The annual Cork City Marathon took place on Sunday June 2 with thousands of runners participating.
It’s one of the biggest marathon events on the Irish athletics calendar and a very popular June Bank Holiday race.
Mayo AC had two runners in the field. Damien Finnegan M40 ran a marathon pb in Dublin 2023 in 3:28.58. He’s been in great form this year and ran 1:28.28 in the Kinvara Half last March.
It was a dry and warm morning in Cork, and temperatures rose from 15°C to 19/20+ making for tough running conditions for all competitors.
These were Damien's split times in Cork:
10k 44:18, Half 1:34.08, 30k 2:14.05, 40k 3:03.31 and 3:15.26 at the finish line on St Patrick’s Street. That’s a massive new marathon personal best by 13 minutes – averaging 4:37 per kilometre, brilliant even paced running.
According to Damien ‘it was sweltering towards the end’ and many runners found the second half tough.
Clubmate Mary Browne was part of the Irish W65 team who broke the World Record for 4x800m recently.
In Cork she ran well in the early stages and passed 10k in 52:37 and halfway in 1:51.43, but from there to the end she was one of many competitors who had a painful second half in the increasingly hot conditions.
Mary came home in 4:43.26.
She will now focus on recovery and we look forward to seeing her back competing soon again.
On Saturday June 1 the Tullaroan Half Marathon took place in Kilkenny. The course was hilly and provided a challenge for the small field. Congratulations to Paula Donnellan Walsh Mayo AC who came home first of 20 women finishers in 1:40.33.
Race winner was Peter Tuohy 1:21.37 (total finishers 71)
Also on Saturday the annual Maugherow 10k took place in Co Sligo.
It’s a figure of eight course which goes to Raghley Harbour and ends with a long drag up to the finish at Maugherow village.
Well done to Mayo AC’s Ray Clarke who came home 29th of 95 finishers in 42:48 .
Race winners were Alan Dunne East Mayo AC 34:51, Fiona Henigan North Sligo AC 41:47.