GOOD VALUE ON THE ROADS
With spring fever in full swing, runners of all standards and tastes have a bewildering choice of races to pick from over the next two months.
In the past, one race per area on any given day was the rule. That is no longer the case, with local clubs, the BHAA, charities and commercial operators all vying with each other for the punter’s entry fee.
So next Saturday, for instance, we have two races well worth supporting in the Dublin area alone. The K Club 10k, organised under BHAA rules, was a big hit when it was first held last year.
With the start and finish in the K Club itself, the course took in the quiet roads around Straffan. Afterwards, everyone was treated to their fill of sausages, sandwiches and other goodies. This year all finishers get a creme egg. Entry is €10 if you are a BHAA member; €15 if you’ve yet to register.
Also proving a big hit last year was the Ras UCD 5k around the Belfield campus in Donnybrook. All funds raised by this race go to the UCD Volunteer Overseas Charity. Entry is €12 (€8 students).
For club athletes, the big road race of the weekend is Sunday’s Woodies DIY Irish Road Relays hosted by Raheny Shamrock on their mile loop around All Saints Road. Women and master teams run three legs – a mile, a two mile and a mile. Senior men run two mile legs, a two mile and a three mile. With a relaxed atmosphere and lots of banter, this is most enjoyable “championship” event of the year.
Also on Sunday, the first round of the women’s Meet & Train Summer League takes place. This, a two-mile run around the nature reserve in Irishtown, is hosted by Crusaders.
Three and four mile races will follow, building up nicely to the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon. If you’ve never entered a race before, these races are an ideal introduction. Entry is €20 for the three-race series or €7 per race.
For all the talk of rip-off entry fees, none of these races, organised by runners for runners, cost more than €12. There’s still good value out there!
MARATHON ROUND-UP
Alistair Cragg and Mark Kenneally both make their marathon debuts next weekend. Kenneally runs in Vienna on Sunday, while Cragg, who set an Irish best of 60 mins 49 for the half marathon last month, lines out in Boston a day later. In London, Gladys Ganiel O’Neill hopes to improve on the 2:41.45 she ran last year. In Rotterdam last weekend, Tallaght’s Sean Connolly was 15th in 2:17.20, while Alan O’Shea of Bantry clocked 2:21.37.
Lorraine Manning improved her PB to 2:44.28 in Paris, with Siobhan O’Doherty running 2:45.27 and Jill Dodgins 2:53.51. Qualifying standards for the World Championships next August are 2:16 (men) and 2:38 (women).
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT
This year’s Darkness into Light 5k for Pieta House at dawn on Saturday May 7 will take place not just in Dublin’s Phoenix Park but also in Limerick, Galway, Cork, Ennis and Killarney. Online entry is €27 (€17 OAPs/students).
Pieta House operate Ireland’s first community-based centres for the prevention of self-harm and suicide. Last year, 1,200 people supported Darkness into Light in Dublin. Register at www.darknessintolight.pieta.ie.
BELFAST MARATHON: LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES
Entry for the Deep RiverRock 30th Belfast City Marathon on Monday May 2 close on Friday, with record numbers expected.
Over 16,000 people have already registered, with organisers confident of breaking the 20,000 barrier.
More than 3,000 runners will take part in the main marathon. They’ll be joined by over 9,000 relay runners, as well as walkers and fun runners.
To enter, see www.belfastcitymarathon.com.
ROAD RACES: RESULTS ROUND-UP
Winning the Dublin City Council Road Races in St Anne’s Park were Aoife Brady and Simon Ryan. Philip Harty of West Waterford won the Sonny Murphy Memorial 10-Mile in Kilnaboy, where Tracey Roche of Dooneen was first woman. Leading home 2,183 finishers at the Connamara Half Marathon was Lezan Kimuti, who finished with over eight minutes to spare on Thomas Kelly and John MacEnri. First woman was Regina Casey. Winning the Connemara ultra was Gary Crossan, with Marty Rea second and Carol Morgan the first woman. In the marathon, Freddy Keron Sittuk was first in 2:27.48 – 20 minutes ahead of Brendan Gill. Fionnuala Doherty was first woman.
Winners of the Titanic 10k in Belfast were Sean Scullion and Kerry Harty.
NATIONAL TITLES FOR FAGAN, BRITTON
Mullingar’s Martin Fagan retained his Woodie’s DIY 10k national title when finishing third in the Great Ireland Run in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. National cross-country champion Joe Sweeney of Dundrum South Dublin finished second in 30:42, with Annadale’s Ed McGinley third in 30:46.
Kilcoole’s Fionnuala Britton won the women’s title in 34:10. Mary Cullen of North Sligo was 12 seconds adrift for second place and DSD’s Ava Hutchinson third in 34:43. Close to 8,000 finished the race.
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