Rotterdam Runners 2015

They come in all shapes and sizes, some have American coaches, Irish coaches , many are self

coached and a few cannot be coached !! Their race strategy varies from the more patient hold up

merchants to those who run how they feel to the confirmed front runners blazing a trail. Their

experience runs from relative newbies to seasoned ( grizzled ) warriors. These are the Sligo athlete

participants in this weekends Rotterdam Marathon. An immense amount of training and

commitment has gone into getting to the start line and many have had a few niggles along the way.

But they will all be there and we wish them all the best in this great event.

Michael O Connell

Eamon Dunbar

Michael The Phoenix O Connell is a veteran of 8

marathons having run in London, Hamburg, Amsterdam,

Rotterdam and Dublin. Michaels best of 2.51 dates from

back in 2007. Two serious operations on his foot and back

resulted in a career change where he became better known

as a photographer at local and national races. Having

infused Sligo AC with great zest during his chairmanship, it

seemed like Michaels running career was behind him and a

career beckoned in the media.

However Michael has resurrected himself with great

patience and dedication and under the tutelage of a new

American coach turned the clock back with a stupendous

performance in the Dublin marathon 2014 where after a

gap going back to 2009 he ran 2.56 in tough conditions.

Showing the same dedication and patience this time

Michael is primed for another great run on a faster course

and should go under 2.55. Whereas some other Sligo AC

runners are confirmed front runners Michael tends to idle

in front and has been transformed as a hold up operator

with a new strategy of floating the first half and coming

through with a stronger 2nd

half. The only concerns with him

is that he sweats up before races and needs to get his

fuelling right.

Eamon Dunbar

.

Eamon The Red Mist Dunbar is another veteran

of 8 marathons all run in Dublin and Belfast. After

breaking 3 hrs in Belfast in 2012 with a time of

2.57 Eamon has run very strongly in all distances

from 5k to marathons since.

Some niggling injuries have not dampened his

enthusiasm and expect Eamon to have a big run. A

confirmed front runner Eamon will not be holding

back from the start and will be seen up on his toes

from the gun. Fitted with blinkers this time(To curb

his enthusiasm, he is quite likely to jump into a 10k

the day before if he stumbles upon one in

Rotterdam) we hope he can restrain himself

somewhat in the first half. Another runner capable

of running sub 2.55.

Damien Kennedy

Damien Mr Cool Kennedy is the baby of

the group , Damiens career has been that

of steady progress and once he broke 3

hrs in 2013 his confidence soared.

Another man running his 9th

marathon the

possible heat and sun in Rotterdam will

not pose a problem as he tans well. Did

suffer a slight hiccup in Dublin 2014 but is

in the form of his life , beating the veteran

runners in local races and has broken 60

mins for 10 miles. Word from the training

group is that he is the form man and can

post a big personal best sub 2.55 and lead

the Sligo charge home.

David Kearins

Derek Hunter

Derek Hunter

Jason McMorrow

David Davy boy Kearins is running his 8th

marathon

, he admits that he ran six of these before he got

serious. Now in his serious phase he has put niggling

injuries behind him to break 3hrs in Dublin 2014. A

canny operator who is an excellent race strategist

and like Michael tends to idle in front. Expect to see

him tucked into a group before coming strong in the

last 6 miles. Has a habit of running tune up races

incognito to keep his opponents guessing. David is in

great shape and is another man who can break 2.55

Sligo born Derek is a member of Dunshaughlin AC but

masquerades as a Sligo AC member. Derek made his

marathon debut in 2008 in Hamburg but put himself on the

map in January by running sub 3hrs in Mumbai in a warm up

race. Despite being the oldest Sligo runner going to

Rotterdam he is still a marathon newbie and there will be

greater expectations and pressure on him in Rotterdam. Has

answered all questions asked in warm up races but questions

remain on his race strategy. He is definitely not a hold up

merchant and getting the right pace will be critical. Sharing

the same American coach as Michael he has great stamina

and if Mumbai has washed out of his legs could spring a

surprise and lead the Sligo charge home.

Jason Skinny McMorrow is a

renowned triathlete who has switched

to running code in the last couple of

years. A fiercely competitive athlete

Jason will not lack belief and

determination as he attempts to break 3

hrs in Rotterdam. Jason has not raced

since Dublin where he missed out on

3hrs in tough conditions and unquoted

sources from his secret training camp

say that (fitted with blinkers)he will

crack the 3 hrs this time.

Kieran Coleman

Darren Aldridge

Brendan Brett

Despite his relative youth compared to

the other runners Kieran a member of

Corran AC hailing from Riverstown is the

most experienced Sligo runner in the

field having completed 11 marathons,

being a regular in Dublin where he has a

personal best of 3.01 from 2003. There is

little that Kieran does not know about

marathons. Kieran also holds an

incredible record of completing 21

consecutive warriors runs. An

accomplished triathlete Kieran stamina

knows no bounds and he will often

squeeze in a 5k race on his way home

from a triathlon ! In 2014 Kieran posted

3.19 in the Dublin and should improve

Darren a Collooney native is a

member of Corran AC who has

steadily improved over the last

couple of years and ran a fine 3.09 in

Dublin 2014. Coached by Dermot

McDermott Darren is lightly raced

since then. The Corran AC training

camp has been very coy about their

runners form of late. Should certainly

go close to 3hrs.

Brendan is with Corran AC out of the

Dermot McDermott stable, Brendan is a

strong runner having posted 68 minutes for

the warriors run.

He was somewhat disappointed in Dublin

2014 where he ran the marathon in an

excellent 3.10 when aiming for sub 3 hours.

Whispers are that training has gone well

and he should go close

Aisling Kennedy

Jane Gormley

The better half of Damien , Aisling is no

stranger to marathons and Rotterdam

where she posted her pb of 4.09 in 2013.

Aisling has trained diligently in Union Wood

and though the training camp is very

guarded , reports relate that herself and

Jane have covered every inch of trail in

union wood twenty times over. Will not

want for lack of preparation and expecting a

big run. She will cross the line were her

trademark big smile

Relatively new to marathon running Jane

improved her time by over 30 minutes

between Dublin 2013 and 2014 where

she ran a perfectly paced race with even

splits. Trains with Aisling and will have

great strength from a winter of wearing

down unions hills and trails. Should

improve again on her 2014 time.