Fit4Lifers rocked last weekend; between 5Kers, 10Kers, half marathoners and volunteers, with some even doing a double on it! Folks, if you’ve never heard of Rock’n’Roll before, check it out at www.runrocknroll.com.

Our Fit4Life group has been well represented for the past couple of years in the half marathon, with the live music en route being an interesting point of difference and a welcome distraction from 13.1 miles of effort. This year the organisers added a 5K in the Phoenix Park on Saturday and a new 10K alternative from the city centre to the Phoenix Park on Sunday. Once again, Sunday’s half marathon incorporated the National Half Marathon Championships, guaranteeing the cream of Irish Athletics would be out in force, along with throngs of head bangers.

Saturday was warm and humid for the 1,800 who tackled the 5K, but our lot excelled themselves as always. Well done to Claire, Noel and Sinead on their great runs and to Michelle and Dan who were on a family day out, no doubt with baba in tow. And this lot were gigging again on Sunday. Apologies if we’ve missed others who took part. If so, please let us know in the comments as we can’t seem to find results by club for either the 5K or 10K.

Sunday was a tough day for running. While the drop in temperature was welcomed, the stiff breeze certainly wasn’t. It didn’t make the challenging courses any easier. However, as you’ve probably already guessed, Fit4Lifers put on a hell of a show regardless.

In the 10K it was fantastic to see 3 of our 2016 C25K class in action joining 1,800 others; well done Julie, Lorraine and Oriel, going from strength to strength. Claire saw the 10K through despite becoming unwell during the race and Noeleen rushed home so that she too could savour the delights of volunteering.

The half marathon field of over 6,000 entrants boasted some of our usual distance suspects making it look annoyingly easy; Ana, Angela, Ann, Billy, Clare, Hilary, Jackie, Lyndon, Olywen, Rob, Sam, Sam, Sinead, Siobhan and Stephen, one imposter (you know who you are, Geoff – a reformed Senior, now sadly relapsed) and 3 new debutantes who stepped up for their first ever half marathon. Massive congrats to Abigail Carrick, Lisa Lord and Maria Reeves on a super achievement. 13.1 miles is no easy feat and judging by the Facebook smiles afterwards, the sense of achievement was well worth the considerable effort.

Congrats to Coach Gary who won bronze in the National Half Marathon Championship. Well done to one and all who took part in the 5K, 10K and half marathon. Enjoy the “Heavy Medal” bling; you earned it! Thanks to all the supporters en route and to our volunteers who offered words of encouragement and congratulations as well as minding the bags and handing out the medals. Thanks to coaches Paul and Gary and the merry bunch of subs for having everyone so finely tuned for these performances and to Alan and Mick for the additional support and advice on distance running.

As if we didn’t already know; Fit4Life rock! T-shirt photo of all club participants and volunteers at 8.10pm Tuesday evening.

Results
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Saturday’s 5K
Claire CLIFFORD	00:31:33
Daniel HIGGINS	00:41:44
Michelle HIGGINS	00:41:44
Noel LEDDY	00:29:35
Sinead WEBB	00:29:09
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Sunday’s 10K
Claire CLIFFORD	01:11:10
Julie LANG	01:05:11
Lorraine DOYLE	00:53:10
Noeleen FALLON	01:01:46
Oriel TIERNAN	01:05:11
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Sunday’s Half Marathon
Abigail CARRICK	02:50:26	1st half
Ana QUIGLEY	02:15:45
Angela EGAN	02:27:29
Ann GARRETT	02:09:51
Billy BRANNIGAN	02:19:15
Clare BEXON	02:29:11
Gary O’HANLON	01:12:03
Geoff HAMILTON	01:52:05
Hilary MADDEN	02:15:46
Jackie Brannigan	01:57:21
Lisa LORD	02:23:26	1st half
Lyndon THOMAS	02:04:45
Maria REEVES	02:51:24	1st half
Olywen READ	02:16:03
Rob WEBB	02:16:32
Sam Anshasi	01:50:13
Sarah Marie HAMILTON	02:31:29
Sinead WEBB	02:16:03
Siobhan CAMPBELL	02:06:33
Stephen O’BEIRNE	02:12:20