Rotterdam Runners
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Transcript of Rotterdam Runners
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Rotterdam Runners 2015
They come in all shapes and sizes, some have American coaches, Irish coaches , many are self
coached and a few cannot be coached !! Their race strategy varies from the more patient hold up
merchants to those who run how they feel to the confirmed front runners blazing a trail. Their
experience runs from relative newbies to seasoned ( grizzled ) warriors. These are the Sligo athlete
participants in this weekends Rotterdam Marathon. An immense amount of training and
commitment has gone into getting to the start line and many have had a few niggles along the way.
But they will all be there and we wish them all the best in this great event.
Michael O Connell
Eamon Dunbar
Michael The Phoenix O Connell is a veteran of 8
marathons having run in London, Hamburg, Amsterdam,
Rotterdam and Dublin. Michaels best of 2.51 dates from
back in 2007. Two serious operations on his foot and back
resulted in a career change where he became better known
as a photographer at local and national races. Having
infused Sligo AC with great zest during his chairmanship, it
seemed like Michaels running career was behind him and a
career beckoned in the media.
However Michael has resurrected himself with great
patience and dedication and under the tutelage of a new
American coach turned the clock back with a stupendous
performance in the Dublin marathon 2014 where after a
gap going back to 2009 he ran 2.56 in tough conditions.
Showing the same dedication and patience this time
Michael is primed for another great run on a faster course
and should go under 2.55. Whereas some other Sligo AC
runners are confirmed front runners Michael tends to idle
in front and has been transformed as a hold up operator
with a new strategy of floating the first half and coming
through with a stronger 2nd
half. The only concerns with him
is that he sweats up before races and needs to get his
fuelling right.
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Eamon Dunbar
.
Eamon The Red Mist Dunbar is another veteran
of 8 marathons all run in Dublin and Belfast. After
breaking 3 hrs in Belfast in 2012 with a time of
2.57 Eamon has run very strongly in all distances
from 5k to marathons since.
Some niggling injuries have not dampened his
enthusiasm and expect Eamon to have a big run. A
confirmed front runner Eamon will not be holding
back from the start and will be seen up on his toes
from the gun. Fitted with blinkers this time(To curb
his enthusiasm, he is quite likely to jump into a 10k
the day before if he stumbles upon one in
Rotterdam) we hope he can restrain himself
somewhat in the first half. Another runner capable
of running sub 2.55.
Damien Kennedy
Damien Mr Cool Kennedy is the baby of
the group , Damiens career has been that
of steady progress and once he broke 3
hrs in 2013 his confidence soared.
Another man running his 9th
marathon the
possible heat and sun in Rotterdam will
not pose a problem as he tans well. Did
suffer a slight hiccup in Dublin 2014 but is
in the form of his life , beating the veteran
runners in local races and has broken 60
mins for 10 miles. Word from the training
group is that he is the form man and can
post a big personal best sub 2.55 and lead
the Sligo charge home.
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David Kearins
Derek Hunter
Derek Hunter
Jason McMorrow
David Davy boy Kearins is running his 8th
marathon
, he admits that he ran six of these before he got
serious. Now in his serious phase he has put niggling
injuries behind him to break 3hrs in Dublin 2014. A
canny operator who is an excellent race strategist
and like Michael tends to idle in front. Expect to see
him tucked into a group before coming strong in the
last 6 miles. Has a habit of running tune up races
incognito to keep his opponents guessing. David is in
great shape and is another man who can break 2.55
Sligo born Derek is a member of Dunshaughlin AC but
masquerades as a Sligo AC member. Derek made his
marathon debut in 2008 in Hamburg but put himself on the
map in January by running sub 3hrs in Mumbai in a warm up
race. Despite being the oldest Sligo runner going to
Rotterdam he is still a marathon newbie and there will be
greater expectations and pressure on him in Rotterdam. Has
answered all questions asked in warm up races but questions
remain on his race strategy. He is definitely not a hold up
merchant and getting the right pace will be critical. Sharing
the same American coach as Michael he has great stamina
and if Mumbai has washed out of his legs could spring a
surprise and lead the Sligo charge home.
Jason Skinny McMorrow is a
renowned triathlete who has switched
to running code in the last couple of
years. A fiercely competitive athlete
Jason will not lack belief and
determination as he attempts to break 3
hrs in Rotterdam. Jason has not raced
since Dublin where he missed out on
3hrs in tough conditions and unquoted
sources from his secret training camp
say that (fitted with blinkers)he will
crack the 3 hrs this time.
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Kieran Coleman
Darren Aldridge
Brendan Brett
Despite his relative youth compared to
the other runners Kieran a member of
Corran AC hailing from Riverstown is the
most experienced Sligo runner in the
field having completed 11 marathons,
being a regular in Dublin where he has a
personal best of 3.01 from 2003. There is
little that Kieran does not know about
marathons. Kieran also holds an
incredible record of completing 21
consecutive warriors runs. An
accomplished triathlete Kieran stamina
knows no bounds and he will often
squeeze in a 5k race on his way home
from a triathlon ! In 2014 Kieran posted
3.19 in the Dublin and should improve
Darren a Collooney native is a
member of Corran AC who has
steadily improved over the last
couple of years and ran a fine 3.09 in
Dublin 2014. Coached by Dermot
McDermott Darren is lightly raced
since then. The Corran AC training
camp has been very coy about their
runners form of late. Should certainly
go close to 3hrs.
Brendan is with Corran AC out of the
Dermot McDermott stable, Brendan is a
strong runner having posted 68 minutes for
the warriors run.
He was somewhat disappointed in Dublin
2014 where he ran the marathon in an
excellent 3.10 when aiming for sub 3 hours.
Whispers are that training has gone well
and he should go close
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Aisling Kennedy
Jane Gormley
The better half of Damien , Aisling is no
stranger to marathons and Rotterdam
where she posted her pb of 4.09 in 2013.
Aisling has trained diligently in Union Wood
and though the training camp is very
guarded , reports relate that herself and
Jane have covered every inch of trail in
union wood twenty times over. Will not
want for lack of preparation and expecting a
big run. She will cross the line were her
trademark big smile
Relatively new to marathon running Jane
improved her time by over 30 minutes
between Dublin 2013 and 2014 where
she ran a perfectly paced race with even
splits. Trains with Aisling and will have
great strength from a winter of wearing
down unions hills and trails. Should
improve again on her 2014 time.