McKiernan leads 37,000-charge

A major surprise tomorrow in the mammoth women's Mini Marathon, which once again snakes through the streets of Dublin, would be if Catherina McKiernan was somehow beaten over the 10 kilometre course. Another possibility, weather permitting, is that the world-class athlete will break her own course record of 32 minutes 31 seconds set two years ago. McKiernan is seeking her third successive win and there are few who would suggest that she won't achieve that record despite her cautious return to competitive running following an Achilles tendon problem which flared up just prior to her bid to defend her London Marathon title earlier this year.

McKiernan and her coach Joe Doolin are not in the business of races being run partially fit and McKiernan will be in reasonable form. The athlete and coach's common sense have been a feature of their partnership for many years.

Along with the Irish runners, Kenyan hopeful Magdelene Chemjor, who recently won a Dublin 5K race, would relish the chance to take the Cavan girl's scalp. The Cornafean athlete in 1997 along with Westport's Regina Joyce back in 1984 are, however, the only two runners to have completed the distance in under 33 minutes.

Only two other athletes besides McKiernan have won the event twice in succession. Joyce came first in 1984-85 and Patricia Griffin won the race in 1988-89.

Principally the run will engage non-elite athletes in what has become the most successful race of its kind in the world. Almost 37,000 women will start, a record for the event, and surprisingly almost all of them will cross the finish line. A most relevant statistic which came up in this year's supply of information is that only one per cent of those who take part in the race fail to finish.

Whether that comes down to a special determination because of the enormous charity involvement is uncertain but for anyone who enjoys watching spectacles, this is a place to be for a bit of buzz tomorrow. More than 2000 stewards are required to police the circuit and meeting points, a task Dundrum South Dublin, the principal club organisers of the event, have executed with enthusiasm over the years.

Anyone interested should get themselves to the start if they can and watch the sea of runners take off down Fitzwilliam Street towards Holles Street Hospital before turning right and heading south towards Ballsbridge.

TV3, appropriately enough, have also weighed in and have decided to broadcast a 30-minute special on Monday and again next Saturday.