I got into running during the 1980’s running boom and in 1983 I joined the newly-formed Bray Runners club in County Wicklow. The club was totally focused on long distance running but after three agonising marathons I finally realised marathon running wasn’t for me. In 1986, I moved to Cork to start a new job in UCC where I joined the Staff AC , but shortly afterwards I decided to pack in running all together. Fast forward 27 years to 2013 and early retirement. It was time to start running again. So, I joined a local running club Carrigaline Runners and the UCC Staff AC (again). In late 2015, a group of us transferred to Eagle AC which in the long run turned out to be a really great decision. Perhaps I should have said ‘in the short run’, because since joining the club I have discovered I am much better suited to the shorter stuff.

I took up track racing in 2018 with no previous background or experience. The seed of an idea was planted at a 5k road race in Coolagown. I had been trailing behind two runners in my age group, then with 200m to go I produced a sprint finish and claimed the age category win. John Desmond (who had been lurking near the finish with his camera) came up to me afterwards and said I should give track racing a go. Several months later,  Captain Damian was encouraging club members to go to Nenagh for the Munster Masters Indoor Track Championships , so the time had come to give it a go. I really enjoyed it and ran surprisingly well in the 800 and 1500m.So a month later I decided to try the National Master Indoors in Athlone. That turned out to be great too. I got such a buzz in the 800m race. I was racing against a guy who a few weeks earlier had won the National Masters XC in my age group ( I was a good 2 minutes behind him), but on the track I out sprinted him over the last lap to win the race. I was totally hooked! So I am now part of a small but dedicated group of Eagles who enjoy flying the club flag at provincial and national track championships.

So, it turns out that many of our Eagle AC members are just as impressive at dancing as they are at running!! See attached video for proof, as Eagle AC take on the Jerusalema Challenge! Well done to all who got involved in the fun and a big thanks to Damian Kenneally for organising!

https://fb.watch/3PJrRRcGpX/

A race report from Race Directors Ruairi Egan and Tracy Cotter:

A final report for you all on the Eagle AC Virtual Tommy Ryan Memorial 5 Miler which ran for the past 11 days.Firstly, a huge thanks to everyone who took part in and/or donated to the event. As usual, there was great support from both the Eagle AC membership as well as the wider Cork running community.

We are delighted to say that we have ended up raising a lot more money for our two charities (Carrigaline Meals on Wheels and Carrigaline Foróige) than we expected initially! We had 85 donators to the GoFundMe page, raising €1,370 altogether which is a brilliant amount! 100% of this money will be donated to our 2 chosen charities.

There were 70 entries to our virtual race in total which was a fantastic turnout also! (Because of the large number of race entries the club committee purchased some extra vouchers for spot prizes to be raffled between all entrants.)

Despite having grown up in a large city, I should start with the fact that I’m an outdoor nut rather than a typical road runner. In addition to running, I love hiking, climbing, surfing and open water swimming. The mountains and ocean are my happy place. I never use a treadmill or go to the gym; vertigo aside, the indoor exercise just doesn’t do it for me.

Not sure why I’m here writing this article, when there are many club members, who are better trail runners than me, and we probably crossed paths at the IMRA races! With the unexpected circumstances, which we found ourselves in over the last 2 years, I find more and more road runners are willing to try trails, and I may even be guilty of converting some of them.

I love running alone, but I also enjoy sharing my love for the mountains with others. McGillycuddy Reeks in Kerry is my favourite playground, from the remote Lough Duff circuit to the Eastern reeks and Coomloughra horseshoe, and Carrauntoohil from every direction. However, due to the recent lockdowns, I perused every possible bit of trails closer to home. There are hidden gems everywhere, you just need to look for them. After the recent loss of my husband, who loved the woodlands, I’ve spent many hours running in the woods, where, surrounded by the trees, you can cry without being judged and remember without being interrupted.

I find solace in running far away from civilisation, alone with my thoughts. The air is cool, damp and clean. You are surrounded by the beautiful, lush, green, yellow, grey and brown hues, and sounds of nature: the trickling of a distant waterfall, birds singing, goats & sheep calling out to each other, or on a stormy day, the wind howling and drowning out everything else! If you time your run to witness a sunrise or a sunset, the experience is unparallel; it stays with you.

Due to the bad weather forecast for the coming weekend, and in the interest of all participants, the Race Directors have decided to extend the window for race entries for the Virtual Tommy Ryan Memorial 5 Miler until Sunday 21st February. Runs can now be logged from Thursday 11th February to Sunday 21st February.

All other race details remain the same and can be found here…

https://eagleac.net/2021/02/06/eagle-ac-virtual-tommy-ryan-memorial-run-2021/

UPDATE 9/2/21 : DUE TO THE BAD WEATHER FORECAST FOR THIS WEEKEND, THE RACE DIRECTORS HAVE DECIDED TO EXTEND THE WINDOW FOR ENTRIES UNTIL SUNDAY 21ST FEBRUARY. RUNS CAN NOW BE ENTERED FROM 11TH – 21ST FEBRUARY.

At this time of year we would normally be making the final preparations for our annual club race – The Tommy Ryan Memorial 5 Miler in Carrigaline. Of course, this year, the event will be unable to proceed in the traditional way. 

As a club, we would still like to do something to honour this event and to help out the 2 local Carrigaline charities who normally benefit from the race – Carrigaline Meals on Wheels and Carrigaline Foróíge. 
As a result, we are going to hold a virtual version of the race this year. 100% of all monies raised will go to the two charities. All runners are invited to take part! Here’s how it will work…..

From Thursday 11th February to Sunday 14th of February, we are inviting runners to take part by completing a 5 mile run or walk and by then donating to our GoFundMe page which can be found here….. https://gofund.me/0a48f24d

(We would suggest a minimum entry fee of €5 but all monies received would be greatly appreciated.)

Once you have completed your run and have made your donation we would ask entrants to enter their details – race time etc at this link …. https://forms.gle/U7DVKEtW87BrreUq9

A virtual leaderboard will then be compiled and regularly updated between Thursday and Sunday of next week using entries received. We will have 2 John Buckley Sports vouchers up for grabs for the fastest female and fastest male times entered! This is just a bit of an extra incentive to add a bit of a competitive element to the proceedings! – any course, route etc will be accepted so pick a nice flat one for yourself! 🙂 

There will also be a number of other vouchers ( One4All, LIDL etc.) up for grabs. ALL entrants who have donated to the GoFundMe page will be in with a chance of winning one of these vouchers. We will hold a raffle on Sunday evening once all entries have been submitted.

If anyone would like to enter but not submit their race times etc that is absolutely fine – just send us an email with your name to eagleac5mile@gmail.com and we will enter you into the draw. Familes, walkers, cyclists etc all very welcome to enter also! If you have any photos from your run we would love to see them too – just send them to either our club Facebook page,to Ruairi, Tracy, Karen or Mairead, or email them to eagleac5mile@gmail.com. We will share these on our Facebook page over the weekend. 

Of course, it goes without saying that all current HSE guidelines should be strictly adhered to when completing your 5 mile run. Your route should be within a 5km radius of your home and entrants should either run solo, with their household members or with just one other person from another household within their 5k zone.  Please be very aware of those around you at all times and keep at least a 2 metre distance away from others. If possible, it might be an idea to run on quieter routes or at quieter times of the day.

We hope to see as many people as possible take part in next weekend’s events. It’s a win win! – You’ll be getting exercise, donating to charity and giving yourself a chance of winning a prize, all at the same time!! 

New – RESULTS

Entry via GoFundme here: GoFundMe

Submit your time for the leaderboard here: Entries

And do mail in some photos if you like ! eagleac5mile@gmail.com