2011
Berlin Marathon – September 25th Sunday & Royal Parks Half Marathon Octo
Preparation is going very well for Europe’s fastest marathon course! Long runs in my favourite Richmond Park in the sunshine are making it all worthwhile. Let’s hope those BBQ’s and sunny weekends don’t distract me too much!
Richmond Park Marathon – May 15th Sunday
What a day this was. Held in the beautiful setting of Richmond Park on a clear warm Sunday morning at 8am to embark on yet another inaugural marathon! A 1st for Richmond Park, and indeed for the deer’s and wildlife. The course itself felt extremely challenging in parts (mainly the steep hill on the Kingston corner) but it was all worth it! 300 strong running enthusiasts’s turned out with family, friends, and even one runner had his husky join us for the 26.2mile run!
Starting at Sheen Gate we started on a half lap through the middle of the beautiful Pen Ponds and then tackling our 1st hill! A good way to warm up the legs before the 3 outer circuit laps to the finish line.
After the half lap (5.2miles) we were back at Sheen Gate. So it was time to settle back for the remainder 3 laps and put on auto-pilot till crossing the glorious finish line! The finish was exactly where we have begun from at Sheen Gate after successfully completing 3 laps of 21.4miles encompassing the outer circuit of the park.
All in all, this marathon mainly felt like an exciting extended cross country run. Through trees, up steep hills, down fast running tracks, and across beautiful ponds! Not for the fainthearted but this is certainly one you need to train consistently for, with getting lots of hill under your belt before the day!
Well recommended, and I’ll be there again next year!
2010
New York City Marathon – November 6th Saturday
2010 was an amazing year for me. I raised £2,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Research, and ran the New York City Marathon for this worthy charity which is close to my heart. The money raised was through generous donations from friends, family, patients and fellow chiropractors.
Running the biggest world marathon with friends from Ireland, was a very moving experience. Having visited the Big Apple on numerous occasions, I felt I had an added advantage to my fellow runners! How wrong I was! Be warned the 59th Street Bridge into Manhattan seems endless! But once in Manhattan with thousands of supporters, the pain from the run is diluted by the positiveness of seeing friends & family in the streets as they cheer you on!
The course itself is simply inspiring, challenging, engaging, and entertaining every step of the way! I have never experienced such street presence of people supporting us 40,000 runners! Shouting words of encouragement, giving us food, and words of advice to keep going! Not even mentioning the amazing buildings, boroughs, and course route. NYC Marathon for me was about the people!
I now know why it draws the attention of so many runners. It is the experience! From the blessing in St Patricks Cathedral the evening before the marathon with the priest who also is running on the day, to the atmosphere of tension, nerves, intrepidation at the start line, to the sheer joy of finishing in Central Park and hearing your name called out as you cross the finish line! I would go back and do this course in a heartbeat.
Brighton Marathon - April 18th Sunday
I was also very fortunate to participate in the 1st ever Brighton marathon 2010. This indeed was a very challenging course, one to test you avid runners! With the 1st sunny spring weekend, the “on-road” showers were out for to make sure no one over heated on the way! Although some people weren’t so lucky on the day. The course comes back on itself throughout the run, so when you are at the half point, you can see other runners, just embarking on their 6mile etc and similarity, when you’re at your 15mile you can see runners finishing their 22nd mile. So a strong mind and positive attitude is needed towards the end!
Of course there are some undulations in the route, principally in the first 11 miles of the race which are mainly uphill heading towards Hove Harbor. While the last 15 miles - good news - was either flat or downhill. The last mile was along the seafront road beside thousands of cheering spectators, while the fabulous Finish was in Madeira Drive, just east of the brilliant Brighton Pier!
A great day. A memorable marathon to add to the list! Definitely recommended for those who want a good uphill challenge with a straight forward run after!
2009, 2008 & 2006
Dublin Marathon – 31st October Sunday 
Taking part in my home town marathon is always a great chance to catch up with family & friends, and to spot them in the crowd along the course route is such a motivating factor. Dublin marathon feels mainly like a flat course, with some expected uphill’s to keep those legs awake! One single Lap, taking in a lot of Dublin’s local neighbourhoods, where the cheers and support is second to none!
Dubliners turn out every year for an unbelievable welcome to foreigners & locals alike! I am proud to be Irish it certainly shows along the course route with banners, cheers, support, and the craic!
For some Irish pre-race entertainment and of course a post marathon pint, its one for the diary every year!
