The proposal to run next year's Belfast Marathon on Sunday, for all the logical reasons like less disruption to traffic, including from the ferry terminals, more people off work, greater availability of police personnel etc. has attracted considerable criticism, mostly from clerics and religious groups who feel it is a further attempt to further secularise the Sabbath,  as well as making attendance at their churches more difficult for their congregations.  While there has to be respect for their opinions, there would not appear to be support for this view amongst the running fraternity, many of whom are themselves church goers though even the atheists and agnostics in its ranks train religiously. It is also interesting that more radio and TV coverage has been devoted to this dispute than was given to the marathon itself – I think it got about 15 seconds on a TV news bulletin, which was up on last year, but still an insult to the biggest participant event in Northern Ireland.
In any event running can be quite a spiritual experience for many and I have often heard runners, unbelievers among them, calling for help from any deity they thought would listen to their pleas for the speedy appearance of the finish line. And these appeals have been made in races irrespective of what day they were taking place and indeed, for increasing numbers running a marathon which passes churches en route is about as close as they get to attending a religious service from one year's end to the next. 
However on one thing there is no disagreement, whether the race is held on a Saturday, Sunday, Monday or any other day of the week, it will always be 26.2 miles long or perhaps 26.2 long miles would be a more meaningful description..
And so on May Day Monday 2010 thousands of runners from every church and religion and none set off from the City Hall on their pilgrimage to the Ozone Centre at Ormeau Park, via practically every inch of Belfast's streets.
East Down's “Baker's Dozen” had a variety of targets to aim for but had been well warned that over such a distance anything could happen.  However as most runners know the race is the icing on the cake – the hard work has been or should have been done in the weeks and months beforehand to give them the best possible chance of achievement.
I take great pride in reporting that not only did they complete the distance but did so in a great wave of personal bests.
After the bitter disappointment of Dublin last Autumn when he missed the 3 hour barrier by just 3 seconds Philip Vint was in determined mood to crack it this time. So imagine his feelings when he turned the final corner and could see the clock reading 2.59, and he crossed the line in 2.59.39.  What a difference a day makes?  What a difference 24 seconds makes!   A just reward for a Winter of intensive training and deserving of a few weeks with the feet up.
Next came the ever improving Declan Teague who I believe can be one of the next Club men to break that 3 hour barrier.  He fairly cruised to another personal best having pulled in the consistent and prolific Michael McKeown, (his PB is 3.09) on the long haul up the Ormeau Road.  If both can get an injury free preparation  and get their heads round the idea I think they could stop the clock much sooner at a future event!
Mark McDowell ran a remarkable debut marathon, having graduated from “happy to complete a 10K“ runner to seriously good marathon man in the space of about 6 months – he'll tell you it was about as “easy” as Philip would!
Stephen McCartan lowered his Dublin time by 8 minutes to convince he is also one who can attain another level and Kristoffer Fegan should be happy with his debut, always a step into unknown territory.
A special word too for Raymond Milligan who like Philip refused to be put off by his Dublin result and broke 3.40 to restore his pride and confidence – there's a sub 3.30 in there yet Raymond if you can cut out the mid race ablutions!
And just over a week after posting a very respectable 4.07 in London, Simon McGrattan made it the round 8 hours for the 2 marathons by recording 3.53 – mission accomplished.  In the course of that he played pacer to Gerard McAuley who was delighted to say “Never Again” as he coasted to 3.54, saving his best performance for the post race dinner and the warning that he'll be back.  Gavin Oakes, another recent injury victim, made a spirited response by wiping 15 minutes off his Dublin time, while Kim Surginor retained the bragging rights in her household by scraping 6 minutes off her previous best, and in the process helping husband Colm to a tremendous debut run of 4.31.  Happy was not the word for him afterwards.
What of Michael Degan?  Finding that a knee injury did not respond to rest (doing the Hill and Dale Series on Thursdays is not really rest, even in runners parlance Michael) he decided to give the marathon a go.  And what a go, slotting in with Kim and Colm, he finished like a veteran to convince everyone he'll have to give it a proper go next time.
So is there any explanation for all these notable performances. Could it have anything to do with those modern technological sat nav type devices which some of  you wear like a watch and which tells you everything you need to know when you're running, including what pace you're running at, how far you have travelled, when to go to the toilet, where your wife is and who she's with ( I expect if there's a female version it tells husbands to bring in the washing) and when you need to give yourself a kick up the backside! Next year's version might also have to indicate “Church ahead, slow down for blessing” or for unbelievers “Hurry along”.
 On the other hand maybe it's just down to sheer hard work and bloody mindedness?
So Well Done to you all and to all those from Down District who participated in the full marathon distance or ran part of the relay. Take a bow and then get ready for next year – day to be finalised later.

Name    Time
Philip Vint    2.59.39 PB
Declan Teague    3.20.36 PB
Michael McKeown    3.21.51
Mark McDowell    3.27.11 PB 1st marathon
Stephen McCartan    3.31.26 PB
Kristoffer Fegan    3.38.30 PB 1st marathon
Raymond Milligan    3.39.59 PB
Simon McGrattan    3.53.58
Gerard McAuley    3.54.32 PB 1st marathon
Gavin Oakes    4.04.23 PB
Kim Surginor    4.25.38 PB
Michael Degan    4.27.10 PB 1st marathon
Colm Surginor    4.31.31 PB 1st marathon

Joe Quinn
9 May 2010
 L to R Mark McDowell, Colm Surginor, Raymond Milligan, Michael Degan, Stephen McCartan, Kristoffer Fegan, Gavin Oakes, Simon McGrattan.  Kneeling Kim Surginor and Gerard McAuley