The 2nd outing of the Athlone Flatline Full & Half Marathon’s took place on Saturday in near perfect running conditions with no hint of wind or rain & mild temperatures. A top class field of just under 1000 people from across the country toed the line with some very impressive performances by Athenry AC members. Jane-Anne Healy narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the Half Marathon with a brilliant 4th position in 1:25:41 (Not bad considering 1st place was taken by arguably the top female distance runner in the country at the minute).

Whilst many were using this race as a test to see how their Dublin training is progressing, with the good running conditions & a reportedly flat course ahead, Athenry had 20 members entered in the half seeking to improve on their PB’s. Many did just that, with no fewer than 11 new PB’s being gained on the day.

We had 6 runners dip under the 90min mark on the day whilst Brian Somers continued his impressive progression by coming close with a new PB of 1:30:56. Maeve Noone ensured she goes forward to Dublin in a good frame of mind with a PB of 1:38:00 & 8th position in her age group whilst Claire Forde also came home with a new PB & dipped under the 2 hour mark for the first time in 1:57:45.

In the Full Marathon David Noone showed no signs of easing off his good form, clocking up another marathon for the year & finishing in 8th position in 3:18:47. Also adding to their tallies of ultra’s & marathon’s for the year were Patrick Forde & Martina Passman, coming home in 3:33:08 & 4:33:22 respectively.

By all accounts it’s a well organised race and one to look out for in the future (although I’m sure the free non-alcoholic beer at the finish line may have swung it for a few people).

Half Marathon:

Ray Somers                         01:22:29              

Frank Burke                        01:24:46              

Jane-Ann Healy                  01:25:41              4th Lady

Gearoid Rohan                   01:28:05              PB

John Langan                      01:29:12               PB

Brian Somers                     01:30:56               PB

Sinead Foran                     01:31:27              

Kieran Guiry                       01:33:03              PB

Pat McDonagh                   01:36:22               PB

Brian O' Donnell                01:37:41               PB

Maeve Noone                    01:38:00               PB

Enda Munnelly                  01:41:01              

Mairead Sullivan               01:42:08               PB

Siobhan Guinan                01:43:13               PB

Sean Burke                        01:45:33              

Fiona Doughan                 01:48:03              

Paul Daly                          01:52:02              

Lorna Freeman                  01:54:40              

Sheelagh Earls                  01:56:42               PB

Claire Forde                      01:57:45               PB

Full Marathon:                 

David Noone                    03:18:47              

Patrick Forde                    03:33:08              

Martina Passman              04:33:22