Firefighters missed as nature keeps runners cool

While the weather made sunblock and sunglasses redundant, the rain had its benefits

WET WEATHER conditions during the women’s mini-marathon in Dublin yesterday meant the hose-spraying firefighters along the route, so familiar to event veterans, were almost redundant.

Minister for Sport Mary Hanafin, on her first outing, had not been expecting the drenching in Donnybrook at about the 8km mark, however. Hanafin, one of more than 40,000 women who took part in the 28th Flora women’s mini-marathon, described the event as great fun. “If I’m taking getting people to participate in sport as one of my themes for the year,” she said, “I thought the least I could do was participate myself.”

She completed the 10km course in one hour and 55 minutes. Like many others, she will be collecting for charity and will have a “whip- around” at the Cabinet table.

Among the elite athletes, Linda Byrne from Dundrum/South Dublin Athletic Club took the gold medal after crossing the finish line on St Stephen’s Green in a time of 34 minutes 29 seconds.

Just two seconds later, Maria McCambridge from Letterkenny Athletics Club followed in second place. McCambridge’s fellow countywoman Teresa McGloin from Donegal Athletics Club finished third with a time of 34 minutes 36 seconds.

Eileen Field (93) from Bray, Co Wicklow, took part and raised money for the cystic fibrosis isolation unit in Our Ladys Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

Many runners wore bin liners and other types of plastic coverings in an attempt to cheat the driving rain. Most were drenched before the race began, although effervescent 2FM DJ Ruth Scott did her best to keep the soggy sisters’ spirits up with music and banter while they were under starter’s orders.

While the weather made sunblock and sunglasses redundant, and as the fake tan on the limbs of some participants streaked, most agreed conditions were preferable to last year’s baking heat.

Fewer supporters lined the streets than in previous years, but the runners and walkers efforts were warmly applauded by some cheerful residents, good- humoured gardaí and energetic water distributors.

Signposts indicating how many kilometres had been covered were greeted with whoops of delight by the women, many of whom wore customised T-shirts bearing images of young relatives and friends struck down in their prime.

Runner number 3,330, your correspondent, face as pink as her vest, clocked a time of one hour 50 seconds. Just don’t let them try to tell you it’s a fun run.