DCM by Claire Fitzgerald
Done, dusted and bagged the T-shirt!
11 started last Sunday at 9am and 11 completed the course by
lunchtime.
If you were male and your name started with D it was highly
probable that you’d get a PB in last Sunday’s marathon, I know Derek, Don, Dan,
& Declan did so in style. Fair play Mick Murphy, the odds seemingly against
that but you bucked that trend. The ladies like true Countess Markieviczs’ refused
to be outdone and lead by Helen Gilroy had their own PBs.
Derek Ahern lead the group from the front and throughout the
26.2 miles was well inside his comfort zone, judging by the jazz hands and
pictures throughout.
Knocking 25 minutes off his PB Derek stormed home in 3.10.
Don Mc Donald and Mick Murphy ran together from mile 4. The
experience from Mick and calmness of Don resulted in this formidable
performance by both lads.
At mile 25 they passed the MAC crew and Don found that ‘je ne
c’est quoi” to push the last mile. Both finished in 3.13 with only 20 seconds
between them. PBs all around again! Helen Gilroy stormed home in 3.24 knocking
5 minutes off her PB. Helen ran the perfect race throughout, finishing strong in a final mile
at 6.30!
Claire Fitzgerald followed Helen in a time of 3.38 equalling
her PB, despite a tough few miles at mile 19/20 recovered well for the last 3.
Declan O Callaghan crossed the gantry in 3.48 in his debut. He was thrilled as he struggled with a calf
injury over the last 2 weeks.
Dan Twohig charged home with 3.53, a PB by 50 minutes,
almost an hour of his very first marathon. Running with the club for just 2
years, Dan is getting better and better.
Paula O Sullivan arrived next in 4.09 followed by Helen Sheehan
and Mags Mulcahy in 4.13 and 4.18 each. Well done ladies!
But Wonder Woman
Amanda Cooney was the real surprise, just weeks out of a boot with broken toes,
underwent a crash training course over 4 weeks, she used every bit of credit in
her to complete DCM in 4.48. We are in awe!
But to our family & loyal friends who made the journey
last Sunday. THANK YOU
We are so lucky to have you along side us, running, cheering
us on and pushing us through that wall.
To quote one of our crew ’it was a privilege to
wear the Midleton singlet last Sunday” and represent our MAC family.
