WEEKEND RUNAROUND

Dublin In The Rare Ould Times

Dublin City Marathon really lived up to the thyme song and as a club we really had some rare old times. From the amazing run by Morgan O'Regan who was dying sick on the Saturday to the equally amazing David Moynihan who gave Christy Moore a new song " Don't Forget Your Shoes If You Want To Run A Race" to all the great times and PBs that have been well covered on Facebook but honestly the most amazing thing for me on the day was the support given by the Midleton A C club members who came up to Dublin at their own expense to support their club members who were running. They cheered, they ran beside them, they helped everyone over that line be they from Cork or Donegal. I have had a rake of emails thanking us as a club saying " Ye seemed to be everywhere". It makes me so proud to be a small part of this amazing group that is Midleton AC ( Senior Section)

 The "Three Amigos"

 

 

To me these photo's show the true spirit of our club. Mark O'Reilly surrounded by his family, Midleton AC with friends from Ballintotis Fit 4 Life and a group of Midleton AC ladies led by Club Captain Claire Fitzgerald supporting one of our runners along the way for at least four miles. Where else would you get it ? Only in Midleton AC.

 


Margaret Jones was 1st Lady in Milan Park Run



Cross Country

Notice of next cross country race:

County Masters and Novice B cross country championships 

Sunday, 5 November in Riverstick at 1.00 pm.

Anyone over 35 is eligible to run in the masters race.

The novice B is for any athlete who is eligible for the county novice A and must not have won a medal in any cross country championship event in the current season at any level. Previous individual novice B medal winners are also excluded.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you are available to run in the above. I need to have all names by next Tuesday, 31 October.

Thank you!

Kind regards,

Sally 0872265857

 

This really is an ideal opportunity to try out cross country. There is no one in the club that would not be able for this.

So why not give it a go ?. You will lose nothing by trying it at least once and I guarantee your times will improve on the road and maybe you will discover that you love it like so many of your club mates have done. Ah go on go on go on. Danny

Dublin Marathon

Message From the Captain

Dublin city marathon has been synonymous with being the pinnacle of many Midleton AC athletes in their racing calendar. This October bank holiday weekend has not disappointed.

14 of our athletes will travel and participate in this special  running event with 20,000 others.
The experience of  the expo with the  buzz of excited anticipation would motivate your granny to put on the runners and grab a number for the following day.

DCM, despite its challenging course has a carpet of spectators along the route and particularly at the key stages from Chapelizod  Hill on the West of the city right over to Heartbreak Hill in Mount Merrion in South Dublin, You will practically crowd surf up them hills.
Midleton AC supporters will be dotted all over the hills and city egging you on

We wish our 5 ladies Joan, Helen,Paula,Shelia and Amanda and our 9 gentlemen Ger MC C, Ger R, Fionnan, Francis, Mark OReilly, Morgan, Brendan, David, Kevin, Richard the very best runners luck.

 

Claire

Its Dublin City Marathon time again and we wish everyone running the very best of luck and may you get the time you deserve or better. We have a large number running and a few who fell by the wayside due to injury. Among those we have running are Amanda Cooney, Margaret Mulcahy, Helen Sheehan, Paula O'Sullivan and Joan McCarthy. On the men's side we have Kevin Smith, Morgan O'Regan, David Moynihan, Ger O'Regan, Ger McLean, Francis Maunsell, Fionan O'hAodain, Kevin Moran, Brendan Curtin, Richard Power and Mark O'Reilly. Apologies to anyone I missed just please let me know so I can include you.

You can track the lads here

Tracker......This is a tracker for following anyone taking part... https://track.rtrt.me/e/TDL-DUBLINM-2017#/tracker

Live Stream... The link is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZgjItq9-Ic61za7HCkKz8g

Don't forget our contact there if needed Anyone that encounters any difficulty with their marathon number, entry etc can contact our local man on the ground Brian Healy 0872932752. Brian has once again kindly offered his help.
 

 

 
I got these last evening from the Marathon Hall Of Fame where they appear as part of the Marathon Expo. and its lovely to see our own Helen Gilroy included.

Anyone with photos reports etc please email me at mdtacinfo@gmail.com All will be welcome. Danny

Safe travelling everyone including all our supporters who are travelling up.

Marathon Contact

Anyone that encounters any difficulty with their marathon number, entry etc can contact our local man on the ground Brian Healy 0872932752. Brian has once again kindly offered his help.

For those not running the marathon or not on support duty this might make a pleasant trot on Sunday morning.

National Silver Medal For Sally Drennan

Word has just reached me of the fantastic achievement of Sally Drennan in taking 2nd place and the Silver Medal in the National Series in the triathlon in her age Cat.. This is a really fantastic result especially considering Sally is not very long involved in the sport. In her typical modest way she would be the last person to mention her wonderful achievement but luckily a little bird told me. Well done Sally we are all delighted and proud of you.

WEEKEND RUNAROUND

Autumn Open Cross Country Festival

Sinead and Neilus qualify to run for Ireland

What a great day for our club when Sinead Keavney and Neilus Aherne both qualified to run for Ireland. Sinead had a powerful and intelligent run to finish 3rd O/40 and seventh overall whilst Neilus also had an equally great run and qualified with 2nd O/60. Our third runner Sally Drennan was also very pleased with her run especially considering her lack of training due to injury she finished in 6th position in her cat. missing out by one spot in qualifying for the Irish team. Well done all. Once again ye have done your club proud.

Rebel Run

Bernie Twomey and Margaret Jones giving our new Midleton AC tops an airing at the Rebel Run. Margaret came 4th Lady.

Margaret Jones in action today. This is the first picture of a Midleton AC athlete competing in our new top.




Best of luck to everyone running this weekend. We have the Rebel Run at home and three of our athletes are travelling to Dublin to in in the Autumn Open Cross Country Festival at which they hope to get places on the Irish Teams. They are Sally Drennan , Sinead Keavney and Neilus Aherne. The very best of luck to all and safe travelling. Whilst very many of our crew are in their taper for Dublin we also wish them a safe wind down and hopefully no last minute injuries.

Don't forget to order your new Midleton AC top. Please text Bernie at 0872311688

 

 ADVANCE NOTICE

A DATE TO REMEMBER

 

A reminder that the entries for Dungarvan 10 open on the

1st November. As there will be an extra large number trying to enter due to the demise of the Ballycotton 10 be sure and get in early. Traditionally West Waterford AC allow transfer of numbers in this race once they are informed of it so there is no way you can lose out once you are in.

 

 

Ballycotton 10

 

Interesting article here https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/sonia-o-sullivan-ballycotton-10-a-lost-treasure-in-road-racing-1.3260753

 

and another one here on Marathon training.

 

https://www.fastrunning.com/running-athletics-news/ireland/john-tracey-talks-current-standards-and-how-to-run-a-fast-marathon/8811

 

 

Tops and Training

 

No shortage of models for the new tops.

 

 

 

 

Below a few shots of a section of the crew at training on Wednesday evening. New members are always welcome and can try out a session for free any Monday or Wednesday evening. All levels catered for enquiries mdtacinfo@gmail.com or 0872403940

 

New Tops Available Tomorrow Evening

Our new tops will be available at training 7pm tomorrow evening. There is only a limited number available so please be early and bring the correct amount which is 25Euro. You can also text Bernie @ 0872311688 to pre order if you wish.

FLASH SALE FLASH SALE
FLASH SALE FLASH SALE

She will be selling a limited number of the old tops for 5 euro each

TRAINING

Due to the cancellation of training Monday anyone (especially marathon people and people with target races) that want to discuss their training programme and /or get updates please feel free to contact Donie @ 0862092795

WEEKEND RUNAROUND

TRAINING CANCELLED

Training has been cancelled for Monday evening due to the adverse weather forecast. Danny

Cross Country

The County Intermediate Cross Country Championships took place on Sunday organised superbly by Carrignavar AC. We had two athletes competing in the men's race. Derek Aherne and Don McDonald who both ran really well finishing in that order. This is there first season competing in this event and already the improvement in their running is very evident. Well done guys. The day itself was wet and miserable so well done to all our supporters who came out as well. The race was won by Mark Walsh son of our head coach Donie.

Mark Walsh winner of the men's race.

 

Cross Country Updates

The next cross country races are as follows:

15 October - County intermediate in Glenville at 12.00 pm (see Carraig na bhFear AC wwebsite for directions)

22 October - Munster novice and under 23 - Co. Clare

5 November - County masters and novice B

Anyone who would like to run in the intermediate on Sunday, please let me know by tomorrow.

Entries for the Munster novice and under 23 have to be in by Monday, 16 October.  Kindly let me know by this Sunday, 15 October if you would like to run there.

 

Although we are unlikely to have teams for the races on 15 and 22 October, I would definitely hope to have men's and women's teams in the masters, hopefully in both age categories, so please consider running in this one!

If there are any questions on the above, feel free to contact me by return email or on 087 2265857.

Kind regards,

Sally

 

 

Lads as Sally says above we definitely should have lots of members doing the Masters and the Novice B on the 5th Dec. It is an ideal opportunity to try cross country for the first time and its also a week after Dublin Marathon so one should be suitably recovered for a short race. Do please consider it as we would not advise anyone to do something they are not ready for but the vast majority of members would be well able for these races. Danny

WEEKEND RUNAROUND

County Senior Cross Country

A great days racing in Conna on Sunday morning for the County Senior Cross Country where in the women's race we had Sinead Keavney who ran a very fine race to finish fifth .The race was won by Olympian Michelle Finn.
In the mens race 10Km we had three runners who again all ran in fine style with Neilus Aherne and Don MDonald playing cat and mouse with there positions with Neilus winning out in the end to be our first man home closely followed by Don and Dereck Aherne. The race was won by Mark Hanrahan of Leevale. Well done all including our usual bunch of loyal supporters.

Christopher McCarthy's Memories of Ballycotton

 

 

For me the real tragedy here is the loss of the Summer Series.

 

Since I ran my 1^st Summer Series Race (Ballyandreen 2013) I was hooked, never missed a race in the series & would have continued for years to come.

 

I absolutely loved it & have so many glorious memories.

 

Ballyandreen – The testing, undulating course rolling into Ballycotton at the 2 Mile Mark before the middle stretch out towards ‘The Beast’, reaching the top gasping for air before putting every ounce of energy into the last mile descent back towards the finish overlooking the cliffs.  A wonderful race on a really classic course & probably my favourite race every year.

 

Shanagarry – Laps around the GAA pitch to warm up.  Trying to work my way up towards Top 50 on the overall leaderboard.  The hill from 2.5 – 3.5 miles always felt like it would never end, then a little rest for the steep descent before launching back into the last hill on tired legs towards the finish under the canopy of trees.

 

Churchtown South – A race I initially disliked but grew to love after a couple of good performances.  2 laps around the village with great support, when you see the small hill for the 2^nd time you know there’s not long to go.  Overall positions in the Series begin to take shape.  You know what you have to do in 4 or 5 weeks’ time in Ballycotton.

 

Ballycotton – Remember that the race starts at 7:30.  Try not to go too fast in the 1^st mile.  Take a little breather after the 1 mile mark for the slight incline.  Keep the pressure up for the rest of the 1^st half.  The 2^nd half of the race was often a case of just hanging in there giving everything towards the finish back in the town to hold onto my place or pick up a place if possible.  Cross the finish line gasping for air knowing that the Summer of racing is over for another year.  Pick up a well-deserved plaque & if you are lucky / have trained hard all Summer – pick up a Top 50 T Shirt.

 

Of my 5 campaigns I will most fondly remember 2016 when I received my first only Top 50 T Shirt.  Attached is the photo which you took yourself.

 

All that’s left to do is display our gratitude for John Walsh and his fantastic Ballycotton Running Promotions team and to always cherish our memories of Ireland’s oldest and best road running series.

 

 

Chris.

Galway Half Marathon

Amanda Cooney had another fine run today when she ran the Galway Half Marathon in 2.05. Well done Amanda looking good for Dublin.

BALLYCOTTON 10 NO MORE

It is with tears in my eyes I write this post to inform you all that the Ballycotton 10 is no more and also the Ballycotton Summer Series is gone also. It is hard to believe as it has played such a part of our lives for so long and every new runner one meets it seems to be their ambition to run the Ballycotton 10. Having trained literally hundreds  and hundreds of runners to run it and seeing the smiles on their faces having accomplished it was always so rewarding.

My prize possessions my first Ballycotton mug from 1983 and the last one 2017 the rest are in the attic. It is the 1983 one that is really special to me as it is "The Mug You Must Not Wash" there was a fault in the firing of the mugs and if you washed it the crest comes off. I do not know of any other intact 1983 mug so when they open the Ballycotton 10 museum I will donate it.

One can only thank John Walsh, Tommy Hartnett, Jim McMurty and the whole Ballycotton Running Promotions Crew for their dedication and hard work down all the years and the pleasure they have given to us athletes. Thank you all so much. Danny

 Full statement from Ballycotton Running Promotions http://www.ballycottonrunning.com/

Memories Are Made Of This

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_SZzYXs87U&feature=share


Well worth looking at just to see all the Midleton AC vests.

If anyone has any memories that they would like to share no matter how short or long please send them in to mdtacinfo@gmail.com

 2017

 

2016

Cross Country

Best of luck to our runners  Sinead Keavney, Neilus Aherne, Derek Aherne and Don McDonald running in the County Senior's on Sunday. Do please consider coming out to support them. Its only twenty minutes out the road in Conna starting with the ladies at twelve noon.