Metronomic Running in the National Road Relays but fried in Hamburg

28/4/2024

L-R: Jan Manschot, Sean Brady, Susan Walsh, Enda Clarke, John Mulvihill and Joe McDermott

One of the highlights of the year for the club is participation in the National Road Relays, which for as long as one can remember, have been hosted on pretty much the last Sunday in April by Raheny Shamrock around a well-known flat one-mile loop on the concrete roads bordering St. Anne’s Park and the Howth Road. The races, of which there were 5 distinct ones this year, never cease to produce exciting results and because of the deep quality fields in all the age categories it is phenomenally difficult to podium. Sunday afternoon in Raheny was at times warm and sunny and then, when the sun dipped behind the clouds, rather chilly. Conditions were, nevertheless, perfect for the races with little wind.

Our marathoners in Hamburg on the hand had to contend with ever-rising heat which affected the results of all our runners there.

We start with the National Road Relays and we had runners in 4 of the 5 events. First up were the masters O/35 women who raced alongside the O/50 women. There were 13 teams of 3 in the O/35 race and our team of Aoife Quigley (first leg of 1 mile), Clare Sullivan (second leg of 2 miles) and Nina Holmes (the anchor leg of 1 mile) acquitted themselves well. After an extremely strong start from Aoife (5:45) who was carrying a nasty cough and not in the best of health, Clare took over (running 11:43) and briefly put us into 3rd place. However, despite Nina’s excellent run (6:09) in her first relay, we had to settle for 6th place overall (23:36 total) as other clubs had put extremely strong runners on their last leg. Still, a super start to the afternoon. The masters O/35 men’s teams were next, with some new faces alongside veteran relayers running the same distances as the masters women. The team of Enda Clarke (5:05), John Mulvihill (11:00) and men’s club captain Joe McDermott (5:26) placed 9th in 21:31 in the 17-strong field, whilst our B team of Karl Fitzmaurice (5:25), Sean Brady (12:57) and Jan Manschot (5:30) placed 16th in 23:51.

This year, perhaps for only the second time, there were enough O/50 men to have their own race, but we were not able to field a team. Maybe next year one hopes. So, the next race in which we had a strong interest was the senior women’s event, with 26 teams competing in a 3-person format and distance as the masters races. Our A team of Annie Hughes (5:37), ladies’ club captain Kathryn Gibbons (12:03) and Charlotte Myers (5:18) ran a super combined time of 22:56, placing 13th overall, followed by the B team of Rachael Yorke (5:52), newcomer Ioanna Politi (14:31) and Cría Dowling (6:34) performed creditably with a combined total of 26:56 for 26th place.

The last event was the senior men’s relay. The race was conducted over 8 miles with 4 runners in each team and involved successive legs of 2 miles, 1 mile, 3 miles and 2 miles.

It was quite a challenge for any squad and particularly for the runner on the 3rd leg with nearly the equivalent of a parkrun to complete. One of the more amusing vignettes of the day was the sight of Efrem Gidey, who ran the third leg for Clonliffe, starting his leg quite far back down the field, but finishing way out in front as he demonstrated the action of reeling in the Raheny runner ahead of him who was leading the field in the second mile of the leg. Inevitably, Clonliffe took away the gold medal with some ease largely as a consequence of Efrem's effort.

We fielded one team in the senior men’s race and it was wonderful to watch the nearly metronomic times being recorded by the runners as they passed us on each occasion towards the finish line which had to be run through every mile. The clock above the gantry was fascinating to follow. The first leg was run by Chris Russell who recorded 10:14 for the two miles. He was followed by Brian Regan (one mile in 5:08), then Andrea Rondina with the really tough pacing job which he mastered with aplomb, with nearly identical splits for each mile (15:23 in total) and the effort was completed by Alex Ainsworth who, despite finding the second mile tough, still managed a creditable 10:15 finish. So, the team placed 17th out of 32 teams in 40:58 for the distance. Not a bad outcome at all and a baptism of fire for several of our athletes!

We had at least 7 Crusaders, one of them an exile in Germany, running in the Hamburg marathon on Sunday morning. Although, the day started not too warm at about 13 degrees Celsius, the temperature soon climbed over the course of the race to about 19 degrees in the shade, certainly conditions which they were not used to. It is clear from the results that the going got really tough in the second half of the race. First across the line was John O’Donnell who, despite his training having been interrupted by injury, ran an excellent 3:02:31, which included a shuffle after 35k. Another runner coming off injury was Charles-Édouard Cattier, who ran 3:22:02, just behind Gerard Moore with a surprising PB (3:13:25) and Michael Reilly (3:22:52). Just behind Michael came Maeve Lochrie who surprised herself with a super 3:25:08 PB finish, despite little training and also having had to stop a couple of times during the race. The next finisher was Johannes Frederking who now lives in Hamburg (4:09:29), just ahead of Kevin Kenny (4:17:12).

Earlier in the week, in Ireland, Tim O’Donnell ran on a fast counter-clockwise course around Bandon in his native Cork. The course, along country roads, is surely fast and flat with PB potential and, sure enough, in a field of 327, Tim ran a super PB time of 18:32 to place 34th.

Then on Saturday morning we had two runners take part in the Coolock AC-organised race on the northside of Dublin in Darndale Park, the Another Way 5k. By all accounts, it was an excellent race, its third annual running. Mary and Lorraine Fitzsimons took part in the race, with Mary finishing in 91st place overall (15th female finisher) in 23:50, followed by sister Lorraine, 317th and 161st in 32:22.

Also, over the weekend we had a runner take part in one of the four races on offer in Ballylinan, Co. Laois. In the half marathon there Daniel Farrell placed 39th out of 57 in a time of 2:02:17.

Further afield, Clément Rincé, one of our French exiles in France, took part in an interclub 3000m steeplechase which he ran in a great time of 9:51. And Lukasz Batruch ran in the 20km de Lausanne in Switzerland, completing the event in 85:55. Meanwhile, one of our Australian exiles, Marty James, took part in the Ballarat marathon, west of Melbourne, which he completed in 3:11:31.

Weekday racing in the mountains resumed last week with the traditional visit to the two Sugarloaf mountains in Co. Wicklow. In the 8.6k race with its 360m climb and a stage in the Leinster League, we had at least 4 runners. In a large field of 259, Warren Swords led the contingent home in 12th place in a time of 41:33. Warren was followed by Gavan Doherty (220th in 63:54), Regina Kelly (206th in 75:58) and Berndt Heim (244th in 77:25). The results below are displayed slightly out of sequence in places, but this reflects the IMRA website record of the event.

The parkrunners were out in force on Saturday morning, enjoying the sunshine, even though it remains chilly for the time of year, more like March than April.

As usual, our athletes did not disappoint in providing us with podium results, among them two first finishers. Before a mammoth bike ride, Karl Walsh ran in Westport where, in a field of 98, he led everyone home in 18:04. Meanwhile, back in Cabinteely, Dee Lawlor finished first ahead of 178 other runners in a time of 18:11. He was followed by Louise Dobbyn (50th overall and 6th female finisher in 25:42).

Podium places were recorded by several other of our club-mates. Newcomer Mary Donnelly placed 31st and 2nd in a time of 23:12 in Bushy Park. Mary was joined in the field of 215 runners by another newcomer, Kev Moore (7th in 20:55), and Eoghan Corrigan (16th in 21:38). Again, out west, Áine Crotty placed 11th and 2nd in 23:14, followed by husband Cian Coughlan (15th in 23:15) in the 117-strong field in Sligo, whilst Áine Kenny took 13th and 3rd in 26:31 in Mountbellew Forest with its field of 35.

By far our largest contingent ran in Shanaganagh, also recording podium finishes. In a field of 252, Alby Allan placed 2nd in 18:01, followed by David Carter (7th in 19:08), Emily Glen (22nd and 2nd in 20:58), Franky Keane (34th in 21:50), Tanja Narancic (58th and 6th in 23:39), Carina Davidson (171st and 55th in 30:27), then Máirín Shine (with a calf injury), Lisa Shine and Orlaith de Burca, tailwalking.

Our second largest turnout of runners was not surprisingly in Poolbeg, albeit with slightly smaller numbers than usual among the 207-strong overall field. Jeanie Watson recorded a podium finish, placing 33rd overall and 3rd female finisher in a time of 22:38 and she was preceded by Stephen Hurley (11th in 19:54) and followed by Russell Murphy (56th in 24:15), Anna Hernick (125th and 52nd in 30:12), Kate Healy (135th and 57th in 30:54), Cynthia Perucca (171st and 78th in 33:38) and Mari Hansen (182nd and 84th in 35:56). Our final podium place went to Kate Murray in Mullingar, where, in a field of 104, she placed 17th and 3rd in 23:18.

Elsewhere, Emiliano Sanchez took 9th spot in River Valley Park. In a field of 102 he ran 22:34, whilst, in Tramore Valley, Cork, Toby Benham placed 7th in 19:17 in a field of 246. Diarmuid Byrne joined 54 other runners in Tolka Valley Park, where he placed 5th in 21:20, whilst Luke Haran ran in Mungret in his native Limerick, where, in a field of 83, he placed 6th in 21:25. Maureen McGinley placed 46th and 15th in the 105-strong field in Tullow in a time of 29:06, whilst Mairead Cashman took 75th and 15th spots in Laytown Beach, where she ran 31:21. Enda Currid was our sole runner in the 627-strong field in Marlay Park, where he placed 19th in 19:54, whilst Andy Deuser also placed 19th in the 154-strong field in Fairview, where he ran 22:32.

Emer Kenny ran in Father Collins Park alongside 155 other participants. Emer’s time was 26:14 and she placed 68th and 11th, whilst, in Donabate, Brendan Glynn joined a field of 205, where he placed 55th in 26:28. Our final home parkrun to be recorded was in Porterstown, where, in a field of 110, Kevin Flynn placed 85th in 37:06.

Further afield, two of our intrepid marathoners in Germany ran the Alstervorland parkrun in Hamburg. In a field of 264, Kevin Kenny placed 79th in 26:07 and John O’Donnell followed him in 103rd place in a time of 27:49. Elsewhere, Richard Morrissey placed 9th in a time of 17:25 in the 636-strong field in Dulwich, whilst not too far away, Thom Martini, another of our exiles in the UK, placed 77th in 23:08 in the field of 492 in Brueton. Meanwhile, two of our Irish-resident clubmates also ran in London. David O’Donnell got to run in Wormwood Scrubs, where he placed 27th in 23:49 in a field of 97, whilst Kevin Fitzgibbon placed 27th in a field of 166 and in a time of 20:27 in the Lordship Recreation Ground parkrun. Finally, up in Scotland, John Reidy ran once again in Perth where, in a field of 325, he placed 24th in 21:38.

Bandon 5k (327)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Gavin Kenny 1 00:15:34
10 Hannah Steeds 1 00:16:38
Crusaders AC runner
34 Tim O’Donnell 00:18:32
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/bandon_5k/5128/results
Another Way 5k (523)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen Butler 1 00:16:01
40 Chrissy Harford
Crusaders AC runners
91 Mary Fitzsimons 00:23:50 (15)
317 Lorraine Fitzsimons 00:32:22 (161)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/another_way_5k_2024/5154/results
The Village Run Half marathon (57)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen Conroy 1 01:09:53
10 Doireann Mullany 1 01:28:32
Crusaders AC runner
39 Daniel Farrell 02:02:17
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/the-village-run-2024/#3_917015
IMRA Belmont and Little Sugar Loaf 8.6k (259)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daire Finn 1 00:37:46
28 Sorcha Loughnane 1 00:45:10
Crusaders AC runners
12 Warren Swords 00:41:33
206 Regina Kelly 01:15:58 (57)
220 Gavan Doherty 01:03:56
244 Berndt Heim 01:17:25
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2509/
Laytown Beach Parkrun (115)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Koffi Kpoglo 1 00:18:41
18 Caroline Hynes 1 00:22:57
Crusaders AC runner
75 Mairead Cashman 00:31:21 (15)
Shanganagh Parkrun (252)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Nickolas Colyn 1 00:15:14
20 Sarah Baryga 1 00:20:45
Crusaders AC runners
2 Alby Allan 00:18:01
7 David Carter 00:19:08
9 Paul Campbell 00:19:13
22 Emily Glen 00:20:58 (2)
34 Franky Keane 00:21:50
58 Tanja Narancic 00:23:39 (6)
171 Carina Davidson 00:30:27 (35)
246 Máirín Shine 00:47:39 (104)
247 Lisa Shine 00:47:40 (105)
248 Orlaith de Burca 00:49:00 (106)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (55)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian Fay 1 00:20:07
14 Katarzyna Lee-Kocon 1 00:25:51
Crusaders AC runner
5 Diarmuid Byrne 00:21:20
Poolbeg Parkrun (207)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Nelson Yarwood 1 00:17:54
25 Adrienne O’Beirne 1 00:21:46
Crusaders AC runners
11 Stephen Hurley 00:19:54
33 Jeanie Watson 00:22:38 (3)
56 Russell Murphy 00:24:15
125 Anna Hernick 00:30:12 (52)
135 Kate Healy 00:30:54 (57)
171 Cynthia Perucca 00:33:38 (78)
182 Mari Hansen 00:35:56 (84)
Sligo Parkrun (117)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian Kinsella 1 00:17:10
5 Ann-Marie Hodson 1 00:21:51
Crusaders AC runners
11 Áine Crotty 00:23:14 (2)
12 Cian Coughlan 00:23:15
Westport Parkrun (98)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Karl Walsh 1 00:18:04
18 Debs Burns 1 00:22:47
Crusaders AC runner
1 Karl Walsh 00:18:04
Marlay Parkrun (627)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry McCartin 1 00:17:52
30 Jennifer O’Sullivan 1 00:20:31
Crusaders AC runner
19 Enda Currid 00:19:54
Mungret Parkrun (83)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian Lynn 1 00:19:16
16 Anna Delaney 1 00:24:06
Crusaders AC runner
26 Mairead Cashman 00:31:20 (3)
Mullingar Parkrun (104)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oisin Quinn 1 00:18:51
10 Christina Griffith 1 00:22:24
Crusaders AC runner
17 Kate Murray 00:23:18 (3)
Fairview Parkrun (154)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Patrick McDowell 1 00:18:43
20 Faye Kearney 1 00:22:39
Crusaders AC runner
19 Andy Deuser 00:22:32
River Valley Parkrun (102)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Nicholas Roux 1 00:19:07
6 Cecile Ollagnier 1 00:22:00
Crusaders AC runner
9 Emiliano Sanchez 00:22:34
Tullow Parkrun (105)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Arthur Hearns 1 00:19:13
5 Amy Stafford 1 00:21:25
Crusaders AC runner
46 Maureen McGinley 00:29:06 (15)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (246)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Andrew Davies 1 00:16:30
23 Pamela Barry 1 00:21:36
Crusaders AC runner
7 Toby Benham 00:19:17
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (35)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gerry McDonnell 1 00:21:08
8 Ruth Burke 1 00:25:29
Crusaders AC runner
13 Áine Kenny 00:26:31 (3)
Cabinteely Parkrun (179)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:18:11
10 Malika Hammani 1 00:2:59
Crusaders AC runners
1 Derek Lawlor 00:18:11
50 Louise Dobbyn 00:25:42 (6)
Donabate Parkrun (205)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Fintan Counihan 1 00:18:27
11 Geraldine McHale 1 00:21:50
Crusaders AC runner
55 Brendan Glynn 00:26:28
Porterstown Parkrun (110)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mark Flanagan 1 00:20:15
3 Patricia McLoughlin 1 00:21:30
Crusaders AC runner
85 Kevin Flynn 00:37:06
Bushy Parkrun (215)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Seán Cahill 1 00:18:20
26 Lisa Ryan 1 00:23:00
Crusaders AC runners
7 Kev Moore 00:20:55
16 Eoghan Corrigan 00:21:38
31 Mary Donnelly 00:23:12 (2)