Breaking the Sound Barrier – a good few PBs in 5k races

21/5/2023

L-R: Alan Kavanagh, Ciaran Diviney, Ger Forde, Cathal O'Hara, Neil Brown

The running was fast and furious this week with at least 3 top-class 5k road races on offer, including the national 5k road race championships held early on Saturday morning in the Phoenix Park.

On a mild and windless day in Dublin, nearly 1,200 runners took part in the Irish Runner 5k that incorporated the national championships. The race was organised on what is becoming a reasonably familiar loop nowadays in the northwest corner of the park on Chesterfield, Ordnance Survey and Furze Roads, but also including the challenging diversion via the Furry Glen and up the steep hill on the switchback towards the top of the Upper Glen Road. There is also the deceptively long finish straight along the Furze Road. One might not automatically think of it as being a PB course. However, at least three of the 13 Crusaders who took part ran their fastest times so far for the distance. Ger Forde was one of them. In Addition to leading our contingent home in 36th place, he also recorded a PB time of 16:22. He may have been helped by the presence of Ciaran Diviney who finished just behind him in 38th place in a time of 16:28, Ciaran having overtaken Ger early in the race. Ger placed 4th M40, whilst Ciaran was the first M50 to cross the line. They were followed by Alex Ainsworth, another runner recording a PB, placing 53rd in 16:56, and he had Paul Cowhie not so far behind (63rd and 2nd M55 in 17:03). Cathal O’Hara was next (136th in 18:43), followed by Eoghan Kerins (180th in 19:06) and Cormac Fenton (193rd in 19:17, a possible PB). Neil Brown has been knocking on the door of a sub-20 minutes finish recently and he finally achieved it on Saturday morning, and in style, with a 19:39 PB time, coming home in 213th place. Behind Neil came Alan Kavanagh (346th in 21:42), Will Holton (352nd in 21:43), Michael Judge (444th in 21:58), Elad Solomon (447th in 23:25) and Paul E. Kelly (740th in 29:15).

At time of writing, we are waiting to see if Ciaran Diviney will be successful in being included in the national championship results having signed up late. If he is included, then the team of Ger, Ciaran and Paul will have won the O/35 team silver and Ciaran will have won individual M50 gold. In any event, Paul has won the silver medal in the M55 age category. Fingers crossed!

Earlier in the week we were treated to an amazing 5k race in Co. Kildare, part of the Peugeot Series. On a fast course which was generally flat, but with a slight climb early on and a slight downhill finish, in the field of 744, there were nearly 50 runners who broke 16 minutes and nearly 400 who broke 20 minutes, including 50 women. It was a really strong field and graced by the presence of 7 Crusaders, all of whom broke 20 minutes. The group was led across the line by a highly satisfied Brian O’Kelly in 6th place, finishing for the first time since early 2020 in under 15 minutes (14:56). Brian was followed by new member Saoirse McGrath with a super time of 18:34 for 260th overall (40th female finisher) closely followed by Danielle Hopkins also running strongly (264th and 42nd in 18:40). Kathryn Sweeney and Kathryn Gibbons were not too far behind (in 298th and 49th and 309th and 52nd, respectively) in respective times of 19:05 and 19:06, with Phelim Murray, in his second race in as many days, in 323rd in 19:18. To cap off a great performance by the runners, Sarah Lyons placed 340th and 60th in a PB time of 19:28. In the team competition, the team of Saoirse, Danielle and Kathryn Sweeney placed 9th out of 50 in the competition.

On Friday evening there was yet another quality 5k, this time in Leixlip. The anti-clockwise looped course had its fair share of hills, finishing on the Le Cheile track, with which many of our members will be familiar. There were 206 runners in the race, including 4 Crusaders. Kevin Fitzgibbon recorded a PB time of 16:13 for his 4th place and he was followed by Karl Fitzmaurice (14th in 17:33). Charles-Edouard Cattier, preparing for the Edinburgh marathon next weekend, was next, in 26th place and a great time of 18:24 and he was followed by Irene Gorman whose 29th place overall in a super time of 18:36, was good enough to put her into second place behind Sportsworld’s Aoife O’Leary. Members may be interested to hear that Sean Murphy, who trains with us from time to time, ran 19:04 for 41st place.

There were other road races over the weekend in which Crusaders appeared, notably including the 10k and half marathon in the Fastlane Series. These races took place as usual on the Grand Canal towpath with a relatively flat loop around the Grangecastle business park, the half marathon including two of these loops. We had one runner in the 10k. In a field of 440, Tanja Narancic placed 141st and 22nd (7th F40) in a time of 52:50, whilst we had 8 Crusaders in the half marathon. In a field of 728 finishers, Jim Stagg, making a welcome return to racing, placed 8th in 80:27. Jim was followed by Donatas Jocius, in training for the world mountain championships in a few weeks (15th in 82:53) and by James Donlon, back from Australia (32nd in 88:11). Triona Quill was next (162nd, 22nd and 5th F50 in 1:42:03) and Triona was followed by Anna Hoesl (205th and 33rd in 1:44:37), Joe Green (207th in 1:44:40), Liam O’Brien (259th in 1:48:26) and Phil Sykes (376th in 1:53:40).

Finally, in Ireland, we had one runner in the LSA 4-mile race that took part on the tarmac paths around Balcarrick and Donabate Golf Clubs. On a fairly flat course with a slight incline to the finish, Aitor Arribas Velasco joined 300 other runners, placing 91st in 30:29.
Further afield, Lukasz Batruch ran in the 3-Country Half marathon conducted near to Basle in Switzerland, including also Luxembourg and Germany. Lukasz ran 1:42:40. Kevin Lambe took advantage of a holiday on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean to run in La Ronde des Goyaviers, a 24k trail race with a climb of 753m, which Kevin completed in 2:52. Our exiles in Australia, Eoghan Walsh and Deirdre Kennedy raced this weekend. Eoghan took part in the Sydney half marathon where he finished in 1:26:23, whilst Deirdre ran in the Sydney 10k, finishing in a time of 55:45. Esther Requena Ferri won another race in her native Spain. This was a 4k race (the Carrera urbana El Torcal de Antequera) which she completed in 15:20. Meanwhile, closer to home, Margaret Foley and Kate O’Malley took part in the Hackney Half marathon in northeast London. Kate ran 1:26:59, whilst Margaret ran 1:41:05.

There was, as usual, a midweek race in the Leinster League organised by IMRA in Co. Wicklow. This one involved a distance of 8.5k and a climb of 410m to the summit of Scarr. The course was described as difficult, but fully marked on this occasion. Becky Quinn won the women’s race in 48:25, placing 15th overall in a field of 169, whilst ahead of her came Jason Kehoe (6th in 46:51) and Warren Swords (10th in 47:36). Later, Ian Clifford followed in 84th place in a time of 63:23 and had Gavan Doherty behind him (109th in 68:29).

We had quite a lot of activity in the parkruns this weekend, both far and near and, as usual, we had some podium finishes.

17 Crusaders joined the field of 176 in Poolbeg, with first finish places going to Both Ross Neill (1st in 17:36) and Carmel Cooney (9th overall in 20:36). They were accompanied by Michael Wycherley (3rd in 18:31), Michael Fitzsimons (5th in 19:09), Sharon Woods (31st and 4th in 23:14), Áine Kenny (33rd and 5th in 23:20), Russell Murphy (34th in 23:24), Fiona Bane (41st and 7th in 23:55), Julian Callan (53rd in 24:35), James Bradshaw (57th in 24:41), Gillian Curran (82nd and 20th in 25:33), Josie Ward (96th and 24th in 26:28), Maureen McGinley (114th and 32nd in 27:40), Máirín Shine (120th and 41st in 28:45), Lisa Shine (130th and 42nd in 28:49), Anna Shine (133rd and 44th in 28:53) and Djinn von Noorden, tailwalking.

Brian McGuckin placed 3rd in Brickfields in a field of 66. Brian’s time was 20:45, whilst, in River Valley, Darina Scully joined87 other runners, placing 15th and 3rd in a time of 24:48. Dee Lawlor ran in Avondale with 72 other runers, placing 4th in a time 21:17, whilst Eoghan Corrigan ran in Kilcock, in the Royal Canal parkrun, placing 15th in a field of 155 and in a time of 21:33. Toby Benham also placed 15th in Tramore Valley, where, alongside 135 other participants, he ran 21:25. Meanwhile, John Lohan ran 21:42 for 9th place in a field of 86 in Oldbridge and he was followed by Tara Murphy who ran 26:34 for 33rd and 8th places. John Rooney was our lone runner once again in Sligo where, in a field of 80, he placed 19th in 24:15, whilst Mairead Cashman ran in Glen River. In a field of 66, Mairead placed 41st and 16th in 31:05. Dale Whelehan took 17th spot in 22:15 in Bushy Park with its field of 180 participants, whilst Andy Deuser crossed the line in 36th place in 24:14 in Fairview where he ran with 176 other runners. Kevin Flynn joined 100 other participants in Porterstown once again where he ran 37:56 for 84th place, whilst we had 4 runners in Shanganagh. In a field of 182, Olwyn Dunne placed 62nd and 14th in 25:08, followed by Tanja Narancic (65th and 16th in 25:11), Niamh Quinn (138th and 54th in 30:58) and Carina Davidson (146th and 59th in 31:49). We also had 4 runners in St. Anne’s Raheny. Kieran Martin led the contingent home in 9th spot in a time of 18:50 and he was followed by Áine Crotty (92nd and 9th in 23:41) just ahead of Cian Coughlan (93rd in 23:42) with Paul F. Kelly pacing 25-miunte runners, finishing in 131st in 24:48. Outside of ireland, John McDowell ran in Berlin where, in a field of 107, he placed 13th in 20:11. Karl Walsh ran in the Hanley Parkrun where, in a field of 290, he placed 5th in 20:01; Mari Hansen joined 248 other participants in Harlow where she placed 205th and 66th in 38:16; and, finally, Hannah Jones ran on Clapham Common where, in a field of 923 participants, she placed 716th and 277th in 31:42.

Bob Heffernan and Mary Hanley 5k road race (744)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Eoin Everard 1 00:14:33
33 Ide Nic Dhomhnaill 1 00:15:36 (CR)
Crusaders AC runners
6 Brian O’Kelly 00:14;56
260 Saoirse McGrath 00:18:34 (40)
264 Danielle Hopkins 00:18:40 (42)
298 Kathryn Sweeney 00:19:05 (49)
309 Kathryn Gibbons 00:19:06 (52)
323 Phelim Murray 00:19:18
340 Sarah Lyons 00:19:28 (PB) (60)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/bob-heffernan-mary-hanley-5k-road-race-2023/
BHAA ESB Beach Race 5k (74)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Rory O’Connor 1 00:15:21
16 Aoife O’Leary 1 00:17:37
Crusaders AC runners
4 Kevin Fitzgibbon 00:16:13 (PB)
14 Karl Fitzmaurice 00:17:33
26 Charles-Edouard Cattier 00:18:24
29 Irene Gorman 00:18:36 (2)
Full results here

Leixlip 5k (206)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Rory O’Connor 1 00:15:21
16 Aoife O’Leary 1 00:17:37
Crusaders AC runners
4 Kevin Fitzgibbon 00:16:13 (PB)
14 Karl Fitzmaurice 00:17:33
26 Charles-Edouard Cattier 00:18:24
29 Irene Gorman 00:18:36 (2)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/leixlip-5k-2023/#1_7336A4
Irish Runner 5k (National 5k Championships) (1174)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Pierre Murchan 1 00:14:26
47 Lizzie Lee 1 00:16:46
Crusaders AC runners
36 Ger Forde 00:16:22 (PB)
38 Ciaran Diviney 00:16:28
53 Alex Ainsworth 00:16:56 (PB)
63 Paul Cowhie 00:17:03
136 Cathal O’Hara 00:18:43
180 Eoghan Kerins 00:19:06
193 Cormac Fenton 00:19:17
213 Neil Brown 00:19:39 (PB)
346 Alan Kavanagh 00:21:42
352 Will Holton 00:21:43
444 Michael Judge 00:21:58
447 Elad Solomon 00:23:25
740 Paul E. Kelly 00:29:15
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/irish_runner_series_5k__2023/4800/results
LSA Peninsula 4-mile race (301)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 David Rooney 1 00:20:52
10 Aoife O’Leary 1 00:23:34
Crusaders AC runner
91 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:30:29
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/lsa_peninsula_4_mile_road_race/4781/results
Fastlane 10k (440)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Jake Russell-Carroll 1 00:32:10
12 Alicja Kowalczyk 1 00:38:02
Crusaders AC runner
141 Tanja Narancic 00:52:50 (22)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/fastlane_half_marathon__10km/4665/results
Fastlane Half marathon (728)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Matthew Collins 1 01:12:38
26 Shibeal McCann 1 01:27:05
Crusaders AC runners
8 Jim Stagg 01:20:27
15 Donatas Jocius 01:22:53
32 James Donlon 01:28:11 (PB)
162 Triona Quill 01:42:03 (22)
205 Anna Hoesl 01:44:37 (33)
207 Joseph Green 01:44:40
259 Liam O’Brien 01:48:26
376 Phil Sykes 01:53:40
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/fastlane_half_marathon__10km/4665/results
IMRA Scarr 8.5k (169)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Eoin Flynn 1 00:42:57
15 Becky Quinn 1 00:48:25
Crusaders AC runners
5 Jason Kehoe 00:46:51
10 Warren Swords 00:47:36
15 Becky Quinn 00:48:25 (1)
54 Ian Clifford 01:03:23
109 Gavan Doherty 01:08:29
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2307/
Oldbridge Parkrun (86)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mark Leacy 1 00:19:20
7 Karen Wilton 1 00:21:20
Crusaders AC runners
9 John Lohan 00:21:42
33 Tara Murphy 00:26:34 (8)
Sligo Parkrun (80)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Declan Munnelly 1 00:19:36
4 Trish Lee 1 00:20:20
Crusaders AC runner
19 John Rooney 00:24:15
Brickfields Parkrun (66)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Kiernan 1 00:20:13
17 Suzanne Ryan 1 00:23:54
Crusaders AC runner
3 Brian McGuckin 00:20:45
Shanganagh Parkrun (182)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Robin Mooney 1 00:16:31
11 Aoibhe McCarthy 1 00:19:56
Crusaders AC runners
62 Olwyn Dunne 00:25:08 (14)
65 Tanja Narancic 00:25:11 (16)
138 Niamh Quinn 00:30:58 (54)
146 Carina Davidson 00:31:49 (59)
Fairview Parkrun (177)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tim McBride 1 00:19:01
23 Aisling Kirby 1 00:23:28
Crusaders AC runner
36 Andy Deuser 00:24:14
River Valley Parkrun (88)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian O’Reilly 1 00:19:54
8 Cecile Ollagnier 00:21:37
Crusaders AC runner
15 Darina Scully 00:24:48 (3)
Avondale Parkrun (73)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Toby Gerard 1 00:18:40
6 Juno Fallon 1 00:22:07
Crusaders AC runner
4 Derek Lawlor 00:21:17
Poolbeg Parkrun (176)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ross Neill 1 00:17:36
9 Carmel Cooney 1 00:20:36
Crusaders AC runners
1 Ross Neill 00:17:36
3 Michael Wycherley 00:18:31
5 Michael Fitzsimons 00:19:09
9 Carmel Cooney 00:20:36 (1)
31 Sharon Woods 00:23:14 (4)
33 Áine Kenny 00:23:20 (5)
34 Russell Murphy 00:23:24
41 Fiona Bane 00:23:55 (7)
53 Julian Callan 00:24:35
57 James Bradshaw 00:24:41
82 Gillian Curran 00:25:33 (20)
96 Josie Ward 00:26:28 (24)
114 Maureen McGinley 00:27:40 (32)
120 Máirín Shine 00:28:45 (41)
130 Lisa Shine 00:28:49 (42)
133 Anna Shine 00:28:53 (44)
176 Djinn von Noorden 00:49:32
Tramore Valley Parkrun (136)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Murphy 1 00:18:09
20 Carmel Parnell 1 00:22:32
Crusaders AC runner
15 Toby Benham 00:21:25
St. Anne’s Parkrun (450)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Aidan Jones 1 00:16:54
28 Jane Gormley 1 00:20:11
Crusaders AC runners
9 Kieran Martin 00:18:50
92 Áine Crotty 00:23:41 (9)
93 Cian Coughlan 00:23:42
131 Paul F. Kelly 00:24:48
Glen River Parkrun (66)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian Linehan 1 00:20:48
8 Niamh Sheehan 1 00:23:27
Crusaders AC runner
41 Mairead Cashman 00:31:05 (16)
Bushy Parkrun (180)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Corcoran 1 00:17:15
10 Stephanie Slevin 1 00:21:34
Crusaders AC runner
17 Dale Whelehan 00:22:15
Porterstown Parkrun (101)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kevin Kelly 1 00:18:33
14 Rachel Murray 1 00:23:17
Crusaders AC runner
84 Kevin Flynn 00:37:56
Royal Canal Parkrun (155)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gary Cribbin 1 00:17:39
11 Aoife McNerney 1 00:20:23
Crusaders AC runner
15 Eoghan Corrigan 00:21:33