Newbridge, Kildare 10am Sunday May 13th, it’s cold windy and sunny and we’re waiting for the marathon runners to come through. There are very few people out to support. We’re there waiting for Kieran who’s running the marathon. We’re also going to try to support Grainne, Pat and Brandon (the only Clare Crusader) in the half-marathon and Margaret and Sean in the 10K – everyone except for Brandon is family – guess you could say running runs in our family. It’s going to be difficult to get to support everyone…but we’ll give it a shot.
Newbridge is 7 miles into the marathon. After a while a lone runner comes through, a Kenyan…Freddy Keron Sittuk. Fresh from 5th place in the Belfast marathon the previous week where he finished in 2:21 and the Lisnagelvin 5k in where he ran 15m 04s … after he comes through and disappears into the distance…nothing…not a sinner for a good 5 minutes. If he’s that far ahead after 7 miles, who knows where he’ll be at the end? Eventually the second place runner comes through, followed by third, then a trickle followed by a bigger group. Kieran comes through…”where’s my coffee?”… sorry Kieran, no coffee, just jellybabies.
Donnelly’s Hollow was the next stop for us, almost halfway for the marathon runners. This is the site of the famous fight between local boxer Dan Donnelly and Englishman George Cooper in 1815. Hard to believe that this area held 20,000 people that time to witness a jaw-breaking 11 round fight… Donnelly won. Right now there are a few officials, a handful of supporters and a scattering of sheep. The Kenyan is still in front, but the followers are a little closer, either he’s slowing down or they’re speeding up. Along comes Kieran, still looking strong … still no coffee but more jellybabies. Once past this point the runners cut left up Flagstaff Hill … anyone who says Kildare is flat has never run here … It’s a long climb into the wind … tough stuff.
Next we’re at 16 miles for the runners to return from their little trip into the hills. The Kenyan is now just 300 yards in front, according to the steward. Nothing much to report at this point other than this strikes us as being a very lonely run for the marathoners. There is hardly anyone out to support – they look grateful for whatever encouragement we can give them. You can see things are getting a little tougher … they’re beginning to get that faraway look that tells of the beginnings of tiredness.
From there the runners turn left to Cutbush, Brownstown and behind Sheshoon Stud. At this stage the runners are heading back towards Kildare town. We meet them again at the 21 mile mark at Tully East. We walk down the road a little to get a better view. There we meet a family handing out bottles of water. A semi-official water stop we’re told. We call out more encouragement. Those little indications of tiredness at 16 miles are now showing more clearly. It’s very sunny and some runners stop to drink water, take some jellies and maybe walk a little. One of the ladies puts on the radio in her car for some encouragement … can’t believe it, there is Kate Bush singing “running up that road, running up that hill, no problem”… what a coincidence. Once Kieran appears we get everyone to shout ‘Come on Kieran!’…he wasn’t expecting that….
Hop back in the car and into Kildare for mile 22. This is the cruelest part of the race, an uphill climb at 22 miles?? What clever b*stard designed this course?? There are a few people there but they just look on and smile at the runners … we clap and encourage and some of the other supporters begin to get the idea … Here comes Kieran, up the hill, a little walk and he’s going again.
Next stop for us at 24 miles out on the Curragh Plains again. It’s windy and sunny, but at least the wind is at their backs. Kieran comes through, up the hill to Moore’s Bridge and home to the racecourse for the finish. Time looks good, he’s still running, he’s going to get to under 3:30 if he keeps going … we hop in the car and head to the finish line and there he comes … 3:27:22. Next time he crosses a marathon finish line it will be in an orange shirt in Dublin. We run over to say a quick congrats and head back on the road to pick up the half-marathoners.
We’re now back at Tully East. What was the 21 mile in the marathon is now 8 miles in the half-marathon. We get back in time to see Pat go by, then there is Brandon (great to see a Crusader running), then there’s Ray D’arcy, he says thanks for the encouragement … there’s a small group at this junction, but still not very lively…
Now we split up… I’m heading back into Kildare to pick up Pat at the top of that hill – I hand over the jellybabies, jump back in the car and go back to the 8 mile mark … just missed Grainne…
OK….jump into the car again and head back out to the Curragh Plains to the 11 mile mark. There’s a good flow of runners now … they soak up the encouragement, a few say thanks and a few applaud us back, that is nice of them … here comes Grainne running well. We’ve missed Pat and Brandon. Time to head to the finish to pick up the half-marathon finishers and the 10k finishers at the same time. First comes Grainne finishing her half-marathon, then comes Margaret finishing her 10K. We’ve completely missed one person ... Sean … he must have been running fast…
Now we’re finished, we’ve covered many miles and we know there will be major sunburn to deal with, but there are no medals for supporters, just the satisfaction of a job well done…Nice to see a marathon from another side. Sometimes us runners don’t fully understand what goes on behind the scenes to get the supporters around the course just to say ‘Well done, keep going’…we really really do appreciate the support even if we don't always show it…
So, next time you’re running a race, remember the support crews that got you there, all those who provided water, jellies, words of encouragement and listened to your mile-by-mile stories and tales of injuries, then look up as you pass by and say thanks…
Newbridge is 7 miles into the marathon. After a while a lone runner comes through, a Kenyan…Freddy Keron Sittuk. Fresh from 5th place in the Belfast marathon the previous week where he finished in 2:21 and the Lisnagelvin 5k in where he ran 15m 04s … after he comes through and disappears into the distance…nothing…not a sinner for a good 5 minutes. If he’s that far ahead after 7 miles, who knows where he’ll be at the end? Eventually the second place runner comes through, followed by third, then a trickle followed by a bigger group. Kieran comes through…”where’s my coffee?”… sorry Kieran, no coffee, just jellybabies.
Donnelly’s Hollow was the next stop for us, almost halfway for the marathon runners. This is the site of the famous fight between local boxer Dan Donnelly and Englishman George Cooper in 1815. Hard to believe that this area held 20,000 people that time to witness a jaw-breaking 11 round fight… Donnelly won. Right now there are a few officials, a handful of supporters and a scattering of sheep. The Kenyan is still in front, but the followers are a little closer, either he’s slowing down or they’re speeding up. Along comes Kieran, still looking strong … still no coffee but more jellybabies. Once past this point the runners cut left up Flagstaff Hill … anyone who says Kildare is flat has never run here … It’s a long climb into the wind … tough stuff.
Next we’re at 16 miles for the runners to return from their little trip into the hills. The Kenyan is now just 300 yards in front, according to the steward. Nothing much to report at this point other than this strikes us as being a very lonely run for the marathoners. There is hardly anyone out to support – they look grateful for whatever encouragement we can give them. You can see things are getting a little tougher … they’re beginning to get that faraway look that tells of the beginnings of tiredness.
From there the runners turn left to Cutbush, Brownstown and behind Sheshoon Stud. At this stage the runners are heading back towards Kildare town. We meet them again at the 21 mile mark at Tully East. We walk down the road a little to get a better view. There we meet a family handing out bottles of water. A semi-official water stop we’re told. We call out more encouragement. Those little indications of tiredness at 16 miles are now showing more clearly. It’s very sunny and some runners stop to drink water, take some jellies and maybe walk a little. One of the ladies puts on the radio in her car for some encouragement … can’t believe it, there is Kate Bush singing “running up that road, running up that hill, no problem”… what a coincidence. Once Kieran appears we get everyone to shout ‘Come on Kieran!’…he wasn’t expecting that….
Hop back in the car and into Kildare for mile 22. This is the cruelest part of the race, an uphill climb at 22 miles?? What clever b*stard designed this course?? There are a few people there but they just look on and smile at the runners … we clap and encourage and some of the other supporters begin to get the idea … Here comes Kieran, up the hill, a little walk and he’s going again.
Next stop for us at 24 miles out on the Curragh Plains again. It’s windy and sunny, but at least the wind is at their backs. Kieran comes through, up the hill to Moore’s Bridge and home to the racecourse for the finish. Time looks good, he’s still running, he’s going to get to under 3:30 if he keeps going … we hop in the car and head to the finish line and there he comes … 3:27:22. Next time he crosses a marathon finish line it will be in an orange shirt in Dublin. We run over to say a quick congrats and head back on the road to pick up the half-marathoners.
We’re now back at Tully East. What was the 21 mile in the marathon is now 8 miles in the half-marathon. We get back in time to see Pat go by, then there is Brandon (great to see a Crusader running), then there’s Ray D’arcy, he says thanks for the encouragement … there’s a small group at this junction, but still not very lively…
Now we split up… I’m heading back into Kildare to pick up Pat at the top of that hill – I hand over the jellybabies, jump back in the car and go back to the 8 mile mark … just missed Grainne…
OK….jump into the car again and head back out to the Curragh Plains to the 11 mile mark. There’s a good flow of runners now … they soak up the encouragement, a few say thanks and a few applaud us back, that is nice of them … here comes Grainne running well. We’ve missed Pat and Brandon. Time to head to the finish to pick up the half-marathon finishers and the 10k finishers at the same time. First comes Grainne finishing her half-marathon, then comes Margaret finishing her 10K. We’ve completely missed one person ... Sean … he must have been running fast…
Now we’re finished, we’ve covered many miles and we know there will be major sunburn to deal with, but there are no medals for supporters, just the satisfaction of a job well done…Nice to see a marathon from another side. Sometimes us runners don’t fully understand what goes on behind the scenes to get the supporters around the course just to say ‘Well done, keep going’…we really really do appreciate the support even if we don't always show it…
So, next time you’re running a race, remember the support crews that got you there, all those who provided water, jellies, words of encouragement and listened to your mile-by-mile stories and tales of injuries, then look up as you pass by and say thanks…