The week began well with some excellent performances last Monday in the Newry City Marathon and Half Marathon.  East Down's Simon McGrattan and Linda Cunningham, just 3 weeks after completing the Belfast Marathon, again took on the full 26.2 miles challenge, over what was in theory a much flatter course.  The Newry races are extremely well organised and bring a big sense of community to the events but on a warm, sultry day the final few miles before reaching the crowd support along the Quays are a punishing reward for those who make it.  But make it they did, Simon laying claim to first East Down man home, replicating his Belfast performance of 4.15, and Linda coping with stomach cramps to post 4.37.  Both are now well out of the novice category and will be looking to improve their times, after a suitable break of course.

The half distance race attracted more interest from East Down's members and were superbly led home by the ever improving Michael McKeown, setting a new personal best of 1.30 as he warmed up for the Cork City Marathon next week. Next across the line in a time of 1.37 was Joe Quinn, finding the going much more to his liking than Hill and Dale racing followed by Garry McLoughlin in 1.44 with Michael Degan crossing the line in a splendid 1.56 alongside Downpatrick girl Kim Surginor, an excellent time for her and gaining the right to breakfast in bed from husband Colum, nevertheless pleased to finish in 2.05. With a field of over 800 runners tis was one of the largest events in the road racing calendar and Newcastle's Martina Hawkins ran a commendable race in 1.33 for 64th place.  East Down's sole lady representative Sheena McKermitt was somewhat disappointed  with a time of 2.15 but she recovered to support sister Linda through the last difficult miles of the marathon.  Well done to all.

Thursday night was Hill and Dale race 8 – the Loughshannagh Horseshoe.  The first time I did it I said “Never Again” - the 2nd time I remembered why I had said it, though it was the opposite way round.  The 3rd time, which was Thursday, I cursed my failing memory of times one and two! Loughshannagh is the one most of the regular runners leave out of their series though it still attracted over 160 runners on a warm, sunny evening above Spelga. There is something therapeutic about Hill and Dale running which makes participants forget about their current injuries – I'm inclined to think it's because they end up with worse ones than they start with, certainly in my own case the hangover from Moughanmore (Yes I missed the next two due to pressing business on a beach in Lanzarote but life's never perfect) was dispelled by the onset of a dislocated finger on the first descent which heralded some much needed relaxation in A and E later in the evening.  My thanks to all who administered First Aid before that.

The route takes in Carn, Ott and Doan mountains. I hit Carn hard – in fact I seem to have hit everything this year except the front, but Ott lived up to its name – it's like acupuncture with rocks – but I passed the redoubtable Jim Patterson as I made the summit – well I did pass him as he was the check point marshal at the top but the way I was going I was prepared to count anything as a crumb of comfort.  He does a fine line in verbal abuse though which is about as OTT as you can get when you can't respond -  but I was down before him on Thursday!  I actually used to think that nearly everybody fell every night and the only ones who hadn't were those with DNF after their names on the results – I now know it means Did Not Finish and not Did Not Fall. 

And then it was on to the ascent of Doan.  It's straight up!  I followed a pair of trainers and socks for hours towards the top – I'm not sure that there was anything attached above the socks as I never got to look beyond them but judging by the odour emanating from them I wouldn't be surprised to find that their owner had abandoned them and they just refused to let me pass. The sky was cloudless and blue and the air would have been too if anyone had had the energy to speak but all that God sent was Marty McVeigh and a camera. But I made it – though I won't do that one again.  Brian Hamilton and Anna Stamp made up the East Down team scores to give them 10th place. To think that next week we take on Rocky – must have a word with Barry McGuigan, he should know how to tackle Sly.

And finally on this scorching Sunday Liam Keenan clocked an inspiring 37.37 in the Carrick 10K, so Hill and Dale racing hasn't blunted his speed too much and James O'Hare continued his superb vein of form with a winning performance in the Irish Schools 5,000 metres at Tullamore in a time of 14.57.

31 May 2009