Friday Jigsaw: Karl Henry at the Kinsale 10m

For this weeks online jigsaw, we have a photo of TV Operation Transformation team member Karl Henry with company at the recent Kinsale 10-mile road race.

This one has 216-pieces and you can find it HERE

Record numbers take part in the Ballincollig 5k parkrun

A record 397 people took part in this weeks 5k parkrun in the Ballincollig Regional Park on Saturday the 14th of Jan 2017. This was due mostly to the level of publicity from the Operation Transformation TV programme and it's likely that the numbers should stay high for the next few weeks.

1 Michael MORGAN    17:37    VM40-44    M1    St Finbarrs AC
2 Jonathan MURPHY    18:39    SM30-34    M2    Leevale AC
3 Paul HARTE        19:26    SM30-34    M3
4 Niamh MOORE    19:31    SW20-24    F1
27 Mary SWEENEY    21:30    VW55-59    F2    St Finbarrs AC
43 Louise SHEEHAN    22:38    VW40-44    F3    Ballincollig Athletic Club

The full results of the 31st Ballincollig parkrun can be seen HERE

Photos...(Updated 15th Jan 2017 @19:43)
1) Nessan Frawley has 5 small galleries on Facebook... #1 , #2 , #3 , #4 , #5
2) Joe Murphy of Eagle AC has a gallery of 500+ photos HERE 

Photos of the Operation Transformation 5k in Blarney...Sat 21st Feb 2015

There was a huge turn out for the Operation Transformation 5k run in Blarney on Saturday the 21st of February. As you would expect with the coverage it gets on the TV programme, it was sold within days a few weeks back. I think it was limited to 3000 entries.

Photos....
1) Mick Dooley of Eagle AC has a small gallery HERE
2) The Blarney Blog has a few galleries up on their Facebook page...26 photos...23 photos...40 photos...36 photos...29 photos...

Video of the Operation Transformation 5k fun run in Blarney...

Back on the 22nd of February, there was a special Operation Transformation 5 km fun run held on the grounds of Blarney Castle. Just afterwards, I had some photos HERE

A short video of the event has now been released. If you took part then have a look and see if you can spot yourself...

Big turnout for the Operation Transformation 5k run in Cork...

Somewhere between 500 and 1000 people turned out on Saturday morning in Tramore Valley Park in Cork City for the Operation Transformation 5k run. Conditions were actually almost perfect for it...cold and dry. Perhaps the only thing missing was a bit of sunshine.

Roughly 90% of the field was made up of women, many no doubt avid followers of the TV show. There were a few club singlets present but it's probably safe to say that the vast majority were non-club. It's probably a safe guess as well that many of those running would look at the usual 5k race locally as being 'too serious' whereas the truth is that most of them are well capable of taking part in other races as well.

Former Cork GAA players Kevin Hennessey and Thomas Mulcahy

There are also plans to hold another 5k run here on Saturday, the 27th of April. Instead of it being an Operation Transformation event, it will be organised by the Cork City Marathon and it should be a great way for those training for the Marathon Relay event to see how their training is progressing. More details as they become available.

Cork City Lord Mayor John Buttimer and former Irish international racewalker Olive Loughnane got proceedings under way. In the background is former GAA player Teddy McCarthy, only man to win an All Ireland hurling and football winning medal in the one year, 1990

Photos....
1) There is a small gallery of photos by Mick Dooley HERE

Operation Transformation 5k...Cork...Sat 23rd Feb 2013

No doubt many of you will have seen the Operation Transformation programme on RTE television over the last few months. As part of the current series, they are holding a 5k fun run in Cork next Saturday morning, the 23rd of February at 11am. Entries for this opened weeks ago and sold out in a few days which just goes to show how popular the show is and how popular events aimed at the general public can be.

Here is a map outlining some of the key areas...

Parking.....
a) There is limited parking available in the Tramore Vally Park on a first come, first served basis. Note that you cannot turn right into the park if you are driving north on the South Link Road from the Kinsale Road roundabout.
b) There is plenty of parking across the way at the Park n Ride. There will be a shuttle bus there to take people across to the park and back afterwards. Pedestrians are not allowed to cross the South Link Road.

Pedestrian Access.....The park can be accessed on foot via Half-Moon Lane on the South Douglas Road.

RACE DAY TIMETABLE
9.30am Information Desk, Toilets and Baggage Area Open
9.30am Parking in Tramore Valley Park (first come/first served) Park n Ride and Mick Barry Rd.
10.00am Individual WarmWup
10.30am Assemble in allocated Assembly Zones
10.30am Vehicle Access to Tramore Valley Park CLOSED. Black Ash Park n Ride will remain open
10.50am Mass Warm up
11.00am First Wave Start
11.05am Second Wave Start

SPECTATORS...The entire Tramore Valley Park will be open if anyone wants to watch. The park will officially open to the public in late 2014 so this is a chance to see what it will be like.

Overall....If the run follows the route of previous events then it is basically two laps as shown on the map in green. No doubt many of those taking part will be just walking but others will be in the process of running 5 kms for the first time. As some of those runners improve, many will appear at other races over the next few months. If you are one of those new runners then have a look at the current race calendar. Many are those events are suitable for anyone who has completed a Couch to 5k training programme.

The current forecast for the day is that it will be cold but dry.