Prize for furthest traveller this week goes not as anticipated to Santa Claus but to Michael McKeown who visited the remote Tyrone outpost of Greencastle on Boxing Day for the annual 5 Mile Race, accompanied it would seem by half the running population, as almost 800 took part. The race was won by North Belfast’s Stephen Scullion in 25.09 but Michael could be well satisfied with his sub 7 minute mile pace of 34.51, on what I am reliably informed is not an easy course.
A little nearer home on the same day Declan Teague also went sub 7s in the Burren Townland Half marathon, reduced thanks to the frost to 10 miles, coming home in 7th place in 69.11, in spite of 2 pit stops en route. Continue reading