Berlin Marathon / Hardman Valentia Island / parkrun
1/10/2024
Hardman Valentia Island Triathlon
The remote and weather-beaten Valentia Island was put on the map first in 1866 when it became the European end of the first commercially successful transatlantic telegraph cable. These days with mobile internet available everywhere, the original cable building is a museum and the island packed with tourists all summer long.
The holiday season closes every year with what also happens to be the last event on the Triathlon Ireland calendar for the season, Hardman Valentia Island. Given the late September date it was always going to be a gamble with the weather gods. Though a wet and blustery weekend was forecast (much to the delight of us who had resorted to camping due to the lack of available accommodation on the island!), Saturday race-day turned out to be quite pleasant with just one or two brief showers the whole day. A bracing swim from the mainland in cold (12.5 degrees) but beautifully clear water meant we were delighted to get into transition and off on the bike.
The bike course involved a single loop around the island, climbing at first to the top of the island, where the most magnificent scenic view of the mainland, sea, Blasket Islands and Skellig Islands was unveiled, all with the backdrop of a pale blue sky with bubbling clouds on the horizon. This was then followed by a fast and furious descent culminating in the transition back at race HQ in Knightstown.
A quick change of shoes and off for the first half of the 5km run, which is straight up the same hill we had cycled up 35 minutes earlier. This was immediately followed by an equally challenging downhill run after turning back the way we came. Lovely countryside and locals and tourists alike lining the route meant for a really enjoyable and fun atmosphere to the finish line.
Post race celebrations in the hotel and local pub were followed by the real challenge for the weekend that night - surviving the gale force storm in a tent with the family!
The 50th Berlin Marathon
Club member Ollie Stack completed the 50th Anniversary of the Berlin Marathon on Sunday. A great way to see the sights of the city with his brother and be part of a new world record with 54208 finishers on a fun flat course with great support.
parkrun
At Darndale Parkrun Dublin Ali Asghar Khoyee ran his 5k.
A bit further away at Clermont Waterfront Parkrun which runs alongside the scenic Lake Hiawatha Preserve in Florida USA Ryan Ellard ran his 5k making his run possibly the furthest parkrun from home.
At Wexford Racecourse Parkrun Eamonn Foley, John Hyland, Martin Kelly, Micheál Kinsella, Fran Power, John Dier, Gareth Lloyd Brian Smyth, Enda O'Sullivan, Sarah Bermingham, Mary Cronin, Helen Burrell, Michael Murphy & Bridie McGuire all completed their 5k runs.