Where do I start? It seems an age since I put finger to keyboard and almost like a whole season's running has gone by though it has only been a few weeks.

I've been to Chicago for the Bank of America Marathon, where conditions were cold, bright and not at all windy, in spite of the reputation of that great city. It was however difficult for a Downpatrick resident to feel at home there as it was spotlessly clean, with no litter on the streets, footpaths or public parks – they just don't seem to know how to dispose of plastic bottles and fast food wrappings like we do and add insult to injury by being unfailingly friendly and polite – they would never survive here!  As for the event itself – with 35,000 runners and ideal running conditions for the 7.30am start around the flat, straight streets, packed with an estimated 1.5 million spectators it was an experience of a lifetime and I was more than happy to finish in 3 hours 27 minutes which got me into the top 10%, but outside the prizemoney again. Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru was only a meagre 1 hour 20 minutes ahead and looking over  his shoulder at the finish, though he was one second inside the course record, enough to claim the $100,000 bonus.

On that same weekend Brian Hamilton, Anna Stamp, Ruth Francis and Brian Wilson took part in the Causeway Coast Marathon, along the coastal paths between Giant's Causeway and Ballintoy, just as a warm up for the on road version in Dublin 2 weeks later. It was Anna's first attempt at the distance – nothing like starting with a really tough one – but at least of the quartet she wasn't running Dublin.  The following day saw Michael McKeown record 66.36 in the Armagh 10 Mile Road Race for yet another PB as his amazing season continued.

JUNIORS PERFORM WELL IN X/C CHAMPIONSHIPS

The following Saturday Brendan Teer made a welcome return to the Cross Country scene with an encouraging 2nd place in the Comber Cup race, as he makes steady progress back to the top.

And then it was the turn of the juniors at Coleraine for the NI and Ulster Even Age Group Cross Country Championships on a wet and windy University campus course. But the weather did nothing to deter their performances and Elaine Burch seized the mantle of top junior with an inspired run in the Under 16 Girls race, emerging from the wooded, hidden section of the course so far clear of her previously close packed rivals that it looked like some had dropped out! She eventually finished 24 seconds ahead of her nearest rival to book her place in the All Ireland Championships and she must have realistic chances of a double when she competes in the Uneven Age Groups in Killybegs on November 8th.  Aine McCann placed a splendid 5th in the Under 18 category, in spite of recent illness, and could go close in Killybegs too. But there were also encouraging runs from D'Arcey Campbell, 15th in the Under 10 Girls race, Johnny Erskine, 37th in the Boys Under 10, his sister Ellen 23rd in the Under 12 and big brother Paddy pacing himself well to take 23rd out of 86 finishers in the biggest field of the day.

But it was the Dublin Marathon which has been the target of many of the seniors for the past 6 months, though for one or two, the decision to enter was only made about 6 weeks ago. People often ask if there is any point to running a marathon and I have to say the most significant .2 it is that last fifth of a mile, the 385 yards from mile 26 to the finish, which is the longest distance imaginable whether you're going well or badly.  It wrecked the triumph of Dorando Pietri in the 1908 London Olympics  and has broken many a heart since, all to please some lazy royal princes.  It was no different on Monday 26th 2009 in Dublin – but every one of East Down's magnificent 13 crossed that finish line. The marathon is a serious and gruelling challenge for anyone who undertakes it, not least because in the course of 26.2 miles a whole lifetime of events can occur.  It demands respect at all times and can be a brutal foe – but if you crossed that finish line  whether in tears or ecstasy, rejoice and be very proud you did it.

Philip Vint, whose previous best was 3.15 absolutely annihilated that time, bringing 6 months of intensive training to an end with a magnificent 3.00.02, but even then a bitter sweet moment as a touch of cramp in the last .2 cost him the “sub 3”  crown. We would all feel the same, cos we're never satisfied, but Philip just enjoy the achievement for now, I would give my eye teeth for that time, if I still had them! Michael McKeown also lowered his PB from 3.18 to 3.09 with an unbelievable run in his 6th marathon of the year, with Gerry Burns hammering out 3.24 and Declan Teague running a superb second half to clock 3.27, both PBs.  Brian Hamilton, ”fresh” from his Causeway Coast stroll recorded 3.28 with Stephen McCartan cruising to 3.39 having never broken 4 hours before.  He's still smiling! And another of the Causeway participants Ruth Francis ran a beautifully consistent race to record 3.42, with Simon McGrattan nailing his target 3.45, though it took him 3.48 because he forgot the last .2!  But there were disappointments too with Brian Wilson and Raymond Milligan ”hitting the wall” with a vengeance – but you finished it and will get your own back next time – I know how you feel, been there, done it and threw away the T-shirt. Drawing inspiration from her sister Linda, who was there to encourage everyone despite the disappointment of missing out this year because of her illness, Sheena McKermitt kept going every inch of the way and promises to challenge 4 hours next year – along with Linda!
 
And finally, the biggest smiles of the day had to belong to the 2 late entrants Gavin Oakes  and Kim Surginor who were making their debuts at the distance and who experienced that sensation that only relatively few people get to feel, crossing the finish line of a big city marathon to the acclaim of thousands, having battled through all 26 .2 miles. Ask them if there's a point to it.

Well done to every one of you, REMEMBER THERE WERE THOUSANDS BEHIND YOU.
 
Joe Quinn

1 November 2009

NAME    TIME (hrs/mins/secs)
PHILIP VINT    3.00.02 pb
MICHAEL McKEOWN    3.09.13 pb
GERRY BURNS    3.24.22 pb
DECLAN TEAGUE    3.27.42 pb
BRIAN HAMILTON    3.28.30 pb
STEPHEN McCARTAN    3.39.18 pb
RUTH FRANCIS    3.42.06   
SIMON McGRATTAN    3.48.26 pb
BRIAN WILSON    3.52.13   
RAYMOND MILLIGAN    4.16.55   
GAVIN OAKES    4.19.18   
SHEENA McKERMITT    4.27.23   
KIM SURGINOR    4.31.32