Athletes prepare for Raheny 5 test

FITNESS centres and gyms all over the country are
buzzing just now, parks and roads are full of runners and walkers, and
programmes like

‘Operation Transformation’ have us glued to our screens.

For those who started out with a new year’s resolution
to get fit, now you have the perfect opportunity to measure your progress thus
far.

The 28th annual AXA Raheny 5 road race, promoted by
Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club, takes place this Sunday, January 29 at 3pm.

In 1985 Olympian Pat Hooper founded the event, now
rated as one of the country’s leading road races.

More than a quarter of a century later Pat continues
to be the driving force behind the event in his capacity as race director.

The course remains the same – beginning near Raheny
Garda Station and roughly incorporating an outside lap of St Anne’s Park via a
series of left hand turns.

It is regarded as a fast course with Gerry Curtis from
Donore Harriers setting the course record of 22.39 in 1987 which was
subsequently equalled by Mullingar Harriers’ Cormac Finnerty while Maria
McCambridge set a new women’s course record of 26.20 in 2005.

But the race caters for runners of all abilities and
every finisher receives a commemorative race plaque.

Pat Hooper, former branch manager at AXA Raheny, said:

“We are very hopeful of having over 2,500 competitors in the main race and
raising thousands of euro for our nominated charity St Francis Hospice.

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Over 2,200 participated in last year’s main race with
a further 500 youngsters taking part in the two underage races which are staged
immediately prior to the main event.

During the last 25 years virtually all of the
country’s top male and female athletes have participated in the race.

There is a special category for walkers with this
event beginning at 2.45pm while the wheelchair race begins at 2.58pm.

Participants can enter the race online on the Raheny
Shamrock website www.rahenyshamrock.ie. Entries cost e20. No entries will be
accepted on race day this year.

The AXA office in Raheny will be opened on Saturday,
January 28, from 10am to 4pm for late entries.

Race numbers can be collected in Scoil Aine National
School (opposite Raheny Garda Station) from noon on race day, January 29. Prize
giving takes place at 4.30pm in Scoil Aine.

There will be prizes for the first 10 finishers in
both the senior men and women’s categories, as well as the first three vets in
all categories.

There will also be prizes for the first three juniors
as well as the usual team prizes.

The nominated charity for the event is St Francis
Hospice in Raheny. Over the years runners in the event have raised thousands of
euro for this worthy charity.

A fun day all round is promised with children hoping
to steal the limelight from their mums and Dads.

Two kids’ races will take place before the main event
– an 800-metres event for 8-12-year-olds and a mile race for 13-16-year-olds.

Former European junior 1500m champion, Colin Costello,
was the inaugural winner of this race.

The first three boys and girls past the post in each
race will receive prizes while all finishers will be presented with a medal.

Entry is just e5 and entries will be accepted on race
day in Cara Hall (near Raheny Garda Station). These races begin at 2.15pm and
2.30pm respectively.