Dublin Marathon 2024 (27th Oct)
The Irish Life Dublin Marathon had its 43rd staging around the streets of the capital on Sunday morning 27th October. Nearly 20% of the 22,500 that registered and paid their entry fee didn’t actually take to the start line, but for the nearly 18,000 that did, they were welcomed by a bright overcast morning. With a light breeze and temperature at 10degC, it was decent running conditions for all, including the 49 athletes from Mullingar Harriers, though stiffening winds and rain came for those who were still on the course at 12.30pm and later. The event incorporated the National Marathon and the Athletics Leinster Marathon, and with individual and team medals to be won in both, competition was very keen across all age categories.
The marathon started at Leeson Street Lower and, over five “waves”, athletes got to start between 8:40am and 9:45am. Overall, the event went off without any hitches and all our athletes were very complimentary of the race organisation, highlighting plenty of feeding stations and very good stewarding at all the junctions. A good number of Mullingar Harriers that weren’t competing gave excellent support throughout the course for their Club mates taking part, which was greatly appreciated by all our runners, so well done to all those that travelled to lend vocal support, it really does help.
Eight Mullingar athletes finished in under 3 hours, another eighteen under 3 hours 30 minutes, another two under 3 hours 40 minutes, five under 3 hours 50 minutes, and five just under 4 hours. Hidden among all the performances are several personal best times, some with significant improvements. Times aside however, congratulations to everyone that finished and it’s testament to the hard work put in over many months.
Leading the big Mullingar squad home was Alan Crowley in an impressive 2 hours 48 minutes 6 seconds, followed by Eoin Clarke in 2:48:46 and Eddie Newman in 2:50:35. Our first woman to finish was Ciara Foy in a terrific 2 hours 57 minutes 49 seconds, followed by Susan Glennon in a great 3:06:34 on her debut for the distance, and Mary Stuart in 3:11:03, which is very impressive considering she ran 3:14 in Amsterdam only a week before.
Also competing was Paul Forrestal (2:52:42), Griffin Kearney (2:52:58), Ollie Geoghegan (2:56:33), Robert Downes (2:58:57), Evan McCormack (3:05:20), James Cribbin (3:08:24), Murty Hanly (3:08:30), Tommy Byrne (3:08:50), Darren Carroll (3:10:46), Jacintha Reilly (3:11:15), Enda Seery (3:12:14), Tony Doran (3:14:23), Joan Flynn (3:14:38), Brian Collentine (3:14:57), Mick Fagan (3:15:26), Dara O’Shea (3:18:33), Criona Reid (3:19:05), Aeilish McGovern (3:20:53), Kieran Dodrill (3:21:06), Mark Geoghegan (3:29:42), Orla Gillespie (3:30:14), Paul Byrne (3:36:46), Mark Dunne (3:46:53), Colm Brennan (3:47:01), Gemma Kelly (3:47:03), Marie Louise Johnston (3:47:20), Conor Corcoran (3:47:37), Lorna Moody (3:51:05), Linda Cunnigham (3:51:30), Eithne Spellman (3:52:31), Jane Creevy (3:52:42), Leona Behan (3:55:09), Shaun Mills (3:56:41), Joe Fagan (4:03:34), Aisling Farrell (4:07:50), Aisling Corcoran (4:07:50), Stephen Olwell (4:08:31), Declan Costello (4:18:32), Ray Smyth (4:27:56), Gerard Heraty (4:35:22), Lorraine Claffey (4:38:53), Anna Redmond (4:44:18) and Martin Mullen (4:48:21) [MO’S].
UPDATE 30th october
The individual and team results were published 30th October and Mary Stuart was 2nd in her master category in the National Marathon and 1st in Leinster, and Eddie Newman was 1st in his master category in both National & Leinster Marathons. In the team results, it was National & Leinster master women team gold for Mary Stuart, Criona Reid and Marie Louise Johnston, and Leinster senior women team bronze for Susan Glennon, Jacintha Reilly and Joan Flynn. Congratulations to them all on their medal successes.
