Letterkenny Athletic Club’s in-form long-distance specialist, Ciaran McGonagle, had another excellent run at the weekend.
Ciaran was the winner of Saturday’s Ireland West Three Quarter Marathon, which took place in Swinford, Co Mayo.
Ciaran’s time of 1.51.57 saw him finish more than two minutes clear of North Sligo AC’s Eamon McAndrew.
Both Ciaran and the Sligo man are in the M40 category showing that, with dedication and hard work, runners, especially long-distance runners, can improve with age.
The three quarter marathon distance (19.65 miles or 31.65KM) was not run in Ireland until a race of that distance was organised in Athlone a few years ago.
It has since spread in popularity and several now take place in early Autumn, with the timing and the distance being ideal for runners preparing for the Dublin Marathon in late October.
Ciaran’s time on Saturday, if extrapolated for a full Marathon, would see him cross the line in 2.29.16. His pace was 5.42/Mile or 3.32/KM.
Patricia McKenna had an excellent run on Sunday in the Great North Run, one of the world’s iconic road races and the world’s largest half marathon.
Patricia’s time for the half marathon, which started in Newcastle upon Tyne and finished in South Shields, was 1.50.12. She finished comfortably within the top 100 out of the very large number of F45 runners.
The winner of the Great North Run, for a record 6th consecutive time, was Mo Farah, in a very fast time of 59.06. The time of the 1st woman, Kenyan Brigid Kosgei, was a new women’s half marathon world record, 1.04.28.
Anthony Farren, competing in his 20th Letterkenny Parkrun, was the first LAC runner home in last Saturday morning’s run. His time of 23.40 gave him 1st place in the M50 category.
The leading M55 runner was also a LAC runner, Cathal Roarty in 24.23. A few weeks ago, Cathal ran in the Amager Faelled Parkrun in the Danish capital of Copenhagen.
He was first in the M55 category in 24.30. Dara Dunne was 1st in the W50 category in 24.40. The first runner across the line was Mark Johnston in 18.55.
