Mile 6: Run with Ray 5km

Run With Ray 5km
Good Friday 2013 – Phoenix Park Dublin


The Easter weekend is all about food and plenty of opportunities to eat. To keep it in perspective and earn my choccy treats, I caught the last of the Run with Ray 5km on Good Friday in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. The radio to running DJ hosted over 1,600 golden daffodils who meandered their way like a giant day-glo worm along one of the park’s many well worn routes.

An energetic pre race warm up and a tight pack at the start line kept away any last minute chills and I was immediately glad of sunglasses to protect against the glare of the mass of yellow jerseys, intensified by some very welcome sunshine.

Divine inspiration came through the air waves for first time 5km runners the Phillips-Quinn family from Celbridge. “We heard Ray talking about the run and he seemed so genuine about getting people to sign up, especially newcomers,” said Audrey Phillips (40) who then signed up her sister Patricia (44), nephew Adam (12) and brother in law Tom Quinn (43). “We downloaded the couch to 5km app and just stuck to that,” explained Tom.

The tight packing and narrow roads at times slowed the pace down for many of the mid pack runners but as the event had no chip timing there was no hurry to complete the course. Most savouring the family friendly atmosphere. Wicklow man and marathon runner Martin Breen (41) rounded up a whole possee of first timers to take part including his mother in law Mary Kennedy (73). “We tricked her by telling her she was coming to mind the kids but once she got here we made her take part,” they joked after the race.
A bargain price of €5 included the dazzling yellow t-shirt which everyone wore proudly for the run, a basic goody bag and a priceless opportunity to meet the man himself and pose for a photo.
I was really impressed that Ray was there to the very end in his running gear despite the cold, chatting and laughing with anyone and everyone. Having run every race himself during the week and from the feedback I got from participants on the day, it is clear that Ray Darcy still has real pulling power with all ages across an Irish Audience.

Mile 5: Four Mile Flat, Fast & Freezing

Dunboyne Eirgrid 4 Mile Road Race
24th March 2013

A hearty welcome from the Dunboyne community was warmly received by the 1002 participants on Sunday’s four mile road race.
The course was exactly as it said: flat and fast, to which I would add freezing with a constant threat of sleet or snow. The race passed through the village on three occasions making it an excellent spectator event and it appeared that the entire population of Dunboyne was somehow involved in this event. Scores of volunteers headed by Teresa Smith (50) provided the catering, acted as marshals or stood in the village or roadside to cheer us on.
Tallaght AC ladies Jenny Jones McMillan (28) and Pauline Madden (34) were chasing a sub 30 minute time to qualify for the lead group in this year’s Dublin Mini Marathon and were delighted with their results. There was a real feeling of this being a team event as clubs battled it out for individual and team titles while representatives from the Irish Amputee Football team moved at their own pace. “It was tough on the crutches but a great event as a group,” said player manager Chris McElligott. “Even though two of the lads could have gone a lot faster we decided that we should start and finish together.”
The well attended post race event was a chance to socialize and warm down with plenty of prize giving and a live band on stage. At €15 or €20 to enter on the day which included a technical tee shirt, goody bag, chip timing and tea/coffee, sandwiches and homemade cakes, this was a really good value and well run event. The only niggle for some participants was motor traffic control at one point on the course but overall this well established, vintage event was a real winner despite the cold.

Mile 4: A Family Gathering - March 2013 Wexford

(Wexford Echo - 26/3/13)

Campbell Family Gathering
Wexford – St Patrick’s Weekend 2013


It was homeward bound for the Campbell family gathering as they descended on Wexford Town and surrounding areas for the St Patrick’s weekend. Eight branches of the clan represented by over 50 family members travelled from all over Ireland, England and Wales for a celebration of social, historical and cultural events, including a healthy 5km walk of Kilmore Quay. “The walk was a great idea for everyone in the family to get involved” commented Dorothy Amery (70) nee Campbell from Cardiff, Wales who was originally born into the Garda station at Kilmore Quay where her father James Campbell was stationed at the time before being transferred to Wexford Town. “The theme of the walk is about tracing the footsteps on the beat of our father while setting an example for our kids and grandkids.”

The gathering started on Saturday with a visit to Crosstown Cemetery to remember loved ones followed by a short presentation by family genealogist Anita Campbell in the nearby Riverbank Hotel. “It’s a trip back in time for all of us,” said Dermot Campbell (76), father of Echo photographer Jim Campbell, who has lived and worked in Wexford most of his life. “Yes, it’s about history but it’s also about present day and future generations. It is a really special weekend for me and my family.” After an afternoon of relaxed socializing, the remembrance theme was continued with a family mass in Rowe Street Church before an evening of celebrating until the wee hours of the morning.

The family walk on Sunday through Kilmore Quay was a celebration of health and wellness with family members as young as three years old starting out from the Maritime Monument and Memorial Garden. Included in the procession were Stuart and Philip Campbell, sons of Captain Frederick Campbell who was tragically lost at sea and remembered on the Maritime Monument. “I am so delighted for my two little boys that we can all be here today remembering their grandfather,” said 44 year old Stuart from Middleton, Cork. “It’s a chance to chat and catch up with each other while doing something healthy outdoors in the fresh air.” The course took in parts of the quays, up towards the Garda Station for a few photos and back down to the quays with it’s unspoilt views of the Saltees. A glass of the black stuff was a welcome treat to celebrate St Patrick’s day and a family birthday while sheltering from the odd shower in a local bar. Cake and candles continued downtown in Rob’s Ranch later that evening with an intimate family dinner to finish up the celebrations.

The focus for the weekend was about keeping it simple and allowing family members to drop in and out as they pleased. Many of the events were either free of charge or at a very reasonable cost which added extra value to the shared experience of being together. A gathering that many families could easily replicate.

Mile 3: Park Run - World Record

Saturday 9th March 2013

The spirit of free running has captured the hearts and minds of Marlay Park with it’s inaugural ParkRun, breaking a world record in the process. A community of 370 runners and walkers undeterred by the damp and misty morning included club runners, first timers and representatives from the sponsor Dun Laoghaire Rathdown. The 5km path and trail run was marked and marshalled to a very high standard despite this being a free event. “This is the best we have ever seen” said Matt Shields, the jubilant Country Manager for Ireland who was excited to see this first time event going straight to the top of the leader board for new signups and the biggest ever on-the-day turnout for a new event.
“It is a great run to test complete beginners and competitive club runners,” commented local man Killian Byrne (40) who lost 5 ½ stone in last year’s Operation Transformation. “I run about 40 miles per week now so this will be a great inclusion to my weekly targets.”
The patter of tiny feet effortlessly reeling me in at the halfway mark belonged to eight year old Ella O’Donohoe from Glencormick accompanied by her dad Brian. Although Ella prefers the shorter 60 metre sprint distances she showed superb stamina and composure over the 5km distance, held back only by her father’s insistence. With the finishing line in sight though she kicked into top gear over the final 200 metres, leaving us gasping in awe at this young talent.
What really impressed me about this event was the simplicity of it all. A total of 17 volunteers gave a few hours of their time and when everything was packed away it took only two men to carry all the props, leaving the concert field exactly as they found it only a few hours before. “We arrived at 8:45am to set up and an hour and a half later we are ready to go home,” said Declan Ryan DSD coach and volunteer. “Any minor teething problems should be sorted reasonably quickly and looking at the great turnout today I think the any problems we have are very positive ones.”
The event relies on the excellent facilities already in place at Marlay Park. Toilets and coffee shops seemed to flow without any major holdups while some minor parking issues are being addressed for future events.
The simple but sophisticated barcode and token system is then hooked up to the online community and within hours you can crunch statistics to your heart’s content, drilling down into different fields to see how you match up to your cohorts across the globe. Unlike the usual .pdf or .xls format which you have to manipulate to get results, this makes it super easy and a real bonus to the event.
Park Run appears to have the capacity to draw the crowds on a regular basis while most people will only participate once or twice per month. This still leaves plenty of scope for active individuals to take part in the numerous other well run charity events and community events throughout the year.

Mile 2: What Challenges You, Changes You

Debra Ireland 21km & 10km
Glendalough 2nd March 2013
“What challenges you, changes you.”

Not even St Kevin himself could have wished for the superb mountain run in Glendalough, Co Wicklow on Saturday hosted by Debra Ireland. The charity event welcomed glorious sunshine and a gutsy crowd of 194 runners and walkers for the 21km and 87 for the 10km which raises funds for children with a rare and debilitating skin condition known as EB. The genetically inherited disorder which makes the skin as delicate as a butterfly’s wings, lacks collagen, and unable to stick itself, needs constant attention and considerably reduces life expectancy. “The €20 entry fee goes towards the cost of holding the event but all of the sponsorship money raised goes directly to the Charity providing a dedicated EB nurse as well as research and other assistance,” advised Kim Sargent of Debra Ireland. Minimum sponsorship for the event was €50.
A bus transferred us from the meeting point at Brockagh Resource Centre in Laragh to a point high up towards Turloch Hill. I knew from the outset that this course was going to require a whole new set of running skills. The first 1km of the 10km route was a sharp descent where we were plunged shin deep into wet peat before the ground became firmer and flatter. The all terrain route of ever changing scenery, steep declines, flat river trails, rocks, bogs, roads, bridges, ditches and numerous stiles was starting to put manners on us city folk, more accustomed to urban running on terra firma and following the back of the runner in front of you. “This course is a physical and mental workout,” commented Ray Darcy having completed the event for the third time in a very respectable time of 2:15:35 for the 21km. Bobbing and swerving left and right with small strides I was glad that my footwear was holding firm on every surface while the twinge of an old ankle injury early on was a stark reminder that this was no day to plan a personal best. “We love the terrain and the variety,” said local women Alida O’Rourke (46) and Gina Miltiadou (42) who are very familiar with the area and the conditions. The adventure continued through Glendalough Village before a steep climb of about 1km through a wooded trail, reducing most of us to a walk. And finally, a nice gentle downhill forest trail to the finish line where we were greeted by the aptly named charity activist Robin Hood and his band of merry volunteers. “Our daughter Alex died in 2008 aged 19 from EB which affects about 300 families in this country. I promised her I would raise as much money as I can so that other people do not have to suffer as much as she did,” says Robin who is the marketing manager for Debra Ireland.
An adequate goody bag, tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits were all available back at Brockagh Lodge which provided excellent supervised parking facilities and toilets. “We decided not to give everyone tee shirts to keep the costs down,” said Kim although many were proudly wearing the elegant blue and white butterfly logo from previous events.
This exciting and challenging event has the potential to really grow in the coming years and I am already looking forward to taking part in the 21km next year. The challenge over the next few days for me is going to be getting down the stairs. Ouch.