weekly roundup 17/06/24: Hill & Dale Race 9, Fairhill 5 mile road race -Ballymena, Co Down 5k – Downpatrick, Belfast 12 hour race, British Milers Club & Lagan Valley AC track meet

Hill & Dale Race 9,  The Meels 

After a few days of exceptionally wet weather the penultimate race of the series was shortened in the interests of the safety of athletes and the  incredible volunteers who take their places on exposed mountain tops long before the first runner ascends and remain until they are assured that the last runner has safely passed them. 7 North Down AC runners were among the group who ran the modified course from the style above the Meelmore Lodge straight up Spellack then to the summit of Meelmore. The change to the regular course meant that there was only one “Meel” this year as runners missed out the second climb up Meelbeg and instead descended past the shepherds’ hut through Happy Valley and back to the finish line at the Meelmore Lodge. Gareth Hardy was the first NDAC runner back to Meelmore Lodge in 47:33. Kevin Mulligan 1:01:02 was followed by Trevor Paterson 1:08:39. The NDAC ladies commitment to teamwork was demonstrated when June McMinn injured her ankle and Kim McCourt 1:26:05, Glynis Boyle 1:26:06, Claire Scott 1:26:09 ensured that June made it safely off the mountain in 1:26:14 with the consolation prize of 2nd F65.

Fairhill 5 Mile Race, Ballymena

Tom Agnew and Steven Boyd were in action at the relatively flat and fast Fairhill 5 mile road race in Ballymena on Thursday 13th June. Tom finished in 31:34 and Steven crossed the line in 35:32.

http://www.ballymenarunners.org/news-complete/2024/4/27/fairhill-5-entries-now-open

Co Down 5k, Downpatrick

North Down AC were well represented once again at the annual Co Down 5k in Downpatrick town centre; 4 races meant that athletes were broadly seeded into races against runners closer to their own pace as they tried to count 7 1/2 laps on the fast course.

Pat O’Driscoll was our sole representative in Race 1 and the oldest competitor in the event finishing in 31:37. In Race 2 Sarah Wilson was 12th in 22:08 followed by Paula Simpson 23:12 and Emma Hegarty 26:05. In Race 4 Thomas Steele was 5th in 17:36 while Declan Magee was 7th in 17:42 pipping Aaron McAuley to the line in an identical time. Carter Rolston was 13th in 18:06 and first U13 boy against senior opposition. Chris Coachman and Stuart Anderson had another hard fought battle finishing in 19:11 and 19:12 respectively. Clair Quigley showed she is equally as fast on the roads as in the mountains running 20:08. Sophie Rankin was first U13 girl in 20:23 and Sarah Gibson was 1st V50 in 20:57.

https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html#top

Andrea Green Belfast 50k Challenge 

On Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June Victoria Park in Belfast hosted a series of races from individual and team 50k to 100 miles and a 12 and 24 hour challenge. Here’s a report on the 50k form the club’s newest ultra runner, Andrea Green.

The first time I had heard of a 24 Hour race that wasn’t Le Mans, was about a year after I had started running with North Down AC and a post went out on Facebook asking for support for Donald & Seán at the Energia 24 race in 2017. Always willing to stand and shout at people I headed over to cheer them on and watched in amazement at men and women running incredible distances, with smiles on their faces and despite my longest run to that point being a half marathon, I decided I wanted to run an Ultra.

In 2018, I signed up, having still not run any further than a half. However, a knee injury meant I ended up pulling out. Later that year though, at a Christmas night out, the idea of entering the relay at the 24 Hour was brought up by Elaine, and perhaps influenced by alcohol, a sign up sheet was passed around and I took my first steps towards an Ultra. 

In 2019 I took part in Energia as a member of a relay alongside many others from NDAC and it made me realise that running an ultra was going to be much harder than I had anticipated. But I still wanted to do one. 

In 2020, I got involved in NIURA (Northern Ireland Ultra Running Association) thanks to Cara and with Seán and Donald still regularly posting Ultras on Strava, my interest in completing one was renewed. 

In February this year I had a big birthday (21 again 😂) and decided if I got around Belfast marathon uninjured I would sign up and run at the Belfast 24 Hour, as its now known. While my running crew thought I was nuts, they gamely ran loops around the outside of Ward park with me as I trained and finally on Saturday 15th I put on my NDAC vest and headed off to Victoria Park to take part in my first Ultra – setting my sights at a more reasonable distance of 50k, than my original thoughts of the 24 hour back in 2017!

With support and encouragement from family and friends, I managed the 32 loops (should have been 31 🤦🏻‍♀️) in 6.18.04. I was delighted! Finally, I had run an Ultra and more importantly I had enjoyed it! 

My son Alex is already trying to convince me to try for 50 miles next 😂 – so watch this space, although it may take another 7 years!