Is it really a year since the last Dublin Marathon? I don’t know about those who have been training to run it, for whom there is always too little time to prepare as much as they would have liked, but for those of us who are only going to lend some vocal support, it only seems like last week that we were there before. But someone cruelly said that’s what happens as you get older – the time goes much quicker!
NO NEED FOR TEARS BRENDAN
Anyway to the business end of running a marathon, where everyone is looking for quicker times. This year Brendan Teer had set his sights on a sub 2.30 hours time in his second attempt at the distance and was understandably disappointed with his eventual time of 2.51. All the more so because he was on target for 2.29 after running 34.04 for the first 10K and 1.12 through halfway. Perhaps a little too pacy at these points? For as those of us who have ran the distance a few times and some of us many, the marathon is one tough cookie and tests every aspect of your physical and mental strength. A few seconds per mile too fast early on can have devastating consequence later. Brendan cramped up badly at 18 miles and subsequently and had to stop to ease the pain. Cramp I mostly associate with dehydration and perhaps this is one aspect of his race strategy he could look at for the next time. And for sure there will be a next time if only to get the disappointment of this one out of his system. But what a time by any standard! Few people manage to run a marathon in anywhere near that time so just take a few days or even weeks off to enjoy your achievement and then plan for your revenge on the 26.2 miles!
NEWCASTLE HEROES
Newcastle’s Patrick Higgins was the first local to appear, clocking a fantastic 2.49, from a near 42 minutes 10K and 1.27 halfway clocking. Great pacing and Well Done to him. Alan Strachan 2.58, Joe McCann disappointed with his 3.03 as he predicted 3.05, Jerome McCrickard cruising to 3.04, Mari Troeng 3.04 and 24th Lady overall, Well Done!! Brendan Donnelly and Aidan Brown both on 3.11 and Norman Smyth completing the seasiders squad in 3.15.
ON THE BUSES
And then, just like the buses, (we were actually sheltering at a bus stop!!) after waiting ages for one to appear 3 or 4 of the East Down (just like Newcastle) runners arrived practically at the same time. Declan Teague 3.11, Phillip Vint 3.12, Michael Cultra 3.13 and Andrew Telford 3.14, taking 10 minutes off last year’s time for a new pb, barely giving the throats time to recover from one roar until another one was required.
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Then it was Dermot Cahill 3.24, sorry Dermot you were the only East Down runner we missed going through (Apologies if by chance any others were missed too) – too fast for the “should have gone to ……”eyes? But a noteworthy effort. Then newcomer David Foster, clocking 3.23 in his first ever marathon. Next Mark O’ Connor 3.25 looking comfortable and easing to a 2 minute improvement on last year
Performance of the day however was probably Gareth Kelly’s 3.27 time which took 19 minutes of his 2014 mark. Michael McKeown was slightly disappointed with 3.34 as his best is considerably faster but as his 2014 time was 4.19 while nursing an injury perhaps a quick look at his 10K and halfway splits might prove enlightening. Similarly Mark McDowell’s 3.36 might well have been better had he been more restrained over the first half, but from where I was standing, it was all pretty impressive.
FIRST TIMERS
David Smith almost escaped our gaze too as he slipped past for a super 3.40 and Paddy McDonald got it right though in his first ever marathon and was well pleased with a time of 3.55. Kevin McCormick too fairly tripped the light fantastic to a sub 4 hour time of 3.55 in his debut over the distance with Gareth Fegan’s 4.03 matching my debut time of some 30 years ago.
LEADING LADIES
Cathy Burke and Liz O’Hagan got their pacing right , coming home together in 4.05, which was 17 and 21 minutes respectively better than last year. Oonagh Breteche 4.13 opted for a late support role for the hamstrung Mickey Cunningham and both still finished better than last year too. Helen Vint did well to finish in 4.22, surviving stomach cramps en route and Joanne Carson can be well pleased with posting 4.25 in her first ever marathon.
Ultra marathon extraordinaire Linda Cunningham cruised quite happily to 4.55 while usual partner in crime Simon McGrattan again suffered from cramps requiring several stops to just tip him over the 5 hour mark.
THIS WEEKEND
This weekend the cross country League action comes in the Mc Connell Shield fixture in Sixmilewater Park Ballyclare on Saturday beginning at 1.30pm and nearer home there is also the Dolly’s Brae Inn 7 mile race on Sunday at 2.00pm. A good wee race to do.
GRIDDLE 10K
Next on the local scene is the Round the Griddle 10K and Fun Run on 6 December which gets under way at 12 noon from Saul GAC premises. Online entry is open at www.athleticsni.org and entries will also be taken on the day.
Joe Quinn
2 November 2015
| NAME | TIME (hrs.mins.) | 2014 TIMES |
| BRENDAN TEER | 2.51 | |
| DECLAN TEAGUE | 3.11 | |
| PHILIP VINT | 3.12 | (4.00) |
| MICHAEL CULTRA | 3.13 | (3.19) |
| ANDREW TELFORD | 3.14 | (3.24) |
| DERMOT CAHILL | 3.23 | |
| DAVID FOSTER | 3.23 | 1st marathon |
| MARK O’CONNOR | 3.25 | (3.27) |
| GARETH KELLY | 3.27 | (3.46) |
| MICHAEL McKEOWN | 3.34 | (4.19) |
| MARK McDOWELL | 3.36 | |
| DAVID SMITH | 3.40 | 1st marathon |
| PADDY McDONALD | 3.55 | 1st marathon |
| KEVIN McCORMICK | 3.55 | 1st marathon |
| GARETH FEGAN | 4.03 | 1st marathon |
| CATHY BURKE | 4.05 | (4.22) |
| LIZ O’HAGAN | 4.05 | (4.26) |
| OONAGH BRETECHE | 4.13 | (4.30) |
| MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM | 4.13 | (4.19) |
| HELEN VINT | 4.22 | |
| JOANNE CARSON | 4.25 | 1st marathon |
| LINDA CUNNINGHAM | 4.55 | (4.55) |
| SIMON McGRATTAN | 5.01 | (4.55) |