(With many Thanks to Alessandra Verri for this report)
Bank holiday Monday. Not everyone decided to take it easy and have a BBQ. Many women instead thought of having an healthier day and meet in Merrion Square to participate to the VHI Women’s minimarathon.
And it wouldn’t have been Ireland if the weather hadn’t changed so many times in the space of few hours. Which definitively didn’t make things easy but women – it’s known – are strong and do not easily give up.
After the rain, when the count down started, accompanied by the notes of Molly Malone, more than 35,000 women were standing together at the start line. Many colours, different gears and hairstyles, various nationalities and languages, different goals – many run in memory of someone or to support Charities – but one thing in common: a big smile.
It’s like brains had become transparent for a second and everyone passing by could clearly see in each of these women’s mind the same thought: ‘’we’ll do this, we’ll do it together and we’ll enjoy it’’.
Alessandra Verry, Ana Quigley, Clare Bexon, Eileen, Louise, Siobhan and Alessandra were there, Anne Hickey and Maria Hughes as well as Lorraine Doyne with her sister and Breda Grehan and Marian O’Leary representing the Dunboyne Club. Orla Formally and Fiona Comerford were there too. Despite the heat and the humidity, they all had great fun and happily run towards the finish line thinking of their evening plan… The music along the course definitively helped as well as the firefighters who, close to the 8th kilometer, were spreading water on all the participants
Siobhan O’ Doherty arrived first with a time of 34:28.
Of the group, a special mention goes to Siobhan, who completed her 21st Women’s minimarathon, and to Ana who, for the first time, run 10 km in less than an hour on that course. Well done!!
For Clare and Alessandra was the first one and they both look forward to the next.
Some of the ladies, reunited at the finish line, (the ones without commitments ;o) once some of the energies were recovered, headed towards a rewarding meal & cocktail in Fire. Great food, chats and laughter were the greatest end to a tiring but fulfilling day and a nice transition to a short week.
Ale Verri 01:07:04
Ana Quigley 00:59:49
Anne Hickey 1:16:57
Breda Grehan 1:54:55
Clare Bexon 01:03:19
Eileen Soraghan 00:55:50
Fiona Comerford 1:10:00
Louise Taylor 01:05:41
Lorraine Doyle Murphy
Maria Hughes 1:16:57
Marian O’Leary 1:54:52
Orla Gormally 1:10:00
Siobhan Campbell 00:54:05
**** Well done to everyone! We cannot search by club so apologies if we missed names. Please let me know and I will add them***
