Fast 10 success on the Isle of Man

On the Isle of Man, real world racing has come back with a bang, starting with the Manx Harriers Summer 5km. Proving the long period of training over lockdown has served them well was Rachael Franklin and Ollie Lockley. Franklin went into the race with a solid personal best of 16:52. She raced a strong race, but it was her kick that proved the speed she is capable of showing. Franklin crossed the line in an incredible 15:42, knocking a whole 50 seconds of her previous lifetime best.

It wasn’t only Franklin who took the Isle of Man by storm. IOM half marathon record holder, Ollie Lockley, also ran himself to a big shiny new 5km PB. Lockley beat his previous best of 14:44 by an impressive 35 seconds, giving him a new 5k time of 14:09. We spoke to Lockley about how the race unfolded.

“After only hearing about the race being on a few weeks ago, we thought it would be a good idea to dust off the racing flats and give 5k a go. I hadn’t really been doing any 5k specific work, but I had been training well and felt as though I was in good 10k/half marathon shape.

Typical training sessions have consisted of 1k reps, mile reps, threshold/tempo runs, and faster work to time mainly on grass. The week before the 5k I completed 6x6mins (2min jog recovery) and averaged 5:42 going through the 2k mark. I knew from that session that I was fit, but more specifically for the longer distances.”

Ideal conditions

“For a change, the weather on the Isle of Man was pretty perfect” says Lockley. “The race took place around the National Sports Centre’s cycle track which is exactly 800m. There is one sharp turn and a sharp little incline to contend with each lap but apart from that it’s relatively flat. My goal for the race was to run as close to 14 minutes as possible, if not quicker.

I knew it was going to be a race against the clock, so I made the conscientious effort to start out at just under 14-minute pace with the intention to try and hold it. I went through the first mile in around 4:28 feeling pretty comfortable.

I thought I was running the second mile in the same pace, but I slipped a few seconds as I was slowly falling into a more comfortable rhythm and losing concentration – which you can’t afford to do in a 5k! Before I knew it, I had too much catching up to do and I was down on what I’d targeted to run. I finished the race in a time of 14:10 which matches my 5000m PB on the track.

My initial reaction was disappointment because I would have liked to have gotten closer to 14 minutes. However, it was still a personal best and I managed to knock 11 seconds off the Island Record, which was previously held by the ever-improving David Mullarkey. Overall, I am pleased with my performance and hope it’s a good indication of where I’m at – on to the next one!”

Alan Corlett ran a fine PB to claim second place clocking 14:48 ahead of Will Draper with 15:04. Joining Franklin on the podium was Elissa Morris (18:55) and under 15 Macy Hillier (19:07).

Kelly makes it a good week for Fast10

Just like fellow Fast10 athlete Ollie Lockley, Erika Kelly was also racing 5km on the Isle of Man on Thursday. In winning the 5km walk clocking 23:33 she broke her PB and moved into the UK all time top 20 for the event.

 

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When races are getting cancelled left, right and centre, the prospect of proudly pulling on my @rl360international singlet to race a local 5km, was eagerly anticipated. I haven’t really touched 5km work in training so I was pleased to run a solo 14:10 on the road. Sub-14 minutes has haunted me again but as this isn’t my focus I’m excited for what lies ahead over the longer distances, especially with the continued support from @rl360international, @cycle360isleofman, @sayskycph, @maurten_official, @iomathletics & @iom_sport. SO SO pleased for @erikakellymusic overcoming knee surgery and smashing her 5km Walk PB – inspirational is an understatement. Run of the night has to go to @rachaelfranklin who obliterated her PB running 15:42 (what!?), with big PB’s coming in from @alanrcorlett, @will_draper, and @andrew_nash_89! Onto the next! . . . #roadrunning #isleofman #rl360 #cycle360 #iomsport #iomathletics #saysky #maurten

A post shared by Ollie Lockley (@ollielockley33) on Jul 17, 2020 at 2:14pm PDT

Northern Irish record for McGlynn as Scullion also wins

Ireland was also amongst those places to see national records set. At the Down Royal Racecourse 10k, Ann-Marie McGlynn took home the win in the women’s race in an impressive 32:43, setting a new Northern Irish record. McGlynn was joined on the podium by Jessica Craig who clocked a PB of 35:08.

It was Stephen Scullion who won the men’s race in an impressive 29:13 after leading the entire way. He was followed by James Edgar in 29:54 and Conan McCaughey in 30:27.

Congratulations to ⁦@McGlynnAnnMarie⁩ and ⁦Jessica Craig for personal best times of 32:43 and 35:08 in the 10k. That puts Ann Marie at the top of the all time list for Northern Ireland in the 10k on the road!. Great work!! pic.twitter.com/UuuQl0rKlI

— Athletics NI (@AthleticsNI) July 18, 2020

The event also had a half marathon and a 5km race. With yet another incredible run Olympian and V60 athlete Tommy Hughes took the half marathon win in 72:55. The women’s winner was Dawn Houston in 90:38.

Caitlyn Harvey won the 5km in 17:49 just edging out Rachel Gibson in 17:54. Gareth Hill was the men’s winner in 15:46.

More island action

In the Channel Islands the Guernsey Track Meets are available to those living on the island. This weekend saw the women’s 5000m Island record broken by Sarah Mercier. The Guernsey athlete ran herself to a new shiny PB of 16:29.58, beating her previous time set at the Glasgow Commonwealth games.

The Guernsey Open Meet 5000m also saw Richard Friedrich take the win in 15:37, a huge 58 second personal best for the athlete. The second athlete to cross the line was James Priest in 15:49, also a PB, by 17 seconds. Completing the podium was Michael Wilesmith. The Guernsey athlete ran himself to a strong 15:58. Wilesmith boasts an impressive personal best for 15:23. Alex Rowe also ran himself to a 1500m PB of 4:00.85.

Also in Guernsey, at the Midweek Series, athletes took to the track to compete over the 800m distance. For the women, it was Nicole Petit who ran herself home to take the win in 2:28.07. This was the athletes first 800m race since 2011 when she ran 2:34.38. It was U20 athlete Chris Bain who secured the win in the men’s race in a solid 1:55.62.

England Athletics ‘Virtual’ 5km Championships

This week saw the England Athletics Virtual 5km Champs. The event, with 2700 entrants, saw some incredibly speedy times clocked, both by men and women. As with the real life champs (not virtual), medals were awarded to the top three finishers in both races.

It was Milton Keynes Distance Project athlete, Dani Chattenton, who stole the show in the women’s race. Chattenton finished fourth in the Inter counties event in Loughborough and was invited to the World University Cross Country, which unfortunately didn’t take place due to Covid-19.

Based on her current 5km PB of 15:53, her EA virtual 5k time suggests she is in the form of her life and we can’t wait to see how she performs at the British Championships at the beginning of September. Her verified time was an outstanding 15:14, which puts her just 4 seconds outside of the qualifying time for the Olympics in 2021. 45 seconds behind was Cambridge & Coleridge’s Holly Archer who just snuck under the 16-minute mark with a time of 15:59. Third place in the woman’s virtual event was secured by Danielle Hodgkinson in a strong 16:28.

Other noteworthy performances were given by GB marathon queen, Aly Dixon, who ensured her route was exactly 5k by measuring it out in advance – the same course used by Hodgkinson. Dixon ran a strong 16:40 over the 3.1-mile distance. 1976 1500m Olympian Penny Forse won the W70 title in an astonishing 22:40.

Top three sub 14 in men’s race

In the men’s competition, the top three finishers stopped their clocks much closer to one another than in the women’s event. Frank Baddick, 10th place finisher at this year’s Intercounties event, ran himself to the top of the leader board with a time of 13:43. His official best on the track stands at 14:03, proving Baddick is in fighting form.

The silver medal went to Tom Evans in 13:48. This is an absolutely outstanding performance from Evans, who has a current 5,000m track PB of 15:01 and a parkrun best of 14:45 as the ultra man again showed his incredible range. It was Southend’s Adam Hickey who secured third place in 13:56. Hickey had a strong cross country season earlier this year and finished 36th in the European Cross Country in December 2019.

Stand out performances outside of the podium positions were given by U23 athlete, Tom Mortimer (Stroud) who clocked 14-minutes exactly. Mortimer holds a current track PB of 13:57. Tommy Hughes in the M60 category, who holds the world masters marathon record of 2.30.15, stopped his watch on 16:27, an absolutely rapid time! At the Dublin Marathon in 1991, Hughes took home gold in a speedy 2.14.46.

The overall team result saw a clean sweep from Aldershot, Farnham & District. It was Alex Pointon (14:18), Joe Morwood (14:26) and Jack Boswell (14:51) who made up the AFD men’s team and the winning women’s team consisted of Pippa Roessler (17:00), Lesley Locks (17:28) and Katriona Brown (17:32).

So…been following the current guidance on training ,racing and running in general….doesn’t really make any sense. Yet grass roots football has been given the go ahead…can someone please sort this sorry mess out. @EnglandAthletic @UKA @10DowningStreet pic.twitter.com/WdtSVU7lfc

— Andrew James Hobdell (@AndrewJamesHobd) July 18, 2020

BMC race set to proceed

Now open for entries is the first outdoor BMC event of the year which is scheduled to take place on the 25th July in Trafford. The race will include only 800m races for senior and U17 athletes. To ensure the safety of all athletes, certain rules have been put in place. Athletes must observe social distancing guidelines at all times and stay 1m away from people outside of their immediate bubble/close family.

Additionally, the race will be run in lanes and athletes must stay as close to the inside of their lane as possible. Any athletes seen running on the outside of their lane will be disqualified. All runners are asked not to shake hands or hug other athletes at the event, asked to wear a mask if they feel comfortable doing so, only bring one spectator per athlete and provide full details upon arrival.

If the outlined rules, including the obvious of not turning up if they have or have interacted with anyone experiencing COVID symptoms, are deviated from, this may lead to disqualification. This is a sign of what racing may be like going forward.

With RunBritian/UKA set to release guidance on a return to road racing this week we hope to be including more ‘real world’ results over coming months!

Want to run faster? For just £30 per month athletes are provided with a Final Surge plan for each day of the week, coaching advice from Robbie Britton and Tom Craggs, as well as access to the unique Fast Running Performance community.

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The post A healthy mix of real & virtual racing – weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

Gideon Kipsang Kimosop made it three in a row at the Belfast Half Marathon on Sunday (September 22) with his winning time of 66 mins 58 secs a good bit quicker than last year’s time of 67:44.

Eoin Hughes of Acorns AC was second in a personal best 68.30, with John Black of North Belfast Harriers third in 69.12.
Eoin and his supervet dad Tommy Hughes of Rathfarnham WSAF AC narrowly missed out on a Guinness World Record for fastest father and son completing a half marathon, with about 20 seconds in it. The pair are now aiming to beat the father and son record for a marathon at Frankfurt next month.

Dominant display for McGlynn

Dominating the women’s race was Anne Marie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC who had over three minutes to spare when winning in 72.58. Gladys Ganiel of North Belfast Harriers was second in 77.26 followed by Joanne McCandless third in 79.50. Earlier this month, Kimosop and McGlynn were the winners at the Waterside Half Marathon.

A day earlier, Yared Derese of Carrick Aces was the runaway winner of the KBC Dublin Half Marathon in the Phoenix Park on Saturday (September 21).

Derese broke from the field early in the race and, despite the windy conditions, clocked a time of 63 mins 45 secs, which is one of the fastest ever clocked on this course. [Derese isn’t building up to a Autumn marathon and that’s probably one of the reasons he was such a dominant winner over 13.1 miles – Editor]

For second place, David Flynn of Clonliffe Harriers, running his second half marathon in seven days, sprinted clear of Eric Keogh of Donore Harriers to finish in 65:58 – faster than his winning time of 66:21 in 2018. Keogh was third in 66.07, while fourth and second M35 behind Derese was Mark Kenneally of Clonliffe Harriers.

First woman was Niamh Clifford of Kerry club Star of the Laune AC in 82 mins 28 secs. Second and first W40 was Shirley Coyle of Raheny Shamrock in 83.52 while third and second W40 was Sarah Baryga of Sli Cualann AC in 83:58. A total of 6,946 completed the race, which was the final round of the KBC Dublin Marathon Series.

Fast mile times all round

Dunshaughlin’s Thomas Moran clocked a personal best time of 4 mins 12 to record the fastest time at the Griffith Avenue Mile in Dublin on Sunday (September 22).

Second fastest and first M50 in a remarkable time of 4:19 was Shane Healy of Metro St Brigid’s AC – a new world best. Third was triathlete Niall Cornyn of Dunboyne AC in 4.24. First junior with a time of 4:35 was Callum Simpson.

Fastest of the women was Ciara Wilson, another triathlete and member of DMP AC, in 4:45. Emma O’Brien of Sli Cualann AC clocked 4:55 for second with Clonliffe’s Eleanor Alexander third fastest in 5:06. First W35 was Maura Kearns of Donore Harriers in 5:10.

Fastest of the lot was wheelchair winner Cillian Dunne from Tipperary who finished in a superb time of 2 mins 45 secs. With his track season over, Dunne is currently ranked in 25th in Europe, with Irish 100m and 800m records to his credit.

Shauna Bocquet of Craughwell AC in 3:18 was fastest wheelchair woman; although only 15, at the World U17 Para Championships in Notwill, Switzerland last month. Bocquet collected gold medals in the 100m, 400m and 1500m as well as silver in the 200m and 800m.
Sinead O’Connor of Leevale AC led home over 6,000 finishers at the Cork Women’s Mini Marathon 4-Mile on Sunday (September 21).

O’Connor’s time of 21 mins 19 secs put her forty seconds clear of clubmate Lisa Hegarty who finished in 21:59. Third was Claire O’Brien of Watergrasshill AC in 22.37 while fourth and first W45 was Breda Gaffney of Mallow AC in 22.58. Best of the juniors was Holly Carroll of Blarney Iniscarra AC in 24:24.

Elsewhere over 5 and 10km

Winners of the Charlestown 10km in Co May on Saturday were Jake O’Regan of St John’s AC in 34 mins 00 secs and Edel Reilly of Mayo AC in 40:38. At the Louisberg Clew Bay Half Marathon, veteran Brendan Conway of Westport AC was the winner in 78 mins 59, with Charlotte Kearney of Donadea RC first woman and first W40 in 89 mins 59 secs.

Although now competing in the M60 age group, Tommy Payne of Tinryland AC was the overall winner in 17 mins 42 secs at the Break for the Border Carlow to Wicklow 5km on Sunday (September 22). Third overall and first woman in 19:19 was Bronwyn McDonald of St LOT AC. Brian Kirwan of St LOT AC was the winner of the 10km race in 36:16 with Linda Fay of St Abban’s AC first woman in 49:03.

In Dungarvan, Co Waterford, the recent Ballinameela 5km brought the Intersport Elverys/Asics Summer Series of 12 races to a conclusion, with a big increase in entries. Overall winner was Raivis Zakis of West Waterford AC who picked up a total of 11 points from his best seven races. Kevin Kenneally, also West Waterford AC, was second and newcomer Tony Fogarty of Templemore AC third.

Retaining the women’s title was Sally Forristal of St Thomas AC in Kilkenny with eight points. Madeline Loughnane of Thurles Crokes AC took second on count-back from West Waterford’s Natalie Sheehan with both women on 14 points.

Catch-up: Three Irish athletes ran under 67 minutes for the half marathon on Sunday September 15. At Copenhagen Half Marathon, Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers ran a time of 66 mins 17secs. Not too far behind was Eoghan Totten of Newcastle AC in 66:53. In Philadelphia, USA, Stephen Scullion of Clonliffe Harriers continued his preparations for the World Championships with a time of 66:36.

Up in the hills

Zak Hanna of Newcastle AC took a brilliant win at the Salomon Mamores Vertical Kilometre at Na Gruagaichean on Friday (September 20).

Hanna defying the warm conditions to reach the finish of the 5km run with a lung-busting 1000m of climb on in 44 mins 43 secs

“Delighted to have taken the win in the @MamoresVK earlier today, over 1000m climbing in 3 miles is not easy! Super tough course with excellent support along the way,” Hanna tweeted after his win. It was a first run in the Scottish highlands for the 23-year-old Irish international.

Winners of the elite 55km race at the 2-day Mourne Mountain Marathon in Co Down (September 21-22) were Irish international orienteers Mark Stephens and Colm Moran in 8 hrs 40 mins 53 secs. A group of Cambridge University-connected orienteers had travelled to Northern Ireland for the race with Matthew Vokes and Ben Windsor elite category runners-up in 9:08.53, Chris Jones and Hannah Monkton first mixed pair in 10:28.09, and Helen Ockenden and Heather Corden, first female pair in the B category 45km race in 10:08.07.

First home overall in the B class were mixed pair Shane Lynch of Glenmore AC and Karalee McBride of Mourne Runners in 8 hours 40 mins 58 secs.

The cross country season begins!

Launching the cross-country season in Connacht was the Castlegar Open at Galway’s Merlin Woods City Park on Saturday (September 21) where Damien Landers won the men’s 6km in 20 mins 29 secs. Just two seconds behind for second was his Ennis TC club mate Rory Chesser, while third and first junior was Aaron Brennan of Galway City Harriers in 20:44.

Winning the women’s 4km was junior athlete Aoife O’Brien of Westport AC in 15.42. Catherine Casserly of Galway City Harriers was second and first W40 in 15:53 and Aine O’Farrell of Athenry AC third and second junior in 16.12.

Orienteering

At orienteering’s eighth round of the Leinster League at Three Rock Wood in Co Dublin, Spanish visitor Luis Sanchez Serrano of Villena-O proved the class of the field in the elite brown course, clocking 85 mins 50 secs for the 8.1km course with 16 control points. Anna Nilsson Simkovics of OLC Winerwald was second and first woman in 98:13, with Valdas Tilunas of host club 3ROC third and first M40 in 103.30.

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Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped. You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies!

The post Fast halves in build up to Autumn marathons – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.