London, Boston, Coole Park week-end round up

Another week-end of races, and as always each runner will have their
own unique story of how the race went for them.
Sometimes we hear that story, more often we have to look at the
evidence – ‘the devil is in the details’.

Two of our athletes were among the 34,656 finishers in the London Marathon.

Gerry Galvin from Westport finished in an excellent time 3:07:24 and was
satisfied with his run despite problems with heat and stomach cramps
during the race.

Paddy O’Toole reached halfway in 1:19:48, and finished in
2:48:07,  Paddy was disappointed with his performance as he has run
faster times, but he too was affected by the heat and could not
sustain his first half pace. In Dublin last year he had even splits of
1.22 for 2.44 finish

Just over 3% – 1,042 – of the finishers came in under three hours.
Women made up 28% of those completing the race.

Paschal Moran was another Mayo native to take part. He finished  in
3:47:34. It was his 131st marathon. What is even more remarkable is
that Paschal, who turned sixty-five six months ago, finished the
Connemara Ultra Marathon (39.3 miles) on 10th April in 5:47:52. He
runs in Lincolnshire, UK with Gainsborough Morton Striders.
Paschal was presented with a ‘Special Merit’ Award at the Western
People Sports Awards in 2007.

Also on Sunday, the inaugural Coole Park 10k was won by M Shannon
(Kilnaboy AC) in 33.12
Colette Tuohy was back racing again after her success in the National
10k, and won the women’s race in 39.47

The 115th Boston Marathon took place on Monday, Patriot’s Day. Mayo
AC’s John Gibbons from Hollymount finished in
4:11:29, having gone through halfway in 1:50:31.
Galway woman Christine Kennedy was first in the 55-59 age category in
a time of 2:56:17.