From all over the country they came – over 6,000 runners, fast and slow, dedicated and casual, for the National Lottery Half Marathon in the Phoenix Park.
Seamus Power from Co Clare, many times Irish cross-country champion, made the early pace but how long would his 40-year-old legs hold out? The answer came at seven miles, when a severe stitch saw him slow to a crawl.
He recovered enough to finish sixth overall, but it left the way open for Mark Hoey, a 24-year-old landscape gardener from Co Meath, to take victory in 68 minutes 58 seconds.
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| Barry Minnock, Mark Hoey |
Half a minute behind for second place was Martin Conway from Sligo while a close third was Monaghan man Patrick Cassidy. These were club standard athletes all breaking 70 minutes on a supposedly “tough” course.
A day later, a large group from the “Marathon Mission”, the elite group supported by the National Lottery Dublin Marathon, ran the Great North Run. It left many scratching their heads. If this group is financed by the Dublin marathon organisation, then surely they should turn out for races organised under its banner, such as Saturday’s half marathon?
One who stayed at home was Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane. She got her reward when she won the women’s race in a new personal best time of 76.25. Also sticking to home territory was Raheny’s Lorraine Manning who looked slightly off form, but still managed to finish third behind her veteran clubmate Annette Kealy.
Another staying close to home was Bantry’s Alan O’Shea who won the inaugural Charleville Half Marathon in a good time of 66.58. Raheny’s Vinnie Mulvey was second in 67.33 and Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe third in 67.59; all good times that didn’t require a flight abroad.
First woman was Angela McCann from Clonmel in 82 minutes. McCann had finished fourth in Dublin a day earlier with a time of 80.15 and went on to run the Women’s Mini Marathon that afternoon in her native Clonmel finishing third!
With the Dublin marathon less than six weeks away, there are still plenty of long distance challenges on the calendar. One of the most useful is the Athlone Three Quarter Marathon on Sunday October 2 – an ideal opportunity for that last long run in company. Register at www.athlone3quarter.com.
For those who don’t want to run longer distances, the good news is that there are plenty of shorter races around. Sunday’s Rathfarnham 5km (10.0) has established a well-earned reputation for superb organisation and fast times. Numbers are up this year with over 800 expected on Sunday and a Sub-4 sponsored technical long-sleeved t-shirt for the first 900 finishers. There is also a goodie bag sponsored by Wheelworx. An unusual feature of this year’s race is the mixed team category with prizes for the first five senior teams of two men and two women and a further two prizes for the best junior mixed teams. Race HQ is Terenure College, a short stroll from the start. Late entries at €30 will be taken on the day; registration closes at 9.30am sharp.
* We hear a rumour Mark Kenneally may be running.
One runner absent from the track this summer was Sli Cualann’s Roisin McGettigan, the women who put Irish steeplechasing on the map. Roisin’s been busy – she got married and is expecting her first child any day now. In her few spare moments, she’s also set up her own company called Believe I am with training buddy Lauren Flashmann. This, they hope, will inspire other women to get fit, set goals – and wear the t-shirt. See www.believeiam.com.
Helen White of Sportsworld proved best of a strong Irish team at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships in Paluzza, Italy when she finished third W45.
Defending champion Mags Greenan of Clonliffe finished fourth W50.
Both men and women’s over 40 teams took silver medals. The Rathfarnham trio of Zoe Melling, Vanessa Sallier and Maria made up the women’s team, while Neil Carty of North Belfast, Rathfarnham’s John Brennan, Cormac Conroy of Sli Cualann and Leo Murray of Tir Chonaill combined on the men’s team. Also taking silver was the M50 team of Gerard Maloney from St Paul’s Wexford, North Laois’s Martin McDonald and Ger Griffin.
Taking bronze were both men and women’s over 45 teams. In the over 35 category, former Olympic mountain biker Jenny McCauley finished 7th, while in the men’s race Rathfarnham’s Peter O’Farrell was 13th.
Olympians Jerry Kiernan and David Matthews are among the Dublin-based runners heading west this weekend for the annual Ballyhaunis 8km on Saturday September 24 (4pm).
Kiernan will join his former Clonliffe Harriers team mate Padraig Keane on the start line. Keane, along with Frank Greally, editor of the Irish Runner, is an original member of Ballyhaunis Athletic Club, founded in the late 1960s.
Online entry is still available at www.runireland.com; info Martin Fitzmaurice- 087-2455989.
Torben Dahl outlasted Keith Heery to win the Kilkenny Half Marathon in
77 minutes 27 seconds. Eilis Connery was first women in 86.29. Catherina McKiernan led home over 600 women at the Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon 10km, finishing in 37 minutes 53 seconds. Second was Dympna Ryan in 39 mins 4 secs, while third was the aforementioned Angela McCann in 39 mins 52 secs.
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