Epic Dublin Marathon – Huge Cru turnout, both runners and supporters

31/10/2023

Where to start? This weekend’s Dublin City Marathon was really the only game in town, in terms of road racing at least if not also in terms of one of the highlights of the year for Dublin’s fair city.

It did not disappoint, even though we were forecast perhaps longer dry spells throughout the race on Sunday morning than we got and when the rains came, they came with a vengeance. All of us who ran were not particularly bothered about the conditions ourselves; in fact, a bit of rain can be quite refreshing in such an event. Indeed, we were more worried that the weather would prevent our supporters from coming out. They are a vital element of the experience for us and everyone running for the club on the day was encouraged to wear the Crusaders singlet because we are always so amazingly well-supported along the full length of the course. Maith thú to all who braved the elements on Sunday to give us encouragement. It makes such a difference.

The day didn’t start out like that and for the early starters in wave one, the damp conditions just after the gun at 8:45 were reasonably soft. The later waves, however, were to bear the brunt of the heavy showers. It made the otherwise light (super) shoes quite heavy at times. Many of us took advantage of the use of Pembroke Hall close to the start line in Fitzwilliam Square generously donated for about the 10th time by Bob Manson. It provided us with a really comfortable and warm changing environment (with showers) and a safe bag drop. It’s a super privilege and we are so grateful for Bob to let us use it.

So, on the day we actually had at least 105 Crusaders start the race with no fewer than 104 of us finishing, an unprecedented result. This year, we welcomed quite a large number of newcomers to marathon racing, but even without their results we recorded a significant number of PBs. Of the 40+ PBs reported, at least a third came from those who had completed the distance before. It’s surprising because no one would suggest that Dublin is a PB course with its multitude of horrible hills in the first half (up to Christchurch and then up through Blackhall, the drag through the Phoenix Park, the really steep climb at Ballyfermot, another at Kilmainham and in Crumlin, the drag along through Dolphins Barn, the list is long) and then a couple late on just to sort the men from the boys in Milltown, Clonskeagh and the famous one at Roebuck. Admittedly there are some recovery-assisting downhills, particularly around the Phoenix Park (Knockmaroon Hill coming off a climb in Castleknock and then the Upper Glen Road) as well as Fosters Avenue and Nutley towards the end, but they just play havoc with your quads! Nevertheless, with all the support out there, our runners turned in some fabulous performances.

It's going to be difficult to list everyone here (although in principle they are listed!) and all the results are shown below, but we should point out that we had at least 16 runners who broke 3 hours, led home by Vinnie McGuinness in 34th place overall with a time of 2:29:27, just a little off his PB for the distance. Vinnie was followed by Ciaran Diviney, the 51-year-old placing 72nd and 2nd in his M50 age category, meaning that he won national silver and Leinster and Dublin gold medals, as the lead runner in the category was from a Northern club. Behind Ciaran came Kevin Fitzgibbon (92nd in a PB time of 2:39:46) and Ciarain Kelly (just behind in 93rd in a PB time of 2:39:53). Fingers crossed that we might have picked up a medal at least provincially or locally for the O/35 team.

Others to break 3 hours were Robert Browne (155th in 2:44:49) and Thomas Vogée (another runner with a PB result of 2:45:37 for 171st place). They were followed by Eugene McDonough (222nd in 2:47:49) who was suffering the effects of a head-cold, Daragh O’Reilly (255th in 2:49:15), Shane Egan with a PB time of 2:52:17 for 346th place, TJ Bourke, another runner with a PB (363rd with 2:52:55), Warren Swords (378th in 2:53:21), Kieran Martin (422nd in 2:54:36), Michael Reilly (425th in a PB time of 2:54:28), Donatas Jocius, who ran in the second wave (602nd in 2:58:09), Charles-Edouard Cattier who knocked off over 10 minutes from his previous best in a PB time of 2:57:52 for 603rd place and also celebrating becoming a father a few days earlier, John O’Donnell, another runner with a PB time of 2:58:20 in 654th spot and, finally, young Matthew Ryan. The 18-year-old runner recorded a five seconds PB improvement to register a time of 2:59:22, placing 785th, despite being plagued by a pair of shorts that kept continuously trying to slip down.

We had at least 40 female athletes in our contingent, a percentage greater than the overall gender mix in the marathon (70:30, male to female), and more than half finished inside 4 hours (well inside the top 25% of all the female runners in the race). Indeed, we had 7 female athletes who broke the 3:30 barrier. They were just behind the following athletes: Aaron Farrell (827th in a PB time of 3:01:36), Conor Macguinness (891st in 3:03:08), James Cottle (937th in 3:04:46), who, despite having difficulties crossing the line as he was throwing up (too many gels probably!), ran about 2 minutes faster than last year, in 2nd place overall in the M65 age category (to a runner from the north like Ciaran) and thereby claiming, like Ciaran, national silver and Leinster and Dublin gold medals, Mick Smyth (965th in 3:04:29), James Donlon (997th in 3:05:05), and then Paul O’Hara (1003rd with a time of 3:06:09), Oisin Corish (1117th in a time of 3:08:10) and Eddie Nugent (1173rd in 3:08:45), all three running their first marathon.

Despite being weakened by a heavy bout of sinusitis, which had prevented her from running in Berlin, Adrienne Jordan gamely tackled Dublin, placing 1202nd overall and 74th female finisher in 3:09:22. Ado was followed by Will Owens (1216th in 3:09:40), Alby Allan (1328th in a PB time of 3:10:44), Michael Fitzsimons (1388th also with a PB of 3:12:06) and then by Áine Kenny (1738th and 128th in 3:17:36) and Aoife Quigley (1758th and 131st in 3:18:22). With a bit of luck our O/35 women’s team may have podiumed in the Co. Dublin championships. To be seen. Aoife was followed by Seamus Moore (1886th in 3:19:41), Carolyn O’Reilly (another runner with a PB, placing 1982nd and 163rd in 3:19:16), Paul Moloney (2075th in 3:21:30), who was a runner with an interrupted training schedule with a slight injury, Gerard Moore (2,341st in 3:23:55), Jeanie Watson who surprised herself with her PB time of 3:24:39, placing 2344th and 210th, Paul F. Kelly (2365th in a PB time of 3:25:19), Oisin Browne (Carolyn’s fiancé) with a PB time of 3:24:31 to place 2404th, Ciara Lynch in her first marathon (2421st with a time of 3:24:04), Paul Campbell, pacing the 3:30 finishers (2852nd in 3:29:17), Kevin Lynch (2862nd in 3:27:36), Ruadhán Mac Cormaic, another novice marathoner who found getting in the training challenging and who was rightly delighted with his time of 3:28:45 for 2912nd place, and Paula Bradshaw, who has done so much to help the marathoners get to the start line. Paula broke 3:30 for the first time with a 3:29:28 finish for 3014th and 8315th places.

A large-ish group ran together for much of the race, comprising of Áine Crotty and her fiancé Cian Coughlan (3251st and 361st and 3252nd respectively) in the same time of 3:31:02, Joanne Carey (3303rd and 369th in 3:31:40), Ciara Lehane, with a PB time of 3:33:11 for 3357th and 380th and Rebecca Fleming with a PB time of 3:32:31 for 3375th and 382nd. Shivananda Pukhrem finished close to the group, placing 3338th in 3:33:52 in his first marathon having been guided for much of the race by Paul. Just ahead of Shiva came Adrian Groarke, placing 3315th in 3:32:05. Next came Karl Walsh (3496th in 3:34:46), Daniel O’Mahony (3534th in 3:34:20), Ian Weldon (3782nd in 3:37:35, a PB improvement of about 17 minutes), Tara Gavin (3870th and 477th in a PB time of 3:37:35), David Tuohy (4589th in 3:43:22), Triona Quill (4720th and 666th in 3:43:14, a time that may have gained her a Dublin medal), Jessica Norris (4742nd and 674th in a PB time of 3:43:48), Maeve Lochrie, another newcomer to marathon running, who suffered a bit in the race from an interrupted training schedule in the build-up (4829th and 692nd in 3:41:30), Lisa Branigan (4972nd and 724th in 3:46:03), Carmel Higgins (5186th and 7773rd in a PB time of 3:47:29), James Bradshaw (Paula’s husband), another newbie, who ran 3:47:08 for 5222nd place, Liam Nagle (5291st in 3:48:52), Emily Glen (5395th and 819th in a PB time (by 1 second) of 3:48:14), Tanja Narancic (5491st and 839th in a PB time of 3:48:42), Joe Green (5546th in 3:49:04 in his first marathon), Fiona Collins (5547th and 847th in her second marathon (10 years after the first) in a huge PB time improvement of 3:48:56), David McDonald (5911th in 3:51:47), Hannah Jones (6116th and 998th in 3:54:13), Liam O’Brien (6429th in 3:56:20), Ciara Black (3:57:24 in her first marathon, placing 6557th and 1131st), Mary Fitzsimons (6635th and 1158th in 3:55:50), Christina Campbell (another runner delighted with her PB time of 3:58:00 for 6656th and 1163rd), Franky Keane (6666th in 3:57:16), Mark Browne (6854th in 3:58:44), Joe and Olwyn Dunne, who were pacing the 4-hour finishers, with Joe placing 7012th in 3:59:36 and Olwyn, 7029th and 1265th in 3:59:45, and Gillian Curran who completed the sub-4-hour contingent by placing 7264th and 1336th in a PB time of 3:58:43.

We had at least 7 more PBs in the contingent that followed, including Lindsay Butler who placed 8011th and 1568th in 4:06:09. Lindsay was followed by John Kennedy (8326th in 4:07:35), Gillian McDarby (8497th and 1725th in 4:10:06), Mike Stewart, on his way back from injury (8525th in 4:09:49), David Pepper (8537th in his first marathon in 4:09:00), Lieze Verberght (another marathon novice, who ran 4:16:17 for 9129th and 1954th places), Kevin Kenny (9188th in 4:14:11), Avril Ryan (9502nd and 2106th in her first marathon in a time of 4:19:14), John Corish (another newbie, with a time of 4:18:59 for 9640th), Tara Murphy (9759th and 2206th in 4:20:02), Evelyn Neary (9946th and 2271st in a PB time of 4:22:04, definitely enjoying the experience this year), Aitor Arribas Velasco (10792nd in 4:29:42), Daniel Cullen (10894th in 4:29:49), Anna Hernick (11217th and 2788th in a huge PB improved time of 4:33:09), Fanny Trébouet, who knocked 50 minutes off her previous best time in Connemara to record a PB of 4:34:40 for 11587th and 2927th places, Darina Scully (11628th and 2940th in 4:37:13) and Djinn von Noorden, whose training has been impacted by a whole summer spent in the heavy heat of south-west France (11671st and 2960th in 4:36:26).

Martin Joyce was next in a PB time of 4:36:24 for 11686th place, and he was followed by Mairead Cashman (12329th and 3222nd in 4:42:57), Barbara Walsh with a PB run of 4:48:18 for 12712th and 3400th, Joe O’Reilly (14542nd in 5:14:15), Linda Walsh (14639th and 4356th in 5:14:42), Leo Lundy, running his umpteenth marathon (15428th in 5:44:34), Patrick Needham (15540th in 5:50:33), Niamh Quinn (15610th and 4834th in 5:53:54), Rachel Kelly, several months pregnant (15543rd and 4770th in 5:43:04) and Lorraine Fitzsimons (15891st and 5002nd in 6:12:23).

Well done to all. Roll on 2024!!

Elsewhere over the weekend, we have news from Spain that Esther Requena Ferri and her partner in exile Cristian Vilchez Ceballos both achieved PBs in the Malaga half marathon. Esther ran 1:27:31 and Cristian ran 1:19:14. Luke Davis reported that he competed in another Hyrox event in Dublin, finishing 111th out of 778 competitors.

Understandably, most of the marathoners did not take part in parkruns on Saturday morning. However, there were exceptions. Cian Coughlan and Áine Crotty joined 399 other participants in St. Anne’s where respectively they placed 260th and 261st (and 100th female finisher) in 31:47 and 31:48. It was Cian’s 50th parkrun. Then, in Cabinteely, Olwyn Dunne placed 46th and 7th in 27:34. The first finisher in the event was Dee Lawlor who ran 18:52 ahead of a field of 112 which also included David Carter who ran 19:40 for 4th place. Julie McGrath was another first finisher, placing 11th overall in 21:38 in what she described as muddy and hilly conditions. In the field of 170, Dublin marathoner Mairead Cashman also ran, placing 123rd and 45th in 33:46.

Paul Cowhie led the field of 463 home in Marlay Park in a time of 17:57 and he was followed by his wife, Aoife, in 25:29 for 145th and 25th places. As usual, Poolbeg didn’t disappoint. Luke Corcoran and Ciara Regan were first finishers there. In a substantial field of 197, Luke crossed the line first in 17:43 and Ciara placed 15th overall in 20:23. They were followed by John Lohan (36th in 22:43), Sharon woods (42nd and 4th in 23:22), Josie Ward (48th and 5th in 23:54), Russell Murphy (57th in 24:26), Mary Dolan (108th and 29th in 28:36) and Cynthia Perucca (150th and 57th in 32:42).

Ross Neill placed 4th in Ormeau Park in Belfast in a time of 17:48. The field there measured 414, whilst Toby Benham headed to Worthing on the English south coast where he placed 5th in a field of 379 and in a time of 18:08. Gemma Cooper was our lone runner in Tramore, Waterford, placing 52nd and 6th in a time of 27:04 and in a field of 144, whilst Eoghan Corrigan joined 149 other runners in Kilkenny where he placed 18th in 22:42. Members of the Shine family joined 182 other runners in Griffeen Park on Saturday morning. Lisa came home in 68th and 15th places in 26:28, followed by Máirín in 82nd and 21st in 28:24 and Fiona in 83rd and 22nd places in 28:25. Louise O’Riordan placed 183rd and 70th in Ballincollig. Louise’s time was 32:38 and the field there measured 221, whilst Luke Haran ran once again in Mungret where, in a field of 109, he placed 5th in 21:15. Andy Deuser joined 127 other participants in Fairview, where he placed 12th in 22:47, whilst Carina Davidson was a participant in Shanganagh. In her d70th parkrun, Carina ran 37:37 to place 166th and 70th in a field of 184 runners.

Irish Life Dublin City Marathon (16356)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kemal Husen 1 02:06:50 (CR)
18 Amente Sorome Negash 1 02:26:21
Crusaders AC runners
34 Vinnie McGuinness 02:29:27
72 Ciaran Diviney 02:37:33
92 Kevin Fitzgibbon 02:39:46 (PB)
93 Ciarain Kelly 02:39:53
155 Robert Browne 02:44:49
171 Thomas Vogée 02:45:37 (PB)
222 Eugene McDonough 02:47:49
255 Daragh O’Reilly 02:49:15
346 Shane Egan 02:52:17 (PB)
363 TJ Bourke 02:52:55 (PB)
378 Warren Swords 02:53:21
422 Kieran Martin 02:54:36
425 Michael Reilly 02:54:28 (PB)
602 Donatas Jocius 02:58:09
603 Charles-Edouard Cattier 02:57:52 (PB)
654 John O’Donnell 02:58:20 (PB)
785 Matthew Ryan 02:59:22 (PB)
827 Aaron Farrell 03:01:36 (PB)
891 Conor Macguinness 03:03:08
947 James Cottle 03:04:46
965 Mick Smyth 03:04:29
997 James Donlon 03:05:05
1003 Paul O’Hara 03:06:09 (PB)
1117 Oisin Corish 03:08:10 (PB)
1173 Eddie Nugent 03:08:45 (PB)
1202 Adrienne Jordan 03:09:22 (74)
1216 Will Owens 03:09:40
1328 Alby Allan 03:10:44 (PB)
1388 Michael Fitzsimons 03:12:06 (PB)
1738 Áine Kenny 03:17:36 (128)
1758 Aoife Quigley 03:18:22 (131)
1886 Seamus Moore 03:19:41
1982 Carolyn O’Reilly 03:19:16 (PB) (163)
2075 Paul Moloney 03:21:30
2341 Gerard Moore 03:23:55
2344 Jeanie Watson 03:24:39 (PB) (210)
2365 Paul F. Kelly 03:25:19 (PB)
2404 Oisin Browne 03:24:31 (PB)
2421 Ciara Lynch 03:24:04 (PB) (19X)
2852 Paul Campbell 03:29:17 (PACER)
2862 Kevin Lynch 03:27:36
2912 Ruadhán Mac Cormaic 03:28:45 (PB)
3014 Paula Bradshaw 03:29:28 (PB) (315)
3251 Áine Crotty 03:31:02 (361)
3252 Cian Coughlan 03:31:02
3303 Joanne Carey 03:31:40 (369)
3315 Adrian Groarke 03:32:05
3338 Shivananda Pukhrem 03:33:52 (PB)
3357 Ciara Lehane 03:33:11 (PB) (380)
3375 Rebecca Fleming 03:32:31 (PB) (382)
3496 Karl Walsh 03:34:46
3534 Daniel O’Mahony 03:34:20
3782 Ian Weldon 03:37:53 (PB)
3870 Tara Gavin 03:37:35 (PB) (477)
4589 David Tuohy 03:43:22
4720 Triona Quill 03:43:14 (666)
4742 Jessica Norris 03:43:48 (PB) (674)
4829 Maeve Lochrie 03:41:30 (PB) (692)
4972 Lisa Branigan 03:46:03 (724)
5186 Carmel Higgins 03:47:29 (PB) (773)
5222 James Bradshaw 03:47:08 (PB)
5291 Liam Nagle 03:48:52
5395 Emily Glen 03:48:14 (PB) (819)
5491 Tanja Narancic 03:48:42 (PB) (839)
5546 Joe Green 03:49:04 (PB)
5547 Fiona Collins 03:48:56 (PB) (847)
5911 David McDonald 03:51:47
6116 Hannah Jones 03:54:13 (998)
6429 Liam O’Brien 03:56:20
6557 Ciara Black 03:57:24 (PB) (1131)
6635 Mary Fitzsimons 03:55:50 (1158)
6656 Christina Campbell 03:58:00 (PB) (1163)
6666 Franky Keane 03:57:16
6854 Mark Browne 03:58:44
7012 Joe Dunne 03:59:36 (PACER)
7029 Olwyn Dunne 03:59:45 (PACER) (1265)
7264 Gillian Curran 03:58:43 (PB) (1336)
8011 Lindsay Butler 04:06:09 (PB) (1568)
8326 John Kennedy 04:07:35
8497 Gillian McDarby 04:10:06 (1725)
8525 Mike Stewart 04:09:49
8537 David Pepper 04:09:00 (PB)
9129 Lieze Verberght 04:16:17 (PB) (1954)
9188 Kevin Kenny 04:14:11
9502 Avril Ryan 04:19:14 (PB) (2106)
9640 John Corish 04:18:59
9759 Tara Murphy 04:20:02 (2206)
9946 Evelyn Neary 04:22:04 (2271)
10792 Aitor Arribas Velasco 04:29:42
10894 Daniel Cullen 04:29:49
11217 Anna Hernick 04:33:09 (PB) (2788)
11587 Fanny Trébouet 04:34:40 (PB) (2927)
11628 Darina Scully 04:37:13 (2940)
11671 Djinn von Noorden 04:36:26 (2960)
11686 Martin Joyce 04:36:24 (PB)
12329 Mairead Cashman 04:42:57 (3222)
12712 Barbara Walsh 04:48:18 (PB) (3400)
14542 Joe O’Reilly 05:14:15
14639 Linda Walsh 05:14:42 (4356)
15428 Leo Lundy 05:44:34
15540 Patrick Needham 05:50:33
15543 Rachel Kelly 05:43:04 (4770)
15610 Niamh Quinn 05:53:54 (4834)
15891 Lorraine Fitzsimons 06:12:23 (5002)
Full results here: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=3985#0_C42451
Ballincollig Parkrun (221)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gerard Geary 1 00:18:45
5 Rachel Finn 1 00:20:07
Crusader AC runner
183 Louise O’Riordan 00:32:38 (70)
Ormeau Parkrun (414)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel Molloy 1 00:17:08
18 Shileen O’Kane 1 00:20:03
Crusaders AC runner
4 Ross Neill 00:17:48
Marlay Parkrun (463)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul Cowhie 1 00:17:57
15 Martha Moore 1 00:20:14
Crusaders AC runners
1 Paul Cowhie 00:17:57
145 Aoife Cowhie 00:25:29 (25)
Bushy Parkrun (170)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Alfie Davis 1 00:19:22
11 Julie McGrath 1 00:21:38
Crusaders AC runners
11 Julie McGrath 00:21:38 (1)
123 Mairead Cashman 00:33:46 (45)
Cabinteely Parkrun (112)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:18:52
6 Robyn Kennedy 1 00:20:35
Crusaders AC runners
1 Derek Lawlor 00:18:52
4 David Carter 00:19:40
46 Olwyn Dunne 00:27:34 (7)
Poolbeg Parkrun (197)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Corcoran 1 00:17:43
15 Ciara Regan 1 00:20:23
Crusaders AC runners
1 Luke Corcoran 00:17:43
15 Ciara Regan 00:20:23 (1)
36 John Lohan 00:22:43
42 Sharon Woods 00:23:22 (4)
48 Josie Ward 00:23:54 (5)
57 Russell Murphy 00:24:26
108 Mary Dolan 00:28:36 (29)
150 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:42 (57)
Mungret Parkrun (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Whittaker 1 00:18:23
9 Kate O’Brien 1 00:22:02
Crusaders AC runner
5 Luke Haran 00:21:15
Shanganagh Parkrun (184)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Will Foot 1 00:18:19
16 Liadh Fitzmaurice 1 00:21:45
Crusaders AC runners
166 Carina Davidson 00:37:37 (70)
Kilkenny Parkrun (150)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mike Cullen 1 00:18:44
3 Meghan McCarthy 1 00:19:30
Crusaders AC runner
19 Eoghan Corrigan 00:22:42
Griffeen Parkrun (185)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Canny 1 00:18:16
8 Niamh Murphy 1 00:20:24
Crusaders AC runners
68 Lisa Shine 00:26:28 (15)
82 Máirín Shine 00:28:24 (21)
83 Fiona Shine 00:28:25 (22)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (401)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Dermot Coffey 1 00:17:37
9 Helen Marshall 1 00:19:18
Crusaders AC runners
260 Cian Coughlan 00:31:47
261 Áine Crotty 00:31:48 (100)
Tramore, Waterford Parkrun (144)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Damian Bourke 1 00:19:50
15 Amy Storey 1 00:23:31
Crusaders AC runner
52 Gemma Cooper 00:27:04 (6)
Fairview Parkrun (128)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Aoife O’Connor 1 00:20:19
2 Peter Fenyvesi 1 00:20:30
Crusaders AC runner
12 Andy Deuser 00:22:47

L-R: Emily Glen, Gillian Curran, Paula Bradshaw, Mairead Cashman, Jessica Norris, Tara Gavin, Tanja Narancic, Fiona Collins, Ciara Lehane, Rebecca Fleming, Christina Campbell, Carmel Higgins, Lindsay Butler, Avril Ryan, Lieze Verberght, Anna Hernick, Carolyn O'Reilly, Triona Quill, Joanne Carey, Ciara Lynch, Aoife Quigley