First race for some of our Couch to 5k runners
The Youghal AC 5km road race was held on Thursday, 12 May last. It was a fair enough evening for the race around this picturesque town, and there was plenty of support from friends and bystanders around the route, which circled the town almost three times!
Altogether a total of 258 athletes turned out, and a good number of those were our Grange Fermoy AC members. For many of our group it was the culmination of weeks of training in the couch to 5k program, which they took to with plenty of enthusiasm although a few of them were running in their first competitive event so there were a few nervous ones! Mingled with our debut runners were some Grange Fermoy club stalwarts who just wanted to race, as well as offer encouragement to the newbies.
Overall winners of the race on the night were James Ledingham, from KDH in a time of 15.42, while the women’s race was won by Breda Gaffney of Mallow AC in a time of 18.19. But down to the nitty gritty – Grange Fermoy AC competitors. Our Couch to 5k program started on 21 February under the watchful eyes of Sinead Cotter, Sean Roche and Clotilde Fitzgibbon, with help also from Helena Corcoran, Marina Seymour, Maurice Tobin and Carol Anne Sheehy. So thanks to them for the success of our new runners.
Youghal was chosen on purpose as it was coming at the right time for our new runners and also it is a very nice flat course bringing the runners around the town a few times. So congratulations to all the participants especially to our 20 couch to 5k graduates and well done to those who recorded new PBs.
The results for Grange Fermoy AC were Mike Lyons 16.32 who is no stranger to running and was 6th overall, Brian O’Hagan 17.59, Michael Walsh 18.09 (3rd O50), Richie O’Brien 18.25, Rachael Walsh, 19.51 (1st junior), James Sweeney 20.21, Clotilde Fitzgibbon 20.36 (1st O50), Marina Seymour 22.32 (2nd O45), Anne Marie Sweeney 25.07, Maurice Tobin 25.24 (1st O70), Helena Corcoran 25.32, Terry Corcoran 29.15, Frances Howard 29.47, Triona O’Connor 29.47, Marie-Therese Roche 29.49, Claire Lomasney 29.51, Denise Harrington 29.51, Siobhán Barry 29.56, Caroline McCarthy 30.21, Cathy Lane 31.11, Siobhán Howard 31.11, Alison Long 31.12, Paul Walsh 31.54, Melissa Power 33.50, Rose Slattery 35.13, Conor McCarthy 35.36, Judi Baker 36.12, Karen O’Donovan 38.32, Niamh Doran 38.41, Sinead Cotter 38.43, Michelle McCormack 38.43.
A few members of the couch to 5k were not able to make it on the night but we have a new challenge ahead as the group is also entered in 5 different relay teams for the Cork City Marathon in June. They are looking forward to continuing training twice weekly to reach this new goal: run a leg of the marathon which is over 8k. So best of luck to all and congratulations again for reaching this milestone! Thanks to Youghal AC for hosting the event, and to all helpers on the night. Congratulations to all competitors.
THREE MORE RACES TO MENTION!
It was a busy weekend for our senior athletes with three races on Friday evening! The first one was the Ballinroad 5k which is part of the West Waterford road race series and 3 members competed John Murphy 17.50 (1st O50), Kealan O’Connor 18.27 2nd M45, Darren O’Flynn 20.23, John Delaney and Michael Pratt travelled to Galbally for the Michael Curley Cunningham4 mile race and recorded great times: John Delaney: 26.11, Michael Pratt 33.19
So well done to John and Mike on a brilliant run. And last but not least our new member John Hanrahan travelled to Buttevant for their usual 4 mile road race. John finished in 30.07 Congratulations to all, and thanks for parading our club colours all around the county.