The racing is slowly ramping up towards relentless with seven runners in action this past weekend and another busy weekend coming up (with the Maurice Mullins / Wicklow Gaolbreak double-header).

We had six runners entered for the fourth running of Wicklow Way Half – the successor race to the now defunct classics (the Wicklow Way Trail 22k and Maurice Mullins 25k). Shorter but steeper than it’s predecessor races it feature around 21.5 km of running with over 900m ascent.

Torben Dahl led the team home as he had at Howth earlier followed by Alan Kennedy who nearly get himself under the 2.5 hour barrier. Mark Willoughby and Keith Mulvey (returning after a break) rounded out the team. Our female representatives where Aoife Joyce who finished shortly after Alan in 2:35. Aoife had only run 1 non-relay IMRA race since 2014 (the predecessor race – Wicklow Way Trail – where she had an excellent record with two wins and two third place finishes). Nora Butler had an excellent debut in this race – only her fourth IMRA race – with a time of 2:42 (and 18th female with Aoife in 10th).

RESULT |
1. Matthew McConnell () 1:40:40 |
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————- |
38. Torben Dahl 2:19:50 |
69. Alan Kennedy 2:30:03 |
74. Aoife Joyce 2:35:03 |
113. Nora Butler 2:42:44 |
128. Mark Willoughby 2:56:53 |
139. Keith Mulvey 3:09:24 |

ZUIDERPARKRUN
Meanwhile in Holland, Catherine Devitt continues to make sub-19 minutes 5 km times routine at her regular outing at the Zuiderparkrun. once again she was 4th overall and first female finisher.
RESULT |
1. Jony Osterboos () 0:18:27 |
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————- |
4. Catherine Devitt 0:18:57 (1st woman) |