As a visitor to Marlay for event #299 from Bedworth in the UK this week, I definitely enjoyed the extra half hour in bed. (We usually start at 9am) It's actually to allow for the sun to rise, but as I had convinced the girls I was travelling with to start our weekend with a run, It allowed for an extra glass of wine Friday night and time to coax everyone out of bed in the morning.
Upon arriving, I could see this was going to be a big run. Ample parking and a huge open area for a warm up made it feel like there wasn't that many people there, but by the time we rounded the first corner, I could feel the whopping 592 runners around me.
As I climbed the first long hill I started questioning my sanity. was a parkrun at the foot of the Dublin mountains really a good idea? Thank fully it was, as what followed was a beautiful and varied one lap course. At one stage it felt like the cars on the M50 were going to to cross my path, but a minute or two later the course crossed a lovely little stream, and opened up to the impressive sight of Marlay House, followed by a winding forest trail before running back along the model railway back to the start/finish line.
There was more sport on show than I could have imagined for 9.30 on a Saturday morning; children's soccer matches, GAA training, cyclists, tennis players even a group playing cricket.
And for the weekend that was in it, it was lovely to see so many Dads out with kids in buggies and on scooters cheering on Mammies.
There weren't as many junior runners as I'm used to seeing at parkrun (normally I have my 3 with me), but the 22 that did run were fast!! Leo SIMPSON (18:31) PB was first junior back, followed by Zach SILVERMAN (21:19) and Bed MAHER (23:58) PB was 3rd junior home.
First overall finisher was Alban COGHLAN (16:15) PB, followed by Mark STITCH (17:57) PB hot on his heals was Christopher OREILLY (18:04) PB who finished 3rd.
Normally I'd only list the first 3, but seeing as the first 5 home all achieved Personal Bests, it's only fair to also congratulate No. 4 Conor DEANE (18:12) PB and No.5 Rory GOLDSMITH (18:20) PB
The first of the ladies home was Paula PRENDERGAST (21:02), followed by Isabelle CAIRNS (21:37) for her first time at Marlay. Clara GERAGHTY (21:42) rounded off the top 3.
There were also a few milestones to note this week, Emer O'BRIEN (32:52) and Amy O'SULLIVAN (33:42) both ran their 50th parkrun, and Aileen WOOTTON (26:18) celebrated her 200th!!
But it's not all about the running, parkrun have teamed up with the Irish Heart Foundation and Get Walking Ireland for "Park Walk at parkrun", a 6-week walking programme happening every Saturday at 9:30am at all 85 parkrun events throughout the country. All the volunteers at Marlay would be delighted to welcome even more walkers next week for the last event in this 6 week program, so follow #parkwalkIRE and spread the word.
The absolute army of volunteers worked like a well oiled machine under the watchful eye of first time Run Director Delourdes SEYMOUR making sure everyone was well looked after.
Thank you to all who made it possible.
Aileen WOOTTON • Colette KELLY • David TREANOR • Delourdes SEYMOUR • Dexter HODKINSON • Ella DORAN • Eoin DALY • Fionnuala MCCOURT • Frank KELLY • Gladys OCONNOR • Ian ONEILL • Jack ADMIRAND • John KEEGAN • Kristina FOLEY • Lauren MCCAMBRIDGE • Liam ACHESON • Liam LAWLOR • Liam MCCAMBRIDGE • Lynda TUOHY • Margaret FLYNN • Mark ROWAN • Michael ROBERTS • Natalie RUSAN • Peter STAFFORD • Roberta ALLAN • Shane ROSS • Sharon CANAVAN • Tadhg SULLIVAN • Tony BRUNTON • Veronica STAFFORD
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