Running a marathon is a bit like playing poker with the devil. You can be dealt good cards, but if you don’t play them well, you’re in for a tough day at the office.
Running 26 miles is no easy task, and you’ve got to be up for the job, but managing expectations and keeping a cool head is equally as important if the job’s to be done well.
Thankfully a cool and calm morning greeted the close on 20 Drogheda and District AC athletes who lined up for this year’s Dublin City Marathon.
One man who certainly relished the occasion was Dominic Brannigan who judged the early pace to perfection and then eased his way round this tough enough course to cross the finish line in a noteworthy 2:53:59, dipping under the magical 3 hour mark with a little to spare.
Next in was Fiona Kenna, running her second marathon in just eight days, having competed in the Amsterdam event the previous Sunday.
Kenna seems to like tearing up the rulebook and putting her own stamp on things. Whatever he had for breakfast certainly did the trick as she coasted round this course before crossing the line in an unreal time of 3:17:52, leaving many of her supporters shaking their heads in disbelief at this heroic run.
Kenna isn’t afraid of putting in the hard work that’s necessary to succeed and she seems to have found her distance in the marathon.
Next in was Fatih Zittouche, who delivered the goods in spades by running a lively 3:21:32.
Club secretary, Andrea McArdle, quite possibly had the run of the day when running a massive PB time of 3:27:07.
Andrea puts a lot of time into helping others to get their times down as she’s one of the Orange group leaders, this performance was well deserved and hard earned by this popular club member.
Close behind were Roger Ashwood in 3:29:43, followed by Alan Foley in 3:32:45 and Andrew Logue with 3:38:15, solid running by this trio.
Also running well were club captain Helen Dillon who seemed to be enjoying every step, while Mick Awylward (3:42:11) and James Carton (3:48:51) got round the course with no major incidents, but getting down the stairs the next day might have been a different story!
Others who ran well included Niamh Matthews (3:53), Ali Anwar (4:26), and Gavin Bruce (4:27). Time to rest up and recover for this determined bunch of distance runners before they plot their next move.
Drogheda and District would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Derek Winters who passed away last week.
Derek was one of life’s true Gentlemen and a much loved member of the club, his trojan work in helping to develop the sportsgrounds in Newtownstalaban is everywhere to be seen and his passing is a huge loss to all his community.
