On Sunday EDAC members gathered at Stormont Estate for the Belfast Marathon. EDAC always has runners in the full marathon and a number of teams in the very popular team relay. The conditions were very changeable to say the least, with showers, cloudy but warm and overcast and very warm when the sun was out. EDAC had three runners who had trained very hard for this event. Over the last couple of years Seamus Savage has improved leaps and bounds, and was aiming for a under 3hr half hour under run, he achieved this by a long way, coming in 3hr 26min 57sec which he must be very pleased with. Daniel Giles again who has been sticking to a sticked training programme and who wanted to improve on his time from last year’s race. He did this in 3hr 31min and will be happy with his efforts. Ladies Team Captain Sharon Madine was taking on the Marathon for the first time, she has been training hard and had in her head a sub 4 hrs run, she did this by a long way in in 3hr 46min, and is over the moon with her efforts.

The Fourth EDAC marathon runner was Ella Carroll, and was running her first marathon on her 23rd birthday. Ella has been a member of the club since she was a junior and had a good reason for doing the marathon today. When she found out that the Belfast Marathon date fell on the same day as her birthday she was keen to run the race and do it for the Perinatal Trust, this charity supports the Neonatal Unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital Maternity Hospital where Ella spent the first few days of her life in the special care unit at the RMH 23 years ago, so this was a cause close to her and the Carroll family’s heart. So with a relay support team made up of the Carroll family and friends, Ella took on the challenge, and has raised over £1000 on her Justgiving page to purchase vital medical equipment as well specialist training to staff. A great effort from Ella who finished in 5hr 3min, well done everyone.

EDAC had put in two Relay Teams, as ever this is made up of volunteers who want to get a good run out and enjoy the atmosphere of the crowds in Belfast. East Down AC team 1 consisted of Cheryl Denvir, James Cuffuy, Mark O’Conner, Deirdie Wetherhall and Niamh Kellett which consisted of experience and age, and out of 1088 relay teams came in 43rd position in a time of 3hr 15min 15sec a great effort. EDAC team 2 was made up of Barrie Attkinson, Adam Withers, Eamon Kelly, Declan Hampton and the Wee English Fellow, the team came in 24th position in a time 2hr 58min 22sec. Great result for both teams, I recommended to anyone to take on the relay to give you a feel of the Belfast Marathon.

Anna Gardiner who has had a great 6 months was selected as a member of Athletic N Ireland relay Team, Anna still a junior, stepped up and took on the last leg of the Marathon relay, and brought the girls team home in 2hr 40min 26sec a great effort from her and her team, showing the depth and strength of the juniors in N Ireland.

I would like to thank all the support the runners got today from EDAC members, family and friends, other athletics club members and the public, a great day out for everyone.