Last week a group of Civil Service Harriers escaped the polo grounds to take part in a series of races that make up the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. The festival is made up of a number of races with a 5k and 10k on the Saturday and a half and full marathon on the Sunday. Most of the gang headed over on Friday meaning that those who were racing on Sunday had plenty of time to relax. Or stay out until 3am….
Gemma Treacy and Brid Ryan were first to lace up their runners, taking part in the 5k and 10k race on the Saturday. Gemma finished the 5k in 21.02. A sub-21 is surely within her grasp this summer! Brid then finished the 10k in 44. Both happy with their times on what were tough courses. They were then onto cheerleading duties on the Sunday for the half marathon.
The biggest congratulations of the weekend have to go to Vincent O’Neill who, on his half-marathon debut, finished in an amazing 1.33 and placed third in the O60 category. Inspirational stuff Vinny, well done!
The rest of the men also recorded some great times in the half. Great running from Mark Carroll was second of our men home in 1.35.33. Keith Farrell continues to get comfortable with sub-1.40, finishing in 1.38.25. Pretty sure he had Born Slippy blasting through his earphones the whole way round! Ed Murphy also broke 1.40 with an impressive time of 1.38.59. Ken Byrne overcame some recent injury woes to finish in 1.44.51. Ken was followed by John Breslin in 1.46.19 and Brian Corr in 1.49.23. Maurice Kennelly finished in 1.49.42, proving that another DCM is surely within him!
A group of four of our ladies also took park in the half. Maria Pozo was first home in 1.44.44. Well done Maria. Sonia Carey also had a great run finishing in 1.49.20. Andrea Doyle and Leonie Macauley crossed the finish line together in 2.08.19. Well done girls!
After that it was time for some pacing of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile for some well-deserved refreshments!
Hard luck to those of you who didn’t make the start line because of injuries. Wishing you all a speedy recovery.
For the rest of us, the BHAA Dunboyne 5 mile is taking place tomorrow evening. Hope to see you all there.