Murlough’s Dublin trek

Murlough’s Dublin trek

9 November 2016

IT was an unseasonably warm day in Dublin as nearly 20,000 runners took to the start line of Dublin City Marathon.

With a commemorative 1916 medal at the finish line to celebrate the centenary of the Easter Rising, there was no wonder the race sold out months ago. 

Dubbed the ‘Friendliest Marathon,’ it was only right that 10 of Murlough’s friendliest members toed the line. The Dublin 10 brought their A game with them on the day after months of hard core training.

They trained in rain that came from all directions, had pushed themselves beyond milage milestone and they did not disappoint on the day with personal bests being smashed.

As they weaved through the streets of Dublin, past the most spectacular supporting crowds, taking in landmarks such as Phoenix Park and Kilmainham Gaol, they kept their heads held high and dug deep to bring it home for MAC.

Michael McKenna and Hugh Oram were spotted mid race like two men possessed, so focused, with the eye of the tiger powering through with four miles of solid MAC team work between the 18-mile and 22-mile markers.

Bottling the buzz of the crowd and carrying it through to the finish line, both men came in well under the 3.30 mark. Michael smashed his previous time at Belfast by eight minutes to be the first MAC runners over the line in 3.22. He was shortly followed by the impeccable and impressive Hugh, who has been consistently turning out PBs all year with a top 12% finish in 3.26, knocking a staggering 11 minutes of his previous PB.

Nicola Mathers annihilated her PB by coming in at 3.46 with the help of Joe McCann, who was seen in the video footage telling Nicola off, but it must have worked as she kept a relentlessly steady pace to bring her in well below her own target. The hard graft of her training was rewarded with her post marathon tear fountain that continued to turn on and off throughout the evening.

Nicola was followed in quick succession by Sean Looby, Sean Armstrong and her training buddy Michelle McCann.

Looby powered home in 3.50, only eight minutes behind last year’s time and considering he had had a rough build-up, he still came across the line like an aeroplane, smiling from ear to ear, knowing he had put in everything and got a fantastic time in return.

Another one of the MAC team who also had a rocky road to Dublin was Sean Armstrong, who was tackling the marathon again after a 21-year absence from the event.

At one point during training Sean worried if he would even make it to the start line. On the day he too pulled out all the stops to cross the line in a not to be sniffed at 3.52, smashing his previous performance.

Also in 3.52, our second MAC lady, Michelle McCann, crossed the line absolutely delighted with her performance and coming in well under her four-hour target. Nicola and Michelle would like to thank Joe and Ronnie for the support throughout training and for sacrificing their own marathons to help them achieve their PBs.

Eddie Murnin was next over the line to be the seventh MAC member to finish. Again, the trend of blowing PBs out of the water continued as Eddie knocked an impressive 13 minutes off his time from Belfast back in May.

There were concerns in the MAC camp as they continued to track the progress of Brendan Laverty and Michael Grant. Setting off together in Wave 3, they never seemed to leave each other’s side throughout the whole 26.2 mile. When one tracker stopped, the other one did so also.

However the camaraderie and MAC spirit kept the two of them sane and on point. They crossed the line together in 4.38, even ensuring they took advantage of the post race massages in the cool down tent.

With nine across the line, all eyes turned to the last of the Dublin 10 to bring it home for MAC. Siobhan Grant was spotted at every checkpoint smiling and soaking up the atmosphere as she finished in 6.02.

The Dublin 10 would like to thank everyone in the club for their support in training. To Pat, Caitriona, Clare and Kieran who trekked around Dublin on the day to be at vital points to cheer the runners on. To the MAC support crew online lead by Liam and Selena who kept everyone up to date and entertained with the online tracking and progress of all the runners.

Finally they would like to thank the DCM team, volunteers and Dublin residents for what was an unfortgettable experience from start to finish. We foresee more than 10 of the MAC team taking to the start line in 2017 after the success of this weekend. 

On Saturday the third race in the Athletics Northern Ireland Cross Country League, the McConnell Shield, took place at Six Mile River Park in Ballyclare.

Two Murlough members, Stephen Cassidy and Dave Fulcher, headed up the M1 and M2 to take their place on the start line. They were met with perfect running conditions giving the time of year.

It was a flat eight kilometre course consisting of five laps, ideal for fast running and quick times.

Stephen, who is getting quicker with each race, clocked 35.05 and Dave followed him in, recording 38.12.

So taken with running on the country, Stephen is talking about competing in all eight fixtures.

The next race is on Saturday, November 19, in Cookstown. Hopefully we will be able to get out a few more members for this fixture. 

It was a cold, crisp day on Saturday to mark the start of the Born 2 Run, Run Forest Run Winter Series with no less than 15 MAC members towing the line at Mary Peters Track to take on both the 10k and the newly added 5k route in and around Minnowburn. 

Hazel Crudgington was the first MAC lady over the line with a strong return to racing by Joe McMahon to be the first MAC man home. A great race, well organised and a fantastic route.