The six Athenry athletes who made the trip to Glasson Hotel for the first running of the 19.66 mile race found the organizer's description "an undulating course" to be the euphemism of the year. This is a tough course, up and down all the way, with the ups seeming to predominate to an extent that defy the normal laws of topography.

It didn't bother Valerie Glavin too much though. Having completed the Galway marathon in 3:35 on the Saturday, she proceeded to run this one 24 hours later and come second among the women. What an amazing achievement. A little bit of tapering now and Val will be ready to record a pb at the Dublin marathon and kick Frank Burke's ass all the way to the Eyre Square Supermac.

Only Adrian Fitzmaurice among the Athenry people beat Val, averaging 7:30 mins per mile in a very evenly paced run. Frank Burke, Philip Magnier, Kieran Guirey, and Maeve Noone all finished also in varying degrees of pain, but happy to accomplish a really good day's training in the build-up to Dublin.

See results at http://athlone3quarter.com/results.php.