I’ve seen Fire and I’ve seen Rain

28/9/2026

Standing L-R: David O'Donnell, Colm Parnell, Kevin Kavanagh, Charlotte Myers, Kevin Fitzgibbon, Killian Lynskey, Alex Ainsworth, Stephen Hurley, Sarah Lyons, Phelim Murray, Margaret Foley, Tim Bowen, Joanne Carey, Myles Nolan, Claire O'Doherty, Cillian Traynor, Adam Shier, Tim O'Donnell, John Mulvihill. Front row L-R: Anna Brown, Rachael York, Jade Murphy, Máirín Shine, Louise O'Riordan, Ailish Hassett, Mustaf Ahmed.

It was another weekend of road and trail racing, both here and abroad, and our athletes were on fire! Next week we will be reporting on the first major XC fixture of the season, the Dublin Novices, but this edition is dedicated to the intrepid runners in Rathfarnham who braved biblical conditions on Sunday morning, to those who took on the marathon in the heat of Berlin on the same day with super results and to those clubmates who participated in the four longest of the five Ecotrail races that took place the previous day.

We start with Berlin, one of the marathons in the Major Marathon series and which has produced many fast results including world records in its history. It did not disappoint this year either with the win going to an Ethiopian athlete (Guye Adola) in 2:02:50, with another Ethiopian (Tigst Assefa) finishing in 2:11:04, only about 90 seconds off a (questionable) world record, to win the women’s race.

Our runners ran out of their skins too, the contingent being led home by Sebastian Hansen with a PB time of 2:27:15, a significant improvement. Not too far behind, also with a major PB effort, came Conor Kilkenny in 2:27:51. Then came Ashley Hayes, another runner with a major improved time, who ran 2:43:04, followed by Kenan Furlong, who also recorded a PB with his time of 2:54:23. John Fahy was the next runner across the line in a time of 3:09:26 and he was followed by Eamon MacFhionnlaoich who completed the 42.2km distance in 3:26:36. Liz Nixon was next, with a satisfying 3:38:22. Members may be interested to learn that Declan Ryan, a visually impaired runner from Thurles who has trained with us from time to time, was guided by Vinnie McGuinness and ex-Crusader Michael O’Conor, each running a half marathon, to a 2:44:31 finish. Well done to all!

By contrast, those of us who ran on Sunday morning were treated to a practically unrelenting deluge! Several of us were involved in doing our long runs in preparation for the Dublin marathon, some spending around 3 hours getting totally soaked. The same was true for those who lined up for the Dublin 5k championships in Rathfarnham.

The original participant list indicated that more than 50 Crusaders were signed up to compete in the race. Despite the miserable conditions we were still able to demonstrate a turnout of at least 43 of our clubmates. This time, it was the turn of the men’s teams to bring home most of the medals, with the women’s teams coming agonisingly close to the podium, likely made up, however, by a couple of individual age category medals.

The contingent was led home on the fast and furious course by Colm Parnell with a super PB time of 14:47 to place 9th overall in a field of 1184 runners. Colm was followed by Adam Shier (27th in 15:08), Alex Ainsworth (43rd in 15:26) and Kevin Fitzgibbon (61st in 15:46), the four athletes being rewarded for their sub-16 minutes efforts with the men's senior team bronze medal in a competition involving 17 clubs.

Next came new member Samuel Bayliss (80th in 16:08), and he was followed by John Mulvihill (113th in 16:41), Ciarain Kelly (122nd in 16:50), Stephen Hurley (125th in 16:47), Michael Wycherley (126th in 16:50), Kevin Kavanagh (134th in 16:51) and Jan Manschot (145th in 16:55).

Charlotte Myers was our first female athlete home (182nd overall and 14th female finisher in 17:33), just ahead of Emily Sheils (186th and 16th in 17:29). Both were followed by Tim Bowen (203rd in 17:43), Karl Fitzmaurice (208th in 17:52), Caroline Crowley (223rd and 22nd and likely F35 bronze medal winner in 17:54), Cillian Traynor (225th in a PB time of 17:59), Simon Kenny (291st in 18:31), Killian Lynskey (352nd in 19:07), Niall O’Connell, making a welcome return to road racing (354th in a PB time of 19:16), Jade Murphy (360th and 49th in a PB time of 19:29), Tim O’Donnell (391st in 19:38), Mags Foley (394th, 59th and likely F40 bronze medal winner in 19:36), Louise O’Riordan (399th and 61st in a PB time of 19:45), Mustaf Ahmed (408th in 19:32), and Rachael Yorke (412th and 66th in 19:49). The senior women’s team placed 4th in a competition involving 15 clubs and we had at least 26 runners break 20 minutes in the race.

Next across the line came Ruadhán MacCormaic, in training for the upcoming Dublin marathon (463rd in 20:06) and he was followed by ladies and men’s club captains Sarah Lyons (487th and 84th in 20:06) and Phelim Murray (524th in 20:38). David O’Donnell was not too far behind (544th in 20:41) and, between Michael, Karl, Niall and David, Crusaders men also won the bronze medal in the men’s O/50 team competition involving 8 clubs.

Kabir Sala came home in 575th place in a time of 21:22 (on top of his Ecotrail exploits of the previous day), leading Orla O’Flynn (595th and 119th in 21:49) and Joanne Carey (668th, 142nd and a member of the 4th placed O/35 women’s team alongside Caroline, Mags and Orla in a time of 22:50). Joanne is also preparing for the DCM as is Myles Nolan (705th in 22:46). Myles was followed by Anna Brown (766th and 187th in 24:07), Lisa Shine (791st and 200th in 24:39), Kevin Kenny (848th in 25:23), Claire O’Doherty (859th and 238th in 25:13), Laura O’Malley (865th and 243rd in 25:54), Ailish Hassett (952nd and 288th in 27:45), Carina Davidson (965th and 296th in 28:25), Máirín Shine (988th and 308th in 28:55) and Paul E. Kelly (1160th in 34:55). Congrats and kudos to all!

The previous day, we had several of our clubmates take part in all of the 80k, 46k, 30k and 19k events that made up the hilly Wicklow Ecotrail series, taking place from, to and south of Bray near the coast and also incorporating a circuit of the base of Sugarloaf Mountain. The only event without a Crusader taking part was the 10k.

In warmish and dry conditions, newcomer Kyle Fitzgerald took on the 80k race, placing 25th in a field of 126 finishers and in a time of 9:49:21. Then, Arturo Lopez Lozada joined the field of 364 finishers to place 246th in 7:07:22. We had at least 3 runners in the 30k edition with its field of 349 finishers. They were led home by Ger Moore (114th in 4:03:28), with Kabir Sala placing 188th in 4:26:27 and Shantal Tapia taking 318th and 83rd spots in 5:23:36. Finally, Brandon Lai (11th in 1:54:52) and Greg Marnotte (156th in 2:37:14) contested the 459-strong field of finishers in the 19k race.

Further afield, two of our Spanish exiles, Cristian Vilchez Ceballos and Esther Requena Ferri, were in action again over the weekend. In Southern Spain they took part in the Carrera Feria De Nerja 10k, where Cristian recorded a time of 38:05 and Esther ran 40:06 to place 2nd in the women’s race. Then, in London two of our London exiles, Rob Glascott and Thom Martini ran in the Ealing Half marathon, which Rob completed in 92 minutes, followed by Thom (2:20:00). Meanwhile, Brian Regan ran in a trail race on Lidingoloppet in Sweden, finishing the 30k+ distance in 2:06:00. Finally, Donatas Jocius ran in the 1000m, Vertical Vilnius, 10k race in his native Lithuania, where he placed 3rd overall in a time of 71:54.

We had more success this week in Saturday morning’s parkruns. Peter O’Toole led the field of 435 home in St. Anne’s in a time of 18:07, whilst in Lees Road in Ennis with its field of 79, Mary Donnelly placed 7th and 2nd in 23:46. More 2nd places followed. Kathryn Tomkins placed 18th and 2nd in the 486-strong field in Marlay Park in a time of 21:34, leading Aoife McCarthy (88th and 18th in 24:46) and Carina Davidson (223rd and 67th in 28:54) across the line, whilst Kev Moore joined a field of 73 to place 2nd in 19:37 in Mungret in Limerick. Kate Murray placed 42nd and 3rd in 23:46 in the 206-strong field in Griffeen Park, whilst Áine Kenny, preparing to pace the 60-minutes runners in a 10k race in Roscommon the following day, placed 8th and 4th in a field of 38 in Mountbellew Forest and in a time of 25:25.

Michael O’Shea headed to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia where he placed 4th in a time of 20:57 in a field of 73 in the Taman Pudu Ulu parkrun, whilst John Lohan ran in River Valley, where, alongside 95 other runners, he placed 10th in a time of 23:37. Meanwhile, Jamie Renehan took 7th spot in Fairview in 19:56 and he was followed in the field of 208 by Ellen Caulfield (77th and 21st in 28:34) and Martina White (131st and 53rd in 31:45). Mairead Cashman ran on Inch Beach, where, alongside 46 other participants, she placed 27th and 9th in 33:01, whilst Maria Pertl placed 40th and 16th in 30:42 in a field of 65 in Tolka Valley Park. In Donabate, Ran Hoey ran 23:17 for 13th place, followed by Mikel Crisostomo in the field of 232 in 29th place and a time of 24:55.

Kevin Kenny ran in Corkagh Park in a field of 287, where he placed 68th in 27:42, whilst, in Tramore Valley, Áine Crotty and Cian Coughlan joined 237 other runners, where Áine placed 82nd and 17th in 26:53 and Cian followed in 123rd spot in a time of 28:57. In Shanganagh with its field of 259, Miriam Logan placed 91st and 22nd in 27:09 and she was followed by Fiona Shine (117th and 35th in 28:28), Máirín Shine (229th and 105th in 37:18) alongside Lisa Shine (230th and 106th in 37:19), whilst, in Ballincollig, Helena O’Keeffe placed 149th and 35th in 28:29 in a field measuring 325. Meanwhile, we had a slightly smaller turnout in Poolbeg than usual as runners saved themselves for the following day’s action.

Stephen Hurley placed 15th in 20:21, followed in the field of 268 by Ronan Walsh (25th in 21:12), Luke Haran (33rd in 21:32), Piarais Neary (41st in 22:15), Claire Reidy (63rd and 9th in 24:02), Olwyn Dunne, celebrating her 250th parkrun (75th and 13th in 24:30), Sophia Morgan (107th and 21st in 25:57), Emily Glen (117th and 28th in 26:26), Franky Keane (119th in 26:27), Louise O’Riordan (120th and 29th in 26:28), Nicola Finnegan (128th and 33rd in 26:38), John Kennedy (172nd in 28:41), Ellen Walsh (187th and 64th in 29:41), Maureen McGinley (196th and 71st in 30:00), Cynthia Perucca (213th and 78th in 31:24) and Sharon Woods, tailwalking.

Further afield, Deirdre Kennedy, one of our exiles in Sydney, Australia, recorded a PB, placing 59th and 3rd in a field of 613 in a time of 21:26 in Centennial Park, whilst, another in Queensland, Kris Ryan ran in a field of 441 once again in Paradise Point, placing 98th and 20th in 25:04. Finally, Thom Martini, exiled in London, placed 177th in 25:17 in the 816-strong field in Gunnersbury Park in Ealing.

Rathfarnham AC 5k (including the Dublin 5k Championships) (1184)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Tadhg Donnelly 1 00:14:20
82 Elizabeth Gahan1 00:16:15
Crusaders AC runners
9 Colm Parnell 00:14:47 (PB)
27 Adam Shier 00:15:08
43 Alex Ainsworth 00:15:26
61 Kevin Fitzgibbon 00:15:46
80 Samuel Bayliss 00:16:08
113 John Mulvihill 00:16:41
122 Ciarain Kelly 00:16:50
126 Michael Wycherley 00:16:50
134 Kevin Kavanagh 00:16:51
145 Jan Manschot 00:16:55
182 Charlotte Myers 00:17:33 (14)
186 Emily Sheils 00:17:29 (16)
203 Timothy Bowen 00:17:43
208 Karl Fitzmaurice 00:17:52
223 Caroline Crowley 00:17:54 (22)
225 Cillian Traynor 00:17:59 (PB)
291 Simon Kenny 00:18:30
352 Killian Lynskey 00:19:07
354 Niall O’Connell 00:19:16 (PB)
360 Jade Murphy 00:19:29 (PB) (49)
391 Tim O’Donnell 00:19:38
394 Margaret Foley 00:19:36 (59)
399 Louise O’Riordan 00:19:45 (PB) (61)
408 Mustaf Ahmed 00:19:32
412 Rachael Yorke 00:19:49 (66)
463 Ruadhán MacCormaic 00:20:06
487 Sarah Lyons 00:20:06
524 Phelim Murray 00:20:38
544 David O’Donnell 00:20:41
575 Kabir Sala 00:21:22
595 Orla O’Flynn 00:21:49 (119)
668 Joanne Carey 00:22:50 (142)
705 Myles Nolan 00:22:46
766 Anna Brown 00:24:07 (187)
791 Lisa Shine 00:24:39 (200)
848 Kevin Kenny 00:25:23
859 Claire O’Doherty 00:25:13 (238)
865 Laura O’Malley 00:25:54 (243)
952 Ailish Hassett 00:27:45 (288)
965 Carina Davidson 00:28:25 (296)
988 Máirín Shine 00:28:55 (308)
1160 Paul E. Kelly 00:34:55
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/rathfarnham_5k_road_race_2026/6128/results?class=5k
Ecotrail 80k (126)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Luca Manfredi Negri 1 07:28:18
4 Laura O’Driscoll 1 08:11:46
Crusaders AC runner
25 Kyle Fitzgerald 09:49:21
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/eco_trail_wicklow_2026/6124/results
Ecotrail 46k (364)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Daniel Squires 1 03:56:08
4 Muireann McDonnell 1 04:36:11
Crusaders AC runner
246 Andres Arturo Lopez Lozada 07:07:22
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/eco_trail_wicklow_2026/6124/results
Ecotrail 30k (349)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Remi Cosma 1 02:37:02
17 Lisa Byrne 1 03:08:47
Crusaders AC runners
114 Gerard Moore 04:03:28
188 Kabir Sala 04:26:27
318 Shantal Tapia 05:23:36 (83)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/eco_trail_wicklow_2026/6124/results
Ecotrail 19k (459)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Zak Hanna 1 01:36:29
10 Ashley Cregan 1 01:53:21
Crusaders AC runners
11 Brandon Lai 01:54:52
156 Grégoire Marnotte 02:37:14
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/eco_trail_wicklow_2026/6124/results
Griffith Avenue 1 mile (National road championships) (300)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Patrick Sheridan 1 00:04:07
27 Elizabeth Gahan 1 00:04:38
Crusaders AC runners
2 Lucas Ryan 00:04:08
25 Abdéssamed Boumaza 00:04:36
40 Senan Garvey 00:04:47
41 Charlotte Myers 00:04:49 (3)
102 Garret Connolly 00:05:46
115 Myles Nolan 00:05:56
162 Lisa Shine 00:07:18 (34)
190 Máirín Shine 00:08:06 (CR) (53)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/griffith_avenue_mile__family_fun_mile_2026/6228/results
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (38)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Domnick Sharkey 1 00:20:03
4 Niamh Conway 1 00:23:31
Crusaders AC runner
8 Áine Kenny 00:25:25 (4)
Inch Beach Parkrun (47)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter McGovern 1 00:18:52
5 Esther Murphy 1 00:23:12
Crusaders AC runner
27 Mairead Cashman 00:33:01 (9)
Tramore Valley Parkrun (239)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rory O’Sullivan 1 00:18:13
18 Lauren Clarke 1 00:21:45
Crusaders AC runners
82 Áine Crotty 00:26;53 (17)
123 Cian Coughlan 00:28:47
Tolka Valley Parkrun (65)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jake Redgate-Large 1 00:19:50
12 Anne-Marie McCluskey-Lambert 1 00:24:48
Crusaders AC runner
40 Maria Pertl 00:30:42 (16)
Griffeen Parkrun (206)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oliver Warren 1 00:17:40
29 Caroline O’Sullivan 1 00:22:38
Crusaders AC runner
42 Kate Murray 00:23:46 (3)
Poolbeg Parkrun (268)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael Ryan 1 00:16:48
18 Caitriona Quinn 1 00:20:31
Crusaders AC runners
15 Stephen Hurley 00:20:21
25 Ronan Walsh 00:21:12
33 Luke Haran 00:21:32
41 Piarais Neary 00:22:15
63 Claire Reidy 00:24:02 (9)
75 Olwyn Dunne 00:24:30 (13)
107 Sophia Morgan 00:25:57 (21)
117 Emily Glen 00:26:26 (28)
119 Franky Keane 00:26:27
120 Louise O’Riordan 00:26:28 (29)
128 Nicola Finnegan 00:26:38 (33)
172 John Kennedy 00:28:41
187 Ellen Walsh 00:29:41 (64)
196 Maureen McGinley 00:30:0 (71)
213 Cynthia Perucca 00:31:24 (78)
268 Sharon Woods 00:52:53
Corkagh Parkrun (212)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Aidan Kelly 1 00:19:29
16 Tara Seoighe 1 00:23:57
Crusaders AC runner
68 Kevin Kenny 00:27:42
Lees Road Parkrun (79)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Duffy 1 00:21:51
3 Edel O’Halloran 1 00:22:27
Crusaders AC runner
7 Mary Donnelly 00:23:46 (2)
Shanganagh Parkrun (259)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Brophy 1 00:18:27
5 Emma Hand 1 00:19:58
Crusaders AC runners
91 Miriam Logan 00:27:09 (22)
117 Fiona Shine 00:28:28 (35)
229 Mairín Shine 00:37:18 (105)
230 Lisa Shine 00:37:19 (106)
Marlay Parkrun (486)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Halpin 1 00:17:08
12 Lynne Hennessy 1 00:20:43
Crusaders AC runners
18 Kathryn Tomkins 00:21:34 (2)
88 Aoife McCarthy 00:24:46 (18)
223 Carina Davidson 00:28:54
St. Anne’s Parkrun (435)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter O’Toole 1 00:18:07
14 Ailish Malone 1 00:19:55
Crusaders AC runners
1 Peter O’Toole 00:18:07
9 Adrian Groarke 00:19:23
Fairview Parkrun (208)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oliver Stanley 1 00:18:44
16 Orla Coffey 1 00:22:39
Crusaders AC runners
7 Jamie Renehan 00:19:56
77 Ellen Caulfield 00:28:34 (21)
131 Marina White 00:31:45 (53)
Mungret Parkrun (73)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel McCarthy 1 00:19:12
9 Eimear O’Sullivan 1 00:21:34
Crusaders AC runner
2 Kev Moore 00:19:37
Donabate Parkrun (232)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ben Nugent 1 00:18:07
10 Katie Halpin 1 00:22:27
Crusaders AC runners
13 Ryan Hoey 00:23:17
29 Mikel Crisostomo 00:24:55
Ballincollig Parkrun (325)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Marcin Swiatkowski 1 00:18:15
14 Sorcha McCarthy 1 00:21:03
Crusaders AC runner
149 Helena O’Keeffe 00:28:29 (35)
River Valley Parkrun (96)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Viktoras Kuzminas 1 00:19:20
6 Helena Crossan 1 00:22:27
Crusaders AC runner
10 John Lohan 00:23:37