After a week of torrential rain the race organisers were casting nervous glances at the forecast to see if waders would be the gear of choice for yesterday morning’s Athenry AC Fit4Life Charity 5k, but there was no need to worry as the morning dawned with some fantastically mild weather, perfect for racing.
The new race headquarters in the Athenry Primary Care Medical Centre was a hive of activity from early morning as the clubs Fit4Life leaders, taking on the race organisation for the first time, put their collective best foot forward & put on a fantastic event which did the club proud. By 10.00am, when race registration was opening, the lobby of the centre was easily mistaken for Griffins Bakery as member after member arrived with homemade goodies for the post race spread.
The F4L 5k is now in its fifth year & is set up to give new runners their first taste of racing. It is a race that is always well supported by the local clubs & this year was no different with the F4L sections of Tuam AC, East Galway AC and Loughrea AC out in force & as always a coach full from Galway City Harriers with Bernie Kelly at their helm. The second function of the race is to provide some very deserved fundraising to local charities & this year’s beneficiaries are Western Alzheimers & the Saving Grace Trust. Both charities were represented on the day with Noel Higgins of Western Alzheimers plus Grace & Katherine Kenneally of Saving Grace holding fort in race registration meeting & greeting the runners.
This year’s race was being moved from its previous home out in Newcastle to the town of Athenry, utilising the same route as this year’s 5k series, only this time in reverse, giving runners a nice downhill start & finish to the race. After a vigorous warm up led by club member Jane Ann Meehan, runners got under way at the Raheen Hurling pitches with little Grace on klaxon duties. Making their way down onto the new bypass they were led out from the start by Dara Dolan of Craughwell AC & Padraic Burke of Tuam AC, it would remain so to the finish line with Dara placing first in 18.57, 19 seconds ahead of Padraic in 19.16. Brian Sexton was third in 19.28 with George Livanos first club member home in 21.13.
The real racing was behind though as engraved crystal vases, kindly sponsored by Galway Crystal, were on offer for the first male & female F4L runners home. First prize winner on the day was Cait Brett of Galway City Harriers, placing as both first woman overall plus first F4L woman. Finishing 9th, she was one minute clear of the second placed lady with a time of 21.40. Justin Lane of Tuam AC was first male F4L with a time of 22.22.
Back in race headquarters the post race goodies were going down a treat. Our prize winners were presented with their crystals by our charity representatives & little Grace was presented with her own race medal as a memento of the occasion. Talk turned to the new route & organisation & it was widely agreed that the race was a resounding success on all fronts. Numbers were slightly down on last year but with the proliferation of races currently on the calendar, sustaining current numbers should be seen as a success.
Congratulations are due to the Fit 4 Life group on hosting a brilliant race & putting on a good show. The group put in countless hours during the year (as do the F4L leaders all clubs), helping people take the first steps on the road & giving fledgling athletes the confidence to take on their first race & more. Yesterday’s event was the icing on the cake as they could provide them with that first race experience & see the smile on their face as they crossed the line.
Well done to all & kudos also the countless members who volunteered their time & effort to make the event such a success for both the Fit4Life group & our two charities. Seven & a half weeks to the Fields 10k – Keep on running!!!
Race photos are available here.
Results located below.
Final image is of Bernie's Groupies:
