Boyne debut duo smash 50k ultra marathon barrier
BOYNE AC senior members Rebecca Carolan and Nicola Veale made a magnificent start to their ultra marathon careers when both smashed through the five-hour barrier at the Irish 50k Championships at Donadea Forest Park last Saturday.
Neither lady had run more than the 42k marathon distance before and they knew the enormity of the challenge that faced them in completing their first race of this type.
Their fears weren’t put to rest by the yellow storm warning that came into operation on race morning, but they packed their gels, jellies, biscuits and drinks and headed off to try and complete the gruelling 10-lap course within the five-hour time limit.
The beautiful setting of the forest park played host to more than 300 runners, all testing themselves over each 5k loop, and thankfully the weather stayed onside for the duration of the race, with the trees providing a natural shelter also.
Both ladies fell into their rhythm on the first few laps, Carolan choosing to go with the 4hr 45min pacer and Veale hanging back in the hope of keeping something in reserve for the last few laps, which they’d been warned would be the hardest. That advice was not wrong as the slight inclines on the course seemed to get steeper with each passing lap.
Many of their teammates from Boyne AC travelled to give their support and there is nothing like a cheer and a high-five from your training partners and friends to lift spirits when they are starting to fade.
Carolan felt strong throughout and overtook the pacers in the closing laps to finish in an incredible time of 4:42 in her first ultra event, a time which places her 17th in the world rankings for the W45 category.
Veale stayed at a steady pace to finish in an impressive 4:48, remarkably also ranking 17th in the world for this distance in her age category - W40.
With both delighted to have smashed the five-hour mark in their first foray into ultra marathon running, it’s certain they’ve now got a taste for it and there’s sure to be plenty more to come from them.
Both ladies were well advised in all things ultra marathon running by friend and fellow ultra runner Ray Cassin from Ray’s Couch to 5k, and they are full of thanks to clubmates, friends and family who were there - not just on the day but in the run-up to the championships too.
Also in action recently, Boyne
AC’s Amy McTeggart made a great return to competition as she laid down her markers for the year ahead in the National Indoor Arena, taking victory in the Senior Ladies high jump at the AAI Indoor Games.
McTeggart jumped 1.65m to take the gold medal and also competed well in the long jump. She also cleared 1.65m in the high jump at the recent Intervarsity Games to take the bronze medal in a fiercely competitive field.
It was then off the track and into the glad rags as Amy received her Leinster Star award for Best Senior Athlete in Louth, presented by Athletics Ireland president Georgina Drumm at an awards ceremony in Athlone’s Radisson Hotel.