Life in the Fast Lane

20/5/2024

L-R: Áine Kenny, Sam McArdle, Brian MucGuckin, Ciara Regan, Cian Coughlan, Phelim Murray and Kathryn Gibbons

It was another fun week of running for members of the club on the track, roads and mountains, with some success.

On the track on Sunday we had two athletes take part in the AAI May Open, held in the Morton Stadium in Santry. Sean Owens ran in both series one and two of the men’s 110mH, recording the same position and time in each, both second place in 14.46. Then, Hugo Magee placed 2nd in the men’s 400m in a super time of 48.01. Both athletes were running in events with quality fields.

There was a lot of action on the roads this past week. On Saturday morning the National 5k road championships were held in conjunction with the Irish Runner 5k in the northwest quadrant of the Phoenix Park (taking in a loop around the descent and ascent of the Furry Glen). We had at least 8 athletes involved in the event. Alex Ainsworth was our first runner home, placing 24th in a PB time of 15:48. Alex was followed by Gerard White (105th in 17:27), Karl Walsh (140th in 17:58), Simon Kenny (203rd in 18:51) just ahead of Annie Hughes (206th overall and 27th female finisher in 19:04). Further back came Ruadhán Mac Cormaic (324th in 20:04), just ahead of Paul F. Kelly (325th in 20:08), followed by Robbie Moore (429th in 21:57). The field measured nearly 1,700.

Further afield on Saturday, Paul Cowhie ran in the latest edition of the European Masters Athletics Championships in Porto Canto in Portugal. In the 10k road race, he placed 41st overall and 5th M60, but, more importantly, led the men’s O/60 team to the bronze medal behind Portugal and Italy, and ahead of Great Britain, Czechia, Spain and Switzerland.

Then, on Sunday, at least 6 members of the club took part in the Fastlane Half marathon that was held around Grangecastle with much of the run conducted on the Royal Canal towpath. In conditions warmer than the previous day, Ella Quinn won the women’s race in a great time of 90:45, placing 45th overall in a field of over 900 finishers. In fact, Ella has been running well in recent months with at least two of her previous races passing under the radar of the race report. In March, she ran 67:08 in the Bundoran 10 miler, followed by an 88:54 result in the Omagh Half marathon in April. On Sunday, our first runner home was Derek Boland (9th in an excellent 84:30) and, following Ella, came Orla O’Flynn who was 3rd F50 home, placing 155th overall and 15th female finisher in a time of 1:43:29. Next came Séamas Bulaeir (190th in 1:44:07), recording a PB improvement of nearly 3 minutes, and he was followed by Diarmuid Fahey (241st in 1:47:48) and Phil Sykes (415th in 1:47:48).

Elsewhere, on the same day, Triona Quill ran in the Riga Marathon. In a highly international field of around 2,000 runners, Triona came home in 3:37:39 to place 394th overall, 30th woman across the line and 2nd in her F55 age category, being rewarded with a rose for her efforts! Closer to home, and on the previous day in foggy conditions at times Jonathan Claridge took part in the challenging and hilly Lap of the Gap marathon, organised by Rene Borg, late of this parish and founder of Glendalough AC. In a field of 165 finishers, Jonathan placed 80th in a time of 4:20:46. The winning times were 2:46:47 (Marc Augustin) and 3:13:10 (Aisling O’Connor).

Earlier in the week, Conor Fahy competed in the 4th race in the Galway 5k series in Loughrea, placing 86th in a field of 518 and in a time of 21:08. He had previously run in the second race a couple of weeks earlier, where, in a field of 620 in Tuam, he had run 21:13 for 116th spot.

Further afield, news comes from Spain where Esther Requena Ferri and Cristian Vilchez Ceballos, our exiles there, ran in the Carrera Cruz del Humilladero street race, conducted over about 4.7k. Esther placed 3rd in 17:42 in the women’s race, whilst Cristian was 5th overall in a time faster than 15:00. One of our US exiles, Damien O’Brien, ran in the Brooklyn Half marathon in NYC on Sunday where he recorded a time of 1:22:53 in warm conditions. Finally, in London, Djinn Von Noorden ran in the Hackney Half marathon, where she recorded a time of 2:16:05.

It was busy in the Wicklow mountains last week. On Saturday, there was not just the Lap of the Gap marathon, but also the annual running of the Wicklow Way Relay, always a fun experience for those who take part and organised by Crusader Jason Kehoe. Results are yet to be published. However, under the leadership of Brian McGuckin, we had 8 runners from the club form a team that finished around mid-pack in the 125km event involving more than 30 teams making their way down the Wicklow Way from Kilmashogue Park to Shillelagh. In addition to Brian (leg 2), we had Sam McArdle (leg 1), Kathryn Gibbons (leg 3), Gareth Phelan (leg 4), Cian Coughlan (a last-minute replacement on leg 5), Ciara Regan (leg 6), Phelim Murray (leg 7) and Áine Kenny (leg 8) take part. There were the usual tales of runners from teams (including our own) in the race getting lost and adding kilometres to their legs. We likely had runners from the club in other teams as well, and, once the details are published, the report will be updated.

Earlier in the week, IMRA had organised the annual running of the Sugar Bowl race, one of the events in the Leinster League, involving 211 runners on an 8.5k course, involving a climb of nearly 500m on difficult terrain. The course included a loop and a climb of the famous Sugar Loaf mountain. Becky Quinn was our first athlete home (24th overall and 2nd female finisher in 52:53), followed by Brian McGuckin (40th overall and 2nd M55 in 59:37), Karl Walsh (105th in 68:44), Ian Clifford (111th in 70:01) and Berndt Heim (219th in 1:41:08).

The parkruns were just as popular as ever this weekend, no doubt helped by the fine weather. We had at least one first finisher, with Mary Donnelly placing 26th and 1st in 23:24 in Bushy Park. In the field of 185, she was joined by Kev Moore, who placed 8th in 20:36. Caroline Crowley was our lone runner in Marlay Park where she placed 13th and 2nd in a field of 404 and in a time of 20:41, whilst we also had a second-place finisher in Ross Neill in Poolbeg. In a field of 210, Ross ran 18:09, followed by Stephen Hurley (3rd in 18:32), Michael Wycherley (5th in 19:03), Ronan Walsh (8th in 19:39) and Adrian Groarke (10th in 20:04). Further back in our contingent of 20 athletes came Piarais Neary (25th in 22:18), John Lohan, running his 200th parkrun (27th in 22:19), Fiona Bane (48th and 6th in 24:33), Kenan Furlong (62nd in 25:25), Julian Callan (65th in 25:40), Kate Healy (68th and 14th in 25:46), Cathal O’Hara (93rd in 28:02), Tara Murphy (96th and 27th in 28:16), Louise O’Riordan (97th and 28th in 28:17), just behind, Anna Shine (104th and 29th in 28:48), Anna Hernick (130th and 47th in 30:18), Siobhan Russell (145th and 60th in 31:02), Cynthia Perucca (169th and 74th in 32:25), Lisa Shine (194th and 89th in 44:22) and Máirín Shine (195th and 90th in 44:50).

Toby Benham placed 3rd in Tramore Valley, Cork, where he ran 18:17 in a field of 211, whilst Kate Murray took 28th and 5th in 24:52 in Mullingar, with its field of 121. Emer Kenny also placed 5th (25th overall) in the 112-strong field in Father Collins Park, whilst Louise Dobbyn joined the same club in Cabinteely, where she also placed 31st overall in a time of 25:14. The field there measured 162. Not to miss out, Dee Lawlor ran in Hasenheide in Germany, where, in a field of 176, he also placed 5th in a time of 18:31.

Cría Dowling joined 446 other runners in St. Anne’s where she placed 50th and 7th in 21:24, whilst, Maria Kennedy ran once again in Kilkenny, where, in a field of 133, she placed 48th and 11th in 26:48. Darina Scully pushed her buggy round River Valley Park alongside 115 other participants, in a time of 29:17 for 47th and 11th places, whilst, in Fairview, Andy Deuser ran 22:40 for 16th spot, followed by Hannah Jones (61st and 13th in 28:05). 146 runners took part.

Brendan Glynn ran with 183 other participants in Donabate where he placed 52nd in a time of 25:20, whilst Martina White joined 117 runners in Porterstown, placing 98th and 50th in 37:17. Further afield, one of our London-based exiles, Thom Martini, ran in Osterley Park in London, where, alongside 509 other participants, he ran 34:57, whilst Mairead Cashman ran in Tymon. Mairead’s time was 31:01, placing her 71st and 23rd in a field of 88. Maureen McGinley joined 96 other participants in Vicarstown, where she placed 56th and 21st in 31:25, whilst Maria Pertl placed 91st and 24th in a time of 30:26 in the 174-strong field in Poppintree. Finally, in Shanganagh, Carina Davidson placed 137th and 46th in 29:12, followed by Orlaith de Burca (227th and 113th in 47:15) in the 232-strong field there.

Irish Runner 5k (National Championships) (1693)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kieran Kelly 1 00:14:30
63 Amy Greene 1 00:16:41
Crusaders AC runners
24 Alex Ainsworth 00:15:48 (PB)
105 Gerard white 00:17:27
140 Karl Walsh 00:17:58
203 Simon Kenny 00:18:51
206 Annie Hughes 00:19:04 (27)
324 Ruadhán MacCormaic 00:20:04
325 Paul F. Kelly 00:20:08
429 Robbie Moore 00:21:57
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/biofreeze_irish_runner_5k_2024/4983/results
Fastlane Half Marathon (906)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 David Cullinane 1 01:17:30
45 Ella Quinn 1 01:30:45
Crusaders AC runners
9 Derek Boland 01:24:30
45 Ella Quinn 01:30:45 (1)
155 Orla O’Flynn 01:43:29 (15)
190 Séamas Bulaeir 01:44:07
241 Diarmuid Fahey 01:47:48
415 Phil Sykes 01:55:41
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/fastlane_half_marathon__10km_2024/4932/results
Galway 5k Series 2nd race (620)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Evan O’Rourke 1 00:16:20
29 Sarah Collins 1 00:18:33
Crusaders AC runner
116 Conor Fahy 00:21:13
Full results here: http://redtagtiming.com/results/2024Galway5km_2_Tuam.pdf
Galway 5k Series 4th race (518)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Michael Flanagan 1 00:16:59
22 Jane Ann Meehan 1 00:18:46
Crusaders AC runner
86 Conor Fahy 00:21:08
Full results here: http://redtagtiming.com/results/2024Galway5km_4_Loughrea.pdf
IMRA Sugar Bowl 8.5k (221)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daire Finn 1 00:43:51
19 Sarah Flanagan 1 00:52:15
Crusaders AC runners
24 Becky Quinn 00:52:53 (2)
40 Brian McGuckin 00:59:37
105 Karl Walsh 01:08:44
111 Ian Clifford 01:10:01
219 Berndt Heim 01:41:08
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2500
Kilkenny Parkrun (133)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Graham Bourne 1 00:20:03
6 Kathryn Nolan 1 00:22:19
Crusaders AC runner
48 Maria Kennedy 00:26:48 (11)
Bushy Parkrun (185)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Seán Cahill 1 00:18:11
26 Mary Donnelly 1 00:23:24
Crusaders AC runners
8 Kev Moore 00:20:36
26 Mary Donnelly 00:23:24 (1)
Shanganagh Parkrun (232)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen McGuinn 1 00:18:11
26 Mella Garvey 1 00:22:20
Crusaders AC runners
137 Carina Davidson 00:29:12 (46)
227 Orlaith de Burca 00:47:15 (113)
Fairview Parkrun (146)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ed Vickers-Willis 1 00:18:55
23 Caoimhe McElduff 1 00:23:27
Crusaders AC runners
16 Andy Deuser 00:22:40
61 Hannah Jones 00:28:05 (13)
Poolbeg Parkrun (210)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Matthew Dyke 1 00:17:59
14 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:20:33
Crusaders AC runners
2 Ross Neill 00:18:09
3 Stephen Hurley 00:18:32
5 Michael Wycherley 00:19:03
8 Ronan Walsh 00:19:39
10 Adrian Groarke 00:20:04
25 Piarais Neary 00:22:18
27 John Lohan 00:22:19
48 Fiona Bane 00:24:33 (6)
62 Kenan Furlong 00:25:25
65 Julian Callan 00:25:40
68 Kate Healy 00:25:46 (14)
93 Cathal O’Hara 00:28:02
96 Tara Murphy 00:28:16 (27)
97 Louise O’Riordan 00:28:17 (28)
104 Anna Shine 00:28:48 (29)
130 Anna Hernick 00:30:18 (47)
145 Siobhan Russell 00:31:02 (60)
169 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:25 (74)
194 Lisa Shine 00:44:22 (89)
195 Máirín Shine 00:44:50 (90)
Marlay Parkrun (404)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Balasz Galambos 1 00:18:20
6 Doireann Mullany 1 00:19:50
Crusaders AC runner
13 Caroline Crowley 00:20:41 (2)
Tymon Parkrun (88)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ian Feighery 1 00:19:09
17 Jane Lehane 1 00:23:09
Crusaders AC runner
71 Mairead Cashman 00:31:01 (23)
Vicarstown Parkrun (97)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Skupin Arkadiusz 1 00:18:47
5 Grace McConnell 1 00:20:38
Crusaders AC runner
56 Maureen McGinley 00:31:25 (21)
Porterstown Parkrun (118)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:18:02
8 Joan O’Callaghan 1 00:22:46
Crusaders AC runner
98 Martina White 00:37:17 (50)
River Valley Parkrun (116)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Joshua Chalmers 1 00:19:38
5 Lin Lascelles 1 00:21:28
Crusaders AC runner
47 Darina Scully 00:29:17 (10)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (211)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conrad Walt 1 00:16:42
23 Lisa Crowley 1 00:20:50
Crusaders AC runner
3 Toby Benham 00:18:17
Cabinteely Parkrun (162)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul McKenna 1 00:18:45
12 Frances McNab 1 00:22:36
Crusaders AC runner
31 Louise Dobbyn 00:25:14 (5)
Mullingar Parkrun (121)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paulius Patackas 1 00:17:45
8 Siobhan Nugent 1 00:21:18
Crusaders AC runner
28 Kate Murray 00:24:52 (5)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (447)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tom Breslin 1 00:17:32
6 Fiona Stack 1 00:18:49
Crusaders AC runner
50 Cría Dowling 00:21:24 (7)
Father Collins Parkrun (112)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Pawel Kaim 1 00:18:32
8 Esther Ntoko 1 00:21:14
Crusaders AC runner
25 Emer Kenny 00:24:12 (5)
Donabate Parkrun (184)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gareth Knapper 1 00:18:59
10 Katie Halpin 1 00:21:03
Crusaders AC runner
52 Brendan Glynn 00:25:20 (44)
Poppintree Parkrun (174)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Noel Selorm 1 00:18:22
23 Rebecca Finn 1 00:23:44
Crusaders AC runner
91 Maria Pertl 00:30:26 (24)