Martin Keane won his third National Championship medal of the last 12 months on Sunday down in Carlow. He now has V6 [to hide his age better!] medals in the 10KM (2010 - Silver), Half (2010 - Bronze) and Full Marathon (2009 - Bronze).
Full results are here:
http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/half-marathon-result-2010-age-categories.pdf
http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/individual-result-half-marathon-2010.pdf
An inspiration to all of us!
A few words from the man himself follow:
Last Sunday in the company of Philip Magnier, I decided to go to the National half marathon, which this year was held in a rural part of Co. Carlow called Crettyard. Although AA Road Planner suggested going by Tullamore & Portlaoise, instead we opted for the more scenic route of Roscrea & Abbeyleix. Passing through North Tipperary, plenty of blue and gold banners and flags all to support their hurling team were on display.
After near two hours’ driving and almost there, we pulled up outside a pub at a country crossroads for a cuppa; this area was called The Swan and our attention was drawn to some artefacts on display in the pub window. These items were a balance weighing scales, a guillotine type tobacco cutter and a sign for Gold Flake cigarettes: it’s only veterans that recognise those things nowadays.
We arrived at the race HQ and while parking in a field close by, we met up with the Athenry gang and a few GCH runners as well. Then into the sports hall and while Maeve was sorting out everyone’s number, I took time to renew old acquaintances with others who had travelled from all parts of the country for this race.
After the usual team photos, the race got going on a double-lap triangle-shaped course, which had plenty of hills and long straight roads. At those AAI events, the standard is always higher, so after a short time running I glanced behind and got some consolation to find a good few stragglers strung out behind me. There weren't many spectators on the road but I did recognise Dick Hooper, supporting Raheny Shamrocks teammates, no doubt. After nearly two hours hard slogging, I finally got to finish in one hour 56 minutes (Ed: and 59 seconds).
Believe it or not it was good enough for 3rd place in V6 section. Philip had a brilliant run too, getting back in one hour 39 minutes. Ah, great to be young!!
After refreshments and presentations, with Liam Hennessy doing the honours as AAI president, completed we began the journey home but decided we'd call back to that pub in The Swan, to watch what was left of the hurling final. While waiting for the second half to start, I got chatting to Kilkenny supporter and we got down to local history about a brutal murder I was aware of that happened close to the pub in the 1930s. He told me his best friend was a grand-son of the man from nearby Wolfhill who went to the hangman’s noose for the ghastly deed. All you would-be Alfred Hitchcock style film makers might check out the story line in that long drawn-out murder trial. My Kilkenny friend was shortly to meet a similar “fate” as Tipperary took the honours and the bonfires were blazing as we made our journey home. While saying goodbye to Philip, we both looked forward to the next race, which might be the Dublin marathon: I just can’t wait!!!