Dublin Marathon
Monday 27th October 2014
Ilford AC.s Kevin Newell and Sam Rahman were among an estimated 14,000 runners from 47 countries in the 35th running of Sunday’s Dublin Marathon. The breezy conditions and few extra hills thrown in this year following a course change due to the city-centre Luas works proved no obstacle to Newell as he stormed round the 26.2miles in a new personal best of 2hrs 48 minutes and 57 seconds for an impressive 81st place.
Sam Rahman was a harsh judge of his own performance confessing to be slightly disappointed with his own run and struggled in comparison but nevertheless returned 2hours 57. 59 a time that many runners would be delighted with and good enough for 233rd place overall.
The smell of deep heat and tiger balm wafting through the patchy drizzle surrounding the Georgian streets of the Capital as runners set off in 3 waves this year to ease the normal congestion at the start. Newell, in the form of his life, judged his race to perfection setting off steady with a first 10k split of 40.10 negotiating the gusty conditions of  Phoenix Park and going through halfway in 1.23.14 passing Brickfields Park. Maintaining good pace he then went through 30kin 1.58.51 before tackling the aptly named Heartbreak Hill on the Roebuck Road at 22 miles. It was then just a turn for home at University College for the last few miles leading to a jubilant finish at Merrion Square at an average pace of 6min 27 sec per mile.
Kenya’s Eliud Too was the overall winner in 2.14.48whilst the ageless Irish national champion Maria McCambridge just failed to defend her ladies title being just edged out, by a mere four seconds, behind another Kenyan, Esther Wanjiru Macharia. However in the process, McCambridge defied wind, hills and age, to lower her personal best time by a minute, to 2:34:19.

GREENVILLE RUNFEST 10km
Saturday 25 October
Ilford AC’s Rob Sargeant took the opportunity to take part in the annual Runfest in Greenville South Carolina while on his annual visit to the local Greenville Track Club. The running festival consists of 4 races; marathon. half-marathon,10 km and 5km and totals over 2000 entries. Rob ran in the 10km over a challenging course, to be expected in a town nestled in the foothills of the great Smokey mountains, and on a perfect morning for running was pleased to cross the finish line, by homeplate in the local baseball stadium,in 47 mins 37 secs to place 30th overall and win the M60 category trophy.

Tiptree 10 miles – inc Essex Champs
Sunday 12/10/2014
A small but very competitive squad of runners from IlfordAC enjoyed some excellent racing as they took on the Essex 10 mile road championships around the quiet rural lanes of Tiptree last Sunday. Club captain Malcolm Muir led the way winning the race in an Essex Gold medal winning time of 55.56, over 30 seconds clear of the rest of the field.
He was backed up by a superb performance from Kevin Newell who recorded a personal best of 57.31 and together with fellow veteran Steve Philcox, also breaking the hour mark and equaling his best of 59.32, the Ilford trio finishing in bronze medal position in the team competition.  Newell was particularly delighted with his run slicing a massive 1 minute 23 seconds from his previous best effort over the distance.

Sam Rahman was another happy to improve on his best when also just dipping under the 60 minute barrier finishing 23rd in 59.44. Kevin Wotton 61.53 30th and over 50 Neil Crisp 62.43 34th also enjoyed good runs offering some great support.  Not to be outdone Declan Cullen also weighed in with a PB clocking 77.42 for a Ronnie O’Sullivan 147th.
In the women’s race multi county medalist Breege Nordin added an Essex silver to her collection in the FV55 category only just losing out to Harwich’s class act Claudine Tisbury and bringing the ladies home in73.26 for 114th. Jenni Sheehan 74.43 (PB) 127th and Dianne Crisp 85.01 219th completed the women’s scoring team. Carol Muir ran 92.54 for 298th recording yet another personal best in the process. 393 runners completed the course.

Chicago Marathon and Cardiff Half

Further afield Nicola Hopkinson competed in the 37th running of the Chicago marathon. Nearly 45,000 runners hit the pavement to participate in this year’s marathon ,sponsored by The Bank of America. The Chicago Marathon is one of the largest, most exciting marathons in the world. With over 1.7 million spectators lining the 26.2 mile course, the energy was high and the support was strong to cheer on their family and friends.
On a fast predominantly flat course and in near perfect conditions Hopkinson recorded an impressive 3.46.33 placing her in position8497 running even paced and going through halfway in 1.52.36.
The previous week Declan Cullen completed the Cardiff half marathon in 1.43.02. He reported that conditions were very good if somewhat crowded on the course with 20000+ runners – the 2nd biggest half marathon in the UK.