Southern Star article on Cork sprinter Phil Healy

Last weekend, Phil Healy from Ballineen in Co.Cork ran one of the fastest 400m times this year in the world when she won a race in Austria. The time would have been a qualifying time for the 2020 Olympics in Toyko except for the fact that the qualification period hasn't started yet.

There is an interesting long article in this weeks Southern Star about the Bandon AC athlete and how she has moved to Waterford to concentrate on her athletics career where she has use of the facilities at Waterford IT. The article outlines how she broke through to the next level for the 400m with the help of her coach Shane McCormack of Menapians AC in Wexford.

Notice...Glanmire Ladies Football Club 7km - Sun 25th Feb 2018

This 7km race in Glanmire is coming up on Sunday the 25th of February 2018 at 11am. The course is 7kms in length and the organisers have said there will be results afterwards. Check out the race flyer above for the registration details.

The race HQ is at Glanmire GAA grounds which is right alongside the main road that runs through Glanmire and Sallybrook.

This is the 7km course which starts and finishes at the GAA grounds....

New Greenway proposed from Rosslare in Wexford to Waterford City

Wexford County Council announced recently that they have appointed a firm of Consulting Engineers to undertake a preliminary design and associated studies for the development of a greenway along the existing rail corridor from Rosslare to Waterford City with a link from Rosslare to Rosslare Harbour. The greenway will provide an off-road cycle and walking path from Rosslare Harbour to Waterford City taking in the towns and villages along the south of the county. 

The length of the new Greenway is about 56kms and it is expected that the project will cost in the region of €12 million.

What is significant about this is that there is now an existing greenway from Waterford City to Dungarvan and there is another greenway proposed from Youghal to Midleton.

As can be seen from the map above, it not inconceivable that at some point in the future, there might well be a greenway going from the port of Rosslare in Co.Wexford all the way to Cork City. All parts of this route are likely to be a magnet for walkers, cyclists and of course runners.

The tricky parts might be between Dungarvan and Youghal and from Midleton to Cork City?

If at some stage a greenway went from Dungarvan to Lismore, Fermoy and Mallow then perhaps a new greenway could be established from Carroquin to Youghal following the Blackwater river?

Perhaps a new greenway from Midleton could go to Barrycourt Castle south of Carrigtwohill, onto Fota Wildlife Park and then down to the ferry on Great Island where people would have the option of taking in Cobh or crossing the ferry and joining the greenway at Glenbrook which would go into Cork City?

The map below shows some of the rail lines in Munster at the start of the 20th century. There are probably plenty of routes for other greenways in there if the funding can be obtained.

Links...
1) Rosslare to Waterford City Greenway... https://www.wexfordcoco.ie/community/recreational-and-community-development-projects/rosslare-to-waterford-city-greenway
2) More progress on Midleton to Youghal Greenway... http://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2017/09/more-progress-on-midleton-to-youghal.html
 and http://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2017/12/cork-council-council-to-put-plans-for.html
3) What is the possibility of a Greenway from Mallow to Dungarvan?... http://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2017/06/whats-possibilty-of-greenway-from.html

Poll for best Half-Marathon in Munster in 2017 now open

 

Poll for best Half-Marathon in Munster in 2017 now open

These were the nominations....

Half-Marathon...
Cork City Half-Marathon (June 2017)
Half on the Head (Ballyheigue) (June 2017)
Run Killarney Half-Marathon (July 2017)
Clonmel Half-Marathon (Boston Scientific) (July 2017)
East Cork Harbour Half-Marathon (August 2017)
Charleville Half-Marathon (September 2017)
Waterford Greenway Half-Marathon (September 2017)
Waterford AC Half-Marathon (December 2017)
Clonakilty Half-Marathon (December 2017)

You can vote here....  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LJRX75V

The poll will close in mid February.

Poll for best 10 mile race in Munster in 2017 now open

The poll for best 10 mile race in Munster in 2017 is now open.

These were the nominations....

10 mile...
Dungarvan 10 mile (John Treacy) (Feb 2017)
Ballycotton 10 mile (Mar 2017)
Mallow 10 mile (Mar 2017)
Ballynonty 10 mile (July 2017)
Clonakilty 10 mile (Aug 2017)
John Buckley Sports Cork City 10 Miler (Sept 2017)
Killarney 10 mile (Sept 2017)

You can vote here....  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GVS6ZK7

The poll will close in mid February.

Cork Sprinter Phil Healy runs 400m PB in Austria

Cork sprinter Phil Healy of Bandon AC was in action in Vienna on Friday evening and won a 400m race there in a time of 52.08 seconds. This was an improvement of 1.1 seconds on her previous best time for the distance. It was also her second qualifying time for the World Indoor Championships coming up in Birmingham in March.

Phil is now based in Waterford IT and is coached by Shane McCormack of Menapians AC (pictured above), one of the top sprints coaches in the country.

Results of the North Cork AC 5k in Doneraile Park... Sat 27th Jan 2018

There seemed to be a big drop in numbers for this years North Cork AC 5k race in Doneraile Park. A total of 153 runners took part which is down 37% on the 242 of 2017.

I have never heard anything bad about this race so perhaps the novelty of 5k races in Doneraile Park is wearing off? There does seem to be quite a lot there especially during the Spring time.

 Rory O Connor North Cork AC     16:51     SM
2 Donal Coffey     Leevale AC     17:02     SM 
3 Kevin O Grady Dooneen AC     17:32     SM 
7 Martina Kiely St Finbarrs     18:23     SF
10 Carol Finn     Leevale AC     18:44     SF
17 Breda Gaffney Mallow AC     19:26     SF

Full results

Results & Photos of the Ballincollig 5k parkrun... Sat 27th Jan 2018

The effects of the Operation Transformation television programme made itself felt this week with a total of 428 people taking part in the 5k parkrun in Ballincollig Regional Park. That is the second highest number ever for this weekly event.

1 Kieran MURPHY    19:32    VM40-44    M1
2 Brian LINEHAN    19:35    VM55-59    M2
3 Darren CASEY    19:43    VM40-44    M3    Eagle A.C.
7 Louise LONG    20:18    SW30-34    F1    Le Cheile AC
33 Siobhan HOLLAND    22:10    VW40-44    F2    St Finbarrs AC
37 Anna DELANEY    22:20    VW45-49    F3    Sportsworld

Full results HERE

Photos...
1) The organisers have a gallery HERE
2) Joe Murphy has a gallery HERE

Great to see so many runners, joggers and walkers this morning at @bcolligparkrun well done to all #ActiveCork @OpTranRTE @sportireland @HealthyIreland @wayneod5 @ciarakellydoc @parkrunIE pic.twitter.com/9RiM6Rwtgq

— Cork Sports P'ship (@CorkSports) January 27, 2018

Friday Fun...Just over a week to go to the Dungarvan 10 mile

Remember, there is just over one week to go to the Dungarvan 10 mile on Sunday 4th of February!

Next MMRA Trail race in Cratloe Woods near Limerick City

For those of you interested in the various MMRA races, the second of their Winter-Spring Series of Trail races is on in Cratloe Woods in Co.Clare on Sunday the 28th of January. This is reasonably close to Limerick City and not too far off the motorway network.

More info HERE

Anonymous Donor To Help Fund New €3 Million Athletics Track in UCD

Back in 2011, I had a post up about how the running track in UCD in Dublin was being dug up out of 'safety' concerns. It was announced recently that an anonymous donor is now going to help fund some of the cost estimated €3 million it will cost to build a brand new track elsewhere on the campus. It has been confirmed that it will be a full eight-lane IAAF-approved track and it is supposed to be ready for 2020 at the latest.

Ian O'Riordan has the full story on the Irish Times HERE

Additional Links...
1) Dublin loses one of it's most famous tracks
2) UCD apologise for handling of track closure in Dublin...

Poll for best 10km race in Cork in 2017 now open

The poll for best 10km race in Cork in 2017 is now open.

These were the nominations....

10km...
Courtmacsherry 10k (Jun 2017)
Thomas Kent 10k (Nov 2017)
Shannonvale 10k (July 2017)
Bweeng 10k (May 2017)
East Cork Harbour Marathon 10k (Aug 2017)
Cork BHAA UCC 10k (Apr 2017)
Skibbereen 10k (Aug 2017)
Darrara & Ring Bay 10k (Aug 2017)
Rebel Run 10k (Oct 2017)

You can vote here.... https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GRB539Z

The poll will close in early February.

Poll for best 5 mile race in Cork in 2017 now open

The poll for best 5 mile race in Cork in 2017 is now open.

These were the nominations....

5 Mile...
Millstreet 5 mile (Jun 2017)
East Ferry 5 mile (Jun 2017)
Shanagarry 5 mile (Jun 2017)
Coachford 5 mile (July 2017)
Bandon 5 mile (Jan 2017)
Midleton 5 mile (May 2017)
Dromahane 5 mile (Aug 2017)
GR8KM in Mitchelstown (Aug 2017)
Ballycotton 5 mile (Apr 2017)

You can vote here.... https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SM5P6VF

The poll will close in early February.

Transfer window open for the Mallow 10 mile race

Back in December of 2017, all 1500 entries for the Mallow 10 mile road race sold out in 36 hours.

The transfer window is now open and the cost is €5. If anyone can't make it and would like to transfer their entry to a friend then use this link HERE

The transfer window will close on the 25th of February.


**********

Course preview.......You can see an updated preview HERE

Race website......There is more info about the race on the dedicated race website http://mallowtenmile.wordpress.com/

Training Plan......For anyone hoping to do their first 10 mile race, there is a 12 week 'Get Around' plan HERE

January Injury Blues

I got an interesting email recently about something called 'January Injury Blues'. It all starts off at the start of January with people following various New Year's resolutions about getting fit sign up for gym membership or start running.

Without proper guidance, many people just jump in at the deep end so to speak and do way too much too soon.

The end result is that the third week of January marks the start of the 'January Injury Blues'... i.e. It's about this time that people get injured.

Apparently, the end of January is one of the busiest times of the year for physios as people stream in with their injuries. According to the figures quoted, January is almost twice as busy as December and reaches a peak in February.


If you have just started running then you need to be careful. Get advice from a qualified coach or err on the side of caution and make sure you build up your training slowly