Blarney Half Marathon
Again this race was blessed with ideal conditions for running .The numbers were a little down on other years but one can put this down to the big match and Dingle yesterday also took from it.It is a pity really as this race encompassed the County Championships and also the Munster Championships but these things cannot be helped. Our own numbers were down also but those that did run did very well. Christine Murphy had a super race in getting in under the magic 100 mins and taking 3rd O/40 and also picking up the medals in the process.She also knocked over 6 mins off her PB so things are looking good for Dublin.Fionan O’hAodain making his half marathon debut ran an excellent race coming in ten minutes better than he hoped for. Remember Fionan only started with the Beginners group last year and to be doing as well as he is doing is fantastic. Next came Mary O'Keeffe again making her half debut and doing very well followed by Mary B. Walsh who also had an excellent run showing that the three ladies are well on the road for Dublin on the October weekend.
Dingle Marathon & Half Marathon Report
Over a tough very hilly course today several of our members stepped out into the cool Kerry air into what was ideal running conditions.Our first runner home was Adam Duchnicz who had a superb run in 3.10 finishing 14th overall. Next in having another great run was Magic Margaret Jones finishing in a wonderful time of 3.33 showing all the hard training paid off.The next finisher was Declan Dorgan running on his home turf and with no serious training put in but finished as someone described it "smiling as if he was out on a training run"
In the Half Marathon again we had some great runs First of the crew was the great Helen Gilroy after having a cold all week did a great time of 1.36 making it 5mins faster than last year Next came Sheila Buckley who was also suffering from a cold came in a very credible 1.38 again a big improvement on last year.These were followed by Kara Reilly,Trish Daly and Susan Fitzgerald I don't have exact time for them but all reports say they had great runs too.
A big disappointment was that the race had no category prizes which meant several of our girls lost out.This is really disgraceful with an entry fee of over 60 Euro plus travel expenses and accomadation its the least one would expect It looks like Dingle is becoming another one of the "we are only in it for the money" races. Just look a the value of the Half marathon in Blarney tomorrow 20 Euro loads of prizes and discount vouchers for all finishers .A credit to St Finbarrs Club and John Buckley Sports.
Please don't Forget
OPEN NIGHT
Our annual Open Night will take place in Midleton Community Centre on Wed 18th Sept @ 7pm Everyone welcome . Please pass the word around. Tell anyone you know that might be interested especially anyone who might want to take up running.
Danny
Sonia Confirmed For Midleton AC Training Session
John Cashman has organised a training session with none other than Sonia O'Sullivan on this Tuesday evening, September 10th.
Sonia will be ready to start the session at 7pm, so she has suggested that we arrive at 6:45pm to warm up. She will set a 2-4 mile session, talk us through it, jog warm down, and will then answer any questions.Please pass the word around.Open to all members.
DINGLE -- BLARNEY --LOST SHEEP
Wishing the best of luck to all our athletes competing this weekend in the various events.In Dingle Marathon we have Declan Dorgan running on his home turf and must know every stone in the road there as he has completed all the Dingle ones so far and Adam Dubchez will be out for another great time. Then we have Magic Margaret Jones who has prepared well for this one doing some fine tuning under the guidance of Pat Walsh in the lead up ,even tapering by skipping the race in Carrigtwohill the other night (a new one for Margaret missing a race). Then in the half marathon we have the ever consistent pair of Sheila Buckley and Helen Gilroy who both have had colds recently so we wont be expecting PBs but no doubt as always we will have great runs.
If there are any others running we wish you the best also and please let us know mdtacinfo@gmail.com
We will have a number of runners doing Blarney so the best to them also.
Then we have the Lost Sheep Triathalon guys we wish them the best too.
And of course we wish the very very best to the Cork Team on Sunday in Croke Park.
Dont forget Cross Country Training in Curragh Wood Sat morning @9am. This is open to everyone no matter what level you are at.
Danny
