Kinvara was buzzing on Saturday morning for the annual 10K and half marathon held in the beautiful
south Galway seaside village. The half marathon is now recognised as a truly well organised and
tough training race for anyone heading to Manchester, Rotterdam and even Milan! For the rest of us it
was the first test of the year to see if the Jan and Feb training was reaping any benefits.
As I was running I can only write this from my point of view on the day so here goes.......
Arriving in Kinvara it was windy but the sun was making a good effort to brighten up the morning.
Plenty of Athenry AC members were on hand directing traffic, pointing the way towards registration
and later out on the course handing out water/encouragement and pacing.
I picked up my number, a very nice t-shirt and a chocolate recovery drink (that I would be craving for
later) before heading to watch the half marathon walkers start with a lap of the village at 11am
directed by our own Chris Deakin.
At this time of year you need to be prepared for all eventualities so the bag was packed on *Saturday
morning (*Thursday night) with a body warmer, hat and gloves (I will admit to having the sunglasses
at the ready but sadly they will wait for another day or, with the weather we have been seeing, another
country entirely!). I was told that none of these would be needed so back to the car to change and
arrived at the start line in time for a warm-up kitted out in the club singlet.
The bright morning sky had changed to grey clouds and I started to wonder if it would freeze on a back
road near Kinvara. The 10K runners lined up at 12 noon and were soon heading into distance out the
Lisdoonvarna road. We were called to the start line and I stood in beside Martin, Kieran, Paul and
Brendan before the race started on time at 12.10.
A quick lap of the course and we were soon leaving the village as the sky brightened and we coasted
along just behind the 1.30 pacers. I was pulled along before realising after a couple of miles that the
pace was a bit quick so I eased a bit. There are times in a race when you realise where you are in the
country and this happened at the four mile mark when we turned right and all you could see on both
sides was limestone and open country. The high(ish) ditches up to that point were blocking the nice
wind that we faced for the next few miles. Martin went past just before the 5 mile mark and I managed
to keep him in my sights until around mile 9. This was not due to good running on my part but the
longest straight road I have ran on. A road that you can see the leaders nearly two miles in the
distance brings running to a new level - a cruel, cruel level!
From mile 6 – 9 I was passed by three more runners and as the 10 mile marker came into sight a
small (and welcome) few drops of rain hit as a group of four went passed including Paul Hegarty
running very strongly. Ten miles done and a look at the watch to confirm that just over 70 minutes
have gone, the quickest I have ran 10 miles but still 3 to go.
Mile 11 had a small hill that on any other day wouldn’t give you a second thought but not when you
are out of your comfort zone it was tough. Thoughts of the chocolate drink came into my head around
now but I still had a bit to go. Got to mile 12 and soon the hurling pitch was in view. The main road
was ahead and a nearly home. Out on the main road a quick left turn brought us in by the pier and
one last push.
Eventually the last corner and a few yards to cross the finish line, I was hoping to finish under 1.35
and I got in just under 1.34, a two and a half minute PB. Delighted, wrecked and hungry (I’m always
hungry!)
A great race, a tough challenge and a definite event for next year!
 
Notable Results:
Half Marathon - Jane Anne Meehan took first place in a time of 1.22.03

Gearoid Rohan was seventh home overall and second in his category in 1.20.12
10K – Deirdre Brophy continued her strong start to the year by finishing third lady in a time of 41.19.
 
Athenry AC Half Marathon finishers (taken from Rock and Road website) -
Pos Name (#) Time NetTime Categ (Pos) Gender (Pos)
7 Gearoid ROHAN (1563) 01:20:12 01:20:12 Ages 40-49 (2) Male (7)
12 Jane Ann MEEHAN (1000) 01:22:03 01:22:03 Senior (1) Female (1)
46 Kieran GUIRY (1268) 01:30:12 01:30:10 Ages 40-49 (10) Male (42)
61 Martin O'HARA (1521) 01:32:40 01:32:37 Ages 40-49 (19) Male (56)
63 Paul HEGARTY (1283) 01:32:59 01:32:59 Senior (34) Male (58)
70 Ray TREACY (1619) 01:34:01 01:33:56 Senior (39) Male (65)
78 Brendan GALVIN (1226) 01:34:49 01:34:43 Senior (42) Male (72)
100 Maeve NOONE (1491) 01:36:56 01:36:49 Ages 40-49 (7) Female (14)
102 Siobhan GUINAN (1266) 01:36:57 01:36:50 Senior (8) Female (15)
128 Caroline MOORE (1446) 01:38:36 01:38:28 Ages 40-49 (10) Female (21)
141 Michael LANE (1350) 01:38:57 01:38:57 Ages 40-49 (41) Male (118)
528 Caroline FREENEY (1216) 02:06:04 02:05:26 Senior (99) Female (205)
537 Majella CUMMINS (1119) 02:07:19 02:06:41 Ages 40-49 (93) Female (209)
553 Kate GAVIN (1235) 02:09:38 02:08:59 Ages 40-49 (96) Female (221)
604 Margaret REDDINGTON (1553) 02:20:27 02:19:50 Ages 40-49 (109) Female (254)
 
Athenry AC 10K finishers (taken from Rock and Road website) -
Pos Name (#) Time Net Time Categ (Pos) Gender (Pos)
36 Deirdre BROPHY (686) 00:41:20 00:41:19 Senior (3) Female (3)
60 Donal LEAHY (364) 00:44:51 00:44:40 Ages 40-49 (10) Male (55)
365 Louise WALSHE (1634) 00:57:59 00:57:02 Senior (69) Female (118)
 
Full Results available here: http://www.rockandroad.ie/results/
 
Report by Ray Treacy