Irish Runner runs 2:53 marathon in the Antarctica

One of the most remarkable results last weekend was that of Tipperary man Sean Tobin who ran a marathon in the Antarctic in a time of 2 hours 53 minutes and 33 seconds, a new record for that continent. Amazingly, it was also Sean's debut marathon!

The marathon was held on a glacier about 900kms from the South Pole with the temperature down at a chilly -14 deg C. 

Report from Clonmel AC... "Sean Tobin’s brilliant Marathon debut

For the majority of athletes, we all strive to compete in the Dublin City Marathon as our first outing over this Classic distance and as they say, you will always enjoy your first marathon experience. Well spare a thought for Sean Tobin who decided to select the Antarctic Ice Marathon, the southernmost marathon in the world as his debut over this distance in sub-zero temperatures, an experience he will always treasure. 

Sean prepared well for this event over the past couple of months. Right from the gun he set a good pace. Despite the demanding conditions, he was still running well within himself when reaching the three-quarter point check in zone in 2 hours 8 mins. At this stage he was well on his way to setting a new course record and smashing the old record of 3 hours 34 mins 12 secs, set in 2019. Sean maintained that strong pace all the way to cross the finishing line in an amazing time of 2 hours 53 mins 33 secs, phenomenal performance in such trying conditions. 

The race director, Richard O Donovan, himself a veteran of such events described Sean’s performance “as an astounding performance in very tough underfoot conditions. Sean took control of the race from the outset and made a mockery of the conditions by establishing a new Antarctic Marathon record of 2:53:33 hrs”

This brilliant performance will see Sean ending 2022 on a high as he puts a year plaque by injury behind him. He can look forward with great confidence to 2023 as he plots the next chapter of his career."

Irish runner Sean Tobin has set a marathon record with a difference, becoming the fastest man to cover the 42km distance in Antarctica as he won 'the southernmost marathon on Earth' | @RTEsport |
Read more: https://t.co/TgCmctlGq3 pic.twitter.com/hErAWuDL4I

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 16, 2022

Link : RTE News

Guest Post: SEAN TOBIN SETS NEW IRISH BEST FOR FOUR MILES... by John Walshe

At the Clonmel 4 mile race on St.Stephen's Day, Irish international Sean Tobin set a new national record of 17 mins 45s for a 4 mile race. In this guest post, John Walshe puts the performance into context.

SEAN TOBIN SETS NEW IRISH BEST FOR FOUR MILES... by John Walshe

There was a world-class performance from Clonmel’s Sean Tobin at his own club’s annual MSD four-mile race held in the town on St Stephen’s as the 25-year-old knocked 49 seconds off of his already impressive course record of 18:34 when crossing the line in a time of 17:45.

Tobin finished all of one minute and 20 seconds ahead of Thomas Hayes of Kilkenny City Harriers with Kevin Moore of Dundrum – two top runners in their own right - taking third spot in 19:37.

The previous best time by an Irish athlete over four miles was set by Noel Berkeley when he ran 17:59 back in June 1992 at the Steamboat Classic in Illinois.

That race, regarded as the top event in the world over the rarely-run distance of four miles, has been on the go for over 45 years. Interestingly, the UK best of 17:48 by twice Olympic marathon fourth placer Jon Brown (three seconds slower than Tobin) was also set there in 1997.

When Berkeley ran that 17:59 in 1992 it came a month after he recorded 27:55.82 over 10,000m which is still ranked as the fifth fastest on the Irish all-time list. Later that summer he would represent Ireland over 10,000m at the Barcelona Olympics.

Tobin, with personal bests ranging from 3:57.00 for one mile (Cork City Sports 2017) and 48:34 for 10 miles (Cobh 2019) is no doubt an exciting prospect for the forthcoming track season.

His personal best of 13:56.22 for 5000m from last June is just one of the events that is certainly due for revision.  

Links...
a) Link to results & photos of the 2019 Clonmel 4 mile
b) Link to a list of John Walshe's guest articles

Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC breaks 4 min mile

This piece of news was from last weekend, the 16th of February 2014. Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC became the 39th Irishman to break the 4 minute barrier for the mile. Competing at the Husky Classic in Seattle Washington for the University of Mississippi, Sean Tobin won section 4 of the mile in a time of 3:59.91.

Section  4 
  1 Tobin, Sean                  Mississippi            3:59.91 
  2 Poland, Ryan                 Portland               4:01.28 
  3 Greenwald, Jeremy            Georgia Tech           4:01.90 
  4 Clowes, Matthew              Concordia (O           4:03.78 
  5 Carr, Curtis                 BYU                    4:04.28 
  6 Warren, Trent                Unattached             4:04.43 
  7 Winn, Daniel                 Oregon                 4:04.44 
  8 Willyard, Brett              Oregon                 4:05.81 
  9 Tate, Mike                   Southern Uta           4:05.87 
 10 Perry, David                 Portland               4:05.97 
 11 Locklear, Jordan             California             4:06.27 
 12 Fauble, Scott                Portland               4:07.54 
 13 Fuller, Travis               BYU                    4:07.93 
 14 Bolin, Dominic               Unattached             4:11.72 
 15 Soucy, Drew                  Unattached             4:12.18  

Post race interview here (note that it's followed by an 11 minute advert. Press pause after the interview)

This is the race video. Sean runs behind the pace setter for the first two laps and goes through the half-way point in about 2:01. He then has to do an almost solo run to finish under 4 minutes. Impressive running.