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…’