It's been a hectic few weeks for East Down's officials with races under their care in Downpatrick, Darragh Cross and Killyleagh all of which provided opportunities for club members to consolidate or improve on previous times. To their credit the challenges were well met with several PBs recorded, most notable a massive 6 minute improvement for Denis McKay on his 2008 time as he ducked under the 40 minute barrier. But the runners were busy on many fronts, near and far, with Danny Skeffington claiming the NI Masters 1500 metres title in the Over 45 category in a time of 4.33 and Liam Keenan taking 4th place in 4.56. Liam also recorded 37.00 minutes in the Laganside 10K with near identical splits, in a rae which saw Brendan Teer make a welcome return to the distance with an encouraging 34.40 time.

Meantime Ruth Francis and Anna Stamp were in Rathlin for the annual challenging race over a 10 plus mile course, later described by Ruth as "gently undulating". And just in case you think I have been taking it easy, in the absence of detailed reports on these events, I have recently given away a daughter, travelled to Galway in an unsuccessful attempt to capture some continental sunshine, but most crucially of all, mislaid my pen. I was back in time to take part in the Mill Hill Mile and fill the category described in last week's papers as "well over 60" a description which is well nigh libelous – over 60 and well I may be but vice versa is not on. In any event most of the finishers look well over 60 by the time they finish though to paraphrase the popular Kristofferson song "Coming up was worth the going down".

But overshadowing all has to be the performances of Michael McKeown, a man who if he was a boxer would probably be known as the Kilwarlin Killer but in the more sedate world of running might be better described as the Moira Marauder. Staring with his participation in last November's New York Marathon there has hardly been an event he has missed since. Included in his achievements are the Belfast, Cork, Mourne Way and Longford marathons, in the last of which he set a PB of 3.18 and won the Over 40 category into the bargain, and when he completes the Dublin marathon at the end of October it will bring his total inside a 12 month period to six! He has also competed in virtually every Half Marathon going, setting another PB of 1.29 on Saturday in the Waterside Championship event in Derry, and innumerable 10Ks also lowering his PB to the sub 40 mark on the way. He followed up Saturday's run with a 20 mile recovery on Sunday and could be described in more upmarket terms as both prolific and ubiquitous but in running parlance he is just fast. So take a bow Michael.

Brian Hamilton claimed the Over 60 title on Saturday, clocking 95.04, a pace I failed by 50 seconds to match, which was probably just as well as he was driving home.

So well done everyone and keep up the training – there's lots more to come before you can put your feet up. Best wishes for a speedy recovery and return to running are sent to Linda Cunningham from all the Club members.

Joe Quinn

14 September 2009