favourite place to train

I enjoy the winter sessions down by the Dodder – the Mount Carmel lap is always good craic as well. The Anne Valley Trail from Annestown to Dunhill down the Copper Coast is easily my favourite place for the easy mileage.

What’s your favourite race?

I think the Leinster Senior Cross Country down in Avondale was my favourite race for the club I ran in Autumn 2021. It was my cross country debut – a baptism of fire but the rolling hills and the autumn leaves on the oak trees around the course made it a lovely setting and I really enjoyed my first team event for running. I find cross country tough going so am trying to take the positives from my recent XC races.

What is your target for the next year?

Don’t get injured. Enter more races and learn what suits my body and what areas I need to improve on. Keep improving. Eat more healthily and to try to be consistent!

What international events have you ran?

I ran the Porto half Marathon a couple of years ago. 28 degrees at 8am at the start line. It was a great route along the River Douro (thanks to the Porto Municipal Fire Department for spraying us with Firehouses every 3 miles). I went to La Santa with the club last November too and had a great time.

Where’s the most interesting place you have run?

I ran around a lake in a national park on Mljet island in Croatia last summer. It was very cool! It was marketed as a place of great biodiversity – but I learned it was once overpopulated with poisonous snakes until 1911 when a bunch of Benedictine Monks decided to take matters of mother-nature into their own hands. They introduced Asian mongooses to the island to get rid of the snakes, but the mongooses proceeded to also wipe out huge amounts of the bird population too! It still was a beautiful place despite the Benedictine’s best efforts and I didn’t meet any mongooses on my run.

Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been?

Arugam Bay on the East coast of Sri Lanka where I was surfing a few years ago. Hampi in Karnataka, India a close second. Like the land before time.

What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times)

I’m a bit of a generalist and find lots of things interesting. I spend a lot of time getting sucked into Youtube, Reddit and Twitter holes. I’d be a huge fan of most sports and nearly all genres of music so a lot of my time is spent thinking, talking about or playing sports and music. I play in a trad session on Wednesdays down in Tramore (I’m learning the bouzouki). I also like reading and watching thrash TV in the evenings so I can try to switch my brain off (Big Timber on Netflix is currently on the go)

How/When did you start your adventure with running?

I ran for my school track team in the Steeplechase. I had a great PE teacher – former Olympian Phil Conway who was always full of encouragement. I didn’t run for a few years after school as I was playing football while in college etc and got going again while I was trying to do a bit of personal fitness work to help with football.

Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement?

400m Indoor – 57s

800m Indoor – 2:07

5K – 16.31 (Rathfarnam 2022 – course was short!)

5 mile (Raheny 2022 – course was long) – 28:32

10K – 35:39 (Fingal 2022)

10 Miles – 55:45 (John Treacy 2023)

Half Marathon 1:24:42 (I ran 1.17 something in La Santa this year but the course was well short so not counting that as a PB!)

How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?

60-70k is my target. I’m trying to build slowly at the moment to get the mileage up a bit. I usually try to run 6 days a week.

What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club?

The people in the club and the healthy competition in the training groups. Another important point is the wonders running does for my mental health. A clubmate said to me recently even if running was bad for their body they’d still do it because of what it does for their head and I be hugely on board with that.

Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?

Emily, Myles and Paul for their advice and coaching. Michael for the background work and dedication to the running of the club – he loves a good shoutout and the spotlight so thanks Michael Cunningham! Gareth for all the advice and encouragement. Everyone who turns up of all ages and abilities who want to improve and train – it’s no easy feat training when you have families and other life hurdles too so it is inspiring to see everyone making time to get down to the club and enjoy their running across all ages and standards.

Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?

Yes I enjoy social sports. Golfing, kayaking, football, surfing, fishing and cycling would be the ones I really like along with running. I haven’t quite caught the Sportsworld swimming bug yet but I moved to Tramore last August and have been doing more sea swimming than I usually would recently!

Tallaght AC 5km March 17th , 2023

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.

Meet The Runner Arnold Diepman

Meet the Runner

My name is Arnold Diepman. This week’s ”Meet the runner” might as well be renamed as “Meet someone who runs”. Why? You will find out.

I joined the club in August 2020. The year Covid struck. From that infamous Thursday the 12th of March I was deprived off my 31km cycle-roundtrip-commute. It took me five months to realise that the commuting kilometres not made had an inverse proportional impact on the numbers displayed by the weighing scales. So action had to be taken – leading to my only personal best in running till then: joining a running club. Not just a running club but Sportsworld. Is there another club you get to know about by just a stroll in the park?

So any personal bests since? That is easy enough to answer. As someone born with two left feet – I guess this is something nobody in the club knew about me – and no eye-ball co-ordination – a further revelation – I was not destined for sport. So I gave myself a year from joining to ready my bones, muscles and tendons for my life as a runner. As life is full of temptation, I was just over 11 months on my way when I convinced myself that I was ready for my first race: The IMRA “Djouce -The Ayling Abyss”. Is there a more scary sounding race to choose as one’s first? A long story short, this race did not crown me with my first official PB in actual running. Instead it ended with my first official DNF. With hindsight that label was a little bit harsh. I should at least have been awarded with a FWH (“Finished With Handicap”) or FDH (“Finished Despite Handicap”): After a flying start up and down the Djouce – of which the picture testifies – I was forced – due to powers beyond my control – to bum slide down the Abyss. On its floor the first aiders were pleased to confirm that they had seen worse ankle sprains. So wrapped up with ice packs – ‘cold’ enough to make a nice cup of hot tea – I soldiered on to pass the finish line well beyond the ETA and received a hero’s welcome from club members who stayed waiting. The first aiders might have seen worse sprains but had never seen a broken leg, as broken it was.

So I was back to square one. It took me well over 7 months before I was running again whilst singing along the way as that is what I do when I do not run – broken leg or not. I sing in a choir, highbrow type of music. Not necessarily everybody’s cup of tea but soul touchingly beautiful non the less. 9 months in and there is temptation again. It is early November. The weekend after the Dublin 2022 marathon: Upstairs in the Phoenix Park visitor’s centre following the Sunday long run. Club members are reminiscing about the race; lonely training sessions forgotten, pain no longer felt, a rosy picture painted and … the trap is set. That evening I set my second personal best; I entered for the Dublin marathon 2023. I got the entry and here is hope: I want to finish this race running and without handicap. Can anything go wrong in the next 7 months? Touch wood.

This is my life so far as someone who runs. I do not consider myself a runner; I do not have a favourite race distance, meal before a big race, (national/international) race and do not chase personal bests. But as someone who runs I can say that the long slow runs on Sundays with all the trimmings are most enjoyable and that I have started building up an eclectic set of spots where I have fallen, none of them being a favourite. I can truly say running is getting into my blood and is there to stay. And if there is a personal best to be set, is there a better one to aspire to then the target set by Trevor and Judith? Keep running!

Meet the Runner Deirdre McGing

 

Full Name: Deirdre McGing

When did you join Sportsworld? April 2019

Where do you work? I work for Janssen Sciences Ireland as an Omnichannel Manager

What is your favourite club session? The Tuesday session in Bushy Park during the summer months.

What is your favourite race distance? Having tried almost every distance over the last couple of years, I think my favourite distance is the half marathon. The training isn’t quite as intense as the full marathon and the pace isn’t as fast as the shorter distances.  

What is your favourite meal before a big race? Keep it simple with a wholemeal bagel and maybe a banana.

My Favourite place to train: The Phoenix Park. I can hardly believe how little time I spent there before I took up running but now, I love to run there every Sunday. It doesn’t matter if it’s summer or winter, rain or shine, it’s a great place to run. The coffee, scones and chats after the long run make the effort worthwhile. 

What’s your favourite race? I’m not sure that I have a favourite but the races that stand out for me are the Tom Brennan 5K, Irish Runner 10 Mile, and the Antrim Coast Half Marathon.

What is your target for the next year? I focused a lot of time and energy over the last couple of years on the marathon so with that in mind, I would like to get my 5K time closer to 21 minutes (or maybe even below). It’s a while since I ran a 5 mile race so it would be interesting to see if I could lower that as well in the summer. I hope that if I can get a good spring block of training in then I can target a couple of races in the summer. 

What international events have you ran? The highlight of my running “journey” to date has definitely been completing the Berlin Marathon in 2022. What a city and what an event – I would recommend it to anyone to try. Running through the Brandenburg Gate as I approached the finish line was a special moment and I hope to do it all again one day.  

I also took part in the Salzburg Half Marathon in 2022 with a great group from the club and we plan to run the Florence Half Marathon in April of this year. Who knew that half marathons were a great excuse for long weekend breaks? 

As a Parkrun fanatic, I take my barcode everywhere with me and have clocked up a few events overseas including in the UK, Austria, Australia and Japan. I even held a female course record in Osaka as I ended up being there on the very first running of an event. I’m not sure what it says about the standard, but I’ll take my records where I can. 

Where’s the most interesting place you have run? Probably Japan. Parkrun over there is very different – everyone is early (no mad scrambles to get to the start while the briefing is happening) and I have never encountered so many volunteers as I did at the events over there. 

Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been? (Doesn’t have to be running related).  Again, I would probably say Japan. It’s a truly unique country and fantastic place to spend a few weeks. As a Spanish student at undergraduate level, I spent a year living and working in Argentina which was an amazing experience as well. 

What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times) 

Honestly, I don’t have many activities outside of running at the moment. It seems to have taken over my life between the various groups that I am involved in. I do enjoy going to live events though (mainly sports) and I try to go to something every few weeks. While I love to incorporate running into my travels, I also love travelling to watch the professionals do their thing. I have been to a few major tennis and athletics events and will be heading over to Budapest in the summer for the World Athletics Championships. 

How/When did you start your adventure with running? May 2017 with Cabinteely Parkrun. I had signed up for the Women’s Mini Marathon with a group of friends and a few of us decided we didn’t want to walk the whole thing. We got word that if you submitted a time from Parkrun that you could move from the walker’s category to joggers, so I found myself rocking up to Cabinteely Parkrun with the aim of running it once and never again. I walked/ran my first parkrun in 32 minutes and while it was hard going, I wasn’t as deterred as I thought I might be. Sure enough, I thought “I’ll give it another go before the mini marathon” and then I kept it up after that. While I didn’t attend every week during the first few months, it didn’t take long before it became a weekly habit. I’ve now completed over 175 parkruns and volunteered 40 times.  

Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement? 

5K: 00:21:51 (Tom Brennan 5K 2023)

5 Mile: 00:39:41 (Raheny 5 Mile 2020)

10K: 00:44:44 (Women’s Mini Marathon 2022)

10 Mile: 1:17:58 (Irish Runner 2022)

Half Marathon: 1:42:54 (Wexford 2022)

Marathon: 3:47:02 (Berlin 2022)

Without a doubt, my biggest achievement is completing 3 marathons in just over 12 months between Oct 2021 and Oct 2022. Before I joined the club, I never thought I would complete a marathon. It was such a mad idea that I never gave it any thought but it’s amazing how you can be influenced by those around you and seeing the training and results of those that ran in 2019 inspired me to sign up.  

 

What is your biggest non-running related achievement? I completed a Masters in 2018 while also working full time. 

How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage? 5 times a week usually. On a standard (non-marathon training) week, I usually cover 45-50km.

What motivates you? Running or otherwise. Having a clear goal. I love the discipline required for hitting targets, especially with the marathon which requires a lifestyle overhaul of sorts over a number of months. It’s hard work but truly rewarding to see the progress that one can make.  

What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club? There is no doubt that being in a group pushes you on to greater levels – often without even realising it. 

Another benefit to joining the club is that it has opened my mind beyond the standard road races. During the summer of 2020 when all road races were cancelled, I was persuaded to give IMRA a go. While I only managed one race before further lockdown restrictions were imposed, the seeds of interest had been planted and I returned in 2021 for more. I’ve now completed __ events and am looking forward to the summer league starting up again soon.

If anyone is interested in mountain or trail running, I would really recommend joining IMRA (and the WhatsApp group). The events are low-cost, run by volunteers, incorporate stunning views and usually followed by pints – what more could you want?

What made you join a Running Club? After two years of rocking up to the Parkrun on a Saturday and doing absolutely no other running during the week my times had stalled at around 27 minutes which was fine, but I wondered if I could get more out of myself. I played badminton at the time which takes a break from leagues and cups during the summer months. As my Tuesday and Thursday nights were suddenly free, I thought I might as well try joining a running club instead and see could I improve my 5K times before the badminton resumed in the Autumn. I used to pass by Bushy Park on my commute from work so that’s why I opted for Sportsworld as I could hop off the bus, go to training, and then hop on the bus again and go home. Little did I know what was ahead of me! 

Why is running important to you? It keeps me fit and healthy and gives me a space to unwind and destress. Never was this clearer than during Covid when we couldn’t train together. It was a great outlet for me at a stressful time. All you need is a pair of runners and away you go! 

Is there anything you would like to see more of or less of at the Club? More stretching

Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better? The club is full of people who really inspire me and push me to run faster and better – almost too many to name! That said, there are a few who truly dedicate so much of their time and energy to the club and make it the wonderful place that it is – special shout-out goes to Emily, Myles, Paul and Michael. 

Also, as someone who really struggled to run 3 marathons in just over a year, I take my hat off to Irene who seems complete marathons every couple of weeks. I’m hoping she’ll share her secrets to success soon. 

Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis? Gym twice a week. 

 

Meet The Runner Kimberley Kennedy

Full Name

Kimberley Kennedy

When did you join Sportsworld?

I think it was August 2021

Where do you work?

Canada Life Group, an insurance holding company with several European subsidiaries including Irish Life. I work in risk management.

What is your favourite club session?

I like them all except the Ballyboden lap.

What is your favourite race distance?

I’m not sure. I think when I’m fit I’m better at longer distances, 10 miles or half marathon, but 5km or 10km can be more fun.

What is your favourite meal before a big race?

I like morning races and just have my normal breakfast, muesli, yogurt, whatever fruit I have. I just eat a bit more before a longer race.

My favourite place to train

Anywhere sunny and green – parks, countryside. Phoenix Park is nice. I love running by the sea also.

What’s your favourite race?

I really enjoyed the Dungarvan 10-mile last year. I also loved the Berlin Half Marathon.

What is your target for the next year?

No targets. I set goals last year, got injured and didn’t achieve any of them. All I want now is to run consistently and enjoy it, I don’t care about races or times.

What international events have you ran?

Berlin Half Marathon in April 2022, a 10k in Salzburg with a group from the club in May 2022 and I did the Lanzarote Running Challenge in Club La Santa last November.

Where’s the most interesting place you have run?

I found the Club La Santa challenge experience pretty interesting. Apart from that I ran in Central Park in New York a few months back; I was amazed to see so many runners. I had to get off the main running route, it felt like I was in a race, so I found a route with hardly anyone then and it was funny to think I was in the middle of Manhattan with this space all to myself.  I like getting out running whenever I’m away, it’s a great way to see a place and get my bearings. I was in Toronto in December and did the same. I don’t think I’d have seen the place at all without those early morning runs as I was there for work.

Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been? (Doesn’t have to be running related)

I spent an interesting summer working as a waitress in a small village in Tirol in Austria as a 19-year-old, not knowing a soul when I arrived but leaving speaking German with an Austrian accent a few months later. I find lots of different places interesting, and also spent a year living in Oviedo in the north of Spain and 2 years in Augsburg in Germany.

 What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times)

With 9-year-old twins and a full-time job, time is limited. I like cycling and try to get out on my bike for a few hours at weekends. I like reading but can’t remember the last time I finished a book, I have about 6 on the go and can’t seem to finish any of them. I don’t watch much TV but am a fan of a German police series called Tatort and set aside 90 minutes on a Sunday evening religiously to get my fix of it.

How/When did you start your adventure with running?

It started with the couch to 5k programme at the end of February 2021.  I wanted something to get me outside more during all the lockdowns and knew I needed to up my fitness – my then 7-year-old ran off one day and I was half killed trying to catch him. Apart from that, I had a very brief stint with Ring Old Parish running club (now part of West Waterford Athletics Club) at some point in my teens. I was only with the club a few weeks when we set off to a cross country event in Cork. I’ll never forget the horror of that race; I dropped out less than halfway through. The coach suggested running might not be my thing and that I try shotput. I decided to leave the club altogether and didn’t run again until 2021. It’s a shame, I quite like cross country these days.

Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement?

I don’t have any amazing PBs. My best performance was probably the 1hr 41 minutes I ran at the Berlin Half. I’ve ran a few 5ks close to 22 minutes, it would be nice to get under 22 minutes at some stage, but really my biggest achievement is discovering I can run at all.

What is your biggest non-running related achievement?

I’m going to have to pass, I’m far too modest to answer such a question.

How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?

It’s low at the moment as I’ve had a few injuries, a persistent back issue and then a fall at Christmas that led to a few weeks completely off.  Hopefully this year I’ll be able to get back to running a bit more….building up slowly this time, I’ve learned my lesson.

What motivates you? Running or otherwise

I suppose in general feeling like I’m progressing, in running improving and getting a bit faster and fitter.

What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club?

Great coaching and the camaraderie – all in it together running around a random muddy field in the middle of nowhere down the country in winter.

What made you join a Running Club?

I just saw the club house in Bushy one day when out jogging there (I don’t know how I’d never noticed it before) and decided to give it a try.

 Why is running important to you?

I just love being outside and being active and forgetting everything else when running.

Is there anything you would like to see more of or less of at the Club?

Maybe running drills or tips on form, overall though the club and training sessions are fantastic.

Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?

There are lots of people who inspire me in the club, so many people putting in work to improve, while also offering support, and tips and experience.  Emily’s passion is very inspiring and her and Myles support and encouragement at races really makes a difference when it gets tough.

Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?

I hate driving and walk or cycle as much as possible. When injured last year I started doing more cycling, including the Great Dublin Bike Ride in September and a few longer spins to Maynooth and Blessington towards the end of last year.  I’ve signed up to do a 160km sportive in a few months, so I’ll be getting out for a few long spins in advance of that. I do a bit of strength training also.

Tell us something that no one in the club knows about you!?

I was once champion beer stein holder for two years in a row at a local beer festival competition. Whoever keeps the beers held out longest wins. I don’t have any pictures of me in action but found this online to show what it looks like. That lady in the picture would definitely beat me.

Women’s Cross Country League: Race 3 – Poolbeg 19th February 2023

The penultimate race of the ’22-23 series and on Sunday morning about 20 Sportsworlders make the trip deep into rival territory,  Crusaders’ home patch at Irishtown Stadium.  Having gathered some numbers and courage  in the carpark, briefly assessed which teams have a qualifying complement of 4 runners, we head in for a snoop around.

Inside, the tea is already being prepared.  We march in in our red jackets, like some very unsubtle intelligence operatives, ostensibly “looking for the loos”, and find ourselves very impressed by the Crusaders setup.  They have a great space overlooking the stadium,  lots of gym gear and even an indoor track complete with padded end walls for when you just can’t slow down after your sprint.  Val and Punam, pros that they are,  get straight to work on their warm up by sprinting into the pads a few times while rest of do a sneak preview of the biscuit selection.  It would be easy to be intimidated (even by the biscuit selection), but as Val says, other clubs may have the gear but Sportsworld have the (nationals) medals.  Having run all but one XC and M&T race of the season so far Val has a way of saying the right thing to put fire in the belly before every race.

Thus fired up, we set out determined to try and find the actual race course by heading towards the sea and following some high viz people through a housing estate.  Unlikely we’ll be earning medals today with about 30 percent of the teams missing and another 3rd not long in from a night out.   Nonetheless, any team race brings out something in the least competitive of us.  Shauna takes an ultimate hell week approach to her warm up by jogging over in a puffa jacket with a heavy backpack, so it’s not really a surprise when she later mentions her legs feel a bit like jelly.   Less gungho, I do the reccie run with Deirdre and Amanda, glad of their wise choice not to incorporate the hill in our warm up.  “The Hill” is the one nod to cross country on this otherwise park-run type course, a short, sharp ascent through some bushes.  “It’s narrow up there”, someone comments, “so there’ll be no chance of passing anyone” .  As I can’t recall passing a single person in  my last 3 races I register instead that this will be  a chance to run wide and clumsy and  hold people up.

A few strides later, a pep talk from Emily that blows away all notions of “taking it handy”,  the traditional photoshoot, and we are lining out.  I push out front.  Again, my ingenious plan here, with Aoife and Niamh missing off our team today, is to try and use the narrow course to slow things down as much as possible.  Off we go. Amanda, Deirdre and myself still in the front 5 after 500 metres and a bit of panic setting in, even though the pace does feel a little slower than usual.  Another 200 metres and I can feel the build up behind me and by the time I hit the 2nd kilometre a small river of runners have passed  and I can only settle in and try and hang on to my pace and my breakfast.  Down the path along the seafront, the wind mercifully low, cheers of encouragement from Emily, Kimberley, Anne Marie and Myles.

I arrive at the hill gasping and have to surrender to walking it, dropping another 3 places in the process but regaining them on the subsequent downhill.  The end is almost in sight when I feel my heart threatening to pop out my mouth and have to pull up. Unfortunately this is 10 metres from Myles.  He offers me some words of gentle encouragement along the lines of “what the hell are you doing? *$’#!  200 metres to go!” . I quickly see the wisdom of his argument and scarper off again.  There’s time from one final sprint.  I try to catch the lady 20 metres ahead but she somehow senses the rhino charge and responds just in time to save her place.

Over the line and a token of 81 or 18 is placed in my hand.  As the only time I’ve finished top 25 in anything is when there were only 25 runners, neither makes sense just yet.  On the far side of the tape I find Deirdre McGing stretched on the grass (still breathing), recovering from a well earned first-over-the-line for Sportsworld team B in 11th place.

The Crusaders team A win easily, packing 3 of their 4 athletes into the top 10 finishers and coming away with a cumulative score of 32.

My selfish concern is for Sportsworld Team A –  today comprising myself, Anne Sweeney, Amanda &  Val   – our cumulative score of 124 and a qualifying team for 3 out of 3 races so far keeps us in the game, just.   But it’s hats off on the day to Team C (Deirdre McGing, Shauna O’Callaghan, Marie Bradley & Maria Finnegan) who pip us with a score of 118.

It seems that everyone has put in a huge effort. We take more photos, do a quick headcount and head back to the Stadium for tea, cake and biscuits.  Anna Maria has sustained hand wounds from a fall during the race but is being incredibly brave, not only finishing the race but going on to hold her own tea cup and biscuits, which fairly epltomises the no surrender spirit of the league.

Well done to all the runners and big thanks to the lovely people Crusaders for letting us into their facilitiies and feeding us on the day.  That said, it’s race faces back on for the final event in Abbotstown March 12th.

 

National Intermediate and Masters Cross Country 2023 Gowran

We had 6 full teams at the National Intermediate and Masters Cross Country on Sunday in Gorwan Co.Kilkenny. It marks the end of the championship cross country season. We have 2 race reports covering 2 of the races but congratulations to Aoife Carrol, Karol Cronin and Trevor Sweeney who got National team medals in their races.

Ladies Masters Race Report by Maria Jones

The second weekend in February has always been a date highlighted in my calendar- my coming of age. However, in recent years I’ve traded in my high heels, glad rags + dance floor antics for a pair of spikes,a red+white singlet and a few mucky fields. They say you get more sense with age, not so in my case it seems.
After the Leinster’s in Avondale three weeks ago, Michael sends a text, “Do you want to do the race report?” I kindly declined saying “I promise I’ll do it if we win Nationals”. Michael’s not a man to forget easily and I’m not one to break a promise so here we go….
Sunday morning rolled round, all roads led to Gowran, Co.Kilkenny. I made the journey from Tipp along with my Mam (who’s made this her annual Sportsworld outing since 2018) and my little sister Martha, who were both coming along to show their support for the Sportsworld crew.

We arrived in Gowran before half 12, lots of time to get a long warm up in before the 2pm start. Noreen was just parked two cars down, so we grabbed our bags and headed into the field where the action had already begun with the juvenile races. We met up with Aoife and found the rest of the Sportsworlder’s who had just arrived by bus. We threw our bags down and headed off on a recce of the course. We were glad to see lots of green grass, having been blessed with good weather in recent weeks, there were very little soft patches and lots of flat ground, a fast race was definitely on the cards today. Warm up done, a zillion strides later, and a few pep talks from the boss lady and we were on the start line ready to go. Nerves were bursting through, expectations were high, we wanted that team gold medal, now it was showtime.
Last year we we finished with bronze medals, just 2 points behind silver, and there was a strong feeling among us that we left those silver medals behind on the day so it’s fair to say we all had our eyes strongly fixed on one colour this year. But you never know what can happen on race day.

The gun fired and we were off, two laps of two 1km fields making up the 4km race. After a very quick start myself and Noreen settled in nicely in around 7th+8th place, leading the second pack into field number two ready to climb the steady drag up to the top before making our way across the top and back down, out to the first field and repeat again. To be honest the race went by in a blur, you just try to stay focused, concentrate on the job in hand, don’t let the mind wonder too far, try to ignore the pain and just keep going. The support around the course was great, people popping up everywhere giving us a shout. I kept reminding myself of Emily’s words “stick,stick,stick,don’t let anyone get away”, and before I knew it I was battling to the finish line.
I finished in 9th place, closely followed by Aoife in 16th (fresh off her 10mile club record the previous Sunday of 1hour 19sec) showing the range this girl has, Noreen came in 19th, having spent some time on the ground getting sick 2.5km into the race, most people would end their race there, but as Noreen looked up from the ground and saw Aoife fly by she thought of only one thing, her teammates and our hopes for gold, up she got and fought to the finish line, showing her true class to still finish is the top 20 after that pit stop, ridiculous.

Latest addition to this team Nikki battled in in 31st place. Nikki goes about her business quietly with no fuss and has been a scorer in each race this season. Maura Ginty was next in, unfortunately Ginty picked up a foot niggle a few weeks ago sidelining her from key sessions, she may not have a gold medal around her neck but this lady is very much the heart of our team,and without her enthusiasm, attitude and team mentality I don’t believe we would be the team we are. Every team needs a Ginty!! Lorna Quinn,having spent the week in bed after a bout of food poisoning (I warned her that Michael’s cooking was a risky business) ran her heart out as she always does with a smile on her face, coming in just behind Maura, the teamm was rounded up with Martina who always gives her all and ran a great race.

Each girl left their heart out on the fields of Gowran. The finish line showed red+white singlets floored on the ground, and vomiting over the barriers, what more can you ask from from a bunch of girls. Cross country is a funny aul game, its a sport like no order and its impossible to predict how one will perform on race day. So many factors have to go in your favour and each member of the team, for you to have a chance at that gold medal. Its not just the first four over the line, its the depth of the team that pushes everyone forward and makes up the squad. Number 7 is just as important as the first home and we are very lucky to have a great bunch of girls working together. We finished with a total of 75 points, a huge 29 points clear of second team Mullingar. We did it. NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONS!!! WOOHOOO!!!

Sportsworld have only won this coveted title three times in the clubs history. First back in 1999, again in 2006 and last title 7 years ago back in 20016 when Ruth Kelly, Noreen Brouder,Mary Finn and Lucy D’arcy brought home the honours.

Great running also by our over 50s team who worked hard through the race and finished in 4th position in the club rankings.

Lucy D’Arcy straight from running the show at the finish line,there since the early hours, did her usual superwoman change of outfit and stood on the start line in her beloved red+white. (Just to note Lucy was on the Gold team that won the club title both in 2006+2016). Anna Delaney was next in, having recently come of age for this category making all Vals dreams come through that they had this speedy addition to their team. Val herself was next across the line, having battled dodgy hamstrings over the past few months knowing she wasn’t as fit as she wanted but no way would she miss this race showing her team spirit+pure love for Sportsworld. Maria Bradley finished next always a strong contender on this team,having spent her youth chasing Sonia around the fields of her beloved Cork, next in Anne Sweeney also coming off a long lay off through injury couldn’t escape Emily’s clutches doing her best for her team with minimal training, Aileen Melody finished off this squad with another solid performance.
Well done ladies.
Lucy made the Dublin O50 team who won gold. While myself and Aoife were scorers on the O35 Dublin team who also won gold.

Special shout out to the one and only Emily, she’s the glue that brings it all together, shes one of a kind, and we are so lucky to have her. Celebrating with her, all together at the finish line when word came through of our win is what it’s all about, all the hard work, tough sessions, mind numbing cross training, sacrifices made, the ups+the downs, the injuries, and the disappointments along the way, all long forgotten- Moments like these make it all worthwhile. Well done everyone. Now time to hide the spikes for another 10months and get back to the easy life on the roads. Until next time!

Men’s Master Race Report by Paul Dunne

The last time I ran a Cross Country race was back 2017 in the Dublin Masters. I was looking forward to racing XC again and not looking at my watch every couple of kilometres. It was also only my second race since joining Sportsworld and first post DCM. My Sunday morning started with an early rise to make breakfast for my 4 year old son, Alfie and best friend. A cup of coffee for the wife as I dashed out the door for the day, made sure I left everyone in the house happy. I arrive at the bus and instantly felt the excitement of the group and great comradery. I was quick to assume that Trevor is usually the one running late from the banter on the bus. He was, but it was worth the wait as he as one of the lucky ones bring home a medal. The journey to Kilkenny flew by and had great chats.


When we arrived at the venue I was taken back by how big the event was. From the gate where spectators had to pay to get in, to the enormity and scale of the venue. This was the real deal. I was expecting a few muddy laps around a farmer’s field with a couple of marshals thrown in. This was a different animal altogether than what I had in my head.

When my race (National Master) was called to start we made a call to all start on the right of the start-line. I can remember walking through the gate at the start and seeing one lone figure on the left of the start-line. At first glance I saw an older gentleman and thought he was just staying out of trouble, then I took a second glance and noticed it was none other than Tommy Hughes, who holds the world record for a marathon at 59 years old with a time of 2.27.52. This was going to be a stacked race if Tommy was in it.

The race started with a bang of the gun and we were off. The man in front of me was running barefoot in a Cross Country race. I was really thinking now that there were some really tough guys in this race. Under Myles advice I tried not to go off too fast. On the first wee hill a group of Sportsworld guys past me. I decided to try stay with them. That didn’t last for long. I think three more men past me and I manged to take two back before the end. The support of the course from the Sportsworld coaches and team was brilliant and drove me on not to drop more places. By far not my greatest race but I loved it. I love racing and being part of the Sportsworld team made it even more special. I’m already looking forward to doing this next year and to taking part in the graded race meets / road relays in the summer. I’ve a bit/lot of work to do to get to a place where I am happy with my fitness but doing it with Sportworld seems like it’s going to be fun.

Full race results can be found here.
https://www.myrunresults.com/events/123ie_national_inter__masters_xc_championships/4774/results

Dungarvan 10 Mile 2023

The Dungarvan 10 Mile Road Race is a popular road running event held annually in Dungarvan, Ireland. The race typically attracts a large number of participants and offers a challenging course that winds through the picturesque countryside, beaches and streets of Dungarvan. The event is organised by West Waterford Athletic Club, and what a great job they do.

For many the John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile replaces the dearly departed Ballycotton 10 no longer a fixture on the Irish running calendar, the Dungarvan 10 has soared in popularity as one of the “go to” Spring 10-mile races, along with the Mallow 10. I had never had the chance to run as it already conflicted with the XC season.

Assuredly, the course is a PB course. A relatively flat loop that navigates sheltered country roads. It’s a course that rewards patience in the early miles – there are plenty of opportunities to attack the downhill sections from the turn at halfway. The race t-shirt is one of the best in the business and comes with a decent goodie bag and a spread of food in the sports hall afterwards that could feed an army.

The weather conditions on Sunday were incredibly good – temperatures rising to nearly 6-8 degrees by the start. With no headwind of any great description, these were dream-like conditions. I was happy running steady but still struggled mentally at the end. The pace may be slow but I’m on the comeback trail now.

In the overall results,  William MAUNSELLof Clonmel took the spoils in 49.52, while in the ladies, Mary MULHARE ran a super impressive 55.48. Full results link below but credit to Aoife O’Leary who broke Lucy Darcy’s almost 10-year-old record by a minute. An incredible run by any standard.  Credit also to young Cardigan and Baby Guinness lover Conor Cavanagh who goes from strength to strength and ran a 3-minute PB in 55.46. watch this space for both of these in upcoming races.

A great night was had on the town and cycling the Greenway the following day. If you are down that way, be sure to link in with Conor for a run or some tips on what to do and see.

If you’re interested in participating in the Dungarvan 10 Mile Road Race, be sure to check with the event organisers for specific information on the date, start time, and registration process in 2024.Its a cracking weekend.

Conor CAVANAGH 55:46
Gareth MURRAN 58:58
Aoife O’LEARY 01:00:19
Deidre O’Connell 01:07:26
Thomas KINSELLA 01:15:53

You can check out lost opf the previous race reports in the archive.

 

The Trim 10 Mile – 5th February 2023

 

It was a glorious and sunny day as some Sportsworlders set out to run the Trim 10 mile. We couldn’t have asked for better weather conditions! Some of us had met in the OPW parking lot before the race to warmup together. Before we did the warmup, we of course tried to find out where the porter loos were situated as the nerves can often bring on a need to use the bathroom and we certainly did not want this issue prevailing itself whilst running 16km’s. 

Race reporter Shauna with Katie photobombing

The distance from the car park to the start line was just under 2km’s and we used this as our warmup. As we got closer to the start line, we could hear music belting from the heavens. When we arrived at the start line, we were greeted with a DJ playing some 80’s music which definitely motivated people and helped to get everyone into the spirit of running their hearts out in a 16km race.

I would take a wild guess and say that just under 2,000 runners attended the event. The streets were full of athletes of all stages dressed in their finest running attire, warming up and getting pumped up for the run. 

The support was phenomenal from the local community, there were two water stations along the way which many people dodged (including myself) to aim for my best time, no water was going to slow us down!! 

The volunteers were extremely motivating at times when it was really needed to get us over those unexpected drags (hills in my eyes)! 

There were local families and children standing on the side of the road handing out jellies and other sugary goods to keep everyone appropriately fuelled. The feeling of support from the local community was almost overwhelming.

As you approached the finish line supporters and volunteers had gathered to welcome everyone with open arms, congratulating each and every finisher shouting ‘you’re almost there, you can do it’! which was certainly welcomed at the 15.60 km mark!! At the finish line there was chocolate cake, cupcakes, bananas, mars bars, Twix’s, snickers and all the healthy stuff!! All in all, it was a very successful and thoroughly enjoyable day. 

Some of the Sportsworld contingent with their banana stash affter the race
1...789...115Page 8 of 115
Sportsworld Running Club
Sportsworld Running Club Bushy Park Dublin 6
Contact us: info@sportsworldrunningclub.com
Facebook Twitter

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© Sportsworld 2019