Joe Warne of Doheny AC was the winner of a competitive MyRunClub Race Series 5km, with Drogheda and District AC, held at Newtownsallaban, Drogheda on Sunday (September 27).

Warne finished in 15 mins 19 secs, ten seconds ahead of junior athlete Ruarcan O Gibne of Ace AC who finished in 15:29. Indeed junior athletes took three of the top four places, with Michael Murphy from Tullamore Harriers, just holding off the challenge of Aaron Smith from Cilles AC for third place; their times were 15:37 and 15:40 respectively. Fifth and first M35 was Karl Nolan of Clonliffe Harriers in 16:08.

Aoibhinn McGoldrick of Raheny Shamrock AC, another junior athlete, was first woman in 17:39, with Edel Gaffney of Trim AC second in 17:45 and Mary Leech of the host club Drogheda and District AC third and first W45 in 17:47.

In a second race, junior athlete Tony McCambridge from St Malachy’s AC was the winner in an even faster time of 15 mins 15 secs, followed by Declan Toal of North East Runners in 15:48, and Callum Morgan, another junior from St Malachy’s, in 15:51. World W55 record holder Anne Gilshinan of Slaney Olympic was first woman in 18:35.

A clear winner of the 5km at the Champion Chip Ireland Running Series Event 6 at Shane’s Castle in Co Antrim on Saturday (September 26) was James Hamilton of Ballymena Runners who finished in 15 mins 46 secs.

Second in 16:12 was Peter Gracey of Beechmount Harriers, while third in 16:20 was Adrian Scullion of Knockmany. Eighth overall and first woman was Grace Carson in 16:59. Emer McKee of Willowfield Harriers in 18:04 and Aine Hughes in 18:55 were second and third.

Tommy Hughes loves a race

Winning the 10km in 33:49 was Adam Smyth of St Peter’s AC. The ageless Tommy Hughes of Strive Racing Club was second and first M60 in 33:54 while third in 34.29 was Jonathan Canning of Foyle Valley AC in 34:29.

Elizabeth Carr of Mullingar Harriers led home the women in 38:55, followed by Gemma McDonald of Ballycastle Runners in 39:20 and Kelda Gibson of Convoy AC in 40:03. Back in action after a long period of injury was the veteran Cathy McCourt who finished fifth woman and first W45 in 41:33.

Winners of the half marathon were Iain Taggart in 76:48 and Karen Alexander in 84:46, while first home in the marathon were Rowan Griffin of Magherafelt Harriers in 2:43.40 and Fiona McFall of Jog Lisburn RC in 3:134.50. The final round in this well-received series takes place at Down Royal on October 10.

Thursday night racing

In Rathdrum, on Thursday evening (September 24) junior athlete Joe Byrne of SBR AC in Co Wexford was a clear winner of the MyRunClub 5km Series at Avondale House in 16 mins 34 secs. Derek Crammond of Parnell AC was second in 17:05 and Paul Gary Duffy of Inbhear Dee AC a close third in 17.08. In fourth place, Myles Gibbons of SBR AC was first M45 in 17.18, while finishing sixth and first M60 was Mick Byrne of Parnell AC in 17.47.

Edel Gaffney of Trim AC was first women in 18:37, Catherine O’Connor of Parnell AC second and first W40 in 19:11 and Rebecca Harris of Ashford AC third and second W40 in 19:40.

John Fitzgibbon of Thurles Crokes won the The Thursday Club 10km Stagger at Mondello Park, Co Kildare, also on Thursday evening (September 24).

Fitzgibbon finished over a minute clear of the field in 35 mins 1 sec. Second was Tommy Kelly in 36:04, while third and first M50 was Michael Counsel of Trim AC in 36:22. First woman in 41:03 was Sharon Cantwell of Moyne AC; Ulrike Strubing of Trim AC was second and first W50 in 43:02 and Annmarie Feely of Naas AC third and first W40 in 46.01.

Ruth Here finishing strong over the cross country.

Even more cross-country

David McGlynn of Waterford AC was a convincing winner of the men’s race at the annual West Waterford AC open cross-country, held in the grounds of St Augustine’s College, Dungarvan on Sunday (September 27).

McGlynn, who finished in 26 mins 1 sec, was followed home by Pat Hennessy of host club West Waterford in 26:29, with Noel Murphy of Waterford AC third in 27:53. With four finishers in the top six, Waterford AC were clear winners of the team prize, ahead of West Waterford AC and Ferrybank AC.

Making it a Waterford AC double in the women’s race was Ruth Heery who had a clear win in 14: 37. Ferrybank AC pair Louise Morgan in 15:56 and Orna Murray in 16:04 were second and third, and with back-up from Mollie Hutchinson and Aisling Lowe, Ferrybank finished first team ahead of West Waterford AC.

Junior winners were Una O’Brien and Matteo Mary, both from Waterford AC. The event, which included a number of juvenile races, incorporated the Waterford County Championships.

Exciting racing in historic mountain race

Blue skies and wonderful sunshine greeted the runners in the 76th annual Slieve Donard Race in the Mourne Mountains of Co Down on Saturday (September 26).

Only after much negotiation with the Forestry Commission and a slight adjustment to the course, the race was allowed to go ahead after earlier dates in May and July proved impossible.

At the sharp end of the race, Timmy Johnston of Mourne Runners used his track speed to pull away early reaching the summit 35 mins 2 secs, with Seamus Lynch of the organising club 23 seconds adrift. Behind them came Jonny Steede of Glen Runners, now over 40, and 16-year-old Tom Crudgington of Newcastle and District, who lost some momentum on the downhill but still finished seventh.

On the descent, Lynch overhauled Johnston and was leading when they reached the tarmac road. At that point, Johnston kicked past Lynch to regain the lead. He went on to win the race for the first time in 50 mins and 31 secs; Lynch finished four seconds adrift. Third and first M40 was Steede in 53:23.

Of the women, Esther Dickson of Newry AC proved the class of the field, reaching the summit in 44 mins 28 secs and crossing the finish line in 64 mins 2 secs. In a close tussle for second place, Sarah Quinn, also Newry AC, just pipped Karen Wilton of Jog Lisburn AC with both women given a time of 72:58.

Further down the field, BARF’s Ian McCulough, who was born in 1945 – the year the race was first held – set off with the ambition of reaching the summit in a time less than 75 minutes. He managed it comfortably in 67 mins 31 secs and went on to finish the race in 1 hr 45 mins 3 secs.

Ultra running in Co Wicklow

Northern Irish athlete Lee O’Boyle of Mallusk Harriers won a much delayed Maurice Mullins Ultra over a course located entirely in Co Wicklow on Saturday (September 26), completing the 44km distance in 3 hrs 51 mins.

Finishing second in four hours exactly was Paul Tierney of Go Tri Adventure in Co Tipperary, while third was Edward O’Connor in 4:03.

First woman in 4:26 was Patricia McLoughlin of Le Cheile AC; Claire Keeley was second in 4:47 and Mags Dempsey from Tracton AC in Co Cork third in 4:50. A total of 70 completed the course. Dublin-based athletes could not take part in the race owing to COVID 19 restrictions.

In the English Lake District, Jack McKenna, aged 23, of Ballymena Runners completed the Bob Graham Round (42 fells, 106 km, 8,200m climb) in 21 hours 43 mins on Saturday (September 26).

The end of a truncated track season?

Michele Finn of Leevale AC set an Irish record of 6 mins 16.46 secs when winning the women’s 2000m steeplechase at the City of Barcelona athletics meet in the Estadi Joan Serrahima on Tuesday (September 22).

In the women’s mile, Nadia Power of Dublin City Harriers finished a close third in 4 mins 32

Power had gone through 1500m in 4:14.76, a time which puts her behind only Ciara Mageean in the current Irish rankings. At that point, she was lying second behind eventual winner Marta Pen Freitas of Portugal but was caught by Marta Perez Miguel of Spain in the chase for the line. Power finished in 4:32.50, just behind Miguel whose time was 4:32.26.

In the men’s 3000m, Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC finished fifth in a personal best time of 7:45.46, while Paul Robinson of St Coca’s AC was 11th in a season’s best 8:03.74. Race winner was Ouassim Oumaiz Errouch in 7:40.62.

Catching up on last weekend

Evan Fitzgerald of Clonmel AC won the senior men’s at the St Senan’s AC Open Cross-Country, held for a 43rd time in Kilmacow, Co Kilkenny on Sunday September 20. He was followed home by Dean Rowe from Gowran AC and Conor Rochford of host club St Senan’s.

It was a little poetic that Fitzgerald’s father John was an Irish international athlete who finished runner-up at the St Senan’s event four times, but never quite managed to win it.

Ruth Heery of Waterford AC won the senior women’s race from Dymphna Ryan of Dundrum AC in Co Tipperary and Ciara O’Neill of Clonmel AC. First master was Evelyn Maher of Templemore AC and first junior Una O’Brien of Waterford AC. Waterford AC finished best of the women’s teams followed by St Senan’s and Gowran.

High standards all round

First of the master men was Noel Murphy with his Waterford AC club mate Trevor Power second and Alan O’Connor of United Striders third. Winning the junior race was Matteo Mary of Waterford AC. In the team competition, Waterford AC were the winners, with Ferrybank AC second and Gowran AC third.

A number of juvenile races were of national championships calibre featuring athletes who had made the top 12 in last year’s national championships. Under 18 winners were Ava Costello of Trim AC and Cathal O’Reilly of Kilkenny City Harriers.

At the British Milers Club meet in Nuneaton on Friday September 18, Iseult O’Donnell of Raheny Shamrock finished fourth in her 1500m heat with a time of 4:24.28. Jayme Rossiter of Clonliffe Harriers clocked a time of 3:56.01 for third place in his 1500m heat.
Correction:

At the Allihies 5-Mile in Co Cork on Saturday (September 19), third placed Nina Murphy ran a time of 37 mins 01 sec and not 40:33 as published last week.

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The post Another busy weekend of Irish action appeared first on Fast Running.

In advance of their attempt at the father-son half marathon world record Eoin and Tommy Hughes were both out running fast times at parkrun this weekend. It was son Eoin who ran the fastest parkrun in Ireland this weekend with a fantastic 15:26 at MUSA Cookstown, just nine seconds outside his own course record.

July was a busy month of racing for the Acorns AC man as he won the Northern Ireland & Ulster 10,000m Championships, clocked 53:24 at the Irish Runner 10 Mile and finished 2nd at the Great Rossa Run Half Marathon.

Eoin is of course the son of Irish distance running legend Tommy Hughes who finished 3rd on the list this week with 16:22 at MUSA Cookstown. Tommy Hughes competed at the 1992 Olympic Games, has a marathon PB of 2:13:59 and is the Irish over 55s 5km national record holder.

Sandwiched between the father-son duo on the top 10 was Matthew Neill who ran 15:54 at Omagh. The under 17 athlete has had a fine year so far running PBs at 800m, 1500m, and 3000m.

Windy conditions hit times

Elaine McGuckin was the fastest female runner with 19:02 at MUSA Cookstown in what was her first parkrun. McGuckin was 18th at this year’s Belfast City Marathon and her time represented a fine performance on a week when times were significantly slower, likely because of the windy conditions.

After finishing 2nd on the list last week East Down’s speedy Kirsti Foster was again 2nd this week running 19:10 at Belfast Victoria. Under 15 Foster is in good form after a big 800m PB last week of 2:17.78 set at the Belfast International.

Fresh off the back of an excellent new 5km PB of 18:37 set last week Collette McCourt ran 19:20 at Belfast Victoria to finish as 3rd fastest this week. McCourt, who finished four places behind McGuckin at the Belfast Marathon, was also 4th at the Felie 5 last Sunday.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: MUSA Cookstown
Eoin Hughes, 15:26, Acorns AC
2) parkrun: Omagh
Matthew Neill, 15:54
3) parkrun: MUSA Cookstown
Tommy Hughes, 16:22, Termoneeny Running Club
4) parkrun: Porterstown
John Courell, 16:27, Ballina A.C.
5) parkrun: Sligo
Seamus Somers, 16:30, Sligo AC
6) parkrun: Ormeau
Stephen Connolly, 16:39, Annadale Striders
7) parkrun: Ardgillan
Gavin O’Rourke, 16:42, Skerries AC
8) parkrun: Ballincollig
Kevin O’Brien, 16:43
9) parkrun: Waterworks
Dominic McAllister, 16:50
10) parkrun: Porterstown
Thomas Sherlock, 16:52, Clonliffe Harriers A.C.

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: MUSA Cookstown
Elaine McGuckin, 19:02
2) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Kirsti Foster, 19:10, East Down AC
3) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Collette McCourt, 19:20, Dub Runners of Belfast
=4) parkrun: City Park
Gillian McCrory, 19:32, St Peters AC
=4) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Lucy Foster, 19:32, East Down AC
6) parkrun: Westport
Sarah Byrne, 19:46
7) parkrun: Poppintree
Sorcha Loughnane, 19:51
8) parkrun: Ormeau
Maeve Haigney, 20:04, Beechmount Harriers
9) parkrun: Malahide
Jenny Johnston, 20:05, Portmarnock Athletic Club
10) parkrun: Portrush
Leann Gibson, 20:11, Victoria Park and Connswater 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

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The post 10 fastest parkrun times in Ireland on Saturday 10th August (2019) appeared first on Fast Running.

On Sunday 22^nd September 2019 the 7^th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon is gearing up for a record year with around 5,000 expected to take part.  Starting on Ormeau Embankment at 9am, participants can expect a mainly flat and fast 13.1 mile route weaving its way across Belfast.

Exciting plans are afoot as more records are set to be broken this September!  Local running celebrities and award-winning Maghera father and son duo, Tommy and Eoin Hughes, have chosen the 2019 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon event to attempt a Guinness World Record for combined father and son half marathon finish time!

Currently the Guinness World Record for a combined father and son half marathon (from 17^th March this year at the Reading Half Marathon) stands at 2 hours 20 minutes 33 seconds and is held by an English Father and son, Paul (46 years old) and Josh (27 years old) Lunn.

Eoin commented:

“This is going to be a lot more challenging than the previous record held of 2 hours 24 minutes but thanks to my recent win in Lisburn, my half marathon PB is currently 69:14.  This should set us up nicely for the Belfast Half. 

My dad is breaking age category records, world records for 59 years old and over 55 Irish records.  We are confident we can give this the best go possible and break the current Guinness World Record!”

The stats speak for themselves, here’s what you need to know about this impressive father and son running team:

Tommy Hughes (59 years old)

• Marathon PB 2.13.59
• Ran for Ireland at the Barcelona Olympics 1992
• Irish over 50s records for half marathon and marathon
• Also Irish over 55s records 5km,10km, half marathon and marathon
• Holds age 59 world records for 5km, half marathon and marathon
• Recent PB’s: Rotterdam marathon 2.30.15, Newry half marathon 71.58, Buncrana 5km 16.14

Eoin Hughes (34 years old)

• Running for just over 3 years and is a member of Acorns AC
• 1^st place in Lisburn Half Marathon, June 2019
• 1^st place in the recent Athletics Northern Ireland “NI & Ulster 10,000m Championships”
• Half marathon PB is currently 69.14 (Lisburn Half Marathon)

Bigger plans for the future

This Autumn, Tommy and Eoin hope to challenge another Guinness World Record for combined father and son marathon time, that record currently stands at 5 hours 2 minutes 12 seconds.

The event organisers wish Tommy and Eoin the very best of luck for Sunday 22^nd September and are encouraging as many as possible to come out and support them on race day!  You can follow their progress in the coming weeks across the Deep RiverRock Belfast City MarathonFacebook, Instagram and Twitter platform and via their website at www.belfastcitymarathon.com

The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon is renowned for its popular, mainly flat and fast course, perfect for a first time Half Marathon or PB! Fantastic local support is expected throughout the course, following an amazing turn out at the main marathon event in May this year.  The event is expected to sell out for the 3^rd year in a row with a record number of participants anticipated (around 5000).

SIGN UP for the 7^th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon here and don’t forget to select one of the event charity partners when registering!  Final entry deadline will be on Friday 30^th August 2019.

More details can be found at www.belfastcitymarathon.com.  #ChooseBelfast

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The post Tommy & Eoin Hughes target world record in Belfast appeared first on Fast Running.

The evergreen Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny Running Club was the winner of the Larne AC Coastal marathon on Saturday (June 29) in a time of 2:32:30 – not bad for a 59-year old!

Hughes, who competed at the 1992 Olympics and has won both Belfast and Dublin marathons in the pat, set the Irish M55 record of 2:30:15 in Rotterdam last April.

He proved the class of the field winning by a margin of close to seven minutes. Second was Pater McGarry of Mallusk Harriers in 2:39:20; first woman in 3:19:10 was Patricia Blair of East Coast AC.

Conor Dooney of Raheny Shamrock made a return to racing at the St Coca’s 5km in Kilcock on Friday evening (June 28) winning in 14:13 after a good battle with the host club’s Kevin Kelly.

Kelly finished second in 14:18 with Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC third in 14:41; Brian Maher of Kilkenny City Harriers was fourth and first M40 in 14:44.

First woman in 16:30 was Catherina Mullen of Metro St Brigid’s AC. Clare Sullivan of Rathfarnham WSAF AC was second in 17:42 and Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrock third and first W50 in 17:53. Best of the juniors were Eoin Richard’s of St Coca’s in 16:39 and Sorcha Moloney of Ballyroan Abbeyleix and District AC in 18:14. There were 556 finishers.

Raheny Shamrock finished best of the 19 men’s teams, with Dunboyne AC a close second and St Coca’s third. St Coca’s won the women’s team prize comfortably.

Pre-weekend racing

Kevin Maunsell of Clonmel AC was the clear winner in 25:30 of the Willie Neenan Memorial 5-Mile in Millstreet, Co Cork, on Friday evening. Mark Walsh of Leevale AC was second in 26:16 and John Shine also Leevale third in 26:21. Carol Finn of Leevale AC was first woman in 32:04, followed by Linda O’Connor in 33.46 and local athlete Denise Quilter in 34:46. Winning the Newtownards Half Marathon, also on Friday evening, was Neil Weir of Willowfield in 76:05

Peter Somba was back in winning form at the Clonee 10km held on Thursday (June 27) and organised by his club Dunboyne AC.

Somba led home 398 finishers in 32 mins 47 secs, finishing comfortably clear of second placed Stephen Conroy from Celbridge AC, second in 32:58. A distant third was Michael Morgan of St Finnbarr’s AC in Cork; he finished in 33:39 and was also first M40.

First woman was Courtney Lewis in 37:40. Second in 37:55 was Niamh Devlin of Dundrum South Dublin AC, with Hannah Carroll third in 39:52. Celbridge AC beat host club Dunboyne in the women’s team competition. Best of the men’s teams by a wide margin was Dunboyne AC.

In Galway, on Thursday evening, almost 300 turned out for the Grant Thornton Corporate Team 5km where Jamie Fallon of Winters Property Management was first home in 17: 30 and Michelle Egan of DHKN was first woman in 21:30.

Niall Shanahan of the Department of Education was the runaway winner of the VM-Ware BHAA 5km held on a warm night in Cork on Wednesday (June 26).

Shanahan’s time of 14:58 put him over a minute clear of second placed Shane Collins (Apple), who finished in 16:16. Third in 16:35 was James Grufferty (Glanmire Medical Centre).

First woman in 18:44 was Grainne O’Donnell of Kumon Douglas. Niamh Roe (Dept. of Education) and Linda O’Sullivan (Cope) were second and third. Making a welcome return to racing was former world masters champion Carmel Parnell (Cork Shops) who finished ninth woman and first W60. UCC, led by Kevin Devine, seventh overall and first M50, was best of the men’s teams in the A grade, with Musgrave first in B and UTRC-1 first in C. Department of Education won women’s grade A, with HSE first B and Marymount C. A total of 396 completed the race.

McElhinney building his track strength on the cross country Photo: Lindie Naughton

Track and Field and an Irish party in Watford

Darragh McElhinney of Bantry AC set a new Irish junior record of 8:01.48 when winning the 3000m at the BMC Meet in Watford on Saturday (June 29).

With a large Irish representation at the meet, Eoin Everard of Kilkenny City Harriers finished third in 8:03.83 and Michael Power of West Waterford AC seventh in 8:14.11. In the U20 race, Shay McEvoy ran a personal best 8:22.78.

Jayme Rossiter of Clonliffe Harriers finished second in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 8:46.81. On a good day for Irish steeplechasers, Michele Finn of Leevale AC won the women’s race in 9:51.22, while sister Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle AC finished third in a season’s best 10:04.41.

Zak Curran of Dundrum South Dublin AC moved to the top of the current Irish rankings with a time of 1:47.04 in the 800m; John Fitzsimons of Kildare AC ran a time of 1:49.06. In the 1500m, Luke McCann of Dublin City Harriers AC finished sixth in 3:41.70, followed by Brian Fay of Raheny Shamrock eighth in 3:43.19, Cathal Doyle of Clonliffe Harriers 10^th in 3: 45.39 and Fearghal Curtin of Youghal AC 12^th in 3:45.97. Eoin Pierce of Clonliffe Harriers ran a personal best 3:42.87 to finish second in the B race.

In women’s 800m, Siofra Cleirigh Buttner of Dundrum South Dublin AC finished fourth with a career best time of 2:01.67, narrowly beating Ciara Mageean, who finished half a pace behind for fifth place in 2:01.81. Mageean was opening her outdoor season after taking bronze in the 1500m at the European Indoors last March.

In the B race Nadia Power of Templeogue AC finished third in 2:03.68, Sarah Healy of Blackrock AC sixth in 2:04.66, Katie Kirk of Team New Balance eighth in 2:06.25 and Rose Anne Galligan ninth in 2:07/08. Iseult O’Donnell of Raheny Shamrock won the D race in 2:10.31 with Fiona Kehoe of Kilmore third in 2:11.33.

Roisin Flanagan of Omagh AC finished sixth in the 1500m in 4:17.70; Maisy O’Sullivan of St Abban’s AC was eighth in 4:19.41. Paralympian Great Streimikyte of Clonliffe Harriers ran a season’s best time of 4:44.17

In the women’s 3000m, Grace Carson of Mid Ulster AC ran a time of 9:31.63 , with Jodie McCann of Dublin City Harriers running 9:50.33 and North Down’s Jessica Craig 9:54.07. Mitchell Byrne of Rathfarnham WSAF AC finished second in the B 5000m with a personal best time of 14:45.35. Clonliffe’s Ian Guiden ran 15:09.00 for eighth place.

Sexton not finished with athletics yet

At the Mannheim Junior Gala in Germany on Saturday and Sunday (June 29/30), sprinter and rugby player Aaron Sexton of North Down AC finished second in the 200m in a time of 20.79 secs – a tenth of a second off his season’s best of 20.69 set at the All Ireland Schools Championships

In the 4 x 400 relays, the Irish men’s 4 x 400m team of Ciaran Carthy, Adam Hughes, Jack Raftery and Tony O’Connor clocked a time of 3:15.59 for third place, while the women’s team of Simone Lalor, Miriam Daly, Deirdre Murray and Rachel McCann finished second in 3:44.33.

Louis O’Loughlin of Donore Harriers finished a fighting second in the 800m with a time of 1:50.28. Just behind him for third in 1:50.72 was Mark Milner of Tullamore Harriers.

Overseas T & F

In Bottnaryd, Sweden, on Saturday (June 29), John Kelly of Finn Valley AC threw a personal best of 17.79m for fifth in the shot putt. There was also a discus personal best of 60.09 for Colin Quirke of Crusaders AC who was competing at Long Beach, California, also on Saturday.

A group of Irish sprinters were competing at the Résisprint International in La Chaux-des-Fonds, Switzerland, on Sunday (June 30), where Marcus Lawler of St LOT AC ran a wind-assisted time of 20.33 (+2.7) in the 200m; Eanna Madden ran 20.87 (+2.8). Lawler also ran a legal time of 10.6 secs in the 100m. In the 110m hurdles, Matthew Behan of Crusaders AC clocked a time of 14.17; his best this season is 13.9.,

Chris O’Donnell of North Sligo AC, who currently tops the Irish 400m rankings,  ran a time of 47.40 secs in the men’s 400m.

At the fifth Dublin Graded Meet of the season held in Tallaght on Wednesday (June 26),

Clare Mooney of UCD proved fastest in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:05.64. Peter Arthur of Liffey Valley won the men’s 3000m in 8 mins 41 secs.

Pippa Rogan of Sli Cualann AC soared over the bar at 1.89 for a high jump personal best in the Paris suburb of Montgeron in France on Tuesday (June 25).

Up in the hills

Luke McMullan of Newcastle AC was the runaway winner of the classic Croagh Patrick mountain race in Co Mayo on Saturday (June 29) clocking a time of 62:46 for the steep 10.70km distance. Almost four minutes behind for second in 66:23 was Tom Blackburn of Mooreabbey Milers, with Sean Quirke of Bilboa AC third in 67:10. Rosy Temple was first woman in 86:06

A day later, Blackburn outlasted Quirke to win the Nephin mountain run also in Co Mayo with just three seconds between them. Temple was again first woman.

Ruairi Long of UCD AC and Niamh Corbett of Cork O were the winners of the Leinster hill running league race at Sorrell Hill, in Co Wicklow on Wednesday (June 26). Eoin Richards of St Coca’s AC won the junior race.

Ireland’s 2:33 marathoner and ultra running international Nicola Duncan headed out to Chamonix, France to compete over the tough VK discipline. Whilst “only” five kilometres in distance, the route climbs 1000m and includes ladders and chains to get to the finish line. After an adventurous week exploring the tour du Mont Blanc, the athlete finished fifth in an international field.

Photo: Robbie Britton

parkrun

Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan and Grace Lynch are your quickest parkrunners in Ireland this weekend (June 29th). Check out the top ten rankings in our full article here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

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!

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 Evergreen Tommy Hughes shines again – Irish weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

The man from Maghera in Northern Ireland ran the marathon in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics after running a 2:13:59 PB in Marrakech earlier that year.

That time remains the second fastest ever for an Northern Irishman, behind only Greg Hannon, whose 2:13:06 from 1979 remains unbeaten to this day. It also ranks as the 12th fastest for an Irishman.

Hughes’ enduring consistency over the distance is perhaps even more impressive than his lifetime best, though, with marathon victories and course records to his name well into his sixth decade.

Just last December the now 59 year-old ran 2:38:33 in Malaga despite running much of the second half on his own.

This year the Termoneeny RC ace is aiming to break five Irish V55 road records. Based on his most recent times for 5k, 10k, 10M, half marathon and the marathon, it would be a fool to bet against him.

Why then, is there so little literature about this great man from the Emerald Isle? 

A marathon star under the radar

Hughes has competed all over the world, winning marathons in Marrakech, Melbourne and Nottingham to name but a few major city races.

The latter race was just nine years ago when he ran 2:29:12 aged 50 to win the Robin Hood Marathon in 2010.

While that result certainly ranks highly on his long list of achievements, his Olympic marathon run for Ireland in Barcelona 18 years earlier surely represents the pinnacle.

That same year in 1992 he sustained a stress fracture not long after his 2:13:59 in Marrakech, a race that earned him his berth on the Irish team.

Doctors told him he’d never be fit in time for the biggest race of his life, but, undeterred, Hughes took to the turbo trainer on his indoor bike, maintaining an impressive cardiovascular fitness as a result.

While his 2:32:55 in Barcelona was by no means an accurate reflection of his true abilities, it was certainly an impressive indicator of his determination to compete, whatever the circumstances.

Chronic fatigue and depression laid Hughes very low

That gritty persona has stood him in good stead ever since, particularly when fate threw a major medical challenge at him that threatened to not only destroy his running career but his life.

The three time winner of the Derry Marathon (the Walled City Marathon since it’s resurrection in 2013) started to feel increasingly and debilitatingly fatigued not long after that third victory.

As he approached his 55th birthday, the combination of excessive tiredness and, unsurprisingly, deteriorating performances led to Hughes sinking into a deep depression.

Months of binge drinking followed, culminating in the top veteran nearly losing his life to alcoholism having drunk bottle after bottle of vodka every day until his body was close to collapse.

A diagnosis, recovery and a return to form

Hughes takes up the story at this point: “It wasn’t until my wife said ‘enough’s enough’ and marched me to the doctors to find out what was causing my exhaustion that we got to the cause of my fatigue in 2016,” he explains.

“After a simple blood test I was diagnosed with para-thyroidism, a condition which causes a faulty thyroid gland to produce too much parathyroid hormone. This in turn causes blood calcium levels to rise, and as a result takes calcium away from the bones, leading to low bone density.”

While it is unclear whether Hughes’ condition was genetic or developed later in life, it’s worth questioning if his ill-timed stress fracture in his Olympic year was an unfortunate by-product.

An operation to remove the faulty gland was completed last August (2018).

In typically determined style, the then 58 year-old competed for the Irish Masters team in the Malaga Half Marathon just six weeks later, winning team bronze in the Spanish heat.

Hughes is keen to stress how important it is to raise awareness of the condition that is so easy to diagnose and treat (an operation or medication) so that others do not suffer the same avoidable consequences as he did.

“Depression is actually one of the most common symptoms of para-thyroidism, along with fatigue and weak muscles,” he explains. 

“I now feel lucky and that I’ve been given a new lease of life. My running has also improved significantly, giving me the confidence to attack those V55 records this year!”

The beginning of Hughes’ glittering marathon story

Reflecting on a running career spanning nearly 37 years, Hughes’ first marathon experience in 1982 was one that sparked a lifetime’s passion for the sport that captures so many.

Despite only running three runs a week of just four miles a piece in training, he still managed a 3:01:28 result in Belfast.

“I was very green to the whole running world, so I was happy with my time – it just made me train harder for my next marathon,” he says with a laugh.

Perhaps perversely aided by the fact that that same year witnessed a great depression in Ireland, Hughes found himself being made redundant at the same time as discovering a new and exciting talent.

“I accidentally found that I was good at running, so ever since then I’ve always worked around my training and racing, rather than pursue a career that would interfere with it,” he explains.

Just a year later he knocked an superb 26 minutes off his PB, posting a 2:35 clocking at the All Ireland marathon in Letterkenny. 

An incredible marathon progression ladder

His times continued to tumble with every passing year. 

1984 saw his PB drop to 2:24 and then to 2:19 the following year when he broke the course record in Derry, retaining his title in the process.

The Derry Marathon then took a 29 year hiatus until it was resurrected in 2013, upon which time Hughes returned to the scene of his early glory years and promptly won it for the third time (technically in a row). His time aged 53? A superb 2:30:32!

By the end of the 1990s Hughes had firmly established himself as one of Ireland’s brightest marathon stars, a fact he is rightly proud of.

“I’d say by 1985 I had started to be recognised amongst my fellow runners as one to watch in the marathon,” he explains. “That year I left Northern Ireland for the first time to compete in a home countries international in Aberdeen, a big thing for me back then! 

“I think it would be great to bring that style of competition back again, with Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales competing against each other in a marathon – it would encourage younger athletes more as they’d be representing their country from a potentially earlier age.”

Joining the world’s marathon elite

Just three years later Hughes was putting that first ‘international’ experience to the test in impressive style, winning five marathons on three continents in 1988.

The year kicked off with a blistering 2:15 PB in Marrakech, followed by a 2:19 win in Belfast in May and a 2:18 victory in Melbourne in October.

Perhaps unnecessarily he nevertheless clarifies that he does “love to race – I treat some races as stepping stones towards my main goals”.

His ability to regularly compete around the world was initially enabled by race organisers replying to Hughes’ requests to take part in their events and offering to pay his travel expenses.

“That, and the subsequent race winnings meant I could make a living, alongside bits of work here and there as a van driver and a store man,” he reveals. “I then got myself an agent who got me into more international races throughout the 1990s.”

100 plus mile training weeks meant his marathon times continued to be consistently up there with the best in the world. 

It wasn’t until 1991 that he really began to consider himself a potential Olympian, however, when he ran 2:14:46 to win the Dublin Marathon.

The following year – Olympic year – saw him narrowly miss out on the Northern Ireland marathon record with his fantastic 2:13:59 PB in Morocco, but nevertheless booked his place to Barcelona.

Hughes’ secrets of success

How did Hughes maintain such impressive consistency despite – by this time – having run scores of marathons over the preceding decade, more than most respected coaches would recommend in today’s training bibles.

“I have always just run to feel, I don’t run with a watch and I always listen to my body”, he says enlighteningly. 

“I rarely stretch, I don’t do any strength and conditioning work but I am never injured. I mostly run at 75% effort level, and always ensure I allow my body to recover properly before the next hard run.

“I think too many runners, especially when new to the sport, push themselves too hard too often. It’s all about patience, coaxing better times from consistent training.

“While I did have a coach for a short period, I’ve mainly taken care of my training myself and mostly train alone. I did see a big improvement in my running when I lived in England and trained with Leicester Coritanians for three years in 2011 – 2014 for work, though. 

“The training group mentality can provide a massive boost to performance, and I do miss that now I’m back living in the countryside in Northern Ireland.”

Training and racing in England with Leicester Coritanians

That period living in the English Midlands came off the back of a superb year in 2010, when, aged 50, he won the Nottingham marathon in 2:29:12. Hughes followed that up with a superb 70:31 half marathon in Peterborough.

Moving to Leicester allowed the Northern Irishman to really harness the impressive speed endurance he’d developed in the preceding years.

“I loved my time running with the Leicester Coritanians – we won the National Masters Relays three years in a row when I was with them,” he recalls happily. “In fact, I’m returning to that same event this May to run for my old club once again, I can’t wait!”

Alongside those relay victories, Hughes notched up a 26:51 time over five miles and two more sub-2:30 marathons in 2012, before achieving that aforementioned incredible third win in Derry the following year.

Running mentality in the family

The super vet’s clear talent for the marathon is supported by an obvious internal drive to fulfil his potential which is so important for any athlete to achieve success. 

That same drive is apparent in his son, Eoin, and his nephews Vincent McKenna and Jarleth Hughes, all of whom are gradually chipping away at their PBs while continuing to be inspired by Hughes senior.

“Eoin has definitely got the right attitude to succeed in this sport,” he reveals. “He’s got his 10k time down to 32 minutes so far, simply by training consistently, patiently and avoiding injury.”

Supporting Northern Irish and Irish talent

The County Londonderry athlete is keen to not only support his family’s ambitions but also that of Northern Ireland’s up and coming young talent.

An integral cog in the Athletics Ireland Marathon Project, he is helping the scheme develop young athletes into future international marathon runners. 

“They certainly have some great inspiration right now, with Kevin Seaward, Steve Scullion and Paul Pollock all running so well,” he says with a smile. “My money is on Steve to break 2:14 first though.”

So what of those V55 Irish records he spoke of breaking earlier?

Currently they stand at: 5k 16:45 (Hughes ran a 16:49 parkrun recently), 10k 34:53 (Hughes posted a 35:27 10k at the end of last year), 75:23 and 2:37:42.

The Termoneeny star admits the half marathon record will be his greatest challenge, and is still seeking out a fast course for the record attempt.

“I’ve chosen the Rotterdam marathon on April 7th as the course I’ll hope to beat 2:37 on – it’s played host to some absolute greats over the years, including Rob de Castella and Carlos Lopez, so it would be an honour to break the record there.

“The Wednesday before Rotterdam I’ll race the Queen’s Bridge 5k in Belfast, and a month earlier I’ll have raced the Titanic Quarter 10k, so hopefully I’ll go to Holland already a record breaker!”

There’s no doubting Hughes’ place is already booked in the Irish athletics hall of fame.

Hopefully once he’s firmly stamped his place in the V55 record books – at the age of 59 – he’ll be recognised far further afield too.

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