Zátopek was so right

Back row L-R: Kevin Fitzgibbon, Seamas Buleair, Mark McGovern, Franky Keane, Liam O'Brien, Louise Dobby, Kabir Sala, James Bradshaw, Alan Martin, John Fahy. Next row L-R: Peter Beddy, Nina Holmes, Ciara Lynch, TJ Bourke, Donal O'Malley, Ellen Walsh, Laura O'Malley, Ryan Hoey. Next row L-R: Eugene McDonough, Emily Glen, Conor Kilkenny, Rory O'Kennedy, Chrus Bannon. Front row L-R: Kieran Martin, Gian Piero Allerta, Dee Lawlor, John O'Donnell, Derek Boland, Triona Quill, Thomas Vogée

​Emil Zátopek once said: “If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience another life, run a marathon.” Sunday’s experience for many in the 44th running of the Dublin City Marathon would have proved this in spades. After about 16 weeks of hard training, we had close to a quarter of the club’s adult membership taking part in an event that involved nearly eighteen and half thousand finishers. At last count, there were 115 finishers from the club, all listed below, at least 15 of them running their first marathons (indicated with an asterisk) and at least another 38 otherwise registering PBs. It was the most brilliant experience for many of those running and also for those of us who were out to spectate and support despite the weather. Mention should be made, also, that many of our runners were able, once again, thanks to the generosity of Bob Manson, to use the facilities in Pembroke Hall in Fitzwilliam Square before and after the race. The serviced offices provided a great place to keep warm and to secure a change of clothes etc, as well as showers for after the race. Having said that, it has become increasingly hard to access the facility before the race as wave 2 in particular lined up just outside the front door and there seemed to be many more blocked off streets than ever. Resourceful members, however, were generally able to circumvent these on the day, thankfully.

The runners in the marathon enjoyed conditions that started out chilly with a light breeze that changed during the course of the morning, with several drizzly showers, the westerly wind ever-increasing. The wind definitely challenged through Crumlin (notorious for this) and then towards the end in the long run from the bottom of Nutley to the finish beyond the Pepper Canister church on Mount Street. It’s a tough marathon course, with a lot of hills especially in the first half. There is also a need to contain one’s enthusiasm (and protect the quads) on the downhills for example from Christchurch, the descent on Knockmaroon Hill from Castleknock and the run down the Upper Glen Road in the Phoenix Park to the Chapelizod Gate (with its extremely tight turn avoiding a rather prominent traffic island onto the Conyngham Road).

The front end of the race among the Irish competitors in particular was exciting, with a teenage winner of the women’s race in Ava Crean, with the 45-year-old AnnMarie McGlynn distinguishing herself in second place only losing touch with Ava after 30k. The race between Ryan Creech, eventual winner David McGlynn and Paul O’Donnell was fun to watch too. Another of the highlights was witnessing our new Uachtarán, Catherine Connolly, running (in the most inappropriate clothing!) alongside her son for short bursts around the course. She is quite the sports person!

The results of all our runners are shown below. Please do not pay too much attention to the finishing positions (both overall and female places) as the organisers tinker with them periodically and also there are a few positions that just do not really make any sense. All the times are otherwise chiptimes. Also, at this stage it is too early to calculate whether the club has won any team or individual medals in the three competitions (National, Leinster and Co. Dublin championships) incorporated in the race, but the report will be updated once the outcomes are known and if we have won anything.

There were too many runners from the club to detail all their exploits here, but a few are worthy of mentioning. Sarah-Grace Breen distinguished herself, despite feeling unwell from around halfway all the way to the finish line, by placing 18th female finisher overall (11th Irish woman across the line) in a PB time of 2:49:22, whilst her partner Morgan Evans running his first marathon broke 3 hours in a great time of 2:56:27. In addition, at least 4 of our runners finished within the first 150 athletes home: Marc Geraghty (60th in 2:31:45), Conor Kilkenny (65th in a fabulous PB time of 2:32:31), Brendan Murphy who finished just behind Ava Crean (82nd in 2:34:14) and Rory O’Kennedy (169th with a PB time of 2:41:24, a 50s improvement) who had experienced some sickness leading up to the race. All in all, 18 of our athletes broke 3 hours, with at least 9 of them recording PBs (including at least 3 in their first marathons). Indeed 53 of the contingent broke 3h30m, no mean achievement.

Despite feeling unwell throughout the race Tara Gavin should be congratulated for completing the distance in 3:37:52 and John O’Donnell, whose plans went out the door at exactly the same spot as last year when he suffered a hip injury, and still managed to record a finish of 3:35:23. Also, despite confessing to having run her long training runs only in her head, Patricia Velasquez surprised us all with a great PB time of 3:46:45.
​
Another fascinating result was that of Sam Osborne who broke his previous PB by nearly 90 minutes with his finishing time of 3:48:36. Mark McGovern, who was also running for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, having unfortunately experienced this a few years back, ran his first marathon on Sunday, finishing in a super time of 3:46:45. Finally, we should spare a thought for those who were unable to finish, including Thomas Vogée and Aitor Arribas Velasco. Their time will come again without doubt.

Anyway, those who wore the club singlet in the race were extremely glad they did so, since support around the course from club members was, as usual, second to none, and gave great boosts to the runners around the course. The singlet is a vital part of the event for many.

The day was completed by celebrations in McGrattans pub immediately afterwards (arranged by Joanne Carey) followed later in the evening by a fun time with eats in our local pub, the Vintage Inn, arranged by Phelim Murray. Many thanks to both Joanne and Phelim for these efforts. They were much appreciated by all!

There were other events taking place over the weekend on which we should report. On Saturday, Áine Kenny took part in the Eryri Marathon which took place in Snowdonia. In wet and windy conditions, Áine placed 182nd overall and 16th female finisher, but, most importantly, 1st F40 in a super time of 3:33:18. Then, on Sunday, Fanny Trébouet and Lieze Verberght joined the field in the Valencia Half marathon, where Lieze ran 2:00:02 and Fanny finished in 2:06:56. Also, one of our French exiles, Valentin Akdim took part in a 53k trail event, the Trail du Nipalou in the mountains north of Montpellier, where he placed 40th overall in a time of 5:57:48. Congratulations should also go to Orla McTernan who took part over the weekend in the Venice 10k (which actually measured 10.9k) at the end of the Venice Marathon. It was Orla's first race running in a Crusaders singlet and she completed the distance in 68:50.

On Friday evening, Donatas Jocius and Clare Sullivan joined a field of 106 in the IMRA-organised Glendalough Night Challenge, a race of 10k in distance with a climb of 490m. Both podiumed in the event, with Donatas placing 2nd overall in 55:30, followed by Clare who placed 29th overall, 2nd female finisher, in a time of 66:59.

With the marathon taking place on Sunday, it is not surprising that Crusader participation in Saturday morning’s parkruns may have been somewhat reduced. Nevertheless, there were a few results on which to report.

Sebastian Hansen finished first in Shanganagh in a time of 17:08, and in a field of 213, whilst Tommy Allen ran 17:56 to place 3rd in the 315-strong field in Tralee. Peter O’Toole and Paul F. Kelly ran in St. Anne’s alongside 499 other runners, with Peter placing 4th in 18:25 followed by Paul (197th in 26:55).

Kate Murray ran in Marlay Park, where she placed 70th and 5th in 23:24, in a field of 462, whilst, Karl Walsh, in a field of 169, also placed 5th in a time of 19:32.

Darina Scully placed 26th and 6th in 27:09 in the 104-strong field in River Valley, whilst, Luke Haran ran 21:52 for 11th spot in Mungret alongside 89 other participants. Mairead Cashman also placed 11th (31st overall) in a time of 30:50 in the 56-strong field in Newcastle West, whilst Lorraine McMahon joined 185 other runners in Kilcock, where she placed 86th and 30th in 28:55.

Helena O’Keeffe ran once again in Ballincollig, where, in a field of 359, she placed 182nd and 45th in 28:50, whilst Áine Crotty also ran in Cork, in Tramore Valley, where, alongside 284 other participants, she placed 249th and 77th in 35:43. In Cabinteely, with its field of 196, Olwyn Dunne placed 103rd and 29th in 29:18, followed by Carina Davidson (167th and 70th in 38:36), whilst Sam Hughes tailwalked in the 96-strong field in Tymon Park.

Two hundred and seventy-six participants ran in Poolbeg on Saturday morning, among them at least 17 Crusaders. They were led home by Stephen Hurley who placed 10th in 19:55 and he was followed by Greg Marnotte (21st in 21:18), Sharon Woods (40th and 6th in 23:16), Aoife McCarthy (42nd and 7th in 23:31), Josie Ward (43rd and 8th in 23:31), Sophia Morgan (64th and 13th in 24:35), Conor Kilkenny (101st in 25:52), Juliane Frydenlund (102nd and 27th in 26:00), Kabir Sala (108th in 26:12), Bo Chicoine (142nd in 28:27), Aisling O’Riordan (151st and 47th in 29:05), Una McCullagh (191st and 78th in 30:47), Djinn Von Noorden (198th and 81st in 31:16), Kevin Kenny (208th in 31:59), Máirín Shine (237th and 106th in 35:32), Lisa Shine (238th and 107th in 35:41), Maureen McGinley, tailwalking. Finally, one of our London-based exiles, Thom Martini, joined a field of 296 in Wimpole Estate near Cambridge where he ran 24:03 for 45th place.

Irish Life Dublin City Marathon (inc National, Leinster, Dublin Championships) (18440)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Daniel Mesfin 1 02:08:51
20 Eebbissee Adunyaa 1 02:26:26
Crusaders AC runners
60 Marc Geraghty 02:31:45
65 Conor Kilkenny 02:32:31 (PB)
82 Brendan Murphy 02:34:14
169 Rory O’Kennedy 02:41:24 (PB)
306 John McDonagh 02:47:58 (PB)
359 Sarah-Grace Breen 02:49:22 (PB) (18)
431 Paul Reidy 02:51:11 (PB)*
475 Derek Lawlor 02:52:14
573 Kenan Furlong 02:54:27 (PB)
700 Kieran Martin 02:56:15
711 Morgan Evan 02:56:27(PB)*
718 Ed Forester 02:56:46 (PB)
768 Kevin Fitzgibbon 02:57:00
784 Eugene McDonough 02:57:11
805 Derek Boland 02:57:11
921 Andrew Dunne 02:58:11
1002 Peter Beddy 02:58:42 (PB)*
1038 TJ Bourke 02:58:11
1132 John Fahy 03:00:00
1191 Charles-Edouard Cattier 03:01:23
1474 Donal O’Malley 03:06:46 (PB)*
1484 Simon Everard 03:06:55 (PB)*
1577 Ronan Moynihan 03:07:59 (PB)
1724 Patrick Gaynor 03:09:29 (PB)
1780 Jamie Symmons 03:09:53
1892 Kev Moore 03:11:21 (PB)
1898 Michael Judge 03:11:24
1901 Michael Fitzsimons 03:11:27 (PB)
1985 Ciara Lynch 03:12:47 (PB) (141)
1998 Ciara Regan 03:12:55 (PB) (137)
2074 Ronan Walsh 03:13:49 (PB)
2092 Brian Reilly 03:14:35 (PB)
2226 Aoife Hoare 03:15:21 (XXX)
2245 Isabella Gyori 03:15:40 (169)
2492 Ian Weldon 03:18:04 (PB)
2551 Nina Holmes 03:18:30 (PB) (212)
2860 Conor MacGuinness 03:21:06
2949 Cría Dowling 03:21:55 (PB) (277)
3015 Tristan Freeman 03:22:28 (PB)*
3131 David Carter 03:23:34
3148 Phelim Murray 03:23:42
3191 Adrian Groarke 03:24:05
3358 Warren Swords 03:25:21
3380 Paul Moloney 03:25:26
3397 Mary Donnelly 03:25:32 (PB)* (331)
3416 Calum Kenny 03:25:36
3462 Emily Quinlan 03:25:55 (PB)* (328)
3694 Aoife Quigley 03:27:28 (367)
​3833 Matthew Ryan 03:29:50
3941 Eve Coogan 03:28:34 (435)
4011 Triona Quill 03:28:58 (440)
4068 Diarmuid Finan 03:29:16 (PB)
4118 Lisa Branigan 03:29:35 (526)
4181 Joanne Carey 03:30:01 (PB) (444)
4337 Denis Holohan 03:31:16
4441 Louise Dobbyn 03:32:12 (PB)* (550)
4516 Seamus Moore 03:32:58
4550 Séamas Bulaeir 03:33:12 (PB)*
4817 John O’Donnell 03:35:23
5005 John Lohan 03:36:41
5113 James Bradshaw 03:37:25 (PB)
5187 Tara Gavin 03:37:52 (795)
5223 Aisling Harrington 03:38:05 (715)
5280 Noel Carr 03:38:27 (PB)
5300 Claire Reidy 03:38:31 (PB) (741)
5450 Kabir Sala 03:39:24 (PB)
5486 Orla O’Flynn 03:39:38 (742)
5532 Susan Clarke 03:39:51 (PB)* (808)
5620 Gerard Moore 03:40:27
6014 Gavan Doherty 03:43:09
6066 Grattan O’Brien 03:43:27
6286 Caroline Fleming 03:44:48 (PB) (1009)
6338 Rebecca Kelly 03:45:04 (PB) (1020)
6615 Mark McGovern 03:46:45 (PB)*
6728 Orla O’Neill 03:47:26 (PB) (1206)
6751 Brian O’Neill 03:47:31 (PB)
6935 Tanja Narancic 03:48:28 (PB) (1168)
6972 Sam Osborne 03:48:36 (PB)
7050 Emily Glen 03:49:06 (1199)
7054 Franky Keane 03:49:07 (PB)
7339 Phil Sykes 03:50:33
7503 Chris Bannon 03:51:23 (PB)*
7519 Patricia Velasquez 03:51:26 (PB) (1390)
7841 April Dunne 03:53:17 (PB)* (1585)
8014 Daniel O’Mahoney 03:52:32
8393 Anousheh Alamir 03:57:19 (1585)
8441 Niall Duffy 03:56:04
8827 Gian Piero Allerta 03:57:29
9169 Joe Dunne 03:58:50 (PACER)
9187 Olwyn Dunne 03:58:57 (1678) (PACER)
9195 Ellen Walsh 03:58:58 (PB)* (1695)
9573 Noel Higgins 04:01:18 (PB)
9707 Donna Barry 04:02:22 (PB) (1981)
10150 Carmel Higgins 04:05:41 (2152)
10415 Patrick Needham 04:07:31
10489 Ryan Hoey 04:08:02 (PB)
10884 Liam O’Brien 04:11:01
11422 Mary Fitzsimons 04:14:54 (2625)
11462 Divya Sardana 04:15:08 (PB) (2731)
12241 Ronan Smith 04:20:41
12294 Charles Cartledge 04:21:03
13382 Kevin Kenny 04:29:04
13384 Djinn Von Noorden 04:29:44 (3412)
13393 Evelyn Neary 04:29:41 (3348)
​13684 Tara Murphy 04:32:20 (3570)
13816 Laura O’Malley 04:33:48 (PB) (3538)
13893 Martin Joyce 04:34:38
14337 Mike Stewart 04:39:10
14373 Alan Martin 04:39:27 (PB)
14728 Joy Flaherty 04:43:02 (4067)
14964 Minjung Shin 04:45:46 (4119)
15064 Bo Chicoine 04:46:51 (PB)*
15208 Praveen Rawal 04:48:35 (PB)
15635 Owen Tiernan 04:53:52
16886 Garret Connolly 05:20:15
Full results here: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4173#0_6964D6
IMRA Glendalough 10k Night Challenge (106)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kevin Byrne 1 00:50:01
19 Niamh Brophy 1 01:04:56
Crusaders AC runners
2 Donatas Jocius 00:55:30
29 Clare Sullivan 01:06:59
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2753/category/O/
St. Anne’s Parkrun (501) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Eoghan McElhinney 1 00:15:29
3 Beth Reamsbottom 1 00:17:53
Crusaders AC runner
4 Peter O’Toole 00:18:25
197 Paul F. Kelly 00:26:55
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (285)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Landers 1 0:17:54
7 Ailbhe McDaid 1 00:19:04
Crusaders AC runner
249 Áine Crotty 00:35:43 (77)
Newcastle West Parkrun (56)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Johnny Morrissey 1 00:22:30
2 Aisling Yataki 1 00:23:57
Crusaders AC runner
31 Mairead Cashman 00:30:50 (11)
Poolbeg Parkrun (256)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jacob Milner 1 00:17:28
5 Miranda Frizzelle 1 00:19:08
Crusaders AC runners
10 Stephen Hurley 00:19:55
21 Grégoire Marnotte 00:21:18
40 Sharon Woods 00:23:16 (6)
42 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:26 (7)
43 Josie Ward 00:23:31 (8)
65 Sophia Morgan 00:24:35 (13)
101 Conor Kilkenny 00:25:52
102 Juliane Frydenlund 00:26:00 (27)
108 Kabir Sala 00:26:12
142 Bo Chicoine 00:28:27
151 Aisling O’Riordan 00:29:05 (47)
191 Una McCullagh 00:30:47 (78)
198 Djinn Von Noorden 00:31:16 (81)
208 Kevin Kenny 00:31:59
237 Máirín Shine 00:35:32 (106)
238 Lisa Shine 00:35:41 (107)
276 Maureen McGinley 01:01:00 (136)
Shanganagh Parkrun (213)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sebastian Hansen 1 00:17:08
11 Karla Murray 1 00:20:45
Crusaders AC runner
1 Sebastian Hansen 00:17:08
Tralee Parkrun (315)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Zach Walshe 1 00:17:16
13 Laura O’Brien Leahy 1 00:21:37
Crusaders AC runner
3 Thomas Allen 00:17:56
River Valley Parkrun (104)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Viktoras Kuzminas 1 00:18:40
9 Maura Ginty 1 00:22:53
Crusaders AC runner
26 Darina Scully 00:27:09 (6)
Cabinteely Parkrun (196)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Megan Brunt 1 00:18:34
2 Joshua Brunt 1 00:19:04
Crusaders AC runners
103 Olwyn Dunne 00:29:18 (29)
167 Carina Davidson 00:38:36 (70)
Mungret Parkrun (90)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel McCarthy 1 00:18:39
7 Susan Murnane 1 00:20:50
Crusaders AC runner
11 Luke Haran 00:21:52
Marlay Parkrun (462)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Fionnán Keogh 1 00:17:40
42 Eva Kelly 1 00:21:57
Crusaders AC runner
70 Kate Murray 00:23:24 (5)
Naas Parkrun (169)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cian Connolly 1 00:16:59
6 Michelle Cox 1 00:19:38
Crusaders AC runner
5 Karl Walsh 00:19:32
Tymon Parkrun (96)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mark Griffin 1 00:18:20
11 Orla Brennan 1 00:22:13
Crusaders AC runner
91 Sam Hughes 00:51:12
Ballincollig Parkrun (359)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 TJ Brosnan 1 00:18:47
5 Caitriona McGettigan 1 00:19:20
Crusaders AC runner
182 Helena O’Keeffe 00:28:50 (45)
Royal Canal, Kilcock Parkrun (186)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael Comer 1 00:17:56
16 Sinead Martin 1 00:23:53
Crusaders AC runner
86 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:55 (30)

Back row L-R: Ellen Walsh, Nina Holmes, Rebecca Kelly, Carmel Higgins, Dee Lawlor, Caroline Fleming, Tara Gavin, Anon, Franky Keane, Joanne Carey, Laura O'Malley, Tanja Narancic. Front row L-R: Kabir Sala, Derek Boland, Ciara Lynch, John O'Donnell, Patricia Velasquez, Cría Dowling

Áine Kenny

Orla McTernan