Guest Post: Mile 22 ...by Pat Walsh

 * Mile 22 *

Mile 22 in a marathon is the point where you are suffering badly but you know the end goal is near only to focus, believe, concentrate and trust yourself.

That is my dilemma, though I will never run another marathon. Injured with 7 months, no race since end of November, but I’m on the recovery trail. Nearly there but not quite. Finish line in sight but a lot of misery yet to go through. I’m at Mile 22.

Purpose of this article is to empathise, support, listen to and help fellow injured runners. We can all tweak a muscle and be back in two weeks but a long term injury is devastating. This isn’t self pity for me, it is an effort to help others who feel alone and isolated when they are out of action.

I know many of you love running and how it is an integral part of your life, to help give balance and support for your own physical and mental well-being. When you are out of action obviously the time spent exercising is lost but the 24 / 7 benefit of running is totally taken from you.  That affects you every minute of every day. Take nothing for granted.

I’m a different person from who I was late 2024. I haven’t ran with another person on a training run or in a race with 7 months…. ps thanks to a few beautiful people who did walk / jog parkruns with me. I’m in your debt.

It does change you and it takes a huge mental effort to keep going. You lose touch with training partners and other race participants. That lack of social interaction can be the hardest. The phone stops beeping. I found writing these posts tough but beneficial. 

Jaysus, I have done volunteering, stewarding, general support just to keep in touch but it isn’t the same thing. 

I have walked cliffs, footpaths, goat tracks, Kerry roads and Spanish beaches. I have cycled the Greenway most days. For the matter of public record, I was even umpire at a GAA match. Good to get back to my real roots. 

Will I ever run again?

Can I get back to where I was?

What if it happens again?

Why doesn’t my tshirt fit?

Why do the new running shoes for Christmas still look perfect. They should be worn out and dumped by now?

Was the ball over the bar or does it need Hawkeye?

Are they going to rename the Midleton – Youghal Greenway after me considering the amount of time I have spent walking and cycling on it?

I’m OK thanks, feel free to like or share but maybe think of your own friends who may be injured and suffering. They would like a contact.

Have a good weekend

#pwr

Barleycove Beach during the week

Results & Photos of the Donoughmore 7-mile road race - Thurs 19th June 2025

It was a lovely sunny evening for this years Donoughmore 7-mile road race which was held on Thurs 19th June 2025. A total of 210 runners crossed the finish line which is down a bit on last year.

Top 3 men & women...
 2979 1 Sean DINNEEN Cork Track Club A.C. M 39:19  
3448 2 Nathan Ryan O HEHIR St. Finbarrs A.C. M 40:53  
2945 3 Brian MULLINS St. Finbarrs A.C. M45 42:43  
3025 10 Catherine MURPHY Eagle A.C. F45 45:05  
2992 13 Breda GAFFNEY Mallow A.C. F50 45:39  
2967 18 Breeda MC GINN F40 46:19

Full results HERE

Photos...

1) Mick Dooley has two galleries... Album 1 and Album 2

2) Dermot Hever has some finish line photos HERE

Results & Photos of the Cork BHAA Apple Employees' Sports & Social Club 5k - Tues 17th June 2025

Some members of Na Piarsaigh Run Club with their distinctive yellow tops with inset red hand at the 2025 Cork BHAA Cork BHAA Apple Employees' Sports & Social Club 5k in Hollyhill

It was a lovely summer evening for the 2025 edition of the Cork BHAA Apple Employees' Sports & Social Club 5k in Hollyhill. A total of 436 runners crossed the finish line which is up 20% on the inaugural event last year.

Top 3 men & women...
1 Nathan O Leary M1 00:15:49 Army
2 Shane Collins M2 00:16:03 Apple M-B-1
3 Conor McCauley 0/40M M3 00:16:07 Apple M-B-1
14 Lizzie Lee 0/45F F1 00:17:50 Apple
18 Emma Fitzpatrick F2 00:18:09 Cork Bike Hire
29 Michelle Kenny 0/45F F3 00:18:56 Dept of Ed F-A-2

Full results HERE

Photos...

1) Mick Dooley has some photos up on the Cork BHAA page HERE

2) Gearóid Ó Laoi has several galleries... Album 1 ... Album 2 ... Album 3 ... Album 4 ...

Results & Photos of the Dunmanway 10k road race - Sun 15th June 2025

Siobhan Holland of Eagle AC is the first woman

The annual Dunmanway 10k road race was held this year on Sunday 15th of June 2025 with 283 runners crossing the finish line, up a bit on the 258 of last year.

Top 3 men & women...
1 314 Danny Mullins Male 33:12
2 388 Mark Walsh Male 33:24
3 64 Michael Dullea Male 35:13
1 221 Siobhan Holland Female 43:24
2 254 Hilary Walsh Female 45:33
3 70 Sinéad O Regan Female 45:38

Full results HERE

The chart above shows the number of finishers over the years.

Photos...

1) Graham Meikle has some finish line photos...

a) Album 1 b) Album 2 c) Album 3 d) Album 4 

Half a million people are registered for parkrun in Ireland

Parkrun Ireland have just announced that they have just reached the 500,000 registrations mark!

The very first 5k parkrun in Ireland was in Belfast in November of 2010. Two years later, the first one in Dublin was the Malahide parkrun took place in November 2012. The very first 5k in Cork started in Macroom in May of 2013.

Since those early days, parkrun has been growing strongly and there are now usually over 1000 runners and walkers at the eleven 5k events in Co Cork every Saturday morning.

Of all the multitude of initiatives that Sport Ireland help fund, this one is certainly one of the most significant.

Results & Photos of the Cork Down Syndrome 21k Challenge - Sun 15th June 2025

The Cork Down Syndrome 21km Challenge from Haulbowline to Pairc Ui Chaoimh was held on Sunday 15th June 2025 with 218 runners and walkers crossing the finish line.

Top 3 men & women... 
1 Graham Cummins 1:22:31 M 40
2 Christopher Ryan 1:24:31 M 233
3 Garrett Casey   1:27:42 M 20
12 Sinead Oakes-Higgins   1:40:34 F 276
20 Helen Moakley   1:47:27 F 160
21 Jennifer Burke   1:47:31 F 16

Full results HERE

Photos...

1) Mick Dooley has the following...

a) Album 1 b) Album 2 

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 14th Jun 2025

Results of the 5k parkruns around the county on Saturday 14th June 2025. Approximately 1,221  runners and walkers took part in the 10 events in Co Cork.

Ballincollig... No volunteers, no parkruns. A shout out to four and half year old Séimí O Flynn who reached his 10 volunteer milestone this morning at the Ballincollig parkrun!! 👏🏻👏🏻

Well done to Kevin O'Connor and James McCullagh who both hit the century mark. Ita O'Farrell hit the 200 mark this week!

Midleton... No volunteers, no parkruns. Well done to Kerry Constant who earned his 200th parkrun volunteer credit at the Midleton Greenway parkrun.

Macroom... Well done to Shay O’Donovan who completed his 300th parkrun this morning.

ONGOING

If I missed anyone who passed a notable milestone like 100, 200, 250 or above parkruns then let me know.

***

Ballincollig Regional Park: 334 this week, 310 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Anthony MANNIX Male VM35-39 Cork Track Club 17:40

2 Paul KELLY Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 18:41

3 Declan WALSH Male VM35-39 19:05

62 Gayle CORRY Female SW30-34 23:48

78 Liz O'DONOVAN Female VW40-44 Eagle A.C. 24:27

83 Siobhan HOLLAND Female VW45-49 Eagle A.C. 24:50

Ballincollig results... https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/379/

Tramore Valley Park: 224 this week, 223 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Rory O' SULLIVAN Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 17:44

2 Paul FITZGERALD Male SM30-34 18:15

3 Liam MAHER Male SM25-29 18:58

7 Eimear FITZMAURICE Female VW40-44 Mayo AC 20:25

13 Mari BURKE Female VW45-49 21:49

18 Bernadette O'DRISCOLL Female SW30-34 22:22

Tramore Valley Park results... https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/157/

Glen River: 59 this week, 58 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Diarmuid DEASY Male SM20-24 21:32

2 Kieran DUDDY Male VM35-39 21:48

3 Bryan GLENDON Male VM45-49 22:26

6 Mags HASSETT Female VW50-54 St Finbarrs AC 24:19

10 Saoirse CORRIGAN Female SW18-19 26:03

13 Catherine DEENIHAN Female VW55-59 UCC Staff Athletics Club 27:06

Glen River results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/263/

Midleton Greenway: 190 this week, 133 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Séamus MCSWEENEY Male VM50-54 St. Nicholas AC 18:01

2 Brendan MAGUIRE Male VM45-49 18:26

4 Johnny COMER Male VM35-39 19:08

3 Evita VOLGINAITE Female SW25-29 Ballymore Cobh AC 18:37

16 Pamela BARRY Female VW45-49 Aghada Running Club 21:41

19 Erika GATT COLEIRO Female VW35-39 21:51

Midleton Greenway... https://www.parkrun.ie/midletongreenway/results/20/

Mallow Castle: 55 this week, 72 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 John BROWNE Male VM40-44 19:55

2 Luke ROBERTSON Male JM11-14 North Cork AC 20:40

3 Mark SHEEHAN Male SM30-34 West Muskerry A.C. 21:14

11 Maretta BRENNAN Female VW55-59 Volunteers parkrun Club (Unofficial) 25:51

13 Muireann MURPHY Female JW11-14 26:29

14 Elena GAVIN Female JW15-17 26:35

Mallow results...  https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/185/

Youghal (Pobalscoil ne Tríonóide) : 46 this week, 140 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Derek SMYTH Male VM45-49 18:44

2 Adam BULMAN Male SM25-29 20:00

3 Ciaran MITCHELL Male VM35-39 20:46

6 Shannon SOTOK Female SW30-34 21:18

11 Josephine O SULLIVAN Female VW45-49 23:30

12 Sorcha KILGANNON Female SW18-19 23:38

Youghal results... https://www.parkrun.ie/pobalscoilnatrionoide/results/163/

Macroom Castle Demense: 44 this week, 60 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Euan ROSS Male SM25-29 Datchet Dashers 19:26

2 Conor LUCEY Male VM40-44 20:30

3 David BRADLEY Male JM11-14 20:56

17 Margaret LUCEY Female VW45-49 25:52

18 Carmel PURCELL Female VW45-49 West Muskerry A.C. 26:32

19 Hannah LEHNHART-BARNETT Female SW30-34 27:07

Macroom results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/531/

Clonakilty: 47 this week, cancelled last week. 

First 3 men & women...

1 Niall O'CONNOR Male VM50-54 West Cork Triathlon Club (WCTC) 21:08

2 Olan MURPHY Male SM18-19 21:20

3 Paul O'BRIEN Male VM40-44 21:30

6 Maura REGAN Female VW45-49 22:58

7 Sandra WALSH Female VW55-59 24:02

9 Niamh O'BRIEN Female VW35-39 24:57

Clonakilty results... https://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/484/

Glengarriff Woods: 75 this week, 49 last week.

Top 3 men & women...

1 Micheal CONWAY Male VM35-39 19:22

2 Finn CONNER Male JM15-17 20:50

3 Johnnie RUSSELL Male JM10 22:59

11 Sophia KINGSTON Female SW25-29 26:19

15 Marion RUSSELL Female VW40-44 27:08

17 Julia COOPER Female VW40-44 28:13

Glengarriff results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/404/

Bere Island: 120 this week, 64 last week. 

First 3 men & women...

1 Michelagh MURPHY Female SW20-24 21:28

5 Maeve HIGGINS Female VW60-64 23:02

6 Breeda O SULLIVAN Female VW55-59 Beara AC 23:22

2 Cyril MCNAMARA Male VM55-59 21:49

3 Garry HILLIARD Male VM50-54 St Michael's AC 21:52

4 Pat SHEEHAN Male VM60-64 Kenmare Tri Club 23:01

Bere Island results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/496/

Castlehaven (Rineen Woods): 27 finishers this week, 26 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Padraig COURTNEY Male VM40-44 20:28

2 Shane FITZGERALD FOLEY Male VM45-49 Midleton AC 23:36

3 James WHITE Male VM35-39 24:39

11 Sharon LEVIS Female VW40-44 28:47

18 Celine BUCKLEY Female VW50-54 Castlehaven GAA 34:14

19 Spah MBALI Female VW40-44 35:52

Castlehaven results... https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/416/

For more information about the weekly 5k parkruns in Co Cork, go to this page HERE.

Results of the Jockey Injury Fund 5k in Conna - Fri 13th June 2025

This charity 5k race was held in Conna on Fri 13th June 2025 with 116 runners crossing the finish line. 

Top 3 men & women...
Place Athlete  Club Location Time Cat Bib
1 William Verling St Nicholas AC  16:17 MS 242
2 Struan Simpson Kildinan 17:18 M35 262
3 Peter Verling St Nicholas AC 17:19 MJ 243
23 Annmarie Quirke St Nicholas AC 21:37 FS 202
24 Joanna Walton Shanballymore  21:44 FS 216
25 Ciara Hayes St Catherine's AC 21:50 FJ 153

Full results HERE

A look at the Glengarriff 5k parkrun numbers as it passes 400 events

The Glengarriff 5k parkrun in west Cork started back on the 2nd of January 2016 and on the 24th of May 2025, they held their 400th edition. The chart above shows the numbers over the years. It shows the initial surge in numbers, the drop off in 2017 and then the steady rise.

Unlike the parkruns in or near Cork City, the parkruns in West Cork vary quite a bit depending on the time of year.

Glengarrif is fairly remote and the catchment area are locals and runners from the nearest population centres of Bantry and Kenmare. In the Summer months and Bank Holiday weekends, the numbers of tourists or people going home gives a boost to the numbers.

If we look at the average number per event for each year, it gives a better idea of what the change in numbers is like.

This shows the drop in numbers in 2017 which is followed by a gradual rise in 2018 and 2019.

The numbers for 2020 are inflated somewhat as it just shows the start of the year until the start of March. Then of course the pandemic kicked in and there were no more events to bring the average down.

In 2021, the parkrun resumed in September but the numbers were well down as they were for nearly all running events.

2022, 2023 & 2024 showed a gradual recovery which mirrors a lot of other events. 2024 was a good year with an average of 77 finishers per event.

2025 in the chart above is marked with a * because it only covers up to the 7th of June. The average numbers so far for 2025 are down a bit on 2024 but there is still the tourist season to bring up the average. On the flip side, there is also the cold and wet days in the last quarter of the year to bring it back down again.

It does suggest that perhaps the numbers in Glengarriff are going to even off this year? We'll know for sure at the end of the year.

Do numbers matter?... The number of finishers for any 5k parkrun isn't a critical issue. They're not like road races where they need a certain number of runners to pay for the permits, prizes and all the other stuff. 

Parkruns are free and it's the same regardless whether there are 20 or 200 taking part. The main benefit however of larger numbers is that there is a larger pool of people available that might volunteer to help out at future events.

Notice: Tracton 4-mile road race - Fri 11th July 2025

Tracton AC are holding their Tracton 4-mile road race on Friday the 11th of July 2025 at 8pm.

You can pre-enter online HERE

Info from Tracton AC... "Tracton AC are hosting a 4-mile road race on Friday 11th July 2025 at 8pm in beautiful Minane Bridge (near Carrigaline, and 20km south of Cork city). 

Results of the Cork BHAA Musgraves 5k - Wed 11th June 2025

There was a big turnout for this years Cork BHAA Musgraves 5k road race with a total of 615 runners crossing the finish line. That was actually down 9% on the figure for last year and might have been due to the damp conditions this year.

Top 3 men & women...
1 Paul Moloney 0/45M M1 00:15:13 Moloney
2 Tadhg O'Sullivan M2 00:15:25 Cork University Hospital
3 Danny Mullins 00:15:27 Temp Reg
18 Sinead O'Connor 0/35F F1 00:16:35 Dept of Ed F-A-1
43 Jennifer Martin 0/35F F2 00:17:38 Amazon
53 Amy Pollmann 00:17:51 Temp Reg

Full results HERE

Photos...

1) Derek Costello has the following galleries...

part 1   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1242979861164483&type=3
part 2   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1242983917830744&type=3
part 3   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1242987651163704&type=3
part 4   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1242991867829949&type=3
part 5   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1242995871162882&type=3

Extension to Bandon walkway expected to open July 2025

The Clare O'Leary Walk in Bandon runs alongside the N71 road and it opened more than a decade ago. The walk which is about 1.6kms in length however was not easily accessible by foot from the town and anyone wishing to use it had to drive there.

The photo below shows what the road between the walkway and the town looked like in 2009. As can be seen from the photo, it was very dangerous for anyone wishing to walk or run to the walkway. It was like this up to recently.

The only safe way to get to the walkway was by driving there. When I used it a few years back, it looked overgrown which suggests that not many people used it.

A new walkway connecting the Clare O'Leary Walk is now under construction.

This new section which is about 1km in length will connect the Clare O'Leary Walk to the town itself. 

The overall length now for the new extended walk is about 2.6kms which might suit some runners that want to do a light run or some speed work.

You'll notice as well that 2.6kms out and back (5.2kms) is enough to fit a 5k parkrun. Is there any interest locally?? Maybe there are some other factors we don't know about.

The full length of the Greenway which will be now be a full 3-metres in width is expected to open in July of 2025.

While the north-eastern end of the walk still ends on the busy N71 road, there is a possibility that it become part of the new West Cork Greenway in the future. The Clare O'Leary Walk would cross a bridge over the Bandon River, through an old tunnel and then onto Upton, Crossbarry, Halfway and through the Goggins Hill tunnel to Cork City.

Results of the Kilmurry GAA 5k run - Fri 6th May 2025

From Kilmurry GAA... "What a special evening in Kilmurry yesterday, the 2025 Fun Run brought great excitement and a few historic moments.

We were honoured to welcome our first Olympian to the event, Lizzie Lee, a 2016 Olympian, who was first female home. Lizzie is an inspiration to all runners, especially our young runners.

A particularly proud moment for our local community came as Senan Lynch crossed the line as the first male home. Senan, the grandson of Kilmurry GAA stalwart and club President Jack Lynch, made history as the first local male winner of the Fun Run since its beginning in 2013*. We wish Senan every success in the future!

In the adult male category Michael Dullea was 2nd and Alfie Davis 3rd. In the adult female Paula Kineally was 2nd and Miriam O Sullivan 3rd.  In the U16 category Fionn Lehane and Annie McElroy came 1st."

Results below...

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 7th Jun 2025

Results of the 5k parkruns around the county on Saturday 7th June 2025. Approximately 1,135  runners and walkers took part in the 10 events in Co Cork.

Ballincollig...

All distances for the 2025 Cork City Marathon were represented at the Ballincollig 5k parkrun this morning - (L-R) Felicity Dawson (10k), Ciara O'Keeffe & Emer O'Keeffe (Half-Marathon) & Sinead Power (Full Marathon)

Macroom... Well done to Angela Kelleher who completed her 100th 5k parkrun in Macroom this morning.

Ballincollig... Well done to Ines Saramago who completed her 100th 5k parkrun this weekend.

If I missed anyone who passed a notable milestone like 100, 200, 250 or above parkruns then let me know.

***

Ballincollig Regional Park: 310 this week, 265 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Sean TWOHIG Male VM35-39 St Finbarrs AC 18:53

2 James CALLANAN Male VM55-59 19:19

3 Ryan NOLAN Male SM20-24 19:31

20 Clodagh CREEDON Female VW45-49 St Finbarrs AC 21:33

32 Lorraine O SULLIVAN Female VW45-49 22:37

33 Deirdre DUFF Female VW35-39 22:51

Ballincollig results... https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/378/

Tramore Valley Park: 223 this week, 224 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Rory O' SULLIVAN Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 17:47

2 John O MAHONY Male VM50-54 St Finbarrs AC 18:04

3 Hugh DOLAN Male VM40-44 18:38

22 Alannah NEFF Female SW20-24 21:41

23 Helen WALSH Female VW50-54 Togher AC 21:54

34 Jo PEARCE Female VW50-54 South West Road Runners 23:02

Tramore Valley Park results... https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/156/

Glen River: 58 this week, 59 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Colin MORRISON Male VM50-54 19:31

2 Mark ALMOND Male VM55-59 Blackburn Harriers & AC 20:35

3 Eoin CULLINANE Male VM35-39 20:53

5 Nollaigh O'NEILL Female VW50-54 21:53

9 Derval DEVANEY Female VW45-49 Belpark Triathlon Club 23:26

15 Rachel O'CALLAGHAN Female VW50-54 25:01

Glen River results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/262/

Midleton Greenway: 133 this week, 136 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 James GRUFFERTY Male VM40-44 Leevale AC 18:08

2 Brendan MAGUIRE Male VM45-49 18:10

3 Neil MOYNIHAN Male VM45-49 19:00

29 Mary O'SULLIVAN Female SW20-24 23:50

37 Kim NOLAN Female VW35-39 24:57

38 Emily WARD Female SW30-34 25:07

Midleton Greenway... https://www.parkrun.ie/midletongreenway/results/19/

Mallow Castle: 72 this week, 87 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Donal CAPE Male VM35-39 19:08

2 Matthew COOKE Male JM15-17 19:12

3 James CROWLEY Male VM35-39 19:26

11 Lisa LYONS Female SW30-34 22:37

17 Kate MCSWEENEY Female SW30-34 24:36

19 Aileen BUCKLEY Female SW30-34 St Finbarrs AC 25:00

Mallow results...  https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/184/

Youghal (Pobalscoil ne Tríonóide) : 140 this week, 60 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Derek SMYTH Male VM45-49 18:41

2 Jordan HALPIN Male SM25-29 18:49

3 Oscar POWER Male JM11-14 20:32

4 Emma LANDERS Female SW20-24 20:33

7 Shannon SOTOK Female SW30-34 22:45

21 Claire MURPHY Female VW50-54 25:06

Youghal results... https://www.parkrun.ie/pobalscoilnatrionoide/results/162/

Macroom Castle Demense: 60 this week, 44 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 David O'NEILL Male VM35-39 Springwell RC 19:20

2 Patrick DINNEEN Male VM35-39 20:05

3 Unknown

9 Jennifer RING Female VW45-49 22:24

11 Judith O'NEILL Female VW40-44 23:08

19 Margaret LUCEY Female VW45-49 25:55

Macroom results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/530/

Clonakilty: 55 this week, 35 last week. Cancelled this week

First 3 men & women...

Clonakilty results... 

Glengarriff Woods: 49 this week, 109 last week.

Top 3 men & women...

1 Finn CONNER Male JM15-17 21:15

2 Richard MCNALLY Male VM35-39 22:22

3 Danny MANNING Male VM45-49 23:07

7 Pippa O SULLIVAN Female JW11-14 25:32

8 Niamh CASEY Female VW35-39 25:46

9 Emma BURKE Female SW20-24 25:57

Glengarriff results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/403/

Bere Island: 64 this week, 60 last week. 

First 3 men & women...

1 Breeda O SULLIVAN Female VW55-59 Beara AC 22:58

3 Maeve HIGGINS Female VW60-64 23:46

5 Nina MURPHY Female VW35-39 24:34

2 Unknown  

4 Colin GLEESON Male VM70-74 Beara AC 24:14

6 Edward STEL Male VM55-59 25:29

Bere Island results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/495/

Castlehaven (Rineen Woods): 27 finishers this week, 28 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Patrick O'DRISCOLL Male VM35-39 20:45

2 Brian MCCARTHY Male VM40-44 21:33

3 Brendan CROWLEY Male VM40-44 21:41

9 Deirdre MCCARTHY Female VW40-44 Manchester Tri Club 27:43

14 Catriona O'MAHONY Female SW30-34 31:11

16 Frances LYNCH Female VW60-64 Sanctuary Runners 31:59

Castlehaven results... https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/415/

For more information about the weekly 5k parkruns in Co Cork, go to this page HERE.

Guest Post: Heavy Heart ...by Pat Walsh

 * Heavy Heart *

It is with a heavy heart I write this week. Last Sunday at a fantastic Cork City marathon, young Ellen Cassidy passed away after the race and put a cloud over the entire event.

It is hard to fathom and understand when someone so young dies. To her family and friends my deepest sympathy on behalf of all who were present last Sunday. No words of mine will ease your loss.

When we leave to go for a race or a run it is understood that we will get home whatever the outcome of the run was. That is a given. What happened last Sunday was against the natural order of the way we expect life to go.

I was speaking to someone recently about a team mate who died in September 1985 almost 40 years ago. We were in training for a Final in Gaelic Football when a tragic accident occurred and we were left numb. I can still recall it all so vividly, as we were too young to comprehend or find the words to express our feelings. I still can’t.

I also want to spare a thought for the organisers, as this was a very sad ending to the event and they had put countless hours of effort to pull it all together. 

I hope Ellen’s family and friends have the strength to get through this awful time for them. 

I want to ask all runners this weekend to carry her wonderful spirit in your thoughts and hearts wherever you are.

I leave with the words of Seamus Heaney – The Cure at Troy

“Now it’s high watermark
and floodtide in the heart
and time to go.
The sea-nymphs in the spray
will be the chorus now.
What’s left to say?      

#pwr     And the half-true rhyme is love.