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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

Meet The Runner Darina Hynes

Full Name

Darina Hynes

When did you join Sportsworld?

26 Feb 2020!

Where do you work?

Work for a Contract Research Organisation (XenoTech LLC). My role involves managing preclinical drug development projects.

What is your favourite club session?

Hills and sprints

What is your favourite race distance?

5km.

What is your favourite meal before a big race?

Porridge with kiwi, peanut butter and raspberries plus lots of coffee!!

My favourite place to train –

Bushy park.

What’s your favourite race?

10km mini marathon.

What is your target for the next year?

Sub 50 mins for the mini marathon.

What international events have you ran?

None unfortunately but my dream is to run the Berlin marathon.

Where’s the most interesting place you have run?

Running along Lake Constance on the German side.

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

I lived in Japan for nearly 4 years and my favourite place to visit was Sapporo for the annual snow festival, the massive ice sculptures were amazing especially all lit up at night.

 

What do you like doing when you don’t run?

(hobbies/past times) Baking especially for the Sportsworld cake sale!!!

How/When did you start your adventure with running?

After my twin daughters were born, I initially did a few running classes before joining Sportsworld in 2020.

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

Rathfarnham 5K PB was 00:23:36.

150 parkruns, mainly at Tymon parkrun.

What is your biggest non-running related achievement?

Having my twin daughters.

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

I run 3-4 times a week. 2 club sessions, parkrun or track in the summer and maybe a Monday run. Weekly mileage: 30km.

What motivates you?

Running or otherwise. To keep fit and healthy.

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

Running with and meeting inspiring people from all generations.

What made you join a Running Club?

Clare Finnegan persuaded me to join and I haven’t looked back since. Thank you Clare, I don’t know what I would have done without you giving me that friendly encouragement.

Why is running important to you?

Screen free time and having races to aim for.

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

More stretching and cake sales!!

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

Emily’s passion for XC really inspires me and the Raheny XC was definitely a highlight in my running year to date. Myles really encourages you at the sessions and always remembers your name. Thank you both for all your dedication and encouragement to the club. I always remember Ann-Marie was one of the first people I met and really explained things to me at my first session including don’t forget your Hi-Vis!

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

Pilates and cycling my twins to school

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

On my first weekend in Japan, I had to sing “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic by Celine Dion, I wasn’t asked again!!!!

Women’s Cross Country League: Race 2– Tymon Park 22nd January 2023

by Tara Burke

Race 2 of the Meet & Train league was held last Sunday hosted by our own Sportsworld along with Brothers Pearse in Tymon Park. There were some mixed emotions pre-race with some runners still scarred from Avondale the previous week while others were enthused with their new spikes to test run, (myself included). The race was run over 2 miles with 2 laps of 3 fields making up the course.  There were some slight inclines, a few mucky patches, and some mats covering the pathway along the way, to keep things interesting.

Sportsworld had 24 ladies making up 5 of the 29 teams competing with all runners pulling out a great performance. Aoife Carroll again going for gold and completing the course in a brilliant time of 12:15, leading the A team to the top of the leader board with just 2 races left to run. A referee was needed at the finish line on one or two occasions but the pro-marshals of Sportsworld kept things under control.

Post-Race Faces : Aoife, Amanda and race reporter Tara (no wonder there were referrees needed)

It was great to have so much support on the course with all of the Sportsworld marshals cheering us on and taking some great action shots. All of the support spurred on great results from each of the runners. The post- race analysis was enjoyed alongside some lovely refreshments supplied by Brother Pearse in Faughs GAA club, where Amanda and Browyn were each awarded one of the elusive spot prizes.

A special mention to everyone that was involved in organizing the event, setting out the course, and filling the very many rabbit holes (a first for Meet & Train!), it was a great event enjoyed by everyone that took part which wouldn’t have been made possible without that effort. Looking forward to seeing how the next 2 races unfold!

 

Meet The Runner Stephan de Vries

Full Name

Stephan Johannes Herman de Vries (second and third name after my grandfathers, give the pronunciation a go!)

When did you join Sportsworld?

I believe it was August 2021

Where do you work?

I work for Compass Ireland, overseeing and managing the food programme within Google. Very good fun and fast paced environment!

What is your favourite club session?

Great question, I do love the Tuesday evening intervals although I should do more of the Thursdays and Sunday long runs.

What is your favourite race distance?

Any race that you do well in. I do like a good 5k or 10k course, probably just because they don’t take that many Sunday long runs to be able to finish them. Really enjoyed the track meets over the summers too.

What is your favourite meal before a big race?

Pasta the night before (I’m told I am half Italian as a result of the big amounts of pasta I consume), porridge with honey, banana and crunchy peanut butter in the morning.

My Favourite place to train is Bushy park and the winter variety with Mt. Carmel, along the dodder or the old bank lap are great.

What’s your favourite race?

Tough question, I feel I haven’t done enough races to have an outright winner here. Any race that is flat(ish) is great.

What is your target for the next year?

Sub 40 min 10k, sub 90 half and around 3.15 marathon would be awesome.

What international events have you ran?

Do runs in The Netherlands count..? I ran the Paris Marathon last year.

Where’s the most interesting place you have run?

I used to love adventure races, running up and down Croak Patrick or Mount Errigal is an amazing experience for which you don’t have to travel far. Oh and running down Mt. Kilimanjaro (to descent as fast as possible for more oxygen) was great fun too.

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

I have been lucky in the sense that I have lived and traveled a good bit. South-Africa has to be one of the absolute highlights. The nature, views, wildness and animals are out of this world. Throw in their history and it is just admiring how happy and hospitable everyone is. Regrettably there are still many issues to resolve in the country. One thing that has always stuck with me is how disadvantaged people celebrate life, birthdays or occasions, just like anyone else and how open they were to share their traditions.

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

Nothing out of the ordinary, catching up with friends, traveling or going to a music gig. Oh and I love food, so anything involving food will do it for me. A good thriller book, sailing or skiing magazine before going to sleep. Unfortunately Ireland isn’t great for skiing and combining sailing with running and everything else is too much to do it regularly.

How/When did you start your adventure with running?

I started after I graduated and started working in a hotel. At that point I realised that years of partying and eating left me with 0 fitness. I did a 2k lap and it took me a long, long time to recover, sprawled out across the floor. Slowly built it up and increased frequency a lot when I moved to Ireland before relapsing for a few years until I joined Sportsworld.

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

5k – 18.56 (BHAA Pfizer 2022), 10k – 41.40 (field of Athenry 2022), Bohermeen Half Marathon 1.36.20, Paris marathon 3.48.08.

What is your biggest non-running related achievement?

Marrying an Irish woman.

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

About 4 times a week, in the end of 2022 probably average around 30km a week so I would like to bring this up to a steady 40 to 50km.

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

What made you join a Running Club? The accountability that you feel that you should go to at least one or two sessions a week, no matter the weather. You always feel better though after the session. And of course in Sportsworld the camaraderie and chats around the sessions with like minded people.

Why is running important to you?

Last year I read ‘What I talk about when I talk about Running’, a pocket size book that summed it up nicely for me; It clears the head and eases the mind and although you may run with others but in the end you only compete against yourself and your own body’s limitations.

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

The return of ‘meet the runner is great’, I always enjoy reading them and we have so many new people in the club.

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

Emily & Myles who make every session seem like it’s their first time coaching. The amount of passion, joy and dedication is unbelievable. Everyone turning up at every session is inspiring and is what is so great about Sportsworld; it’s so inclusive for all pace levels. I hope to still be running like Trevor is now.

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

Some strength at home but not enough! On a recent ‘calm’ post xc run Michael and Lorna mentioned they are planking daily to increase core strength. So maybe this is something we should incorporate into a session and part of warm up we do a minute plank challenge building up over time. We’ll have to deduct points for Michael’s and Lorna’s headstart

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

I used to work at a lot of weddings as a waiter. This one time the train on the dress was quite long and I stepped on it while at the same time the bride took a step in the other direction… The dress ripped around the waist and all I’ll say, my boss had to call in a good few favours from local tailors who were all off over the weekend to get it fixed!

Leinster Intermediate and Masters Cross County Avondale

We had 4 races in Avondale at the weekend and we have 3 writers covering their races. We had a few first time cross country runners, a number of team and individual cross country medals and some getting their first ever cross country medal.

Yes the hill was that big

Katie Nugent

After a very successful outing for all in the Dublin masters, there was a great buzz in the camp ahead of the Leinster masters and intermediate championships on Sunday last.  Avondale was the venue and a good number of us knew that this meant there would be some hills involved.
We all arrived in good time in Avondale and Lorna, Michael, Amanda and myself went for a walk of the course to see how it looked. Pretty tough!
Masters ladies were up first and another incredible performance by this group coming out with team silver and some individual medals. We then watched some of the masters mens race while doing our strides and trying to stay warm. The guys all ran fantastically well in a fast field and packed well as a team.
We were up next in the intermediate race and with a very small number lining up. However, the race was just as competitive as any other. All teams were from Dublin and there were a number of individuals also entered. Aoife lead us out in another top class and determined display. Her efforts were rewarded with a gold medal on the Dublin team which was a serious achievement given the strong Dublin showing. Lorna ran an excellent race and kept as close to the top of the pack as possible. It is so great to have Lorna back running so well on these teams and her positivity shines through on every team. I followed Lorna and tried to keep her in sight as I made my way around. I took on board Emily’s advice to get out fast and chase. I actually really enjoyed the run despite how tough it was. The course had a bit of everything with plenty of twists and turns, a slippy downhill, level ground and that hill!! There was so much support which really lifted us all especially in those tough parts. Deirdre and Amanda worked well together putting their marathon fitness to work. Deirdre is probably one of the most consistent sportsworlders and produced another fine run. This was Amanda’s first cross country race and she ran a solid and well paced race. I told her that if she could run that course, she can run any course.
I had a feeling we were in with a shot of a medal. We had packed pretty well and a little later Emily arrived over with our leinster bronze medals!! We had just missed out on silver by one point but I didn’t care. I was just so delighted. This was my first championship medal to win for cross country and probably one that I will cherish the most given how tough cross country can be.
The last race of the day was the intermediate guys. The ground was probably pretty well cut up by this stage. We cheered the guys on while we did our cooldown. Great running by all involved.
A lovely Sunday afternoon was topped off by a trip to Avoca where we fuelled up on good food and sweet treats.
We now have nationals in a few weeks time. I understand the venue for that will be Gowran which is pretty well known to most of us and certainly doesn’t have anything like the hill in Avondale but I’m sure it will still be tough. I really enjoy training around this time of year. There is a real buzz especially at the Saturday morning sessions. Hopefully everyone will stay well and healthy and that we can all put on a good show in Gowran on 12 February.
Paul MacGabhann

Have to admit, I was dreading this race – not helped by much talk of mud and ‘brutal’ hills. With no sign of a hurricane/cancellation and no creative get-out clause, it was all systems go on Sunday morning.

Liam, Anthony and myself travelled together, arriving at the stunning Avondale House venue just as the under-age relays were finishing. Joined by Noel and Bruce, we did a recce of the course. This was a great idea, as it highlighted a few trouble spots, notably the slippery surface at the bottom of the steep downhill stretch. It also allowed us to enjoy the scenery, pain free. A few tactics were discussed along the way, boiling down to ‘just run through the pain’ (source: Anthony). Right, anyone just fancy climbing the viewing tower instead?

Unlike the Dublin XC, the Masters and O50s ran together over 6k ( 2 laps of 3k). The course is a real challenge with a mix of hills and several flat-ish stretches. Mud featured in spots, however, not too bad and helped by the ideal weather conditions. The race started at a fair gallop uphill towards the finish line. My initial thought was, ‘whatever you do, don’t fall here, there are plenty of opportunities out on the course where nobody will see you’. Over the brow of the hill and down into the valley, with 2 short diversions down side sections. The route loops back up towards the starting line for the second lap. My aim was to stay with Anthony and Liam and hang on with them as long as possible. The first lap was straightforward enough and I still felt ok at the 4k mark. From here, I concentrated on my breathing and maintaining a consistent cadence (Liam’s very sound advice). I managed to push on for the next 1.5k…until…the home stretch. Brutal doesn’t do justice to the final 500m of the course – a very steep hill (1st cousin of cliff), followed by a deceptive uphill drag, a short flat stretch and the final mind-bending, leg-wobbling uphill finishing surge. And finish I did, my post-race prone position resembling the course layout (see below).

Well done to all our runners. There were some great performances from the Sportsworld Masters team, especially, Paul O’Beirne, Bruce Campbell, Adam Furlong and Liam Lenehan (Bronze O60s).

Despite my not-well-disguised aversion to XC, I was delighted to complete this race and it was a bonus to run a faster time than the Dublin Masters. Thanks to Anthony and Liam for keeping me going and the good advice, before and during the race. The support from the Sportsworld crew was fantastic (as usual) and really makes a difference when the pressure is on. Thanks also to Myles, Paul and Emily for the pep talks and organising the teams.

Richard McKeon

I have many happy childhood memories from traveling down to Avondale for picnics with my family so I jumped at the opportunity to run in the Men’s Intermediate race. Memory is a funny thing though because I always thought Avondale was flat! Thankfully, I was forewarned this wasn’t the case beforehand. With this knowledge in mind and buoyed by the success of the club in the earlier races Conor, Ben, Timothy, Stephan and I headed down to the start line.

The men’s race was 8km and involved two relatively flat 1km loops, followed by two hilly 3km loops with one particularly steep climb. The flat start encouraged a quick pace and the field spread out before we got onto the longer loops.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect the ground to be like but it was not too soggy in most places. It was definitely much firmer than Tymon was for the Dublin Intermediate race last month which is the only other cross country race I have done. We were told beforehand that some people slipped in one spot during one of the earlier races but there were no repeats in our race.

The race was won in just over 27 minutes by an athlete from Mullingar Harriers. Conor lead home the Sportsworld troops in 24th place with a time of 31:13. He was followed by Ben in 26th place, Timothy in 28th, me in 29th and Stephan in 33rd.

This was the last race of the day so many thanks to Emily, Myles, Paul and everyone else from the club who stayed back and offered words of encouragement to the five of us! It was a big help, especially towards the end. A common refrain was that I should pump my arms so I’ll have to bear this in mind in the future!

Full results from Avondale can be found here

Meet The Runner Amanda Hassett

Full Name

Amanda Hassett

When did you join Sportsworld?

September 2019

Where do you work?

Crumlin Children’s Hospital

What is your favourite club session?

I love a chat so probably the longer runs on Sunday but if I’m looking for a bit of a kick with speed work then maybe the Tuesday sprints.

What is your favourite race distance?

I don’t know if I’ve found my favourite. I’ve been trying them all out over the past year and maybe leaning towards middle distance – 10 mile?

What is your favourite meal before a big race?

I like a morning race so I tend to stick with the reliable oats, banana, and some extra protein.

My Favourite place to train

No specific favourite but definitely like a coastal run. It’s calming if I’m having one of ‘those’ days.

What’s your favourite race?

I was a first timer to the Women’s Mini Marathon last year and the atmosphere there trumps all of the rest.

What is your target for the next year?

To get a little bit faster and hopefully beat some of my times from this year.

What international events have you ran?

I’m a newbie to this but have signed up for Florence half marathon in April!

Where’s the most interesting place you have run?

Probably early morning along the Cliffs of Moher.

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

Most recently I visited Krakow – between the obvious history in Auschwitz, it had lots of quirky underground restaurants and bars, and Salt Mines which I didn’t know existed!

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

I’m trying to read more, I used to be so good for a few pages at nighttime. I spend most of my free time though catching up with friends and maybe having a cocktail or two.

How/When did you start your adventure with running?

I’ve always played some type of sport so have always been a runner in some shape or form. I ventured in to running a bit more seriously when I joined Ennis Track A.C. when I was 16.

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

Without a doubt it’s Dublin Marathon 2022.

What is your biggest non-running related achievement?

I’m finding this to be such a tough question. It’s hard to trump my running experiences over the past 12 months. However, I’m quite proud of my career as a Speech and Language Therapist and supporting children and their families in the hospital.

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

January is not a good time to answer this question… mileage is low but I will be aiming to get back to minimum 30km per week.

What motivates you? Running or otherwise

My friends are probably my biggest motivators. My friends are quite driven but seem to take it all in their stride. This definitely reflects the mentality of SW too which makes it easy to be part of the club.

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

The comradery when running and accountability to go for a run!

What made you join a Running Club?

I attended a wellness event in 2019 and we filled in diagram of how fulfilled we were in each area of our lives. A very obvious low rating for me – no hobbies! I joined SW the following week.

Why is running important to you?

It helps me to clear my head when stress starts to set in and it’s a good excuse to socialise too.

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

Nothing major comes to mind. Maybe more bake sales? I missed the one recently and wouldn’t mind a cupcake after training!

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

No one particular person. The marathon runners definitely were an inspirational bunch and for sure helped me to cross the finish line! I also think following Sportsworlders on Strava helps push me to run more and set new targets – hello to all of you who got a new follower after my recent XC endeavours!

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

I give a good attempt at Reformer Pilates but I don’t know if you could count my attendance as regular.

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

Ideally, this time next year I’ll be heading off either to travel or live abroad!

 

Dublin Masters 2023

The 2023 masters cross country championships was held in St. Anne’s Park Raheny on Sunday 8th January 2023 and was hosted by Raheny Shamrocks AC.
There were four separate races starting at 12.30 including over F50/F65/M65, M50, F35 and M35.

A crisp, clear morning greeted all the runners – conditions were optimal. Spikes were still a requirement to give confidence in some mucky patches!
As usual, there was an amazing atmosphere with everyone warming up together and trying out the course ground before the starting line. The course was 4km this year for the F35 ladies with a new layout of one small loop and two larger loops.
Emily gave the F35 ladies some amazing tips and encouragement beforehand; my favourite being “make sure to beat the person in front of you as every person matters for the overall team performance”.

This was my second time running in the Raheny cross country race. I felt more confident this year knowing what to expect.

I was part of the F35 team and ran a steady race playing cat and mouse with “Orla” from Raheny Shamrocks. I was delighted to pass her on the sprint to the finish line always keeping Emily’s tip in the back of my mind.

It was amazing to have all the cheering voices from Sportsworld supporters along the route – it really gave you the extra push to perform better. Myles had his new red jacket on, he just needs to get a Sportsworld crest on it!! Thank you to Ellen and Maria for fueling me with coffee before and after the race

Congratulations to Sportsworld on winning the gold medals for the over 35 ladies team. They are Maria JONES, Nicola LENEHAN, Maura GINTY and Lorna QUINN, the GOLDEN Girls of Sportsworld Such an inspiration to us all and Emily was so proud.

Raheny Shamrocks Kate Purcell won the race overall but Sportsworld did extremely well finishing 4th, 6th, 8th,and 11th positions to take the title away from the host club Raheny Shamrocks.

Raheny Shamrocks were deemed the overall winner as they were the Club that won the most points across all categories and were thus awarded the Pat Hooper Perpetual Cup.

Thank you to Raheny for hosting a great event and looking forward to 2024 already!!!

 

Meet The Runner Adam Furlong

Full Name
Adam Paul Furlong

When did you join Sportsworld?
My current girlfriend, knowing I liked to run, encouraged me to join her at a training session in Bushy during the first summer of Covid when restrictions had eased & you could train in pods at different times. I recall thinking I was a great lad & smashing out sprints (which Martin Doyle is still teaching me to temper) & Coach Emily berating me that I’d gas out. Needless to say, she was right.

Where do you work?
I work in property management, it’s incredibly exciting.

What is your favourite club session?
Summers sessions in Bushy, even though they can be tough, you’re always buzzing after.

What is your favourite race distance?

100m you barely have to breathe & the pain is over quickly. Having said that I’m starting to half enjoy 5ks.

What is your favourite meal before a big race?
It’s an oldie but yoghurt, berries & granola with a slice of toast & of course a coffee.

My Favourite place to train
Probably still Bushy but I’ve only done the 10 miles in the park a handful of times but loved it, I need to just get up early on a Sunday & go.

What’s your favourite race?
Even though I performed horribly, I really enjoyed xc last year purely for the camaraderie & the support on the sidelines but I’d highly recommend the NIA in Abbotstown. It’s a championship track & as a complete amateur, I got such a kick warming up with Mark English & Nick Griggs.

What is your target for the next year?
I know it’s going to be tough but desperate to get sub 40 mins for 10k

What international events have you run?
Well, I completed my first international running challenge in La Santa last November. The running did get in the way a touch but I loved it, 99% sure I’m going this year.

Where’s the most interesting place you have run?
Again it was last year I ran the grand prix circuit in Singapore (it’s a street circuit with the garages & grid a permanent fixture in Marina Bay).

Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been? (Doesn’t have to be running-related)
I’ve been lucky enough to do a bit of travelling & one of the places that stands out for me is Hoi An in Vietnam, the people, the food and the architecture, are stunning. Only last year on the same trip I was in Singapore I went to Borneo & into the Rainforests & up the Kinabatangan River which was mind blowing.

What do you like doing when you don’t run? (hobbies/past times)
I’m fanatical about sport particularly running, obvs, Horse Racing, Rugby & Football. I love live sports so again I’ve been lucky enough to have attended Old Trafford, Elland Road, Villa Park, Wembley, Twickenham, Murrayfield, Millennium Stadium, Aintree & Cheltenham. I also love Music & live gigs & am mad about film.

How/When did you start your adventure with running?
I was a fan of athletics in school but never kept it up until a good pal of mine Andy Maher from Wexford encouraged me about 10 years ago to run the Wexford half with him. I’d say I managed a long run of 12k max beforehand, I hadn’t a clue what I was doing. Halfway through the race (which was about as far as I’d ever ran) I was in absolute bits & ready to pull out but if anyone is familiar with the course after Johnstown Castle you’re in the middle of nowhere so I plugged on with all the hazard lights flashing until Andy came out of nowhere alongside me & coaxed me home. We crossed the line together in 1hr 55mins & the elation I felt after lasted for a week (even though I couldn’t walk) & I was hooked.

Tell us about your PB’s / What is your biggest achievement?
5k 19.32 (Naas Parkrun Dec 2022)
Half Marathon 1.32.02 (Dublin Half Phoenix Park 2022)
Marathon 3.21.13 (Dublin 2022)

My first ever Marathon in Dublin this year is by far & away my biggest running achievement, it was a goal of mine for a long time even having entered & not got a number in previous years.

I can categorically say that a bit like my first half I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I simply couldn’t have done it without Sportsworld & the support & advice I received.It almost made the 5 months of training & those excruciating last 6 miles worth it.

What is your biggest non-running related achievement?
Convincing Deirdre O’Connell to go out with me

How often do you run / What is your typical weekly mileage?
I hit 90k pw during Marathon training but I’m back down to a sensible for me anyway 50k pw

What would you say is the best thing about being in a Running Club?
It has to be the encouragement, motivation, competition you get from running with likeminded half-crazy masochists.

What made you join a Running Club?
First & foremost it was to complete my goal of running a marathon but I just fell off a cliff running solo & I love running with clubmates.

Why is running important to you?
As Gareth Murran has told me, it’s nearly mental health over physical health although I appreciate the effects of the latter. Regardless of how you’re feeling & how little you want to lace up I have never come in from a run regretting it or not feeling better.

Who is the person in the club who inspires/drives to run better?
It goes without saying Emily & Myles for their dedication, support, advice & devotion but I’d also like to mention Mikey Cunningham & Paul Duffy who carry the same traits. Last year in my first & last intermediate cross country in Meath I was the only runner left on the course & poor old Mikey in an icy wind came out to the far reaches of the course to encourage me home, much respect. I’d also like to mention & she won’t like this but Maura Ginty who whilst living in the wilds of Mayo travels the length & breadth of the country to represent the club.

Do you do any cross training / other sports on a regular basis?
I like to swim & recently joined the gym in UCD for access to their 50m pool.

Tell us something that no one in the club knows about you!?
I’m originally from Kildare & as everyone knows, ahem, we invented the horse & as I grew up within a throwing distance of Naas racecourse, Punchestown & the Curragh the writing was pretty much on the wall. A couple of years ago a very good friend who had been working in Hong Kong set up a syndicate of which I’m a member. The horse’s name I hear you ask, Yafordadoe….which is Cantonese for One for the Road. On his first win in the Curragh Jerry Hannon the commentator exclaimed “Yafordadoe is up for the dough”. We’ve had a few great days out but unfortunately, he’s quite seriously laid up with a ligament issue.

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