It was a week featuring a high quality top 10 of women’s times including two well known names in Irish athletics. PB’s were also seen throughout the fastest men’s times on another week of full sub 17 and sub 20 times.

Masters athletes top the list

It is said class is permanent and this week two masters who both feature in Ireland’s all time top 60 for both 5,000m and the marathon fill the top two spots. Annette Kealy ran 18:02 at Malahide to top the rankings. Kealy, whose marathon best of 2:43:04 puts her 41st on Ireland’s all time list, is a regular face at Malahide and this was her ninth outing of 2019.

Second fastest this week is Ireland’s national record holder at the marathon, half marathon and 15km, Catherina McKiernan. On her first outing on the Bushy parkrun course McKiernan ran 18:11 to finish second overall by one second. The distance running legend sits 87th on the world all time list for the marathon with her 2:22:23 clocking at Amsterdam Marathon in 1998.

Regular visitor to the parkrun top 10 Sarah Grant rounded off the top three running 18:18 at Derry City on a week of generally very fast women’s times. Grant is in good form having achieved a 1500m PB of 4:38.11 last week and was only four seconds outside her parkrun best of 18:14.

Lupton leads the way

Tom Lupton was head and shoulders clear of the competition this week running a big parkrun PB of 15:57 at Vicarstown. The winner of the Laois Athletics Senior Road Race in April Lupton finished more than three minutes clear of his nearest challenger on the entirely grass course.

Samuel Allen was this week’s second fastest runner, also setting a new PB. Allen’s run of 16:19 at Naas was a 59 second improvement on his previous best. Winner of last weeks Ards Half Marathon Neill Weir was third this week with 16:36 at Belfast Victoria. The Willowfield Harrier, who has a 5km best of 15:32 was closely challenged by David Conliffe who finished two seconds back.

Under 17 Gavin McCaffrey has had a good week having run 15:43 at the North Down AC Senior 5,000m on Tuesday. The Ballymena & Antrim AC runner was this week’s fifth fastest with 16:40 at Antrim.

Men’s top 10
1) parkrun: Vicarstown
Tom Lupton, 15:57, Portlaoise AC
2) parkrun: Naas
Samuel Allen, 16:19
3) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Neill Weir, 16:36, Willowfield Harriers
4) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
David Conliffe, 16:38, Pace Running Club
5) parkrun: Antrim
Gavin McCaffrey, 16:40, Ballymena & Antrim AC
6) parkrun: Waterworks
Joe McAlister, 16:45, St Malachys AC
=7) parkrun: Mungret
John Courell, 16:50, Ballina A.C.
=7) parkrun: Ormeau
Nick Emsley, 16:50, Arran Runners
9) parkrun: Orangefield
William D Simpson, 16:56
10) parkrun: Poolbeg
Stephen Hurley, 16:58, Crusaders A C Dublin

Women’s top 10
1) parkrun: Malahide
Annette Kealy, 18:02, Raheny Shamrock AC
2) parkrun: Bushy, Dublin
Catherina McKiernan, 18:11
3) parkrun: Derry City
Sarah Grant, 18:18, North Down AC
4) parkrun: St Anee’s
Aoife Brady, 18:47, Sportsworld
5) parkrun: Poolbeg
Sorcha Loughnan, 18:59
6) parkrun: Mungret
Susan Murnane, 19:12, Limerick A.C.
7) parkrun: Ballingcollig
Carol Finn, 19:13
8) parkrun: Brickfields
Niamh Clifford, 19:15, Star of the Laune AC
9) parkrun: Malahide
Barbara Murray, 19:26, Donore Harriers
10) parkrun: Oldbridge
Maebh Eakin, 19:39, Dunleer AC

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post 10 Fastest parkrun times in Ireland on Saturday 6th July (2019) appeared first on Fast Running.

A legend of European distance running headed this week’s list of fastest parkrun times in Ireland. Catherina McKiernan ran 17:23 at Malahide parkrun finishing over 80 seconds ahead of 2nd place finisher Lucy Barrett (18:46). McKiernan, who won the London Marathon in 1998, has a 5,000m best of 14:49 from 1996 sitting just outside the top 100 all time over the distance.

The fastest male runner this week was Daire Bermingham of Raheny Shamrock AC who ran 15:40, also at Malahide. Bermingham who was running his first parkrun of 2019 has a best of 14:57 and a 5,000m PB of 14:13.

Rachel Gibson was the second fastest female this week also cracking 18 minutes with 17:41 at Belfast Victoria. Gibson recently ran a 10km PB of 36:43 at Titanic Quarter and an excellent 4:25 1500m at last week’s BMC at Sportcity. Sarah Grant (18:14) of North Down AC and Lynne Hennessey (18:42) Rathfarnham WSAF were third and fourth fastest.

Malahide was the place to be for fast times this week with Colin Griffin the second fastest male. 16:01 was a big PB for Griffin who is a regular attendee at both Malahide and St Anne’s parkrun. Sean Doyle (16:03) and Conor Curran (16:07) were this week’s third and fourth fastest.

Acorns AC men Darrell McKee, Glen Donnelly and Aidan O’Hagan claimed the first 3 places at MUSA Cookstown on a week of generally fast times for both men and women.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Malahide 
Daire Bermingham, 15:40, Raheny Shamrock AC
2) parkrun: Malahide
Colin Griffin, 16:01
3) parkrun: Naas
Sean Doyle, 16:03
4) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Conor Curran, 16:07, North Belfast Harriers
5) parkrun: MUSA Cookstown
Darrell McKee, 16:08, Acorns AC
6) parkrun: MUSA Cookstown
Glenn Donnelly, 16:10, Acorns AC
7) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Neill Weir, 16:16, Willowfield Harriers
8) parkrun: MUSA Cookstown
Aidan O’Hagan, 16:27, Acorns AC
=9) parkrun: Marlay
Noel Carroll, 16:29, Shercock AC
=9) parkrun: Malahide
Wesley O’Brien, 16:29, Raheny Shamrock AC

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Malahide
Catherina McKiernan, 17:23
2) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Rachel Gibson, 17:41, North Down AC
3) parkrun: Derry City
Sarah Grant, 18:14, North Down AC
4) parkrun: Marlay
Lynne Hennessey, 18:42, Rathfarnham WSAF
5) parkrun: Malahide 
Lucy Barrett, 18:46, Raheny Shamrock AC
6) parkrun: Marlay
Niamh Murphy, 19:08
7) parkrun: Wallace
Amy Bulman, 19:15, Willowfield Harriers
8) parkrun: Stormont
Leann Gibson, 19:31, Victoria Park and Connswater AC
9) parkrun: Poppintree
Julie Cleary, 19:39
10) parkrun: Ballincollig
Deirdre Healy, 19:55 

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post 10 fastest Irish parkrun times on Saturday 1st June (2019) appeared first on Fast Running.

Catherina McKiernan, who was taking part in her 24th parkrun, ran 17:21 at the Malahide event to record the fastest women’s time across Ireland this weekend.

The Irish marathon record holder has topped the Irish rankings numerous times this year and last month won the Annagassan Viking 10km and the Remembrance 5k.

Robert Hewison ran the fastest men’s time this week after running 16:33 on his first visit to the Nass parkrun.

The Kildare AC middle distance runner finished ninth in the 800m at the Irish Track and Field Championships over the summer.

Kate Cronin ran 18:19 at the St Anne’s event to record the second quickest women’s time. The Raheny Shamrock athlete, who was running in her eighth parkrun, topped the rankings in Ireland last month.

Teenager Charlie McGowan took the men’s number two spot after running a parkrun best of 16:43 at the Marlay event. The Coláiste Éanna, Rathfarnham runner was taking part in his 28th Saturday morning event.

There was one unknown runner who missed out on the men’s top 10 after running 16:54 at the Marlay parkrun.

Malahide parkrun was the most represented event in the top 10 with three runners.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Naas
Robert Hewison, 16:33, Kildare AC
2) parkrun: Marlay
Charlie McGowan, 16:43
3) parkrun: Tralee
Oisin Spillane, 16:54, Tralee Harriers
4) parkrun: Shanganagh
Neil Wiktorski, 16:56, Bray Runners
5) parkrun: Poppintree
Colm Delaney, 17:00, Raheny Shamrock
6) parkrun: Donabate
David Rooney, 17:02, Raheny Shamrock
7) parkrun: Malahide
Liam Roarty, 17:03, Cheltenham & County Harriers
8) parkrun: Antrim
David Conliffe, 17:06, Pace Running Club
9) parkrun: St Anne’s
Jamie Gahan, 17:12, Portmarnock AC
10) parkrun: Ballincollig
Rory O’Sullivan, 17:12 St Finbarrs AC

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Malahide
Catherina McKiernan, 17:21
2) parkrun: St Anne’s
Kate Cronin, 18:19, Raheny Shamrock
3) parkrun: Malahide
Annette Kealy, 18:23, Raheny Shamrock
4) parkrun: Derry City
Gemma Mcginty, 18:29
5) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Hannah Gilliland, 18:34, Willowfield Harriers
6) parkrun: Castlewellan
Gladys Ganiel-O’Neill, 19:03, North Belfast Harriers
7) parkrun: Poppintree
Eva McNelis, 19:07
8) parkrun: Clonmel
Orla Byrne, 19:13
9) parkrun: Shanganagh
Sarah Baryga, 19:17, Bray Runners
10) parkrun: Marlay
Mary Finn, 19:27, Sportsworld

Would you like to run faster at parkrun? Top tips to help runners of all abilities hit a parkrun best can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post 10 fastest Irish parkrun times on Saturday 1st December (2018) appeared first on Fast Running.

This week’s Irish round-up is supported by SOAR running, who are offering an exclusive 25% discount to club runners. Find out more about the offer here.

Leevale AC’s Lizzie Lee and Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe were the winners of the Stook 10 Mile Road Race held in the village of Dungarvan, near Gowran in Co Kilkenny on Sunday (November 18).

With the promised show-down with Freddy Sittuk failing to materialise, O’Hanlon proved the class of the men’s field coming home with eight minutes to spare in 51:16. Second was David Power of Rathfarnham WSAF while third was Alan O’Connor of United Striders.

A close fourth and first woman was Lee, who finished just outside the hour in 60:37. Lee, who won the Irish marathon crown last month in Dublin, described the race as the toughest 10 miler she has ever run – but a great run.

Isabel Oakes in 64:24 was second woman and Grace Reilly of Portlaoise AC third woman in 67:58.

Winners of the 5km were Paul Burke and Beth O’Connor.

Jessica Craig of North Down AC came out on top at the SEAA London Cross Country Championships on Saturday (November 17).

Craig was to the fore in the 300 strong pack from early on in the race before coming through for victory. She also helped her second claim club Herne Hill Harriers to team silver.

On the roads, John Black of North Belfast Harriers and Kelly Neely of City of Lisburn AC were the winners of the elite race at the Down 5km in Downpatrick on Saturday (November 17).

Black won the men’s race in 15:21, with Eoin Hughes of Acorns AC a close second and Steven McAuley from City of Derry Spartans third.

Neely finished first woman in 17:28, with North Down’s Rachel Gibson just six seconds behind for second and Sarah Graham of Mourne Runners third.

University Road Relays

Dublin City University won both the men and women’s titles at the annual Irish University Road Relays Championships hosted by NUI Maynooth on Saturday (November 17).

In the women’s race, Avril Deegan ran the first mile lap in 5:44 and then passed on to Una Britton whose time of 11:02 was the fastest of the day for two miles.

Making up the team were Emma O’Brien with 11:02 on the on the second two-mile leg and Nadia Power who brought the team home with a time of 5:23 for the final mile leg. Their total time was 33:14.

A strong run on the second leg for Cliona Murphy pulled Trinity College Dublin into second position ahead of University College Cork with Claire Rafter bringing them home. UCC just held off DCU’s B team for third.

Although 30 teams had entered the men’s race (mile, 2 miles, 3 miles, 2 miles, mile), the top three teams all came from DCU. DCU A were the winners in 43:28, DCU B second in 44:57 and DCU C third in 45.33.

Making up the winning team were Andrew Coscoran, Brian Fay, Gary Campbell, Paul Robinson and Conor Duncan.

Fastest lap times came from Darragh Fitzgibbon of UCD who ran 4:39 for the opening mile, Cathal Doyle of DCU 9:32 for two miles, Damien Landers of NUI Galway 14:45 for three miles, Paul Robinson of DCU 9:24 for the second two-mile and Jamie McCarthy of University of Limerick 4:35 for the final mile.

Masters

While the English team took the overall honours, the two Irish teams in action at the 31st British and Irish Masters Cross Country International at Swansea’s Singleton Park on Saturday (November 18) had three individual wins to celebrate.

First up were the women and over 65 men, and in her first outing at the event, Teresa Doherty from Finn Valley AC got the Republic of Ireland team off to the best possible start as overall winner of the race and first W40.

Backed up by Karen Costello, Caitriona Devine and Caroline Donnell, the team took the first of six second places in the eight women’s races; England won all eight. Also taking individual gold was Pauline Moran of Mayo AC in the W60 race, while taking silver were Carmel Crowley W50 and Niamh O’Sullivan W55.

Best for the Irish in the M65 race was Paul Elliott running for Northern Ireland who was sixth. Finishing second M70 for the Republic was Martin McEvilly, with the team also second.

Northern Ireland also did well in the M50 race with Steve Cairns second and the team finishing second ahead of the Republic. Winning the M55 race was Mick Byrne of Sli Cualann for the Republic with the North of Ireland again second of the teams and the Republic third.

Finished second M60 was Laurence Johnson from Northern Ireland. Fourth was Martin McDonald from Ballyroan Abbeyleix, taking time off from his endeavours in “Ireland’s Fittest Family”. The Republic’s team finished third and the North of Ireland fourth.

Northern Ireland’s moment came in the final 8km race for men from 35 to 45, with Mark McKinstry from North Belfast Harriers coming home a comfortable overall winner and first M35.

Photo: Rob Gale

Having finished runner-up in the Northern Ireland senior championships for the last four years, McKinstry who was making his Masters debut, raced to an early lead and was never caught.

Finishing a fighting fourth was the 2016 winner Michael Harty of East Cork. Ireland finished second team with Northern Ireland third.

There was no luck for the Irish in the M40 race where the teams finished fourth and fifth, but in the M45 race, Ireland, led by Seamus Somers in fourth finished second team and Northern Ireland, with Eamon White their first finisher in sixth place, third team.

England won every team event with the exception of the M75 race won by Wales, so took 16 team golds overall. The Irish finished runners-up in six of the eight women’s age categories and third in the remaining two.

In the nine men’s age groups, the Republic of Ireland men had three second places and three thirds, while Northern Ireland had two seconds and two thirds.

In the W70 age group, Angela Copson was winning her 11th successive title in all age groups and matching the all-time record of Ireland’s Carmel Parnell.

Other weekend results

Irish Life BHAA XC 6km, Santry
Men: 1) Darragh Rennicks 19:41, 2) Noel Carroll 19:53, 3) Michael McMahon, 20:03.
Women: 1) Laura Shaughnessy (Temple St Hospital) 21:15, 2) Linda Byrne (Gardai) 21:28, 3) Sinead Lambe (Marino Inst of Ed) 22:51

Clontarf Après Marathon Half Marathon, Dublin. Half Marathon (767 finishers)
Men: 1) Kieran Little (Crusaders) 72:13, 2) Ciaran McKenna (Star of the Sea AC) 72:24, 3) Jesus Calle Arrayo 74:00.
Women: 1) Louisa Mackenzie 82:32, 2) Shirley Coyle 85:27, 3) Sarah Baryga (Sli Cualann, W40) 86:24.

Clontarf Après Marathon Five mile (767 finishers)
Men: 1) Roger Carbarra 29:17, 2) Brian Sexton (Raheny Shamrock) 29:18, 3) Paul Caulfield (DSD) 29:29.
Women: 1) Zoe Quinn (Raheny Shamrock) 30:33, 2) Maria O’Sullivan 32:30, 3) Sinead Doherty 33:18

Annagassan Viking 10km, Co Louth. (519 finishers plus 25 walkers)
Overall: 1) Catherina McKiernan 35:48, 2) Shane Larkin (Drogheda and Dist) 36:16, 3) Michelle Cox (Newbridge AC) 36:43, Niall Fergus (NER) 36:58.

Annacurra Camogie 5-Bounds Challenge 10km, Aughrim, Co Wicklow. (37 finishers)
Men: 1 Paul Duffy 42:25, 2 Dara Croake 45:41, 3) Alan Dempsey 47:27.
Women: 1) Dena Hogan 46:12, 2) Grace O’Rourke (DSD) 52:29, 3) Emma Doyle 69:00

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Lizzie Lee and Gary O’Hanlon win Stook 10 Mile Road Race – weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

This week’s Irish round-up is supported by SOAR running, who are offering an exclusive 25% discount to club runners. Find out more about the offer here.

Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers and Kerry O’Flaherty were in Brasov, Romania over the weekend competing in the Crosul 15 Noiembrie 5km on Sunday (November 11).

O’Flaherty finished eighth in the women’s race in a time of 16:32. Race winner in 15:12 was Romanian steeplechaser Ancuţa Bobocal.

In the men’s race, Ciobanu finished 17th in the men’s race in 14:44. The winner was Rinas Akhanadeev in 13:45.

Raheny’s Kieran Kelly was nearby in Bucharest where he finished third in a men’s mile race in 4:11.

Jessica Craig and Rachel Gibson of North Down AC competed in the Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships over 4000m on Saturday (November 10). Craig finished 11th in 14:05 and Gibson finished in 14th place in a time of 14:12.

Liam Brady of Tullamore Harriers was a comfortable winner of the men’s 10,000m race at the Leinster Cross Country Championships in Adamstown, Co Wexford, on Sunday (November 11).

Brady broke away early and built up a lead of almost a minute on the very soft course before crossing the line in 32:57. Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF was second in 33:36 and Liffey Valley’s Peter Arthur third in 34:26.

Tullamore Harriers took the team title with Liffey Valley and Celbridge AC second and third. Dublin proved best of the county teams.

Winning the women’s race in 19:10 was Lauren Dermody of Castlecomer AC. Tullamore’s Nadine Donegan was second in 19:30 and Sally Forrestal of St Josephs’s AC third in 19:40.

In a closely fought team race, Sportsworld AC, led by Helen Brouder in fifth place, won the title with 40 points. Three points behind were Liffey Valley while third were St Senan’s AC on 47 points. Kilkenny won the county team medals.

In the juvenile races Annie McEvoy and Shay McEvoy, both Kilkenny City Harriers, won the under 19 races. At under 17 level, Neasa Reilly of Dunleer AC and Tadgh Donnelly of Drogheda and District AC were the winners.

Roads

Irish marathon record holder Catherina McKiernan finished first woman at the Remembrance 5km in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Sunday (November 11).

For the past 20 years I have run in the Phoenix https://t.co/R71STu80fd was very memorable. 4,000 people ran at 7th Annual Remembrance Run.
Everyone was there to remember loved ones that have passed away. There was a sense of togetherness for this lovely occasion. @FrankGreally1 pic.twitter.com/a56G6PDW9G

— Catherina McKiernan (@cat_mckiernan) November 11, 2018

McKiernan finished ahead of UCD pair Ellie Hartnett and Richael Browne. This year’s race coincided exactly with the 100th anniversary of the ending of the First World War at 11am on 11 November 1918.

Simon Ryan of Boyne AC led home 350 finishers at the Our Lady’s Greenhills Remembrance 5km in Drogheda on Sunday (November 11). Ryan finished in 17 mins 2 secs, with his Boyne AC clubmate Sally Clarke first woman in 22:20.

Gary Thornton of Galway City Harriers was a comfortable winner of the Moycullen 5km in Co Galway on Sunday (November 11).

Thornton finished in 15:59, while his GCH clubmate Conor Dolan was almost a minute behind in 16:58 for second. First woman was Monika De Almeida in 22:16, with Lucy Chapman just four seconds behind for second.

Making it a Newbridge AC double at the Clane 10km on Saturday (November 10) were Brian Byrne first man in 33:43 and Michelle Cox fifth overall in 37:29.

John Craig of Victoria Park & Connswater AC and Sarah Graham of Mourne Runners were the winners at the Ballynahinch 5km on Saturday (November 10). On a tough course, Craig led home 250 finishers in 17:12, with Graham sixth overall and first woman in 20:25.

In West Cork’s beautiful Beara Peninsula, Shane Harrington of East Cork AC was the winner of the Eyeries 5 Mile on Saturday (November 10).

Harrington was on his own for much of the race finishing in 29:19. Second in 30:21 was Eddie Casey of Clonakilty Road Runners with Leevale’s Paul O’Callaghan third in 30:29.

First woman and sixth overall in 33:51 was Rachel O’Shea of West Muskerry. Local athlete Deirdre O’Sullivan of Beara AC was second in 36:03 and Alice Coppinger of Bantry AC third in 36:45.

Trails

Mark Sheridan of Dundrum South Dublin was a comfortable winner of the shorter race at the annual Run the Line 13km and 26km in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains on Saturday (November 10).

The event, starting and finishing in Glencullen Adventure Park, is held in aid of Dublin and Wicklow Mountain Rescue, with all funds going towards finding a permanent for the busy rescue team.

Sheridan came home in 58:47 and, in the wet and slippery conditions, was the only athlete to break the hour. Second was James Benson in 60:29, while third was Caoimhin Mac Maolain of Sli Cualann in 61:31.First woman and eighth overall in 64:51 was Eva McNelis of Dunboyne AC. Jill Horan was second in 66.27 and Noreen Brouder third in 68:38.

First home in the 23km was George Snee in 2:05:36. Adrian Hennessy of Kilfinane AC was second in 2:07:30 and Sebastien Giraud third in 2:11:43. Charlotte Kearney of Donadea RC was first woman in 2:28:05, followed by Rosy Temple and Ellen Vitting of Trim AC. A total of 700 from an entry of 800 competed on the day.

Olympic marathon runner Breege Connolly was overall winner of the half marathon race at the Tollymore Trail Ultra, Marathon and Half Marathon on Saturday (November 10).

Her win sees Connolly joining the select group of Irish women who have taken on the men – as well as the women – and beaten them. Among those also on that list are Maria McCambridge, Lizzie Lee, Anne Marie McGlynn and Siobhan O’Doherty.

Connolly won the race with over four minutes to spare in 81:13. Second and first man was Thomas O’Gorman in 85:29.

Winning the marathon in 3:07:02 was Chris Denton with Natalie Bowbanks in 3:52:38 the first woman. In the ultra race, Paul Tyrrell was first home in 5:05:51, with Louise Smart first woman in 6:26:07.

At the opening round of the Sperrin Harriers Winter Trail Series, held over a 10km course in Darvagh Forest, the winners were Eoin Hughes of Acorns AC and Gillian Wasson of Ballymena Runners.

Hughes was the class of the men’s race, winning in 36:25. He was followed home by Jason Wilson of Ballymena Runners in 37:55 Gavin Corey 38:17.

Wasson finished in 43:15 ahead of Leanne Sands from Acorns AC in 44:49 Olivia Mullin of Greencastle AC in 45:05.

parkrun

Mark Kirwan and Úna Britton ran the quickest parkrun times across Ireland on Saturday. Kirwan ran 16:06 at Darndale parkrun, while Britton clocked 17:14 at the Marlay parkrun.

The 10 fastest Irish parkrun times can be found here.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Kerry O’Flaherty and Sergiu Ciobanu race in Romania – Irish weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Catherina McKiernan ran the quickest women’s time at parkruns across the island of Ireland this weekend with a 17:16 outing at the Malahide event in Dublin.

It is the second time the Irish marathon record holder has topped the list this month.

Under-17 athlete Conall McClean recorded the fastest men’s time for a third time this year with a quick 16:23 performance at the Waterworks parkrun in Belfast. It was parkrun number 120 for the young St. Malachy’s athlete.

Annette Kealy once again featured at the forefront of the Saturday morning 5k runs and took the women’s number two spot with a top 18:26 run at the Malahide event.

Last Thursday (August 23) the Raheny Shamrock athlete was the first woman and fourth overall at the Portmarnock 5k, and this coming week heads to Malaga, where she will represent Ireland at the World Masters Athletics Championships.

Thomas Sherlock recorded the second fastest men’s time with a 16:24 run at the Porterstown event in Dublin. It was parkrun number 34 for the Clonliffe Harriers athlete who was only one second off his parkrun best.

With the two top women across the island of Ireland and one runner in the men’s top 10, the Malahide parkrun is the fastest this week.

However, it was a close call as the Belfast Victoria event also impressed with three runners.

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Malahide
Catherina McKiernan, 17:16
2) parkrun: Malahide
Annette Kealy, 18:26, Raheny Shamrock
3) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Sarah Lavery, 18:28, Beechmount Harriers
4) parkrun: Mullingar
Leigh James, 19:29, London Heathside
5) parkrun: Castlebar
Colette Tuohy, 19:36, Mayo AC
6) parkrun: St Anne’s
Emma Harding, 19:37, Clonliffe Harriers
7) parkrun: Naas
Maura Ginty, 20:03, Sportsworld
8) parkrun: Tralee
Marie McKenna, 20:06
9) parkrun: Johnstown, Wexford
Ruth Kelly, 20:09, Sportsworld
10) parkrun: Clonmel
Orla Byrne, 20:11

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Waterworks Belfast
Conall McClean, 16:23, St. Malachy’s
2) parkrun: Porterstown
Thomas Sherlock, 16:24, Clonliffe Harriers
3) parkrun: Porterstown
Patrick Cassidy, 16:43
4) parkrun: Tullow
Colin Payne, 16:49, Tinryland AC
5) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
David Conliffe, 16:52, Pace Running Club
6) parkrun: Malahide
Vinny Mulvey, 16:53
7) parkrun: Tramore, Waterford
Dermot J Gorman, 16:56, Raheny Shamrock
8) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Christopher Moren, 16:56, Willowfield Harriers
9) parkrun: Musa Cookstown
Paddy Corr, 16:57
10) parkrun: St Anne’s
Cillian O’Donovan, 17:04

Would you like to run faster at parkrun? Top tips to help runners of all abilities hit a parkrun best can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post 10 fastest times at Irish parkruns on Saturday 25th August (2018) appeared first on Fast Running.

At this time there was already a well-established calendar of county, regional, and national championships, university deciders and world trials across the UK, Ireland and much of the rest of Europe.

Also with prestigious international events at Mallusk and Gateshead, among others, and the annual season finale of the World Championships already occupying most weekends between early January and late March, there was no opening after Christmas for the new event.

And so, the inaugural continental decider – which featured just a 4.5km race for senior women and a 9.5km race for their male counterparts – was held in Alnwick in England on 10 December, 1994. In an already packed calendar, it was the only logical place to put it.

Seasoned international seniors, racing over a relatively short distance (World Cross Country for men was, at this stage still 12km, with many of the traditional English races even longer), could be relatively prepared by mid-December to give this new, extra chance of silverware, a decent shot.

They would, no doubt, have already started racing at that stage anyway, and lengthening the season at that end by two or three weeks was never going to be a huge problem.

The demise of the ‘cross country season’

Fast forward twenty plus years, and the face of European cross country has changed considerably and as a result, so too has the whole cross country season. The European Championships have morphed from a token extra event to the main event for the majority of athletes.

Luckily the championships races in the UK have maintained their traditional slots, and avid cross country racers still have what constitutes a season. But even in the UK, the spring races have lost some of their relevance.

Irish senior athletes are, however, left in a situation where their domestic season not starts but ends in late November.

Think about it. An activity which was used to gradually build stamina and strength over the winter months, to break up the long grind, and to prepare one for a summer of speed, is now finished almost six months before the summer season gets into full swing.

Who needs the world when we can conquer Europe instead?

That first European competition was a successful one for Ireland, with Catherina McKiernan finally converting the three world cross country silver medals she’d collected by that point into her first major title. The bridesmaid had finally become the bride.

Or had she?

The fact that McKiernan’s continental title – magnificent an achievement as it was – is even discussed in the same breath as her world medals, do her achievements on the global stage a major injustice, and highlights part of the problem with the European Cross Country Championships.

We value medals and titles above all else, and when British athletes at least are winning a truckload of medals, why do they even need to compete at a world level?

Winning European medals is not easy, but when all that governing bodies and funding organisations want is silverware, why even risk being humiliated on the global stage?

And without the participation of all the best athletes from around the world, the global championships lose a little bit of their gloss.

To hell with long-term athlete development

Junior races, over 3km and 5km, were first added to the European Championships in 1997, and championship races were added for under 23s in 2006, the same year that the senior women’s race increased to 8,000m.

European Cross Country is many athletes’ best chance at gaining an international vest. With Ireland rarely sending an U23 team, and the average age of the senior women’s team normally somewhere in the early 30s, it’s pretty much ‘now or never’ for teenagers looking to don the green.

Such aspirations almost inevitable encourage an approach which ignores the fundamentals of long-term athlete development and may even result in behaviours which, inevitable, diminish their chance of success beyond the junior age-group.

Preparation for the borderline potential European Cross Country representative requires form not just in early December for the major event itself, not just in later November for the trial event, but sometime in late October or early November when good performances will help ensure (in Ireland more so than then UK) that the standard is deemed suitable high to warrant the selection of a full team, and act as some form of insurance in case disaster strikes at the trials.

Sessions are being started earlier and earlier, and end of season breaks are getting shorter and shorter, as each athlete looks to get a head start on their rivals.

It’s difficult to build the hype when we can’t build a season

As the European Cross Country championships increasingly become the main event of the cross country season, particularly in the UK and Ireland, it becomes more and more difficult to highlight and promote stars of the discipline.

The top athletes will have raced just once or twice, if even that, over the country in preparation for the event. The European and World permit meets held in the run-up will feature just a few of the potential contenders.

Apart from squaring off against their teammates at trial events, athletes will rarely have raced any of their main opponents. Without any real meaningful measure of form, or development of season-long rivalries and drama, it’s almost impossible to build the hype.

Even the run-up to the World Cross Country Championships sees few competitions where potential spectators can learn about the possible contenders. Without the investment into characters that run-in events would build, it’s a lot more difficult to build the main event.

It’s not too late

It’s not all doom and gloom, however, and there is a risk of lamenting days gone by purely for nostalgic reasons. BUCS Cross Country is becoming bigger, more colourful and more competitive with each passing year.

The numbers competing at English National and other domestic competitions continue to grow. The participation numbers in some Irish events are also increasing. Indeed, World Cross Country participation is even growing in some parts of the world. Cross country is in ruder health than some would have you believe.

It’s not too late to change things for the better and restore a season that builds across the winter to reach a natural, spring-time crescendo of colour, individual battles and national rivalries.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Why Euro Cross has killed cross country appeared first on Fast Running.

The Kia Race Series will bring together established regional races around Ireland, over a range of distances from 5k to 10 miles and finish with a new closed road race.

“I am excited about the series, I feel it will bring the standard forward of distance running in Ireland,” said Irish Olympian Mick Clohisey, who intends to take part. “Back in the 80’s there was more depth at the front end of road races throughout Ireland and it would be great to see that level of competitiveness return.”

Beginning in March, the series opens with the Portlaoise 5k on St. Patrick’s Day and conclude in September with an eighth, and a new race to Irish running, in Mondello Park.

Irish distance running star, Catherina McKiernan is also backing the series and thinks it will “encourage elite runners to race against one another,” adding: “racing is the lifeblood of the sport”.

To encourage elite runners to take part, each race in the series will have an incentive of €500 for new male and female course records – on top of any existing race prizes.

Throughout each race of the series, runners will receive points based on their finish position. To be eligible to win the overall prize of a Kia Stonic car (for one year) you must compete in five of the eight races.

The series is not just for elites and will be open to runners of all abilities.

The KIA Race Series
1. Streets of Portlaoise 5k – March 17
2. Run with Catherina (Co. Cavan) 10k – April 28
3. Tallaght AC 5k – May 6
4. Bob Heffernan 5k (Enfield, Co. Meath) – May 22
5. Braveheart 5k (Trim, Co. Meath) – June 15
6. Dunshaughlin 10k Road Race – June 23
7. Roscommon 10 Mile – July 7
8. Mondello International 10k – September 9

The post Ireland’s top distance runners encouraged to race each other appeared first on Fast Running.

1. In 1903, Scotland hosted the first International Cross Country Championships, and the the first World Cross Country Championships, held under the IAAF flag was in 1973.

2. 1971, USA’s Doris Brown won her fifth consecutive title.

3. Also in 1979, Ireland’s John Treacy became the first man to defend a World Cross Country title.

4. The first World Cross Country Championships on U.S soil was in 1984.

5. 1984, was also the last championships that Africans failed to win a medal in the senior men’s race.

6. 1990, in her fifth attempt, USA’s Lynn Jennings won her first title.

7. Catherina McKiernan of Ireland won four straight silver medals, from 1992 to 1995.

8. Prize money was only introduced in 1997.

9. 2001, Great Britian’s Paula Radcliffe won the long-course title, making her the first to win both the junior (1992) and senior long title.

10. Kenyan women have won the last five world championships.

The post 10 World Cross Country Championships highlights appeared first on Fast Running.