In what has easily become one of the busiest weekends for racing on the running calendar over the last few years we had groups of runners in action across multiple races on Saturday & Sunday.
Top of the pile was Dee Grady who ran a brilliant 2.13.11 in the 30k Human Race in Limerick on Sunday. On a windy day & with a hilly course Dee finished as 3rd female to add another podium finish to her achievements.
As always we had a large group in action in the Galway Bay Half Marathon & 10k on Saturday. In the 10k both Mick Duane & Kenneth O’Dea ran stormers to dip under the 40 minutes for the first time whilst Marguerite Wilson ran a 55.40 on her first 10k outing for this year.
Mick Duane - 39.42
Kenneth O’ Dea - 39.53
Adrian Fitzmaurice - 41.00
Peter Elwood - 50.12
Miriam Wall - 54.26
Marguerite Wilson - 55.40
Mary Duane - 56.14
Anne Hunter - 1.01.43
We had a larger group going in the half with some brilliant performances, including two members who dipped under the 90 minutes. John Langan posted a 1.29.22 & narrowly missed out on a PB by 5 seconds whilst Pat McDonagh blasted his previous best out of the water with a 1.29.36 & a 6 minute PB. Paul Hegarty narrowly missed out on the sub 90 with a 1.30.49 but still gained a 5min PB but Sheelagh Earls & Marie Finn kept up the new PB trend with 1.50.48 & 2.03.21. Jane Mangan, Caroline Mitchell & Maria Hehir ran a 1.59.09, 2.08.39 & 2.11.20 respectively & Yvonne Dowling took nearly four minutes off her Connemarathon time with a 2.07.34.
John Langan - 1.29.22
Pat McDonagh - 1.29.36
Paul Hegarty - 1.30.49
Gearoid Rohan - 1.39.40 (Pacer)
Sinead Foran - 1.45.08 (Pacer)
Mairead Sullivan - 1.49.31 (Pacer)
Jane Mangan - 1.59.09
Johnny O'Connor (remember him!) - 1.59.24 (Pacer)
Marie Finn - 2.03.21
Yvonne Dowling - 2.07.34
Caroline Mitchell - 2.08.39
Maria Hehir - 2.11.20
Only a few weeks ago Athenry AC fielded a large group of runners in Athlone for one of the flattest races in the country, the Flatline Half Marathon. Yesterday was a different story in Athlone as eleven members tackled the Athlone 3/4 marathon, possibly one of the few races around with practically no flat sections of road over nearly 20miles of running (at least it seems that way).
After a nice pacing gig (4hr marathon group) here last year I thought the route was nice & challenging but nothing out of the ordinary. After running a tempo session on it yesterday I have different feelings. Over the last year the final hill at 18.5miles somehow slipped my mind but after a slow walk up it yesterday (& a mix up with my nutrition) it is now burned into my memory forever more. I still managed a 2.31.18 but was left with questions to be answered in Dublin in a few weeks’ time.
Martin O’ Hara was first member home & finished strongly (trust me, I saw him disappear into the distance over that last hill) with a 2.28.59 & a seven minute improvement over last year. As ever Maeve Noone ran a consistent race with a 2.33.18 (13th female) & was followed closely by Siobhan Guinan in 2.34.44. In a rare appearance (without a bike ) Aonghus McGuinness finished with a 2.41.49 with Fiona Doughan next home in 2.46.20.
We also had a few former F4L’rs using yesterday as a long run in their prep for their first marathon in a few weeks. Cheryl Winston ran a 3.30.45, Majella Cummins a 3.35.17 & Caroline Freeney a 3.38.16.
Martin O’ Hara - 2.28.59
Kenneth O’ Hara - 2.31.18
Maeve Noone - 2.33.18
Siobhan Guinan - 2.34.44
Kieran Guiry - 2.36.51
Aonghus McGuinness - 2.41.49
Fiona Doughan - 2.46.20
Maria Lambe - 2.53.35
Francis Leahy - 3.12.54
Cheryl Winston - 3.30.45
Majella Cummins - 3.35.17
Caroline Freeney - 3.38.16