Frank Cunningham, Sinead Murtagh and Phil Murdock on the ferry
The Belfast marathon has gone from strength to strength in recent years as the running bug continues to bite. The race was a sell out and 4376 brave souls completed the course. After months of disciplined training and commitment to weekly mileages in excess of 70 miles, athletes woke up to ideal conditions for the big test. 26.2 miles is a long way and athletes can easily come unstuck along the way. There is no accounting for what can happen, especially in the last 6 miles. In his pre-race memo to those taking part, the Prophet reiterated these sentiments, ‘remember boys and girls, it is a 20-mile warm up for a 6-mile race.’ With these wise words ringing in their ears, our 9 individuals and 2 relay teams left the opulent surrounding setting of the Stormont estate and began a journey that would take them through all parts of the city – north, south, east and west. The course has some undulations that hurt more as the miles progress and the Ormeau Road at 24 miles is the final test of stamina, will-power and endurance. Continue reading
Three Newcastle AC athletes (Tom Crudgington, Ashley Crutchley and Tanya Cumming) were selected as part of the NIMRA team that travelled to Keswick, England to compete in the British Inter-counties Senior Mountain race on at the weekend. This year’s race also doubled up as the British Athletics trial race for the “up and down” event at the Senior European Off-Road Running Championships due to take place in Annecy, France from 31st May to 2nd June 2024. Continue reading
Report by the Duke