Record Turn-Out in Lucan

What a great day ! Not only did the weather behave but we had a record 131 (or maybe 133...) finishers in this morning's first round of the Women's Meet & Train Winter League over two miles, hosted by Lucan Harriers at Griffeen Park. We also had a record number of teams from groups and groups; very encouraging.
From the start, Edel Madigan and Mairead O'Callaghn from Sportsworld battled it out in front, with Edel just edging it in the chase for the line. Third was Donore's Aoife Rickard, with Breda Browne of Sportsworld working her way up to fourth place on the second lap.
It was great see some familiar faces from years ago among the finishers such as Sharon (Leon) Tighe of Tallaght, who is now over 40, and clearly making a comeback to running. Great also to have Harry Gorman who had celebrated a VERY BIG birthday a day earlier (it begins with 8!) as our official starter.Dave Hudson's lovely pic shows Harry with his grand-daughter.

More pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/sets/72157622638854347/. Full results as soon as we have them.
Next round, hosted by Sportsworld, is in Tymon Park on Sunday November 22.

PLACE TIME NO. NAME TEAM

1 13.01 849 Edel Madigan Sportsworld A
2 13.02 848 Maraid O Callaghan Sportsworld A
3 13.14 898 Aoife Rickard Donore A
4 13.25 858 Breda Brown Sportsworld B
5 13:30 851 Ciara Foster Sportsworld A
6 13.33 918 Sharon Tighe 0/40 Tallaght A
7 13.35 934 Freda Comiskey Lucan A
8 13.47 901 Bridget Kiely Donore B
9 13.49 823 Roisin Anglim Fingallians B
10 13:50 859 Ann Higgins Sportsworld B
11 13.51 935 Claire Joyce Lucan A
12 13.52 925 Lisa Curley Tallaght B
13 13.53 940 Julie Dowd Lucan B
14 13.56 904 Eileen Walsh Donore B
15 13.57 854 Helen Dixon Sportsworld B
16 13.59 939 Hilary McGee Lucan A
17 14:00 406 Deirdre Fitzsimons Dunboyle Ind
18 14.07 920 Paula Murray Tallaght A
19 14:10 897 Marianne Dunleavy Donore A
20 14.11 919 Susan Adams 0/40 Tallaght A

Winter League Dates for 09/10

This year's M&T Winter League dates are:
8 Nov Griffeen Park, Lucan
22 Nov Tymon Park, Templeogue
17 Jan Swords
7 Feb St Anne's Park, Raheny (tbc)
21 Feb Fun relay and league prizegiving; venue to be decided.
All runs start 11am. Newcomers both individuals and groups are more than welcome. The usual gold, silver and bronze team categories will apply giving everyone a chance to win a prize; teams of six with four to count.
Entry for the league is just Eu20 per person - great value and the ideal way to monitor your fitness over the winter. Register at Lucan before the first race.

WHERE TO MEET AND TRAIN

If you want to run or walk in good company, why not join one of the many Meet and Train (or Fit for Life as they are sometimes called) groups, around the country? All are run by trained leaders/coaches; they welcome beginners and charge only a nominal fee (if anything at all), so they're great value.

*Send details of your Meet & Train or Fit4Life group to
lindie.naughton@gmail.com.
ARKLOW: Bay Health and Leisure Club, Tue 9.30am; Sat, 10.0. C: 0402-32401 or Mary 086-3045418.
ATHENRY: Church car park, Thu 7.0/Sat 10.0. C: Maeve 087-7648343;Maria 085-7243224.
BALLINA: Belleek Track, Thu 7.0 C: Elizabeth 087-2419309/Michelle 086-4180159
BANTRY: GAA Grounds, Mon/Thu 6.0. C: Maria 027-52371.
BLACKROCK: Carysfort Park, Tue/Thu 6.30. C: Patricia 01-2840446;Paddy 01-2835226.
BOHERMEEN: Local track, Thu 7.0. With Brigid. C: Stephen 046-9027041.
BUNCRANA: Leisure centre, Tue 6.30. C: Aoife 087-2048394.
BUSHY PARK, TERENURE: Tue/Thu, 7.0. C: Emily.
CARRICK-ON-SHANNON: Aura Leisure Centre (car park) Mon/Wed, 7.30. C: Bernadette 086-8115271.
CASTLEISLAND: Riocht track, Wed 7.0. C: Sile 087-1340461.
CASTLEKNOCK: Phoenix Park (Castleknock Gates) Fri/Mon 7.0, Sun 11.0. C: Frances 01-8201602/ 087-6944553.
CLAREGALWAY: Community Centre/GAA Pitch car park, Mon/Wed 7.30. C: Maria 085-7243224/Pauline 087-7824193.
CHAPELIZOD: Donore Sports Centre, Wed 7.45. C:085-7528317(after 7pm)/086-3993270.
CORK: CIT Track, Tue 6.0/Thu 7.0. C: citathletics@gmail.com
CORK: Trabeg Sports Centre, Mon 7.0. C: John.
CRAUGHWELL: National School, Thu 9.30pm/Sat 9.30am. C: Tony 086-3026798.
DONEGAL TOWN: Abbey VS, Mon/Wed/Fri 6.30. C: David 086-8011540; Jackie 086-4052823.
DONNYBROOK: Belfield (car park beside track, opp Montrose) Mon/Thu, 6.30; Sat 9.30. C: Lindie 086-1023306.
DUNBOYNE: Running track, Tue/Thu 8.0. C: Sinead 087-2762457.
DUNDALK: Dublin Road Shopping Centre, Mon/Wed 7.0. Walkers & joggers.C: Joan 042-9332421/ 087-2665736.
DUNGARVAN: Wed; times/venues vary. C: Tony 087-7657805/James
086-8184762.
DUNSHAUGHLIN: Community Centre, Mon/Wed 7.0. C: Maggie 087-9614954.
GALWAY: Renmore Church car park, Mon/Thu 7.0. C: Maire 086-8036044,Mary 087-6478709, Dolores 086-2039165.
GALWAY: Westside Library car park, Tue/Thu 7.0. C: Bernie 086-8253661.
GORMANSTOWN BEACH: Or Mosney beach, Sat 10.30 (depending on tide!). C: Brendan 087-2533113.
GREYSTONES/KILCOOLE: Charlesland Track, Mon/Wed 8.30. C:
Theresa 086-8635797. Also Mon 7.15. C: Eamonn 086-8097167.
KILKENNY: James's Park, Freshford Rd, Tue; Castle Park (Upper field) off Bennettsbridge Rd, Sat 9.30. C: Sean 087-2067157.
KILMORE: GAA Grounds 7.0. C: Mary 087-7564888.
KINGSWOOD HEIGHTS: St Kilian's Church car park, Tue/Thu 7.15. C: Mary 087-2257960.
KNOCKLYON: St Colmcille's CS, Scholarstown Rd, Thu 7.0. C: Peter 087-3249100.
LISCARROLL: Community Centre, Fri 8.0. C: Esther 087-6888591.
LUCAN: Newcastle Road running track (opp Superquinn), Tue/Thu 7.0. C: Bernie 087-2782115.
MEET & TRAIN LEAGUE: Mini Marathon Build-Up League dates - Apr 29 (8pm) Raheny (2m); May 10 (11am), Lucan (3m); May 20 (7.45pm) Phoenix Park (4m). C: Sue 087- 6757843/ www.womensmeetandtrain.blogspot.com
MONAVEA, CRETTYARD: St Abban's track, Monavea, Crettyard, Mon/Wed 7.30. C: Noeleen 087-9614099, Ben 086-9613360.
RATHDRUM: Sports Complex, Tue/Fri 5.45; Avondale House, Sun 9.45. C: Billy 087-2928660
SANTRY STADIUM: Tue/Thu7.0; Sun 11.0. C: Pamela 086-1503015.
SHANKILL (with Bray Runners): Shanganagh Park, Sun 9.30. C: Sean 086-2593023.
SLIGO: Racecourse, Tue/Thu 6.30. C: Terry 087-2274622.
STRANORLAR: Finn Valley Centre, Tue/Thu 7.30; Sat 10.30. C: Neil 086-6030616.
SWORDS: Balheary playing fields, Sun 9.30am, Mon/Wed
6.0. C: Dolores 01-8404237, Bernie 01-8401377; Brian 01-8405170.
TALLAGHT: Bancroft Park running track, Tue/Thu 7.0. C: Niamh
087-6878113.
TRALEE: St Brendan's church, Wed 6.30; Aquadome Fri, 6.30. C: Caroline 087-6817810. Also: Outside O'Donnells, Mounthalk, Fri 6.30. C: Michael 087-6790948.
TRIM: Boyne Community College, Tue 8.0. C: Moira 086-8904439.
WICKLOW TOWN: St Patrick's GAA, Wed 6.30. C: Noreen 087-2330403.

WALKING GROUPS:
SHANKILL: Mother of Valeview Shankill Schoolboys, the Clubhouse, Shanganagh Park, Mon/Wed 6.0. C: Brendan 087-2279586.

M&T at Mini Marathon

Congrats to all of our Meet & Trainers who ran the Women's Mini Marathon in scorching conditions on Monday.
Kathleen O'Callaghan of Sportsworld, who had some great battles with Ann Ormsby from Fingallians a few seasons ago, was first home for SW (I think...) in 40.39 and placed 33rd. Stephanie Bergin (SW) wasn't far behind in 37th place with a time of 41.36, Brona Snow (Fin) was 50th in 42.48, Louise Keogh (Blackrock) 64th in 43.30, Cindy Hickey (Fin) 67th in 43.43, Barbara Tobin (Fin) 47.18, Joan McTernan (Donore) 47.31, while Mary Butler (Blackrock) one of the elite to have run all 27 mini marathons to date, finished in 47.36. And that's just a few randomly spotted names.
Quite a few suffered in the heat - the Order of Malta said the worst affected were women running between 45 mins and the hour; they had been standing around in the heat at Fitzwilliam Street the longest in order to get a good start. One of the casualties came from the Blackrock group; she ended up in hospital on a drip and didn't get out until midnight. Fortunately she's fine.
If any of you have any comments on the day, please let me know and I will pass them on to the race organisers. One suggestion is to use the slip-way at the top of Nutley Lane for a water station; 7km into a race is too late for water when a heatwave hits.
Now for the rest of the summer - the Raheny 2-Mile Series and Midsummer 5k (Jun 21), the Tom Byrne 5k in Lucan on Sun Jun 24, the ESB Beach 5k on Sandymount Strand on Tues Jun 9; the Civil Service Off-Road 5ks (next one on Fri Jun 26). Plus of course the Family Fitness Festival at Farmleigh on July 5, which includes a 5k run fun and lots of activities including orienteering and little athletics. See you there!