Corkery plays marathon man

ATHLETICS: Details were announced yesterday for the 2006 Adidas Dublin marathon, which takes place on its usual Bank Holiday Monday, October 30th. Last year's entry of over 10,000 is likely to be bettered, with overseas entries continuing to grow.

Former Cork footballer Colin Corkery was the first to sign up for Dublin's virgin team, which will see 12 other runners trained to complete their first marathon.

Team members will receive training programmes and advice from Gary Crossan, who has been Ireland's leading finisher in the last six Adidas Dublin Marathons.

Corkery is already looking forward to the challenge of facing into the 26.2-mile distance.

"I suppose like any of the thousands of people out there who take part in marathons, it was something at the back of my mind that I always wanted to do," he said. "I decided this year I really had to get back fit, and as I did some stuff with Adidas back in my Cork days, I asked them for some advice, and they suggested joining this team, to give me the extra support and incentive to do it."

Entries for the 27th edition of the race are now available online at www.adidasdublinmarathon.ie

Meanwhile, organisers of next month's Bupa Great Ireland run have announced a special coaching seminar to coincide with the event. The race is set for the Phoenix Park on Sunday, April 9th, with the distance-running masterclass set for the Saturday afternoon at the Great Southern Hotel at Dublin airport.

The masterclass participants will include Australia's Craig Mottram, who recently won silver in the Commonwealth Games, as well as Ireland's Sonia O'Sullivan and Mark Carroll, and US distance runner Amy Rudolph.

Admission is free, but booking by email is necessary, to coaching@dublinathletics.com before Tuesday, April 4th.

Race entries close this coming Friday and are available at www.greatrun.org.