Saturday 5th December, Phoenix Park Santas, reindeers and brack……..It could only be one thing. No not the Sportsworld christmas Party, The Jingle Bells 5k. Conditions were ideal with the air dry and crisp and a mammoth field of 1500 runners who kicked of the seasons festivities and cheer with this staple of the Irish running calender. It was like a pantomine cast with Lucy bouncing around tinsel and all and Trevor grumbling Ba Humbug…….For some there were serious business to attend to. Stephen Willoughby and Eoin O’Brien stood askance like two mean lookin cowboys in a spaghetti western. They cast each other a cool side ways glance at the start, matchsticks in mouth, and the scene was set. There was a quality field of runners on display. We had the honour of the great Ronnie Delaney gracing us with a few words and setting us on our way. The stampede commenced at the Furry Glenne and the field was starting to string out by the first corner at the main road. The thoroughbreads assembled up front with the prodigious John Travers from Donore (remember that name), Thomas Fitpatrick, Pat McCartan, the great Peter Matthews and some of Raheny’s finest to the fore. I was joined by my usual cronies a ways back with Dave Byrne, Paul Cowhie and Ronan Kearns within strides all the ways along. The kilometres passed quickly, especially with the great support on the sidelines. In the heel of the hunt Travers held of Fitzpatrick to deliver a popular home win in a blistering 14.33, followed by Fitzpatrick and McCartan, who will all be gearing up for a promising indoors season in the new year. Over a minute behind the Dave Byrne [...]
Ballycotton 10 Registration Open
As some people have been querying, it’s now possible to download entry forms for the 2010 Ballycotton 10 Road Race here. The first 2500 postal entries opened will be automatically accepted. These spots go like the proverbial hot cakes. AAI registered runners will be accepted by post up to and including Tuesday December 15th. Click here for full entry procedures. It will be 33rd edition of this classic race and Sportsworld has been well represented at it throughout the years. School books of Irish folklore have been updated with the epic battle of a certain husband and wife back in 1984. Way back then, when Miami Vice first beamed into our lives on the small screen, John Treacy picked up silver in the marathon at the LA Olympics and Star Trek III – The search for Spock hit the silver screen, this competitive duo left Dublin and hiked to east cork and lined up with the good and great of Irish athletics. They stood side by side (playing elbows) on the start line. The wife was feeling confident as she hummed Cyndi Lauper’s new No.1 “Girls just wanna have fun”. But it was the husband who first stormed up through the fishing village, over the crest of the hill to the finish line in 56.13 followed by his better half in 57:42. After not talking the whole way home the poor lady had to endure months of gloating across the kitchen table – pass the salt….ahh to slow! So in 1985, Emily Dowling lined up again and ran a stunning 56:00, knocking 13 seconds off Mick’s time to get a classic Dowling time!
Rathfarnham 5km 2009
Saturday’s rain had cleared and the sun was shining for the annual Rathfarnham 5K road race on Sunday. A decent punch of Sportsworld athletes lined up at the start line opposite Tesco. For those who have been running the Addidas race series and gotten used to checking their watch every mile the 5K comes as a shock to the system. In the 5K, tactics moves and pushes you make during your race can make or break you. Physically, the 5K is tough because you’re racing at just about your VO2 max, with the shorter distance over the more common 10K the margin for error is significantly less. You can’t go on an all out sprint or be too conservative during the first kilometre of a 5K. Paul Duffy doesn’t understand conservative starts. Paul was right up there with the leading pack as soon as guest starter George Lee set the race off on time at 10AM. The course brings you down by Bushy, across the bridge and up the hill towards Terenure. Then there is a slight uphill followed by a seemingly endless long straight up toward Tempelogue cross roads. We run this course all the time but when you hit Tesco with a kilometre to go your hurting and then someone makes the push for home. You have a split second to decide to go and put the foot down or risk being left in the dust. The last kilometre of the 5K is where most runners either succeed or fail in meeting their target. Looking back to see where someone else is, is not an option. When you kick for home with 200 or 400 metres to go it’s a case of gritting [...]
BHAA Pearl Izumi 10k Road Race
Great turnout from the club at last Saturday’s Pearl Izumi sponsored BHAA 10k Road Race which took place around the Firhouse Area of Dublin. Apologies if I forget anybody but following were spotted running : Paul O’Connell, Joe Byrne, Stephanie Bergin, Helen Dixon, Claire Rowley, Trevor Lloyd, Judith Lloyd, Valerie Power, Sandra Armstrong, Tommy Armstrong, Susan McDonnell, Sean O’Byrne, Ray Carpenter. Paul continued his excellent run of form by finishing second and winning his category in the summer league which included 3 individual wins and 3 second places, very consistent running by Paul, well done. Next home was Joe Byrne who jogged around in 39 minutes according to him as he was due to do a long run the next day !! Stephanie kept up her good recent form by finishing third female behind Annette Kealy and Donna Mahon and also was part of the AIB team which were 2nd in their category. Sandra was 1st in her age category. Helen Dixon was 2nd in her age category. Judith was 1st in her age category and Trevor not to be outdone was also 1st in his age category. Susan ran a pb by 3 minutes and Ray looked as fresh at the end as he had at the start of the race. I would highly recommend that you try one of the upcoming races www.bhaa.ie for remaining races in 2009 as all standard of runner is catered for and if you ask any of your colleagues that run in the BHAA races I have no doubt they will agree that their running has improved since taking part in the races. Race Report byStephen Willoughby
Kilmore 10km 2009
Kilmore 10km 2009 “I’ll Just Jog It” The world is creaking and groaning with tales of dread. A quick shuffle through the Sunday Papers will bring rapid personal rain clouds and a deep fog will follow a deep depression. In a turbulent world, there is no better antidote to misery, worry and fear than running and the company of running friends. Theirs is a positive, happy and encouraging outlook. Runners are not gratified by the material. They have long since understood the effort and the reward comes from better feats. They understand achievement, goals and fun better than any company or business. Theirs is an inherently positive outlook and the glass is always half full. A running club is way more important than running; it’s your tribe, your support and your community. It’s a haven for heady headaches and it’s a reminder of what really matters. Then again, at Sportsworld, we are very lucky. Lucky because we have a passionate Coach who is inspiration personified. In a previous note I said “Emily Dowling didn’t just teach us to run, she taught us how to live” How true that is today. The start of the Kilmore 10k is a well disguised hill. It seduces then pulls and bites your heels. Dermot Bates is a wily fox. Local knowledge (witness the amount of Bates at rest in the ‘Grandstand Graveyard’!) knows better. Dermot’s family come from Kilmore and this gentle start is known locally as … you guessed it … ‘the hill’ Yours truly was on an escape weekend in Kilkenny. The lure of a race and the company of friends were too much to miss. Dermot, the inspiration, creator, producer and director of Project Kilmore was [...]