Grab a cuppa, it could be a long one.
I think I’ll start todays report with some numbers.
Temperature this morning was around 20* for parkrun 205, which saw 107 participants finish with the help and guidance of 18 volunteers. Of the 47 registered 15 were first timers to Bere Island parkrun with 7 of those taking part in their very first parkrun. 2 walked their way the new pb’s. We had participants from 5 different running clubs join us. 1 very special local runner completed her 100th parkrun while 1 of our visitors ran his 200th.
It was rather warm this morning (I don’t want to say too hot-we might jinx the great weather we’ve been getting). There was some cloud cover to start with giving a nice cooling effect, but it wasn’t long before the clouds separated letting the sun cast its waves of heat down on us, making for very warm running conditions. Question, Did the sun add to the misery of our hills or did it just make them more challenging? I know my answer! There have been numerous Saturdays mornings where we have felt sorry for our volunteers standing at the finish line in the wind and rain to provide us crazy runners/walkers with times, but today was one of those days you couldn’t help but be jealous. Thank you to Dominic, Steve, Eugene and Sylvia for the hardship of adding to your tan while hanging around waiting for us to melt over the finish line, to Kitty and Mark for having our barcodes ready for scanning before we collapsed in a heat induced heap, and God Bless Edel who kept her beady eye on the water and cups to help bring us back to a safe and healthy state and to everyone there this morning for the company, chats and banter as the sweat rolled off our brows. Enough about the weather. I was told this morning we host a very personal parkrun, people mix and mingle, everyone is friendly and new friendships get forged. Nobody feels like a stranger. always great to hear thins like this, it makes it special for us.
We had a lot of visitors today. Ill start with the 40 or so Air Corps cadets who had been down here in the Army barracks all week on an adventure/training camp. They said this morning was the toughest of the whole lot. Fair play to ye for joining us, although 1 or 2 didn’t quite make it back to the finish, they snuck off back to base while passing it. but that was still 3.5km done. photos to follow. We had an extended family of 8 Americans from Cape Cod, Florida, South Carolina and Swampscott(Mass). The Maney’s and the Stewarts who’s mothers(Mary and Elizabeth Harrington) were originally from Cloughland and would be aunts to our RD Dominic. We also had John Sullivan home from San Francisco, making his annual trip to his homestaed in Ballinakilla. The Tyro family originally from new Zealand joined us from Belfast. Paul ran is 200th parkrun, his Mom Carmel did her very first, while his wife Lyndsey was first female home. Helena Broadway although originally from South Africa came over from London to run her 71st different parkrun, that’s some achievement. Think we need to do a little more travelling ourselves if we want to get the parkrun bandana she was sporting around her wrist. Terry Murphy, one of the core team from River Valley parkrun in Swords was in Kerry during the week and made it his business to get to Castletownbere Friday night to be with us this morning. That will be my next parkrun when I get to Dublin, having been talking to him, he makes their run sound like ours with a very friendly atmosphere and the tea and coffee are free afterwards, an added bonus. There were also visitors from Dublin and Cork.
Gareth Murran, our first finisher this morning, while he is Dublin man, he left Killarney at 5.30am to be sure to make the ferry. Wasn’t it worth his while, and not a bother on him as he blasted our hills and sprinted to finish in a very impressive 17.18. I am in awe, after my rant about the heat he made it look like childs play, fair dues.
Also a most impressive time for our first lady home, who was hot on his heels finishing just under 3 mins behind him, Lyndsey Tyro ran home in 19.58 , again I am in awe. I have to mention 4th as our very own Joanne said he “powered” past them all heading up Markies, that’s no big deal I hear you say, but the reason it is a big deal in my eyes is that he was also pushing his beautiful baby in the buggy. How, I do not know and to finish in 21.06 is beyond me. Amazing running by everyone today, well done to you all.
Congratulations and well done to Sarah Hanley, junior under 10 (daughter of Jim and Gillian) and Patrick Stephen O’Sullivan(better known as Stevie,home from south Africa) on recording new pb’s. Keep it up for the summer months. We hope all our first timers, Gareth, Lyndsey, Paul, Cormac, Michael, Cian, Suzi, benedict, Claudia, Anthony, Ryan, Eoin, Helena, carmel and Terry, had a very special and enjoyable visit with us, as we do for all our visitors that came unregistered. Now you’ve sampled parkrun, get registered, find your nearest parkrun and make it part of your weekly routine like we all do, and most importantly enjoy it.
Noelette and Nessa, what can we say, A huge welcome to the Bere Island parkrun 100 club. Noelette completed her 100th parkrun this morning, Nessa our 4 legged regular probably has more done at this stage as she walks with anyone who will take her. Noelette and her hubby Paul joined parkrun after moving here back in 2015 and have become regular fixtures on Saturday mornings, Paul lags behind a bit more than he should, but we wont get into that.. it could be at least a year before he completes his 100, although if I was a betting woman I would say more, sorry Paul. Anyhow they have both become a major part of the parkrun family which was very evident with the writings in the card Noelette received and the cheer she got when she received her framed photo with her run stats from Dominic as well as the beautiful customary cake from Edel. Well done Noelette, we’re all very proud of your achievements, and are delighted to have another lady join to club, leaving the men for dust..
I mentioned some of our volunteers earlier, thank you again also this week to Brendam, Ted an Noel and Ultan for marshalling the course. Photographers Ann Marie and Mark, Those who stay behind to tidy up, token sorter Joanne and all those who help out everyweek. And to those who work behind the scenes, Carol our Volunteer coordinator who keeps the roster up to date with John as back up when she absent. Our results processors John and Ann Marie(we need to get more trained so please put your name forward) Our run report writers, who keep you up to date and try to keep you entertained while you drink copious amounts of coffee reading it(we need more writers too please to give us a break). No role for this which there should be, Ann Marie puts everything together,report and photos every week for both the facebook page and the website, (I would like some relief too if anyone is interested). We ask you again to get involved, give a little something back and take on any of the roles just once or twice a year so others can walk/run. Everything is easy, if I can do them anyone can.
Thanks to Bere Island Ferries for looking after our mainland regulars and our visitors and the Bakehouse for refuelling us.
Congratulations to all those who took part in the Cork City marathon, either as a single entry or as part of a relay team. We must get some photos of our regulars please.
Bere Island Midsummer run will be held in a months time, on 14 July so get training, if you’ve done the 5k regularly why not try for the 10, its only another loop:) More details to follow.
Wakey wakey,I did warn ye it was a long one, even though its a slighty shorter version than I had, Its hard to leave things out.. On a final note, enjoy the weather, have a good week wherever you are and I’m sure I’ll see some of you again next week.
Annie
