Afton 25km Trail Run July 3 rd A Race Report by Deirdre Hassett A few years ago on a road trip in Cuba, my friend and I used to play a game tactfully called ‘Spot the Big Irish Potato Head’. This involved sitting in a bar and picking out people with hearty peasant features, milky white legs and...

MEMORIES OF A RECENT BALLA 10K BY RUNNER 202 The sun was still high in the sky as I drove towards Balla for their annual 10k run and walk. A gentle northerly wind would ensure it was an ideal evening for running, training had been going well and I would be happy with anything under forty minutes...

There's absolutely no stopping Deirdre Hassett these days. Her sojoun in the 'land of the free and the home of the brave' seems to be sitting extremely well with the girl. Her latest athletic exploits are detailed on the Galway Triathlon Club's website (we only own half her soul apparently) at http...

I’m a little obsessed (among many other things in my life) with glossy magazines. I read them in newsagents, buy them, beg them from friends and surreptitiously swipe left behind ones on airplanes. Fashion, oh yes – but also running , triathlon, health and fitness magazines. Why? I think it’s...

The Atmosphere Sitting in the Imperial hotel in Cork on Sunday night I began to ask myself some serious questions. I was in the company of a world record holder, an elite ultra marathon runner, a marathon runner with over 230 marathons completed and another crazy who had completed the Brathay 10 in...

Pic: Ray pictured at the finish with the Physio Team "The Body Rehab". Everyone at Athenry AC who has been following Ray O'Connor's exploits in the UK over the last week or so can't fail but to have been impressed, not to say amazed, by his achievements. It's one of those occasions where saying...

Day 6 The day started really badly with the news that one of the guys has had to pull out due to serious injury. His head said to carry on but his injury didn't agree and unfortunately two time IronMan Phil Love is out! Sad news for the entire camp. I really didn't know what to expect today other...

Day 4 I stayed up late last night, getting to bed at 11.30, so I was tired this morning. The usual post marathon soreness, not triple soreness, just normal and nothing really to worry about other than a slight twinge on my right knee. Maria will sort that out I thought as I headed to the Physio...

Photo: Athenry's Golden Girls Deirdre Hassett, Miriam Wall, Jane Anne Healy and Eimear Butler A Race Report on The Craughwell 10 Miler By Jane Anne Healy The Craughwell 10 was for me, more than just a race. I haven’t raced since September 2009 due to a stress fracture and, after a disappointing Cork...

By Deirdre Hassett Lil is firstly my dad’s dog. She’s secondly, and in a small way, mine – I have a unique selling point that my dad can never match, despite their years of teaming around together – I take her out running. Every two months or so I descend on my parents’ house; a fairy dogmother...

By Deirdre Hassett I’ve given up New Year’s resolutions. They mostly involve giving up cake, which I always fail horribly at. And why run if you can’t have cake? I had some goals for 2009, which Mick’s 2010 call to arms reminded me of, and inspired me to check out what I’d planned to do for the year...

National Inter County Cross Country Race Report (Kilbeggan, 22 Nov.) By Deirdre Hassett Okay, I had fun. Kind of. And we are the proud owners of B division All Ireland silver medals (and for the smart among you, I like to quote el Jefe Mick: “Well, there may only have been two teams but they weren’t...

This says it all better than I could: http://www.lyallguiney.com/2009/11/dublin-marathon/