Colette reaches milestone

ANOTHER milestone in the remarkable running career of Colette O’Hagan was reached on Saturday, when she notched up a 400th marathon in Duleek.

What’s more, the sixtysix-year-old from Bay Estate crossed the finish line with her daughter, Jacqueline, who ran with her mother for the full distance.

‘ This is a very emotional day for me,’ said Colette.

‘When I took part in the Women’s Mini-Marathon in Dublin back in 1990, I little thought that I would end up running 400 full marathons by age 66.

‘Running has given me a whole new lease of life, both mentally and physically, and today is very special because I have family and friends here to help me celebrate this very important and satisfying milestone.’

The event in Co. Meath was organised by the East of Ireland Marathon Club in association with the local Duleek Athletic Club.

Colette’s love of distance running has taken her all over the world, and she has completed the so-called ‘ big five’ of New York, Boston, Chicago, London and Berlin.

She has also run 26 miles in Australia, New Zealand and China, among other locations.

For all that, she has another big date, much closer to home in September.

The inaugural Dundalk marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 11 September, and Colette is one of the main organisers.

It is an AAI-approved and permitted event, which will start at the Rosewood (formerly the Sportsman’s) on the Newry Road, and take in Ravensdale, Bellurgan, Rockmarshall and Jenkinstown on a looped course.

Refreshments afterwards at the Rosewood.