EAST DOWN PERFORMANCES at BELFAST MARATHON
I know there were warnings to runners taking part in yesterday’s Belfast City Marathon to take plenty of water on board before and during the race due to the unseasonably high temperatures expected and almost as crucially to adjust their target times to allow for the effect that the heat could impinge considerably on their body’s ability to deal with it. However, after months of hard, dedicated training through some of the most persistently bad Winter weather for decades, it was expecting a lot for many to follow this latter advice, especially for those for whom time was of the essence. At least two in that category, who
were targeting running the qualifying time for London 2019 were Phillip Vint and Liam Keenan. Phillip was chasing a sub 3.15 time while Liam had a 5 minute leeway on that for his age group. In fairness they gave it their all and could be seen working hard throughout and in the final stages, and Phillip only just missed the target, clocking 3.17 for another excellent result, though he was understandably disappointed with it. Liam struggled from much earlier in the race and eventually crossed the line in 3.35. Nothing to be ashamed about with that return, though disappointment will feature strongly for a day or two.
Barrie Atkinson who was a last minute entry placed overall 22nd in a time of 2.48 compared with his 23rd place last year in a time 5 minutes slower.
FIRST FOR PAUL
Paul Lloyd not a first time marathon runner but a first timer in the East Down colours, had every reason to feel happy with his time of 3.24, an excellent debut for the club by any standards.Gavin Hynds was another who was aiming for a pb but despite consistent training it was not to be on this occasion. He suffered cramping quite badly from Mile 17 but struggled on to finish in 3.58 a long way off his 3.35 in Dublin but an achievement nonetheless. Disappointed but not discouraged as he has already entered Dublin in October, he consoled himself with the knowledge that there was a chance of more immediate redemption on Saturday when he plans on running the Slieve Donard race!!
Liz O’Hagan and Cathy Burke seemed oblivious to the pain, finishing in 4.08, while Sean Sealey who has helped so many struggling runners across the line in his marathon career to date, looked like he had picked up a fairly serious injury himself as he limped through 24 miles, yet to his credit he finished, alongside Mags Flynn, and their times of 4.20 was a massive 21 minutes better than last year’s!!
LONG WAY FROM 24 TO 26
Simon McGrattan, so often the saviour and inspiration for many of his fellow East Down distance running friends, looked decidedly in need of a helping hand (or possibly even a leg or two) when he reached 24 miles too, but to his credit he raised a smile to his own face and brought a laugh from his supporters there by playfully attempting to duck through the Park gates to take the short cut home. He was surely not disgraced by his eventual 4.47 time, which incidentally was 13 minutes faster than last year.
EXCELLENT PACING
Andrew Telford and Mick McCreesh were superb pacers. Andrew for the 4 hour 30 runners nailing it in 4. 29 while Mick suffered badly from the heat in the last two miles but still posted 3.42 as 3.45 pacer.
LINDA HITS THE TON
However pride of place must go this week and perhaps for several weeks to come to the indomitable, inspirational and indefatigable Linda Cunningham who became Queen of the Marathon by completing the race in the totally irrelevant time of 5.41, alongside her ever supportive sister Jacqueline Moore ,to register her 100th Marathon.
In typical Linda style though she was modest in her comments and said she just went out, dressed as Batwoman, to enjoy it, and she did. She was however surprised and a little emotional afterwards when I had the absolute privilege to be asked to present her with her medal from the 100 Marathon Club of Ireland, a richly deserved acknowledgement from her peers in the running fraternity.
She had really wanted to hit the 100 mark in Belfast where it all started for her a relatively short time ago, and in fact had to run her 99th on Saturday in Drumquin, just to set up the score for Monday.
This really is an incredible achievement and echoes her philosophy on life to live every day as a bonus and be thankful you’re able to do what you love doing.
Her husband Mickey and her family were all there to see their Heroine cross the line.
BINNIAN and HORSEHOE – NEIL and NIALL SHINE
Newcomer Niall Gibney seems to have found his niche in the running genres as he improves week by week in the mountains. Not content with taking a very respectable 56th place in the infamous Binnian To The Top which is Round 4 of the H & D Series, on Thursday night, he turned out again on Saturday in the Annalong Horseshoe taking 35th place inn 3.01. The race was won by Newcastle’s Seamus Lynch in 2.06 though Neil Andrews, who didn’t run on Thursday took an eyecatching 7th place in 2.21 an excellent result out of 100 finishers.
NIRUNNING MILE 2018
As last year the Foster girls Kirsti, Jodi and Lucy took part in the Nirunning Mile event at Mary Peters Tack on Friday night, and Lucy and Jodi came first and 2nd in the Under 12 Girls’ race and Kirsti won her race also. Most interesting facts about their performances were that all improved quite dramatically on their 2017 results (in brackets) with Kirsti leading the way 5.39 (6.01) Jodi 6.04 (6.18) and Lucy5.58 (6.08). These times mean that Kirsti is the fastest Female in her category while Lucy and Jodi are 1st and 2nd in the Under 12 age group. and Kirsti is first, Lucy is 4th and Jodi 5th Overall in the Junior categories. Well Done Girls.
DOWNPATRICK LIONS 3 LAKES CHARITY RACE
This weekend the big event locally is the 3 Lakes Race on Saturday 12 May starting at 11.00am and with a Fun Run over 7K and a 15K for the more experienced runners a big turnout is eagerly anticipated to raise funds for the Downs Syndrome Association, and Cure Parkinson’s Trust the Lions designated Charities this year.
Online entries are still open https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=4532and there will be registration on the day from 9.00am on the day. For further information please contact. Adrian Daye on 07876560015 or via email atlas@atlasrunning.co.uk If you are free but not planning to run there are still some gaps in the marshalling team. Please contact above to help out and it will be much appreciated.
RUNNER DIES AT BELFAST MARATHON
On behalf of East Down Athletics Club I wish to express our condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of the man who, sadly collapsed while participating in Monday’s race and later died in hospital. It was reported that it his first attempt at the marathon, though he was an experienced runner over shorter distances, and the running fraternity is united in its grief and sense of loss and wish to reassure his relatives that he will be remembered in their prayers in the coming weeks.
Joe Quinn
8 May 2018