This week we started to hear serious news coming out about possible vaccines. Whatever about transmission rates and ICU bed occupancy the one thing that will see parkrun returning will be vaccines. It may well still be some time before they are certified for general use and even longer for the various manufacturers to actually make enough stock for it to reach us.
We are not saying there is light at the end of the tunnel but they have definitely completed the construction of the tunnel.
For now we have to be content with virtual runs and (not) parkruns.
The Inter County World Domination (not) parkrun table
We can remember a time when the battle at the top of the table was between ourselves and the capital of the Kerry empire. They are just distant memories now. We can now sit back now knowing our race is done. There is no fight left in us and we will humbly retire and daydream of former glories!
Like f*$k we will!!!
Look at those numbers? 58 for River Valley. Let us have a quick recap and see that the maximum we had previously was 116 and we also topped the 100 mark a number of times.
Are so many of you grizzly bears that you have gone into hibernation? Get up the feck and get out there. Look out your window, it is bloody gorgeous out. Well it is at the time of writing and if it is raining while you are reading this now then just remember that we are not made of dispirin, as one of our members put it!
Get up, get out, get your 5k done and get it logged. Do we really want to lose to Erris? Can we challenge the mighty Clonbur (we bet they were never called that before)?
To quote former Irish rugby team captain Ciaran Fitzgerald "where's your f%$king pride!"
Our Results
Our first finisher this week is none other than the Boss himself Bryan Donovan with a time of 20:18. Rumour has it he is looking for a flat course to enable a sub 20 minute 5k.
Second finisher, 11 seconds behind Bryan, and 5000km away was Niall Harte. Just going to show that it doesn't matter where in the world you are you can still log a (not) parkrun.
First female this week is (not) newcomer Karen Sheehan (Savage). Karen has taken part three times at River Valley before the lock-down so it is early in her parkrun career. Karen you had Sigita snapping at your heels this week but now that Sigita knows you exist she will be after ya.
First junior with a new PB of 28:46 is Sadhbh Beirne. Great running Sadhbh. Great PB.
Speaking of PB's this week we had 16 wonderful people put in a great time. Well done all of you. The PB's were:
- Bryan DONOVAN
- Alan MURPHY
- Paul GRIMES
- Jimmy MURPHY
- Francesco PETRONI
- Derek CORBETT
- Teresa CARROLL
- David WALSHE
- Sadhbh BEIRNE
- Stephen RALPH
- Laura O'DWYER
- Katie GILLIGAN
- Colin SCARRY
- Jennifer GRIMES
- Laurence KIRWAN
- Jean KIRWAN
If we are ever to beat Tralee again or even just overtake Erris we need new blood. This week we only had one first timer the aforementioned Karen SHEEHAN (SAVAGE).
Let's get back to encouraging our friends and family to get out and enjoy the air and walk off a few kgs before the Christmas. We all need to make room for the turkey and mince pies!
The Strava Table
Top of the table for distance this week is the legendary Artur with 64.6 km with Ann-Marie second on 45km.
Artur also takes the top spot on the longest single run with 38.5 km. Well done Artur, clearly the added facial hair is not holding you back.
No real surprise on the fastest pace this week with Bryan Donovan taking the kudos. We will all be watching for that sub-20 Bryan, we know it is on the horizon.
Highest elevation gained is the peacekeeper Niall Harte. As all his runs are around the base in South Lebanon we can only imagine the base must be built on the side of a mountain.
Virtual Run News
Hardly a week goes by now without some virtual run being held and this week is no exception. This week it was the Run in the Dark for the Marc Pollock foundation for spinal injuries. Well done to John, Imelda, Aoife, Siobhan and pictured below Ann-Marie for getting out for a night time run last Wednesday evening.
We know there are a couple of Santa and Christmas runs coming up in December but we also noted that the Goal mile has gone virtual. It had been planned to run an inaugural Goal Mile for Swords in River Valley this year but alas like so many other things it was not to be. You can however run the route if you are up for it and complete it over the 3 days of 24th, 25th or 26th of December. Sign up now and you can proudly wear the t-shirt!
Link here
And before you ask, yes, we were intending to run it anti-clockwise with the finish at the top of the hill!
All proceeds go to Goal!
Anyone see Francesco's Cat?
Francesco posted up on WhatsApp on Thursday that his cat was missing. He is in the Forest Green area so please keep an eye out.
Movember
Artur is also flying the flag for Movember this year with some very stylised facial hair. Artur had set himself a target of €200 but has already exceeded that amount. You can still donate and help support the Movember movement that has already contributed funding to over 1200 different men's health projects around the world. Help Artur
here
Music of the Night
Andy organised our virtual music get together and it was a huge success. With an eclectic mix of instruments and voices we had some wonderful performances. Paul Grimes shone with his rendition of Message in a bottle while Guillaume and Cecile gave a fantastic vocal performance of a French song. Layla was not to be left out and gave us "You are my sunshine" on the Ukulele.
The only disappointment was Terry only brought his guitar along and no sign of a Tuba.
Despite some early technical difficulties ti was great success starting just after Dublin gave a right kicking to Meath and finishing up at around 11pm. Watch out for the link next week as it will definitely be repeated.
Cecil Nolan RIP
We know there are a few fans of Brian Tucker's Grove show on Near FM. The man who started it all and ran the Grove for 30 years was Cecil Nolan. Cecil passed away and his funeral was this week.
Brian was telling us that while they could not all come together for the funeral to show proper respect for Cecil there is plans for a special show on Near FM.
Brian put out a message asking people to contribute their song choice and the story behind their choice. Brian was taken aback when he received over 300 submissions.
There have also been many tributes paid to Cecil. RTE presenter Marty Whelan tweeted saying: "Cecil Nolan…. the legend and musical influencer of generations between 1969 and 1999 in the Grove in Clontarf has passed. God rest a very special man.
From Cecil's son on Twitter
'We'd be walking up O'Connell St with dad and these big lads with long hair in Metallica T-shirts would stop us saying 'Alright Cecil' - looking for a chat. And he always would' #thegrove #Cecil
RIP Cecil, we look forward to the tribute show.
.............that's it folks
We are all done for this week. Have a great week and get yourself out there.
Audrey shared the picture above and we are not sure if the thumbs up was for completing her 15 km run or if it was in response to the picture of Pete's chocolate cake.
Happy running folks!
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