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Just calm down, for now

Just calm down, for now…

This week’s running report begins in Oslo Norway, where Sarah Dinsmore was taking on the Oslo marathon for the charity Extern in memory of her father, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Sarah put in a stirling performance and just missed out in achieving a new PB, however she completed a great pacing run and finished in 4 hours 22 mins… smashing achievement Sarah, we all at the club are extremely proud of you…

With almost perfect running conditions 23 Mallusk Harriers took to the streets of Belfast for the 4th Belfast Half Marathon, with some exceptional performances captured by most. First over the line for the Harriers and fresh from his holidays in Spain (and probably still on the intake of Sangria) was Danny Donaldson in a great time of 1:27:47, Danny closely followed by Patrick McGuckin 1:33:31 and Matthew Cromie 1:33:51, Matthew competing in his first half Marathon. First lady over the line for Mallusk was Susan Thompson and with a new Personal Best in a great time of 1:35:58, finishing a highly respectable 6th in her age category.

Further PB’s began to fall and again it was the ladies leading the way home with Patricia Curistan finishing in 1:42:04. Next up and also notching up a PB was Brendan McGeown 1:44:10, must have been all that talk on Thursday night’s run Benny… Deborah Ewing continued to show off her impressive progression and ran right to the line in 1:44:39, Darren Taggart also got in on the act of a PB in a time of 1:47:49. Nuala Muldoon was next over the line in 1:51:29, probably still rubbing off the effects of her triathlon from 2 weeks previous. Anna-Marie Barrington came home with a Personal best also to get in on the act in a smashing time of 1:52:04. Yet again the PB’s began to tumble, kind of makes me think why didn’t I run… any way, Tina Steele managed to record a new PB in a time of 1:56:44. Tina was followed home in by Laura Rose, Laura also achieving a new PB 1:56:53. Catherine Boyd was next home in 1:57:30, James Hewitt 1:58:06, Carol Leckie 2:01:11, Karen Jamison 2:07:32 with a new PB, Michael McFarlane 2:15:37, Kelly Carlisle 2:19:12, Kelly finishing with a new PB also. Laura Campbell was competing in her first half marathon, smashing achievement as Laura ran right to the line in a brilliant time of 2:20:14, travelling alongside Laura were Jennifer Butler & Noel Bloomfield in 2:20:16. Tiffany Donaldson, probably feeling the effects of running all the half marathons, spelt ‘Sangria’ finished in 2:23:21. Duncan Baxter made up the final runner for the harriers in 2:40:05… Absolutely smashing running by all, very well done especially all you ladies that took part…

The week previous saw the introduction of the East Coast AC inaugural 10K road race, the club had 3 for our folk down at the event, Paul Skillen, Sarah McCafferty and Ian Simpson. The only downside to this race was that it was capped at 200 runners… From start to finish the organisation was fantastic, the encouragement from all spectators and marshalls was totally impeccable, a spread after the event and cracking medal, all for £10 extremely hard to beat, not only that East Coast even had the weather switched on. Top marks to the lads and lassies from ECAC, to all the Mallusk Harriers when this race comes up next year get all over it… Oh yes the running… Paul Skillen finished in 50:16, Sarah McCafferty 59:59 and Ian Simpson perfectly pacing for the 1hour finishers…

Thursday 8th September saw the Mallusk Harriers inaugural 5k handicap race at Waterworks, many thanks to Alan Ladd who arranged the competition and times for everyone… Young Ryan McCready was first over the line followed by Maria Daly in second place with Dermot Boyd taking third place of the 32 runners who took to race. An excellent night enjoyed by all with 23 of the runners coming across the line with PB’s, with many alluding to finding it easier chasing down the runner in front rather than everyone taking off at the same time… again many thanks to Alan for the organisation…

And then there were parkruns…

10th September 2016

Waterworks parkrun, Danny Donaldson 18:54, Patrick Hamill 25:23, Jack ‘PB’ McCready 25:26, Tiffany Donaldson 29:52 & Lisa Marie White 30:54

Belfast Victoria parkrun; Dermot Boyd 30:27, Laura Hutcheson-Magee 33:44, Anne Boyd 34:33

Antrim parkrun; Liam McGowan 21:48, Deborah Ewing 23:59, Tom Wylie 24:20, Anna-Marie Barrington 25:40, Tina Steele 25:56 & Cathy McGowan 38:10 new PB.

Carrickfergus parkrun; Noel Bloomfield 25:36, Jennifer Butler 25:37, Laura Rose 25:54, Michael McFarlane 26:47 & Laura Campbell 29:12.

Valley parkrun; Patrick McGuckin 20:30, Alan Ladd 22:23, Robert Gould 23:17, Karen Jamison 26:21, Nuala Muldoon 27:32, Jackie McCreesh 28:15, Clare Teer 28:30 new course PB, Alex Davidson 28:30, Duncan Baxter 31:44, Debbie Sterritt 33:44, Lorraine Forsythe 44:59 and tail runner Fidelma McCoppin 48:39.

17th September 2016

Waterworks parkrun, Danny Donaldson 19:34, Alan Ladd 20:37, Patrick Hamill 24:40, Anne Marie Craig 33:03 new PB, Tiffany Donaldson 35:00, Deirdre McCann 38:28.

Derry City parkrun; Fidelma McCoppin 28:03.

Ormeau parkrun; Alex Davidson 21:39, Sophie Davidson & Chloe Davidson 32:00

Antrim parkrun; Robert Gould 21:27, Mark Hay 27:50, Deborah Ewing 28:32, Tina Steele 28:33, Robbie Gould 28:34, Alison McGibbon 40:41 new PB, Anna-Marie Barrington 43:55.

Valley parkrun; Patricia Curistan 23:22, Ciaran Skillen 25:19, Paul Skillen 25:20, Brendan McGeown 25:21, Laura Rose 27:12, Jackie McCreesh 28:22, Debbie Sterritt 32:25, Katie McManus 34:29, Sharon McAuley 35:58, Nuala Muldoon 42:45.

Final shout out goes out to Lorraine Forsythe who travelled to the dark side and competed in her first Duathlon 2-10-2 in a great time of 1 hour 46 min… I keep threatening to enter one of these and have to get the finger out… very well done Lorraine great to see you back competing again…

Again apologies if any of our runners have been missed out in this week’s report, as I am sure someone may have been overlooked… Safe running to you all, ‘pay it forward…’ and remember ‘Right to the Line…’

Indian Summer and beetroot bakes

Indian summer and Beetroot bakes…

Growing steadily over the last two years, the Mallusk Harriers representation at the Laganside 10K in 2014 had a grand total of 6 runners in the field, this grew to 34 the following year only to be eclipsed this year with a total of 47 members taking on the new and improved route (imo). The club also had 9 juniors taking part in the kids 1 mile race. This has allowed us to yet again do our annual bus run for the huge 7 mile journey.

The Juniors race was won by the host club’s young Luke Kelly in a blistering time of 5min 46 sec, absolutely fantastic future prospect. First junior to run right to the line was 12 year old Odhran Rafferty in a great time of 7min 6 sec in 22nd place, Jack McCready in 24th place in 7min 8sec. Have to take note, Jack ran a great PB at the Valley 24 hours previously and has already taken his dad’s 5k PB title, next up uncle Martin’s 5k PB, hmmmm… Next over the line in 31st place was 9 year old Aodh Rafferty in a blistering time of 7min 27sec, in 37th place saw Jack’s younger brother Ryan, 9 year old. Ryan notched up a time of 7min 52 smashing running lads, very well done… The first female junior home in the race was 11 year old Niamh McGeown in 8min 3sec, next up saw Christopher Campbell in a time of 8min 31sec, Christopher was followed home closely by our second female junior, Ellen Butler in a great time of 8min 48sec and next home was Joshua Nelson in a time 8min 59sec. The McCready trio was made up of little 6 year old, yep 6 year old Olivia McCready. You may have been forgiven if you thought the occasion would get to her, not a chance… the little Sealstown screamer drove her way through the 100+ juniors and ran right to the line in an absolutely smashing time of 10min 17sec…
Let’s see if the senior members could surpass that performance…

As the temperature raised a little to offer an Indian summer, 47 nervous harriers from Mallusk took to the start line of the new Laganside 10k course.
Quite a few of the 47 runners had just completed our successful couch to 5K programme at the beginning of June, now about to raise the bar a little higher and take on the challenge. Of the 47 members partaking in the race, 17 were about to complete their furthest race distance to date, so forgive me if the results seem to be a little over the place, shall try and make sense of it all…

First of the new recruits to cross the finish line was Laura Smyth in a great time of 58:15, next up was Mum and daughter act of Sarah and Pamela McCafferty, also completing their first 10k in under an hour with a time of 59:13, brilliant running ladies. David Esler was next home in 59:17, followed home by Keith Thompson 65:06, Kelly Forsythe 68:32, Tracey Whittley 69:14, Dermot Boyd 69:15, Michelle Ker 69:17, Deirdre Rafferty 70:21, Anne McCaffrey 71:35, Maeve McGinley 71:36, Alyson Taylor 73:08, Nicola Hunter Boyd 74:20, Elaine Boyd 74:24, Gordon Ward 77:01, Joelene Byrne 77:03 & Nicola McCullough 78:00… absolutely fantastic running folks…!!!

For the remaining 30 runners from Mallusk Harriers to rush to the finish line, the day belonged to the ladies with only the ladies recording personal bests for the distance, obviously the lads wanted to stay out in the sunshine and get their money’s worth and to top up the tan lines…

First Harrier over the line was Danny Donaldson 39:05, not a PB for Danny, but can be forgiven as he completed all the half marathons in the Pure Running series and finished a very credible 4th place. Martin McCourt was next over the line, Martin returning from a long layoff notched up a time of 43:49. Then it began, the first lady over the line and with no surprise, was Susan Thompson, with a new PB of 44:36. Michael McAuley was next home for the lads in 45:06 only to be followed by the next lady with a new PB, Patricia Curistan sailed to the line in 47:36. Brendan McGeown came across the line in 47:44 followed by Gowain McKenna 48:11, Tom Wylie 50:28, Catherine Boyd 51:43, Anna-Marie Barrington 51:43, James Hewitt 52:30, Jennifer Butler 53:00, Paul Skillen 53:14. Next up with a second PB in a week was Nicola Fleck in 53:40, Nikki was also one of our C25K graduates. Ken McAuley was next in 53:46 and followed home by Alex Davidson & Laura Rose in a time of 54:30, the next PB to run right to the line was Gemma Fowler in a time of 57:34. Hilary Faith was next over the line in 61:46, Gillian Bainbridge 62:45, Fidelma McCoppin recorded a new PB in 63:20 under the guidance of Dave Gibson 63:54. Next home saw Leeanne Skillen 64:27, Ian Simpson 64:32, Clare Teer 65:08, Kelly Carlisle 65:56, not to be out done Jennifer McCoppin also managed a PB in 67:21, followed home by Tiffany Donaldson 67:57 & Joanne Haddock 86:41.

We would like to thank everyone in attendance who helped make the day a smashing achievement by all. North Belfast for their hospitality and their many marshalls around the course, and those giving up their time in providing us all with refreshments at the end of the run and raising vital funds for pancreatic cancer. Also to all our own Harriers, many thanks to all who helped to make the day great for all our new members. To paraphrase and put in the great words of one of the new runners, “Brilliant day out. Thanks to everyone who was there and to Jim for organising the club taxi and Ian for the mobile restaurant”.

Earlier that day the club had two members unable to attend the Laganside 10K, only due to the pair taking part in the Stenaline triathlon. Great credit to the two ladies from all at the club, Nuala Muldoon and Lorraine Forsythe. Lorraine produced a great race and completed the course and finished the race where others failed. Nuala ended a great race and finished the race 4th lady overall and second in her age category, smashing stuff ladies, very well done.

24 hours previously we did have a few runners out at the parkruns, results as follows:

Waterworks parkrun – Danny Donaldson 18:30, Patrick J Hamill 24:59, David Mullan 28:10, Catherine Mullan 28:16, Tiffany Donaldson 33:14, Deirdre McCann 37:14 new PB & Fiona Wylie 37:15.

Antrim parkrun – Liam McGowan 21:11, Deborah Ewing 24:07, Cathy McGowan 39:55.

Valley parkrun – Jack McCready 25:56 new PB, Jennifer Butler 26:02, Laura Rose 27:28, Jackie McCreesh 27:47, Debbie Sterritt 33:01, Anne Boyd 36:53, Sharon McAuley 37:51, Mairead O’Hare 39:20, Lorraine Forsythe 55:15

Colin Glen – Alan Ladd 21:04.

Please remember as the days are beginning to become shorter in daylight, please, please, please wear high reflective clothing and lights when possible. Better safe than sorry…..

Again apologies if any of our runners have been missed out in this week’s report, as I am sure someone may have been overlooked… Safe running to you all, ‘pay it forward…’ and remember ‘Right to the Line…’