Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Dublin City Marathon 25th October 2010

Another early start for me on a very crisp Bank Holiday Monday, thankfully I was only going to support the Le Cheile atheltes in their quest to run the Dubin City Marathon, for some it was their debeut for others it was a chance to run a faster time and for others they were pacing the event.

I positioned myself at the 15mile mark at the Kimmage road and at 1hr 10min the leaders passed a bigger group than last year with about 10 in it and all looking comfortable. The first of the Le Cheile fit4life past was Jarlath, he looked really comfortable and managed a large smile as he passed by. I just thought to myself how do they do it? but the answer is they set a goal and trained hard! I knew Tony was pacing the 3.30 group and they went passed i let a shout out "come of Le Cheile" but I couldn't see Tony nor did I see Des who's goal was to run a 3.30 marathon, I hope they heard me. I saw Veronica who passed by in a large group but she turned around when i let out a shout for her. Allison passed by, I told her she was doing great, but this doesn't even come close to how describing the admiration that I feel for every sinlge person who runs a marathon. Allison even looked comfortable enough but she told me her knee was giving her some trouble. I got the surprise of my life when as i was just clapping for the steady stream of runners passing by I heard a loud shout "Lisa Long, my god " and there I saw some old pals of mine from Blackrock Jean and john Redmond, brother and sister who currently reside in Canada. Anyway I was waiting on Cathy to come along and I was hoping that i hadn't missed her and when I saw her, so I cheered again, then I saw Marian and she too was going great. I had hoped to see Paul (Conor's dad, his first marathon) but unfortuanately I didn't spot him amongst the steady flow of fantastic people.

Apologies to anyone that I have left out, all the Le Cheile crew were supported by family members and friends along the route and I'm sure they were delighted to hear their names being called out and encouraged along the very long hard 26 mile route of the Dublin City Marathon.

Well done to you all you are fantastic!

Round 1 Leinster Cross Country 24th October 2010

Round 1 was held in the grounds of Belvedere House, Mullingar, in fantastic Sunshine. First up were Emma Browne, Fina Hayes and Aibhine Grimes, competing in the U12's, unfortunately the girls fellow team member Kate Harris had to pull out just before the start. Never the less the girls were put in their pen and they awaited the gun!, then they were off in a very competative race the girls ran up and down a number of hills that made up the 2k tough courseand they were all glad to see the finish line. The girls finished Fina80,Aighine 81 & Emma 91 in a race that had over 160 competitors. It was the first time both Emma and Aibhine competed at Leinster level, Emma Bowne has also moved up an year to compete. So well done the girls. Fina and Emma will compete in the Next round of the Leinsters also on 7th November in Wexford,

Next up was Liam Murphy, this was his debut race, Liam didn't compete in the Kildares. Liam had a good start and moved forwards passing out many athletes on the way. Liam was also running 2k, again a very competative race and he gave it his all, with legs turning to jelly he made his last push on for the line and finished a very respectable 33rd again out of over 150 athletes. The kildare boys team finished as the 2nd County and Liam scored on this team, he was the fifth Kildare Boy home and earned himself a well deserved Silver medal (he hasn't received it yet). Liam will now run on the Kildare team at the All-Ireland Championships.

U14 boys were up next, Conor Kiely, Conall Hayes and Sean Flanagan, all the boys got out well but unfortunately lost some ground during the 3k race, they all raced well, but I'm unsure of where they finished, its hard to judge with 160 in a race. The Kildare team were 3rd County but they results aren't up on the Leinster web site yet so not sure if all the lads scored on the Kildare team. So watch this space.........well done boys. Conall and Sean will also be competing on 7th November. Leinster have posted the results, delighted to say that Kildare County Boys U14 took third County and both Sean (27th) and Conall (37th) scored on the Kikldare team.

The last competitor was Conor Murphy, stepping up a year and running a very tough 6k. Conor got a good start and was with the leaders at 2k, not sure what exactly happened, Conor began loosing ground and the learders began to pull away, at 4k Conor dug deep and regained his concentration and did well to finish a very respectable 14th, just missing out on the provincial team. Kildare County did not have an u18 team in this race unfortunately. Conor will compete in his own age group on 7th November in Wexford. Best of luck all.

Many thanks to parents for your continued support and thanks to Liams dad Willie for the photo's. They will be posted for you to see.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Information Evening with Mark Kenneally

There will be an information evening held this Thursday (13th Oct) in the Ryevale Tavern at 8:30. International Kildare Athlete and Physiotherapist, Mark Kenneally, will present to us methods by which runners can prevent injury and how to deal with some common injuries.

All are welcome, and of course there will be a little drink after the session as part of the social interaction of the adult members and friends.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Kildare Cross Country Championships Round 2

The second round of champsionships will take place tomorrow, anyone who doesn't know how to get to Crookstown Millview, please be at the amenities at 10.15 am, sunday 10th October and you can follow myself and pat.

Best of luck to all competeing athletes.

Leinster Developement Squad

Congratulations to Erica Dixon, Conor Murphy and Sean Flanagan who have been selected for the Leinster Squad.

Welll done

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Kildare Cross Country Championships Round 1

The first round of the Championships took place today in sunshine at Eire Og in Carragh, Co. Kildare. Unfortunately a number of teams were lost due to no shows from athletes. The only age group that we managed to have a team event was the Girls U9, who finished a respectable 5th over all.
U9 Team: Abbey Tarrant (27th), Aoife Maloney (21st) Ciara Mulleady((12th) and Laura Browne (17th)
U9 boys: Oran Hayes (12th) & Ruairi Hession (8th)
U11 boys: Ciaran Connolly (17th), Andrew Hession (18th)
U11 Girls: Emma Browne(25th) Carragh Hayes (9th)
U13 boys: Thomas Connolly & Patrick Flanagan
U15 boys: Darragh Nolan
U17 Boys: Conor Murphy 1st - Kildare Champion.

The Girls U9 were the first up and they did great they all had smiles on their faces, for Abbey and Aoife is was their first taste of competition. Well done. U9 Boys, both Oran and Ruairi had a great debut race and they were cheered on by their proud parents. U11 girls, this saw an increased distance this year. Carragh had a great race as was well up coming into the home straight, Emma did great and still mananged to smile at the finish. U13 boys competed well in a very large field, unfortunately I don't have their exact finishes, but well done to you Patrick and Thomas, Poor Conall wished he was running with you but had to be content with cheering them on from the sidelines. Nest up was Darragh Nolan, running out of his age, Darragh put in a very solid performance and did himself and the club proud, up against lads who were twice his size he finished in fine style, Darragh race was 3k. Last but not least was Conor Murphy, Conor worked very well in his race and looked very comfortable and dealt with the pressure from his rival from Newbridge, who remained on his shoulder. Conor did all the work but on this occasion he was not to be beaten and stretched his lead to over 200m to win. Congratulations.

Many thanks to all the parents who cheered and supported all the atheltes today, thanks also to Pat Hayes a fellow coach.

Can I remind all parents that all athletes are entered into the Kildare Championships and that we will try arrange lifts if parents are unable to attend themselves. Please just let us know. The next round is on Sunday 10th October in Crookstown. Its the even ages, so U10's - U18 with Master Men and Women, but that also means that all athletes can move up an age group to compete ouU9 can move up and compete out of their age, eg; U9 move upwards to U10 and so on.