Lovely Day for McGuinness in Berlin

18/9/2018

Liam Fergus, James Cottle, Dave Cuddy, Maria Kennedy, Andrea Talpo, Vinnie McGuinness, Richie MacLiam, Ciaran Diviney, Jason Kehoe, Will Owens, Ger Forde and John Mulvihill

On a day when a new World Record of 2:01:39 for the marathon was established by Eliud Kipchoge, breaking the old record set on the same course in Berlin by Dennis Kimetto by 78 seconds, whilst a new course record for women was being established by Glady Cherono (2:18:11), Crusaders were establishing their own records in the same event. 19 of us entered the race on the day and recording a tally of at least 8 PBs. The most impressive of any of the PBs on the day was that of Vinnie McGuinness who improved on his time by 9 minutes, coming home with negative splits in a time of 2:30:59 (likely the 2nd fastest time by a Crusader in a marathon in recent memory). Vinnie was the 113th fastest man across the line, 125th overall and 22nd in his age category. There were other PBs emerging from negative splits too, for others including at least Michael O'Conor (2:52:32), Joe Walsh (2:53:45) and Miriam Logan (3:59:16), whilst Andrea Talpo ran an even split (2:56:53).

There were nearly 28,500 finishers in the event on a warm day (with temperatures starting at around 15 degrees and rising to 23 degrees at least) with a slight breeze in places. As everyone knows, the course is generally flat, with a couple of bridges but it is a little twisty in places, particularly on the many roundabouts. Thankfully, there were continuous blue marks to follow for the racing line, which most of us adhered to. One of the few negatives in the race (as it was otherwise well-organised, the music great everywhere and the Erdingers at the end were most welcome) was the fact that the frequent water stations gave out refreshments in cups, rather than bottles. There was carnage with loads of people stopping and discarding the cups at their feet (as they were difficult to throw far). The water stops alone could have added several minutes to runners' times the further down the field you were at the time.

We brought along with us at least 10 supporters, including Richie MacLiam who epically drove 7 hours from Luxembourg to cheer us on, who were everywhere on the course. Amy McGuinness produced some memorable individual motivational posters which she and Michael Kiely ensured were visible whenever the relevant runner went by. A phenomenal effort! Indeed we had great support everywhere as we were told by the race announcer at the start that there were over 700 Irish runners in the field.

Vinnie was followed home by Ciaran Diviney in 2:37:58 (placing among the top 250 men and 21st in his age category) and by Ger Forde who also recorded a PB time of 2:41:23. John Mulvihill found the going tough, but still put in a useful 2:44:40, whilst he was followed by Jason Kehoe in his first marathon recording a great time of 2:4915. Behind Jason came Mike O’Conor, running only his 2nd marathon, and he recorded a super PB time of 2:52:32, a significant improvement over his previous result. Joe Walsh was next in a PB time of 2:53:45, another man to lower his time by a decent margin, and he was followed by Andrea Talpo who amazingly broke 3 hours for the first time in 2:56:53, but also only weeks after recording 3:15 in the Copenhagen Ironman. Members may remember Liam Fergus who moved up to Dundalk and joined Northeast Runners. He also ran with us on the day and recorded a PB of 2:58:22. Next across the line was Will Owens in 3:07:32, followed by Enda Currid (3:12:04) and James Cottle (3:16:28) who had a tough 2nd half to the race after being more or less on track for a time closer to 3 hours at the halfway point, suffering from a dodgy stomach but receiving little sympathy from the organisers at the finish, denying him the use of facilities that were available only to members of staff. A lesson for the future! At least James had the consolation of placing in the top 25 in his age category out of more than 1200 finishers.

Alma Hanevy was next in 3:20:21, in some pain from about 22k from a flair-up of plantar fasciitis. It’s a credit to her resilience that she was able to finish the race and in a decent time. Behind Alma came Joe “Super Joe” Dunne, running unleashed from his usual pacing duties in a marathon for the first time and his first competitive marathon since his cardiac arrest a few years back. Joe’s time of 3:35:53 was excellent, given that he still has to monitor carefully his heart rate. Liz Nixon was next, in 3:46:26 having experienced some difficulty even before the race began, after a fall that left her bruised and bloodied in places. Joe’s wife, Olwyn, was the next Crusader across the line, finishing with her usual smile in 3:47:03, to be followed by two more runners with PBs: Maria Kennedy ran 3:55:54 and Miriam Logan pushed hard, but felt good, to finish in 3:59:16. Dave Cuddy, our Athlone exile, only managed a long run of 12 miles in training as his preparation were curtailed by sickness, but still he managed to get round in 4:01:15, another demonstration of great resilience. Finally, Aisling O’Connor was only a couple of minutes off a PB in 4:12:58, her fastest run in 10 years. Some truly excellent results and great to have everyone finish in times below 4:15. Also, there’s no such thing as a bad marathon if you finish (the wise words of Anne Curley from Donore who ran 3:15 and who joined us for the post-race celebrations).

Naturally, we enjoyed the post-race celebrations and some of us are looking forward to replicating the whole experience in Dublin in 6 weeks’ time!

Elsewhere over the weekend, there was a great result for Kris Ryan, our Australian exile, who recorded a win in the Brisbane track Ultra, with a distance of 152.94k in 24 hours. Closer to home, another marathon was run by Leo Lundy over the weekend (having run Dundalk the previous weekend in 5:27). This was the EOI Bellewstown marathon which Leo completed in 5:25.

Around the country, there was a major success for Anna Reddin in the Cork women’s mini marathon (6K), where she placed 2nd in 21:29 to Michelle Finn (20:48). The field was over 5,800, so a major achievement.

Tim O’Donnell took part in the challenging Ringaskiddy 10k, which measured closer to 10.6k, coming home in 8th place in a time of 46:11 and a field of nearly 60 runners. Donal Foley placed 18th in the 110-strong field in Castleknock, the St. Brigid’s 5k. His time was a PB in 20:35, but he felt that the course may have measured as much as 170m short (confirmed by others). Elsewhere, Barry McGuirke acquired major bragging rights among fellow chartered surveyors by winning the SCSI 5k over the weekend in a time of 19:51. The field was 8o strong.

Another excellent result came from Bob Lyne who competed in the World masters in Malaga last week. Having been disqualified in his first event of the meet (the 50k walk), his first DQ in an event notorious for such things, he managed to take 28th place in the 20K walk in 2:27.

The parkruns as usual turned up some interesting results. Kate Murray (8th overall) was first finisher in Sligo in a time of 22:31, as was Derek Lawler (18:02) in Poolbeg. Derek was followed by Zlatko Kulic (5th in 19:19), Simon Kenny (14th in 20:33), Eoin McQuaid (20th in 21:21), Fiona Bane (2nd woman, 34th overall, in 22:47), John McQuaid (45th in 24:23), Sharon Woods (51st overall, 7th woman, in 24:53), Cliodhna O’Reilly (55th overall, 10th woman, in 25:34) and Ciara McElligott (82nd overall, 25th woman, in 30:07). Maria Pertl distinguished herself likewise in the inaugural parkrun in Tyrrelstown, placing 2nd (33rd overall) in 26:37. Maria was followed by Diarmuid Byrne (34th in 26:38) and Darina Scully (4th woman, 38th overall, in 27:32). Other podium places went to Matt Cranley in Father Collins (2nd in 19:39) and to Lisa Shine in the modest field in Darndale (2nd woman, 6th overall, in 34:07). Mairead Cashman placed 7th (34th overall) in 30:44 in Brickfields, whilst Neil Brown placed 146th in Marlay in 24:28. Aidan Hudner ran with 400 other runners in Glasgow, placing 73rd in 22:06. Aoife Quinn came across the line in Corkagh in 72nd place overall, 24th woman, in 28:55, whilst Janet McManus and Orlaith de Burca ran in Shanganagh. Janet placed 72nd overall, 10th woman, in 25:32, whilst Orlaith was 85th overall, 19th woman, in 27:20. Finally, Olwyn and Joe Dunne prepared for the Berlin marathon with a run in Hasenheide. In a field of 57 runners, they placed respectively 413th (150th woman) and 318th in 33:12 and 29:34.

Berlin Marathon (28444)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Eliud Kipchoge 1 02:01:39 (WR)
22 Glady Cherono 1 02:18:11 (CR)
Crusaders AC runners
Vinnie McGuinness 02:30:59 (PB)
Ciaran Diviney 02:37:58
Ger Forde 02:41:23 (PB)
John Mulvihill 02:44:40
Jason Kehoe 02:49:15 (PB)
Michael O’Conor 02:52:32 (PB)
Joe Walsh 02:53:45 (PB)
Andrea Talpo 02:56:53 (PB)
Will Owens 03:07:32
Enda Currid 03:12:04
James Cottle 03:16:28
Alma Hanevy 03:20:21
Joe Dunne 03:35:53
Liz Nixon 03:46:26
Olwyn Dunne 03:47:03
Maria Kennedy 03:55:54 (PB)
Miriam Logan 03:59:16 (PB)
Dave Cuddy 04:01:15
Aisling O’Connor 04:12:58
Full results here: http://results.scc-events.com/2018/?pid=list
SCSI 5k (80)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Barry McGuirke 1 00:19:51
22 Jin June Koay 1 00:23:34
Crusaders AC runner
1 Barry McGuirke 00:19:51
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/scsi_5k_/2814/results
St Brigid’s 5k Castleknock (110)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Daire Finn 1 00:15:02
3 Catherina McKiernan 1 00:17:17
Crusaders AC runner
18 Donal Foley 00:20:35
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/st._brigids_5k_castleknock_-_blanchardstown_5k/2409/results
Ringaskiddy 10k (56)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Eddie Butt 1 00:41:55
2 Ailbhe McDaid 1 00:42:16
Crusaders AC runner
8 Tim O’Donnell 00:46:11
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/ringaskiddy-lower-harbour-national-school-10km-run/
Sligo Parkrun #187 (57)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ryan Owen 1 00:17:58
8 Kate Murray 1 00:22:31
Crusaders AC runner
8 Kate Murray 00:22:31 (1)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/sligo/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=187
Poolbeg Parkrun #55 (104)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:18:02
15 Sarah Kelly 1 00:20:41
Crusaders AC runners
1 Derek Lawlor 00:18:02
5 Zlatko Kulic 00:19:19
14 Simon Kenny 00:20:33
20 Eion McQuaid 00:21:21
34 Fiona Bane 00:22:47 (2)
45 John McQuaid 00:24:23
51 Sharon Woods 00:24:53 (7)
55 Cliodhna O’Reilly 00:25:34 (10)
82 Ciara McElligott 00:30:07 (25)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/poolbeg/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=55
Shanganagh Parkrun #180 (152)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Colm Hegarty 1 00:17:53
15 Susan Murphy 1 00:21:09
Crusaders AC runners
72 Janet Mcmanus 00:25:32 (10)
85 Orlaith de Burca 00:27:20 (19)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/shanganagh/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=180
Father Collins Parkrun #156 (75)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Alan Foley 1 00:19:28
8 Sorcha Prendiville 1 00:21:55
Crusaders AC runner
2 Matt Cranley 00:19:39
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/fathercollins/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=156
Corkagh Parkrun #51 (154)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Shane O’Keeffe 1 00:19:43
13 Nicola Dowdall 1 00:22:35
Crusaders AC runner
72 Aoife Quinn 00:28:55 (24)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/corkagh/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=51
Tyrrelstown Parkrun #1 (133)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kenneth Mulve 1 00:17:04
32 Breda Clarke 1 00:26:19
Crusaders AC runners
33 Maria Pertl 00:26:37 (2)
34 Diarmuid Byrne 00:26:38
38 Darina Scully 00:27:32 (4)Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/tyrrelstown/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=1
Brickfields Parkrun #35 (69)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Matthieu Proffit 1 00:18:29
11 Emma Hutcheson 1 00:22:23
Crusaders AC runner
34 Mairead Cashman 00:30:44 (7)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/brickfields/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=35
Marlay Parkrun #272 (452)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Mark Conway 1 00:16:54
22 Ruth Kelly 1 00:19:47
Crusaders AC runners
12 Luke Davis 00:18:49
146 Neil Brown 00:24:28
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/marlay/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=272
Darndale Parkrun #34 (14)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Frank McLoughlin 1 00:23:03
5 Anna Shine 1 00:25:54
Crusaders AC runner
6 Lisa Shine 00:34:07 (2)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/darndale/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=34